Spot Cool Stuff is, shall we say, “challenged” when it comes to the visual arts. Drawing, painting, sculpting—we’re terrible at them all. No self-respecting museum would ever consider putting one of our artworks on display. No museum except for one: MoBA.
The idea of staying in a thatched hut on a tropical beach has nearly universal appeal—the beauty of it, the seclusion, the connection to nature, the lack of televisions and telephones and hectic bustle of life, the napping in hammocks to the sound of the waves, the perfect beaches and swims in the ocean . . . what’s not to like?
Well, for one thing most thatched huts don’t have indoor plumbing. Or outdoor plumbing. Or electricity. Or a bed devoid of sand bugs, to say nothing of a private whirlpool or a location near a superb spa and romantic restaurant.
For a stay in a thatched hut that doesn’t feel like you are taking part in an endurance contest or an episode of Survivor there’s the Kona Village Resort on the northwest coast of Hawaii Island.
These are tough economic times in central Maine. So a local entrepreneur decided to add an extra attraction to a new coffee shop there to drive up sales: a topless waitstaff.
A bamboo outhouse is a one-minute walk away. At night the path is lit by Tiki torches.
At the end of a winding 52-mile drive through the rain forests of Maui, Hawaii sits the peaceful, idyllic village of Hana. And there, in a forest reserve, is a sort of green Eden: the Hana Lani Treehouses.
Spot Cool Stuff strives to be objective in all our reviews. That’s nearly impossible for us when it comes to the Hotel Triton. This fun, boutique hotel at the edge of San Fancisco’s Chinatown has a special place in our heart. In our early adulthood we spent many nights here while working on a consulting project. It was the first high design hotel we stayed at and our home base for exploring the city by the Bay.
Thereafter our travels did not take us back to San Francisco for six years. When we returned we decided to stay at the Triton again. After we checked in we found a handwritten note in our upgraded room that read: Where have you been for the last six years? We’ve missed you!
How can you not love service like that!?
The question is: What sort of experience do you get for that money? Is it high value or is it one of these you-get-what-you-pay-for situations? Are you looking for amenities like the free shows like the Treasure Island shows offered to their guest? To find out we went to the Las Vegas resorts with the three cheapest rates on the day we did our booking: the Palace Station, Fiesta Henderson and Boulder Station. Here’s what we found . . .
Can something be considered cool when it’s located in a rundown strip mall next to a $2 movie theater? It can if it is the Pinball Hall Of Fame.
So, you want to stay in a sophisticated Las Vegas hotel, with top-end service, restaurants and amenities. But you aren’t much for gambling and don’t want to find your way through a haze of cigarette smoke and maze of ding-ding-dinging slot machines every time you go to your room and back. Las Vegas has the perfect resort for you:
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| Unusual Restaurants | Vegas | Entertainment | Hotels |
| Pubs & Clubs | Amazing Views | Websites | Travel Gear |
| Museums | Caribbean | Design | Event Tickets |
