{"id":4830,"date":"2016-08-20T05:56:54","date_gmt":"2016-08-20T09:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessafrancis.com\/staging\/?p=4830"},"modified":"2016-08-20T05:56:54","modified_gmt":"2016-08-20T09:56:54","slug":"worth-stay-upscale-hotel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessafrancis.com\/staging\/2016\/08\/worth-stay-upscale-hotel\/","title":{"rendered":"Why It’s Worth It To Stay At An Upscale Hotel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello there,<\/p>\n

Hope you are enjoying the (extremely) hot summer we are having here in these parts (southwestern Ontario.) I took a social media break for the past few weeks as it’s always a good idea to unplug from time to time. I have been busy with the new house choosing finishes and everything that needs to be done when one moves. I also have been trying to donate\/discard as much as possible as we downsize to a smaller house. And of course grieving which is a process, a very slow, sad, heart twisting\/gut wrenching process that hits you just when you think you’re doing OK…<\/p>\n

I have been thinking about going on a mini getaway<\/a> before school starts for Maya but I don’t think it’s in the cards what with trades being in the new house for the next few weeks. I’m remembering fondly the magical time Maya and I spent at the Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes<\/a> and I’m longing for a chance to unwind and be pampered again. You know how people say “We’re just staying at XYZ hotel because we won’t really be in the hotel that much. It will really just be a place to sleep.” And they stay in a 3 star hotel to save money – hey, I have done that too. I am all for watching the budget but I really believe that one should splurge once in a while<\/em> on a really fabulous 5 Star luxury hotel.\u00a0 I’m sure you would spend more R&R time (which is what vacations are about really, aren’t they?) at the hotel rather than having a jam packed schedule visiting various attractions and coming home exhausted.<\/p>\n

Here’s what got me thinking:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You can’t beat the setting at a luxury resort<\/span>.\u00a0 For example, the grounds and the pools at the Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes are beautiful and well maintained and you will not want to leave.\u00a0 Trust me, we were hoping that our return flight would be cancelled so we could stay another day. \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"Vanessa<\/p>\n

    The resort is set within lushly landscaped gardens and bordered by Shingle Creek. Yes, you may want to visit Disney a few minutes away but there are so many other options like playing a round or two of golf or venturing out on a paddle boat or kayak.<\/p>\n

    \"Vanessa

    And if you follow the Ritz on Instagram<\/a> you can marvel at the beautiful photos taken by travelers around the globe like @pmystorymaap who shared this photo of the Ritz in Seoul. Take me there now please:<\/p>\n

    \"via

    2) The service is top notch,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 Hotels like the Ritz Carlton tend to have more than ample staff who are willing to help with everything from making a reservation for you at the hottest restaurant in the vicinity to providing directions to waiting on you by the pool (my favourite part.) Yes, I will have another Pina Colada – thanks!<\/p>\n

    \"Vanessa