REVIEW: D.Tour Spa at the Motor City Casino Hotel

Disclosure: I was invited by the Motor City Casino to the D.Tour Spa for complimentary services as part of a media blogger event. All opinions are my own.

I found a little piece of Heaven in Downtown Detroit at the D.Tour Spa...

Lately, I have found myself in need of some serious R&R.  Between work and family health challenges, I am feeling a little worn down and in need of a little pick-me-up.

So when Motor City Casino Hotel contacted me to see if I wanted to review their D.Tour Spa, I was totally elated.  Mimosas and massages make everything feel better in my book so I could not say "YES" fast enough to this experience.

I have been to the Motor City Casino Hotel for many events in years past, but I had never made the time to visit their spa. I drove the short 15 car ride from my home and parked for FREE in the Motor City Casino Hotel parking structure and then proceeded to the hotel entrance. After speaking with the guard, I was escorted to a special bank of elevators which took me to the lower level where the D.Tour Spa is located.

The spa takes up the entire lower floor of the hotel and it is huge with elegant furnishings and a relaxing vibe. The waiting room is a relaxing lounge with comfy seating including couches, chairs, and huge floor pillows. Guests can past the time by watching any of extensive list of cable channels on the huge flat panel TV.  I was invited as part of a group of local Detroit bloggers and we were treated to brunch with mimosas to past the time in between spa services.

The changing room decor continues the elegant spa theme with lockers faced with mahogany colored wood, each containing a wooden hanger and cubbies to house belongings. The lockers are secured by a digital locking system, just like hotel safes. Guests are provided with comfy robes and spa shoes to wear throughout the spa.

In between the lockers and the spa services area is a huge mirrored room with sinks, tons of towels, and all kinds of necessities including toothbrushes and toothpaste, lotions, hair dryers, curling irons, and shower caps. This spa has thought of everything to ensure their clients leave happy - and looking good.

The spa service rooms are quiet and peaceful with soothing music that plays throughout the treatments.  Each room is private with a door, unlike some spas that I have gone to where the treatment rooms are closed off using curtains.

In addition to the spa treatment rooms, the D.Tour Spa has other facilities including a stream room, dry sauna, and a huge heated whirlpool with ice towels for when you need to cool off.

After my 50 minute Swedish massage, Facial, Manicure, Pedicure, and a visit to the Whirlpool and the Dry Sauna, I was totally relaxed and felt like a new woman. And I loved that all this pampering was only a short drive from my house. I really felt like a had found a little piece of heaven in Downtown Detroit at the D.Tour Spa.

The D.Tour Spa at the Motor City Casino Hotel is open Sundays & Mondays 9am-5pm, Wednesdays & Thursdays 10am-9pm, and Fridays & Saturdays 9am-9pm.

For more information on the D.Tour Spa at the Motor City Casino Hotel, visit http://www.motorcitycasino.com/Spa.aspx

DISCOUNT ALERT!!!
Enjoy 10% off until 12/30/15 by booking an appointment with code “EM-300”

D.Tour Spa at the Motor City Casino Hotel
2901 Grand River Ave
Detroit MI 48201



Enjoy!


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TRAVEL REVIEW: Cedar Point Hotel Breakers in Sandusky, OH #CPBlogging

Disclosure: My son and I received a complementary one night stay at Cedar Point's Hotel Breakers as part of my involvement in Cedar Point's #CPBlogging program. All opinions are my own...

A brilliant renovation brings the iconic Hotel Breakers back to life...

Recently, my son and I made the 2 hour drive from Detroit to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH.  While the weather did not hold out for us to go to Cedar Point and ride the new Rougarou floorless roller coaster (BOO!), we were able to enjoy a one night stay at Cedar Point's newly renovated Hotel Breakers - and we loved everything about it!

Now my family has stayed at quite a few hotels in the Sandusky, OH area over the years including Cedar Point's Castaway Bay Indoor Water Resort. But we had never stayed at Hotel Breakers mainly because the reviews posted on travel review sites like TripAdvisor usually focused on the downside of staying at an aging hotel property when there are so many newer hotels in the area.

Hotel Breakers is over 100 years old, and in recent years was very much in need of a renovation. Well that renovation is now complete and the brand new Hotel Breakers is a beautiful beach property with gorgeous grounds, fresh coastal themed rooms, wonderful amenities, and it's all only a 2 minute walk from Cedar Point Amusement Park!

To get to Hotel Breakers, we drove down the Cedar Point Causeway to an attended booth in the far left lane on the parking lot entry into Cedar Point Amusement Park. We told the attendant that we were staying at The Breakers and we were asked for our reservation number. We continued down the road surrounding Cedar Point until we got to another attended booth at the entry for the hotel. Once we turned onto the hotel grounds, we were greeted with beautiful landscaping and a view of the majestic coastal themed hotel.

