Gildshire Magazines’ traveling roadshow is back on the open highway today. This is the point in our tour of great hotel gems when we arrive in the southeastern region of the country. Ready with a wink and a smile the folks we meet down here make us feel special and at home in their lodging establishments. We’re sure you will agree that these hotels are a destination unto themselves. That they are strategically located in vacation havens only add to their value and our excitement at staying there.
A reminder of our ground rules. We capped our per night price at $150 because Conde Nast’s budget and ours are not the same. We’re betting yours is closer to ours. We made our reservations for weeknights, approximately two months out. As much as is possible, we are avoiding chain hotels, preferring to find the local’s voice in the lobby of an independent hotel. Are we clear on the criteria? If so, then let’s go.
A destination hotel with “wow” factor.
Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, Mississippi. Answer a quick question. Would you rather go to Vegas or a seaside resort? Ha, trick question, because you can have both at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi. Well, maybe it isn’t Vegas per se, but the folks who stay here send up raves about the casino and the hotel alike. Not just great, but perfect rooms, with spacious bathrooms, offering giant soaking tubs and huge showers. Will you win in the casino? Maybe not, but you will feel like a winner every time the person at the registration desk says, “Welcome.” Reserve your vacation experience on the website, or call 228-471-4204.
Beau Rivage x 2. This time in North Carolina.
Beau Rivage Golf and Resort, 649 Rivage Promenade, Wilmington, North Carolina. No, you aren’t seeing double. It is just a coincidence that two destination hotels in the southeast are named Beau Rivage. It’s French for “beautiful shoreline,” and the guests at both of our first two hotels will vouch for the claim. Less than two miles from the beautiful water’s edge, find Beau Rivage Golf and Resort. The lovely golf course invites, but so too does the calm, peace and quiet of the Carolina coastline. The rooms are large and well-appointed, while breakfast on the veranda is not to be skipped. The Atlantic coast off of North Carolina is a favorite of the Gildshire family. Beau Rivage is just one reason why. Make reservations on the website, or call 910-392-9021.
The Artmore lobby fairly shouts “destination.”
Artmore Hotel, 1302 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia. Large cities are often filled with expensive properties. Travelers grow accustomed to high prices. Such a thing is not necessary at the lovely, yet affordable, Artmore. Guests notice the Artmore Difference upon arriving. Firepits and a Spanish villa vibe welcome the traveler out of the Atlanta heat. This place is a boutique hotel in all of the best meanings of the word. Just minutes from the aquarium and the Arts District, the Artmore delights and surprises at every turn, both inside and out. Reserve this destination on the hotel website, or call 404-876-6100.
The Grenoble’s lobby looks like home.
Grenoble House, 323 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. What was that real estate expression again? Oh, of course. “Location, location, location.” Well, no hotel in the country fulfills that axiom better than Grenoble House in The Big Easy. It’s steps away from the excitement of Bourbon Street. However, it is a block off Bourbon, and the hotel guests appreciate the quietness that buffer block affords. It’s convenient to the Business District but lacks the sterility found in most urban business centers. The Grenoble is in a neighborhood and one you will want to return to again and again. “Great,” you say, “But is the hotel itself nice?” Indeed, it is. This is a beautiful property, with a lovely courtyard and pool. Beautiful, safe, convenient, and affordable. Is there anything else you would like? If so, the desk can probably get it for you. Reserve on the website, or call 504-650-3116.
New school elegance with old-school charm.
Malaga Inn, 359 Church Street, Mobile, Alabama. A destination hotel comes in all shapes and sizes, but they don’t all come with the same charm as does Malaga Inn. Rich with character, this is a hotel to return to while the memories are still fresh. It dates from the Civil War-era and is chock full of history. Guests love the courtyard that spans the two halves of this lodging gem. This is the kind of place that the word “quaint” was coined to describe. The high ceilings and the dark wood speak to an earlier, and perhaps gentler, time. For a day or a week in Mobile, this is our choice. Make reservations on the website, or by calling 800-235-1586.
