Merry Christmas to You!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!Saks Fifth Avenue had an awesome light show this year; while Mom and I were there, we stopped to record the entire thing. I found it absolutely fascinating, wishing the boys were with me to see it too.

Here’s to a wonderful holiday weekend with family and friends…. and a very Merry Christmas!

Omni Hotel Los Angeles

When we left Blogher, we planned to spend a day or so in Los Angeles, just to see some of Hollywood and to visit the beach. We were fortunate enough to stay at the beautiful, luxurious Omni Hotel Los Angeles, right downtown in Los Angeles.The Omni Hotel Los Angeles boasts 453 rooms and suites, all non-smoking (very important for us, as Dan is allergic to secondhand smoke). We arrived fairly late in the evening, car top carrier and all. Since we couldn’t park in the garage (due to height limits), valet service was gracious enough to keep our car parked outside the hotel, under constant surveillance at all times. Check-in was quite easy, and we were so glad to head to our room.

We were provided a Deluxe Room with 2 beds and ample space for the kids to move around. It was very plush and luxurious. After driving for a few hours, we were so ready for some relaxation, and the Omni went above and beyond by providing us a cheese/fruit tray with water, as well as cookies and milk for the kids. The kids were even given little backpacks with fun activities, like crayons and activity sheets. Jaden especially loved this and had to carry his backpack with him wherever we went.Let me tell you a little more about our room. Windows looked out over the atrium and rooftop pool area. One window opened slightly to let air in; at first, I was a little nervous with Jaden because we were so high up, but then we realized the window only tilts open so far….just enough to freshen the room. We had a comfy chair, as well as a desk area, tv area, closet with a safe, plugs galore (important for us electronic geeks with all our techie gear), and a bathroom that was out of this world. Yes, the bathroom was probably my favorite part, besides the comfy mattress on the bed that made me never want to leave that room. The bathroom had both a tub (which Jaden enjoyed for bubble baths) and a stand-alone shower. It was very roomy and even had a shabby chic rug on the floor in front of the sink. We were honestly very comfortable for the 2 nights that we stayed….though at first we were concerned about the cost of complimentary items. Thankfully, we were given a key for the wet bar, so that the kids couldn’t accidentally sneak a treat. The room was very quiet, though we could hear the hallway quite well….but the walls were thick, didn’t hear a sound from other rooms. Of course, we also had an iron/ironing board, as well as a hair dryer and an up-close and personal facial mirror that lit up.So, what kinds of services do guests of the Omni enjoy? Free high speed internet access was a must. Movies are available for entertainment. Recreational opportunities include a pool (with garden area), fitness center, and spa. There are restaurants and room service, including the famous Noe Restaurant and Bar (a romantic restaurant that we might have taken advantage of had we been kidless for the night, though the Omni does offer childcare services, as well). There were places to shop also, including a gift shop and shopping plaza. Need money? An ATM machine was located in the lobby, for guests’ convenience. Also, a business center catered to business travelers 24 hours/day.

Hotel decor and furniture was very tasteful, elegant, and beautiful. Colors were very relaxing, as well….the richness of color tones was bent toward relaxation. There were jogging paths around the hotel too, which I actually didn’t get to see….but I love the fact that guests can relax, play, and work all in the same location. Hotel staff were extremely friendly and kind, and I have to give props to the valet….who were always quick to help and offer their services. Even if we needed directions or advice on where to eat, they were the ones to talk to.

You can book your stay at the Omni Hotel Los Angeles by going to their website. Be sure to also Like Omni Hotels on Facebook and follow @OmniHotels on Twitter. Also, for more pictures, check out our Flickr Album.

(Disclosure: We received one free night and one discounted night, from Omni Hotel Los Angeles, for the purposes of the MamaBuzz Road Trip. All views/opinions remain solely our own.)

Web Analytics