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REVIEWS CHECKING OUT
BEST WESTERN PLUS – SONORA OAKS, SONORA, CALIFORNIA
BY ALAN ORBELL THE BACKGROUND: A quiet and convenient low-rise top-end 100-room Best Western hotel which is a good affordable base when the few Yosemite hotels are full, as they invariably are for much of the year. Also an ideal stop-off on a tour which is linking San Francisco, Sacramento or the Napa Valley with Lake Tahoe.
LOCATION: A couple of miles from downtown Sonora, at the junctions of three highways (49, 109 and 120) in the heart of Gold Country and within the Columbia Historic Park area of the Sierra Foothills. Local attractions include the Sierra
Railroad, Columbia State Park, Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, which is 43 miles away. Winter guests are also near Dodge Ridge Ski Area, Leland Snow Park and Black Oak Casino. The hotel is also close to the delightful
Gold Rush era town of Jamestown with its collection of wooden buildings and a handful of good restaurants.
CHECK IN: Very efficient and friendly check-in with restaurant vouchers for breakfast and dinner, a room map, keys,
timings and general instructions all smilingly handed over.
THE ROOM: One of two queen executive rooms with two Queen beds and a small balcony overlooking a garden. Amenities include a work table with dataports, large cable satellite TV, big fridge, microwave, iron/board, coffee-making machine with drinkable Wolfgang Puck coffee. Usefully the room has three luggage storage racks. The bathroom has bath and shower as well as a basin and toilet with a dressing table/ mirror just outside.
KEY FACILITIES: Free high-speed internet access, an outdoor swimming pool which is seasonally heated, a spa, free parking, and 24-hour ‘Seattle’s Best Coffee and Tea in the lobby.
THE RESTAURANT: Immediately adjacent but separate from the hotel is the Pine Tree Restaurant & Lounge, open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s an archetypal American low-cost restaurant with breakfast specials from $5.99 (May 2011) however, the Best Western Plus Sonora Oaks room rate includes a
complimentary continental breakfast. A separate lounge serves drinks.
RATES: From $129.99 to $149.99 depending on weekday or weekend in high season (May-September). Shoulder rates are $119.99/$139.99 and low (winter) season ranges from $99/$119.99.
THE DETAILS: Best Western Plus Sonora Oaks, 19551 Hess Avenue, Sonora, California 95370-9720; Tel: 001 209 533 4400; Email:
info@heritagehotelgroup.com Web:
www.bwsonoraoaks.com
ARIA RESORT AND CASINO – LAS VEGAS, USA
BY STEVE HARTRIDGE THE BACKGROUND: A highlight of the CityCentre complex, Aria is one of Las Vegas's newest hotels. It has lots of modern sleek lines and funky touches, like the infinity waterfall wall near the reception area.
LOCATION: Superb location on The Strip that is easily found if, like us, you are arriving on a self-drive (from Palm Springs). There's plentiful free parking with elevators that whisk you down to reception. From the International airport, it's a 20-minute ride to the hotel. The hotel can arrange a limousine pick-up.
CHECK IN: Big and spacious reception lobby area but the process is not the speediest, even with up to 20 staff facilitating this. Las Vegas is a 24-hour city, which means guests are checking in and out at all hours. After waiting in line for 20 minutes it took another half hour for our bags to arrive in the room.
THE ROOM: A good-size suite that was full of funky high-tech features: as we entered the AC an interactive TV burst into life and the curtains swept back to reveal wall-to-
ceiling views of CityCentre, The Strip and the airport beyond. A super-king Sealy 'memory' bed had marshmallow-soft bedding. The safe was built into a solid wooden bedside table and was large enough to secure both the family jewels and the fruits of a very successful night on the tables. The large bathroom had a sunken bath, steam facility and shower and featured a granite dual sink vanity.
KEY FACILITIES: CityCentre is an 'urban destination' in its own right, with great shopping, dining, top-class shows, etc. The large Aria pool – actually three pools in one – is the place to be seen, preferably sipping on a frozen Mojito. For extra exclusivity, recommend splashing out on a private pool cabana, with a TV, and a personal waiter. There are several cocktail lounges and the hip Haze nightclub.
THE RESTAURANTS: There's a huge choice including 10 speciality restaurants featuring acclaimed restaurateurs and Michelin-star chefs creating everything from sushi to Italian to Spanish tapas. We dined in the 'Contemporary American' Sage, which with its uber-chic but relaxed feel and subdued
The Verdict
If accommodation in Yosemite is fully booked (as it frequently is) or too expensive, the Best Western Plus Sonora Oaks is a good, friendly base about an hour from the park.
EXCEPTIONAL LOVED IT! PASS FARCE
lighting provides a quality respite from the sensory overload outside. Highlights included creme-brulee fondant of foie gras, Arctic char and New York strip steak. 'Pre- show' deals at several Aria restaurants start from $75, with wine pairings.
RATES: Midweek rate for a Deluxe King Room in mid-October starts at $159pn. Weekend rates from $259.
THE DETAILS: Aria Resort and Casino, CityCentre, Tel: 001 866 359 7757;
www.arialasvegas.com
The Verdict
We loved the fact we could sit by the pool, enjoy a fine-dining experience in Sage, see Viva Elvis, a Cirque du Soleil show, then spend an hour at the tables – without leaving the hotel.
EXCEPTIONAL LOVED IT! PASS FARCE
www.sellinglonghaul.com • September 2011 49
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