Once we parked, we entered the hotel and preceded to the spectacular lobby to check-in.  The upper level of the lobby is decorated in photo collages of the attractions at Cedar Point Amusement Park.

After checking in, we went back to our car and drove over to park near the tower building where our room was located.  When we opened the door to our room on the 6th floor, I was blown away by the beauty of our room, which had a coastal theme to match the rest of the hotel. The rooms are decorated in white, cream and light blue colors and while there is carpet in the bed area, the entry hall and bathroom floors are wood which makes for easy clean-up since the hotel is located on a sandy beach.  The entryway has an open shelving closet which makes stowing luggage and handling clothing easy, along with a microwave, small frig, an iron and ironing board, and a passcode safe for storing valuables.

Our room had a perfect view of rides at Cedar Point, which are only a 2 minute walk from the hotel.  The hotel has it's own entry gate into the amusement park and guests get to enter the park one hour earlier than normal entry hours.

Hotel Breakers is a beach front property with beautiful waterfront views.  We could appreciate the beauty of the property, even though it was raining with temps only in the upper 50's.

The Hotel Breakers has some great amenities including an indoor pool and hot tub (which we loved so much that I forgot to take any photos), an arcade, a Starbucks, and a few restaurants including a TGI Fridays.

Hotel restaurants are great for an occasional meal, but it is also great to have a hotel room with a microwave and a frig so that families can bring their own food and save some money on food while on vacation.

My son and I loved our comfy room at Hotel Breakers and since the weather did not hold out for us to go to Cedar Point, we plan to come back and enjoy the hotel again - and this time ride the new Rougarou floorless roller coaster!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOTEL BREAKERS AT CEDAR POINT


Enjoy!


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Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resorts: Tuscany Comfort #FamilyForward

The Family Forward Blogger Retreat at Universal Orlando provides bloggers and their families with hotel, food, park passes, and unique experiences at a significantly reduced price. All opinions are my own.

The Lowes Portofino Bay is one beautiful hotel...

When I travel, I tend to stay at "budget" hotels to save money. And while there is nothing wrong with saving money, I often dream of upgrading to more luxurious accommodations.

So it was a real pleasure when as part of attending the Family Forward Blogger Retreat in Orlando, FL, my family got to stay four nights at the Lowes Portofino Bay, a luxury high-end hotel that is part of Universal Orlando Resorts.

Lowes Portofino is designed in the style of a Tuscan villa in Italy and I was highly impressed from the moment the cab turned on to the lush grounds to the moment we opened the door to our room. The Lowes Portofino Bay is simply a beautiful hotel.

We arrived at the Lowes Portofino Bay three hours earlier than the check-in time and we were prepared for the hotel management to say that our room would not be ready for hours.  So imagine my surprise when the friendly and very orderly check-in staff informed me that our room was all ready and waiting for us - SWEET!!!

Our room was beautiful - large, comfortable and elegant without being fussy. And the bathroom was bigger than my master bedroom at home  - I was in total heaven!

I did not want to move from my shaded lounger...

It did not take long for everyone to change into bathing suits so we could hit one of the three pools at the hotel.  I loved just lounging in the shade while my son had a wonderful time in the pool complete with a fabulous water slide.   And everyone loved the hot tub despite the fact that it was 90 degrees in the shade.  The pool area includes wait service which brings your food order right to your pool lounger and I would highly recommend their chicken tenders which were delicious.

View of the Lowes Potofino Bay by night - beautiful!

The pool by night - with Harry Potter on the big screen!

The pool area is also very busy at night because the hotel shows a Harry Potter movie each night on a big screen projector right by the pool.  It is a great way to end the day.

The Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel is about a 10 minute walk along a beautiful landscaped path from Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk.  If you don't want to walk (which I would not recommend in the hot sun of the day), the hotel has a FREE boat shuttle.  My only complaint about our entire hotel stay is how slow the boat service is at the busiest times of the day and evening.  I would recommend packing some patience when using this service - and also leaving very early if you need to be somewhere by a certain time.

One of the great things about staying at a Universal Orlando Resorts hotel property is that guests get extra benefits at Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure that are not offered to the general public:

- You can skip the regular lines with Universal Express SM Unlimited ride access in both theme parks – a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day.

- And you get Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one hour before the theme park opens.

And even on the days that you don't go to the parks, the Lowes Portofino Bay has temptations of its own with shops, restaurants, and a spa where you can unwind and relax.

I came away from my stay at the Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel relaxed and renewed.  And isn't that what a great vacation is all about?


Enjoy!


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