Double Tree By Hilton, Breckenridge Colorado Part 2

Walking to and from dinner and ski rentals appeared to be a festive time. Apparently the entire town and tourists are reveling in some fire god festivities. Celebrations, fun and excitement clog the narrow sidewalks and spill out of bars and restaurant’s. So what if it’s only 11 degrees, the cold never bothers them.

I woke up early the next morning to conquer the first tracks event. First Tracks is only offered to those staying in "on resort" hotels. By six-thirty am, the valet had returned my skis and I was eating the free continental breakfast provided to Gold and Diamond members. The buffet offers oat meal, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, muffins and Starbuck’s Coffee in abundance.

The Double Tree provides a shuttle to the .1 mile distances to the lift chair. Though I thought I had dressed properly, I quickly learned that 12 degree temperatures and blustery snow filled wind would prove too much for this southern boy. The lift carried me for 15 minutes from 10,000 feet to 12,000 feet through bone chilling extremes. I kept thinking about images from the movie about climbers with skin frozen black by arctic temperatures as they descended the Eiger Mountain in Switzerland.

By the time I skied down, my fingers felt so numb and cold that I couldn’t get them to do what I wanted. I took off my skis and went into the resort restaurant to thaw. All the while the pain was so great that I swore to go back to my room and quit.

After about an hour, I felt better and humbly went to the pro-shop for advice. They did all but laugh at my gloves, and offered me a set of gloves that they guaranteed would keep me warm. I also bought a face mask and goggles to replace my skull cap and Under Armor sunglasses. That did the trick and allowed me to continue skiing for several more hours.

The ski slope offered two restaurants only obtainable by lift. Plenty of food and warmth provided to reenergize for the ski trip down to the valley below. I recommend the chili in a bread bowl and the good strong and most importantly hot coffee.

Be sure to not only dress properly for the ski trip, but make sure you have the right transportation. My Kia Soul did not perform well in the snow. Traffic backed up behind me as I continuously lost traction during my slow ascent of the mountain leaving Breckenridge. 

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge, is beautifully situated .1 miles from excellently groomed ski slopes. If you want a good place for a base camp, this is it.

After a long week of work in Colorado Springs, I set aside some time to ski. I hadn't skied in many years, but couldn't resist the chance to go since I was so close.

I drove the two and a half hours of scenic byways and arrived exactly where my GPS led. It seems Breckenidge has it's own weather system including snow and with temperatures at least 20 degrees below what Colorado Springs experienced.

I checked my car with the professional valet team and went to check in with the desk. I was immediately thanked for my Hilton Honors loyalty and status by a sincere reception host. When I couldn't find my driver's license, I presented my retired military identification card. He didn't miss a beat and thanked me for my service. Oh yeah, they had me then.

He handed me my room key, internet details and how to get my complimentary breakfast only available to Gold and Diamond members. He also notified me that I was eligible to join a group skiing what is called "First Tracks", the first group on the mountain. Could this get any better.

After settling in my room, I walked about a mile in the snowy 19 degree weather to pick up my ski rentals for the next day. I rented from Base Mountain Sports. They were very great to work with. The walk reminded me of my skiing back in the European villages. It was perfect. I got back to my room by 6:30, changed then explored a place to eat dinner. 

After another pleasant walk, I ended up going to eat at Kenosha Steak House where I enjoyed the buffalo chili and Spinach & Quinoa Salad. Both were full of flavor and I recommend you go with an appetite. After dinner, I headed back to my room for a good night sleep.

To be continued...

Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs, Colorado

 The Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs, Colorado is conveniently located downtown Colorado Springs. This hotel has almost three hundred rooms and each offers at least a work area, iron/ironing board and hair dryer, coffee makers with free coffee & tea and free local and national newspapers. Going back to the 1800s, Antlers is old school style with flair and character fit for those who demand excellence and a little nostalgia. 

I have gold status with almost 275,000 points. With this, I was awarded an automatic upgrade to a king room with a mountain view, access to the VIP room (snacks and drinks), free breakfast vouchers and free WiFi. This was in brilliant contrast to my travel buddy who did not have the same status. So membership is recognized at this hotel.

The 24 hour gym is very nice with elliptical, treadmills, machine and free weights, and a very nice heated indoor pool, perfect for swimming laps. The workout space provides a panoramic mountain view to compliment the workout.

