The Top 5 Amenities of a Miami Beach Hotel

Miami Beach is fast becoming one of the top vacation destinations for families and travelers alike.  Miami Beach offers sun, fun and a variety of activities to choose from.  No that you have decided to vacation in Miami Beach, it is time to choose the hotel that you will reside in for your vacation.  With a plethora of hotel options how does one pick the perfect Miami Beach hotel?  A good way to choose a hotel is by the amenities that the hotel has to offer.  One of the biggest disappointments that I have encountered is getting to a hotel and expecting a service that the hotel does not offer.  With all the travel tools that are available on the web, you can do a little research before you go to make sure you get what you want.  Listed below are what I feel are the top 5 amenities that a hotel can offer to you and your family to make your accommodation choice perfect for you.

#1 Amenity - Beach Access and Pool
When you are in Miami you are there for a reason.  Chances are you are there to have fun on the beach.  Many hotels in Miami have beach access right at the hotel.  While some don't, chances are there is a beach not far, usually within walking distance from the hotel.  When it comes to beach access, determine how much time you will be spending on the beach, and how long you want to travel to get to one.  Another consideration is cost.  Hotels that have private beach access tend to be more expensive than hotels that don't. 

When choosing a Miami Beach hotel, consider whether or not you would like the hotel to have a pool, and make sure that the pool is open.  Hotels do go through renovations and sometimes they don't list whether the pool is open while you are there.  It can ruin a vacation if the kids want to go to the pool and you find out it is closed due to renovation while you are there.  A hotel may list that they have a poll on their website, but it is still a good ides to give the hotel a call to make sure the pool will be open while you are there.

#2 Amenity - Onsite Dining
While it is nice to experience dining outside your hotel, sometimes vacationing can make you tired and you may not want to leave your hotel.  When choosing a hotel, check to see what kind of dining options the hotel offers.  Some hotels offer only 1 or 2 choices for dining, while others offer an assortment of options.  Many of the hotels offer fine dining in the evening so it might be good to check on what type of attire is suitable for this type of restaurant. 

#3 Amenity - Spa and/or Health Club
Many Hotels today offer an onsite spa or fitness center.  If you are looking to pamper yourself while you are on vacation, check into these choices.  While some hotels offer onsite spas and fitness centers, others offer affiliate programs.  These programs offer discounts to nearby spas or fitness centers.  A lot of times when a spa is offsite the hotel will provide transportation.  It is still a good idea to check with the hotel to see what they do and do not offer in regards to a spa and health club.  Many hotels also offer spa packages or specials that are included in the packages, so check into this and save some money by booking it all together.

#4 Amenity - Children's Activities
Miami Beach is a great family destination.  When choosing a hotel, make sure it offers something for everyone.  Many hotels offer things for children, such as a kiddy pool and playground equipment.  Others offer activities for older children such as table games and arcades right in the hotel.  Check these out before you go to make sure the whole family is happy.

#5 Amenity - Onsite Entertainment
Many hotels offer entertainment right at the hotel.  This can be a major consideration when booking a room.  While many people enjoy the onsite entertainment some people don't.  Check to see what kind of entertainment the hotel offers, and what time it ends.  If events end later than you would like, and you still like the hotel, request a room away from the area where the entertainment or event is being held.  If onsite entertainment is your thing, it is a good idea to talk with the hotel's concierge to get a list of events going on at the hotel.

Every Miami Beach Hotel offers something a little bit different.  Before choosing one, consider the above amenities and others that I have not mentioned before planning your next vacation.  View the hotel's website as well as other online sources to see what other guests have said about the hotel you are thinking about.

Historic Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey

If you aren’t from New Jersey, or you have spent little time in the Garden State, you may not be too familiar with some of the peculiarly named towns located around the state. Indeed, with 566 incorporated communities, New Jersey has no lack of uncommon named locales including, Hoboken, Hackensack, Teaneck, Wanaque, Ho-Ho-Kus, and others. Located in Bergen County, in northeast New Jersey, Ho-Ho-Kus is one such town with an unusual name. Let’s take a look at the history of this little community.

With 70 communities, Bergen County is New Jersey’s most populated county with just under one million residents. The county is located just west of New York City and the towns which comprise the county are what many call “bedroom communities” for the city workers who make the daily commute to Manhattan. Indeed, located just 17 miles west of New York is the town of Ho-Ho-Kus, where a large portion of the people who have settled in the town make the daily trek to the city via train, bus, or passenger car. With just over 4000 people living within its approximately one square mile radius, Ho-Ho-Kus has a history that can be traced back to 1698 when European settlers deeded land in what is now Ho-Ho-Kus.

The name Ho-Ho-Kus is a fairly big mystery as well. Town residents take pride in the unusual name and are adamant that commonly used ways of writing the name of the town <u>not</u> be used, including HoHoKus or Hohokus. The Lenni Lenape were the original inhabitants of the area and some believe that a particular native term, Hochaos, is one of the closest words associated with the current spelling. The meaning of Hochaos is not certain as some think that it could be a native term for “running water” or to a Dutch term for high oaks, or it may simply be referring to another native term  “hoccus” meaning gray fox. Indeed, there are at least six different explanations for the origins of "Ho-Ho-Kus", but none are definitive.

Much of the current town saw its growth in the 20th century via the establishment of a railroad station. A walking tour of the business district reveals to visitors charming shops, restaurants, the train station, and a beautiful library. There are no lodging establishments within the town, but several can be found in neighboring Paramus.

The town has just one public school covering grades K-8, with high school students sent to Northern Highlands Regional in Allendale for their schooling. Three churches are located within the town and Ho-Ho-Kus is free of all industry.

A national historic landmark, The Hermitage, is located within the borough and it is well noted for having been visited by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The manse is a wonderful example of domestic Gothic Revival architecture.

Most of the residential area is located to the north, west, and south of the business district and the homes are recognized for their architectural beauty as well as being pristinely maintained. Indeed, per capita income for town residents reflects the overall wealth of Bergen County and the residences keenly reflect this fact.