HOTEL REVIEWS

Have you ever found yourself wandering the streets of Brickell on a sunny afternoon, wondering why you aren't spending it on South Beach? That feeling that you're missing out is the same way I felt when I stayed at the Hyatt House Puerto Rico.

This is a typical Sheraton convention hotel with a huge lobby and a full-service bar for complaining about why your boss sent you to a tropical island to do work. 

If the hotel was a Hyatt or a Motel 6, it would not have mattered. I came, I snapped photos, I crashed. The End. 

Before heading to Franschhoek, I stayed at the Protea Waterfront and the Protea Seapoint. Both were better than the DoubleTree, where I stayed last time I visited Cape Town, but neither were better than the Radisson Blu Waterfront. How would the Westin stack up?

Stumbling back to the Protea Franschhoek after a day of perhaps too much wine and too much dine, I reflected on how great life was.

I checked into the Protea Sea Point which is located in the affluent Sea Point neighborhood minutes away from the Protea Waterfront, aka Prison/Business School. The hotel costs 5,000 more points, but the rooms are nicer and the location gives travelers an opportunity to experience more than the Waterfront.

Protea is to points as the rand is to dollar. The value is exceptional. I booked two separate stays at Protea Cape Town Breakwater and here's what I found: 

After getting through the bumpy trails that wind through this village, the DoubleTree reveals itself. It is situated right on the beach with many restaurants and bars within walking distance.

For this trip, I booked the Park Hyatt months in advance to make sure that I received a suite upgrade. That was not the problem with my stay. The issue was that the hotel is located in Stone Town, a two hour drive from the best beaches of Zanzibar.

Nothing will compare to Keekorok. Indeed, most things will disappoint. Unfortunately Kibo Lodge, a lovely resort at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, is included in this category.