For dining, check out Jack Quinns Irish Pup and Restaurant, Phantom Canyon Brewing, pizza places, burger joints, fine dining and much more are within walking distance. Garden of the Gods, an Olympic training center, Air Force Academy, Army Posts, Air Force Bases, hiking, Pike's Peak and many other local features demand attention.

Hampton Inn and Suites Tifton, Georgia

While planning a trip to Florida, I decided to schedule a stop and reserve a room at the Hampton Inn and Suites Tifton, Georgia. This hotel if family friendly and located off I-70. The room was large enough to accommodate me, the wife and our three children. The full pull out couch provided the final sleeping arrangements. I reserved a two king be suite and it was pretty sweet. The room was almost a true suite in that it had a separate sleeping and living area. However, instead of a door dividing the room, a long and very nicely designed working table/desk split the areas. True to the suite description, there was a separate kitchen area with sink and refrigerator.

There are tons of places where weary travelers can eat and re energize. Applebees, Chili's, and the newly opened Olive Garden are within a short driving distance. The workout room has machines, exercise balls and some barbells.

We were able to conveniently fill up at a local gas station and top off at the Starbucks before getting back on the journey.

Hampton Inn, East Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I reserved two rooms at the Hampton Inn, East Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The hotel was located right off interstate 59 at 6400 Interstate Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35453. The hotel was easy to find, convenient and offered many discount options.

I stayed in a quiet two queen bedroom. I enjoyed the experience and after a short night on the town, turned in to rest for the Warrior Dash, Alabama event on November 2, 2013.

Each room had hairdryers, microwaves and ironing boards. If you need to wash clothes, they have a laundry area and provide valet services. The breakfast was complete with continental style goodies to include waffles, eggs and trimmings, pastries, fruit, cereal and oatmeal.

Though not directly in Tuscaloosa center, the Hampton Inn is definitely close to everything. The Tuscaloosa Mall and the across the street large outdoor shopping complex is a five minute drive. High end shopping and eating is available and the University of Alabama is just around the corner.

While there, we visited the  Alcove Tavern, http://www.alcovetavern.com/. The place served no food, but had a decent beer selection on tap and bottled from around the world. Next, we went to Wilhagan's of Tuscaloosa, an excellent place for Cajun and Creole food and pool. I recommend the pork and beef brisket, a great way to unwind before a race.

Going on a long trip? You can still exercise

A sure fire way to get a good workout, travel style... 

Walk/run between terminals 
Curl your bags 

For an extra challenge, try this: 
 Arrive at airport 1 hour before flight. Carry all bags, don’t roll them. 
Make sure connection flights are within 45 minutes of each other 

Once you get to the hotel:
100 push ups 

Find more great travel exercises

120 sit ups 
50 burpees 
150 air squats 
50 lunges each leg Swim.

Doubletree By Hilton Newark Airport

The Doubletree By Hilton Newark Airport is fine if you are just stopping over from the airport. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes, the staff is courteous and helpful and the hotel is in great shape; very nice to look at. The rooms are comfortable and utilitarian. However, that's about it. If you plan on flying in and flying out, this is a great hotel. If you don't plan on leaving the premises, or cruising the internet, great. 

If you are planning on sightseeing, getting around, spending time on the internet or cleaning your cloths, avoid.

The location is terrible and is subject to Newark, New Jersey traffic. We drove here and though we were the only car traveling to the hotel, we had to endure a long wait to get to the exit. Terrible traffic pattern. 

Once at the Doubletree, there are no restaurants to walk to (other than the excellent in house restaurant) so you need to  drive or a catch a ride to get to one (great food in nearby Newark if you can get there). The hotel is located in an industrial area near the airport, cargo staging, etc. 

The rooms have a TV, bed, coffee maker and bathroom. However, there are no microwaves or refrigerators; just the basics.

The internet connections are sloooow. I was looking forward to renting a movie on YouTube and settling in to enjoy it. However, I couldn't play the movie. It was so frustrating that  I logged in to my blog to write this post, but alas, took a while to get here. 

There is no laundry facility to wash clothes, but they do have dry cleaning for those who stay long enough to turn in by 6 am and pick up after 5 pm.

The food is great in the hotel restaurant. I had the Salmon with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Very delicious.

So, just stopping over for the night; stay here. Want to get around and see things or export more comforts? Find another hotel.

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