Rooms With Views: 10 Balconies That Stand Alone

April 20, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

The act of standing above the world—on a balcony, on a mountain top, on an international space station—provides a simultaneous sense of freedom from and connectivity to everything in sight.

Here, 10 balconies from the Stash network.

Travel Less Ordinary Travel Writing Competition Winners

March 24, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

We asked for your stories about unforgettable trips that exemplify our Travel Less Ordinary mantra, and you delivered. Thank you for your thoughtful submissions and congratulations to the winners.

Travel Less Ordinary: Up in the sky in Albuquerque

March 24, 2016.Reading time 2 minutes.

Lesley Smith wins our first annual Travel Less Ordinary travel writing competition — and 20,000 Stash points — for this glimpse of the picturesque hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Travel Less Ordinary: No reservations, Highway 1

March 24, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

Phillip Huckans wins 10,000 Stash points for his story about cruising up the California coast with his wife in his blue Corvette.

Travel Less Ordinary: Leaving Las Vegas

March 24, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Tina Severance-Fonte wins 10,000 Stash points her story-within-a-story about a trip to Vegas, interrupted by an unexpected visitor and derailed into an exploration of the Southwest.

Behind the Scenes: Bizarre Requests From Hotel Guests

March 21, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Thanks to the saintly and at times heroic hotel staffs of the world, guest requests come welcomed and well executed. Suggestions on local activities and worthwhile eateries, a spare toothbrush, and sewing kits are easy to arrange and fairly standard. But how about getting a daily supply of Kobe beef for your dog or a sleep-sitter to watch you while you sleep because you have trouble with sleep walking?

Cures for Cabin Fever (East Coast)

February 20, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

Warm weather retreats are great for those who can’t stand bundling up. But for those among us who enjoy sipping hot cocoa fireside after a day in the woods cross-country skiing and identifying animal tracks in the snow, for you powder hounds taking lap after lap up and down the mountain before relaxing in an outdoor hot tub […]

5 Tips for a Romantic Hotel Room Makeover

January 27, 2016.Reading time 7 minutes.

You already know what you’re doing. You’ve got this. We know. But just for fun, here are some reminders of how to romantically transform your hotel room for a special night with your special one.

Resolution Reboot: A guide to healthier living from the pros at Movara Fitness Resort

January 27, 2016.Reading time 5 minutes.

Here it is, a month into your New Year’s resolutions and you’re hitting every mark. Keep it going. You’re an inspiration. Or maybe, just maybe, your best laid plans to eat a more balanced diet, exercise more regularly, and travel less ordinary by staying at Stash partner hotels have fallen by the wayside. Yeah, us too. Well, not that last part — we can’t get enough of our partner hotels. At any rate, we’ve asked the lovely and talented pros at Movara Fitness Resort for tips on how to revive those health-conscious goals.

The Insider’s Guide to the Gateway City

January 5, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Notwithstanding my love for Rick Steves, the best travel experiences aren’t found in guidebooks, but rather, via word of mouth. While guidebooks often land you in phony restaurants serving tourist-friendly versions of regional and national cuisine, word of mouth gets you in the side door and invited to glasses of cab franc with the owner after hours.