Posts Tagged Hemingway

That's our hotel, but that's not me

I’m not going to turn this post into an advertisement for Holiday Inn.  At least, not until they pay me for it.  But that ain’t happening anytime soon, so what follows is my unbiased opinion of our accommodations during our Virginia Beach trip.

The Location

The Holiday Inn Oceanfront is located on Atlantic Avenue, just across from 21st Street.  In fact, the entrance to the parking lot shares a traffic light with 21st Street.  It’s right on the boardwalk, in the center of all the action.  Within walking distance are many bars, restaurants, ice cream stands, and even an arcade.

The Parking Lots

Parking is tight all over Virginia Beach, and the hotel parking was no exception.  If you venture out for dinner, good luck getting a spot when you arrive back at the hotel.  You’ll probably have to settle for the hotel’s auxiliary parking lot, located just down 21st Street.  Since 21st is a one-way street, you’ll have to circle around to Pacific Avenue via 22nd Street in order to make the left into the auxiliary parking lot on 21st Street.

The Lobby

The lobby of the Holiday Inn Oceanfront is clean and airy.  There are two elevators, but no separate service elevator, so don’t be surprised if you’re riding up to your room next to a cart full of towels.  The longest wait that I experienced was about five minutes, so this really wasn’t an issue for me.  Located just off the lobby is the smallish indoor pool, and Latitudes Restaurant, which serves up excellent food.  Free coffee is available throughout the day next to the bar in Latitudes.  There are soda and ice machines located next to the elevator on each floor.

The Room

Our room contained two double beds, which can accommodate 4 adults if you so wish, provided you don’t fight over the bathroom.  The bathroom is decently appointed, and the amenities included a blow dryer, iron & ironing board, refrigerator, and coffee maker.  While it won’t knock your socks off, the place was clean, the air conditioning cranked, and the view from the balcony was pleasant.  The balcony provided a nice view point of the boardwalk while I watched the sunrise.

10th floor view of sunrise over the empty boardwalk

While the A/C kept the room cool, the west-facing hallway outside the room is a wall of windows that bakes in the afternoon sun.  The room set us back about $220 a night.

The Restaurant

Like I said before, Latitudes served up excellent meals, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  The menu includes burgers and wraps, and the beer was cold.  Also, there’s a recreation above the bar of Ernest Hemingway fishing for marlin from the back of his boat, the Pilar.  Here’s a picture:

Hemingway reeling 'em in

It’s the same boat that he purportedly hunted U-Boats with during World War II.  The bar is a clean, well-lighted place to stop for a nightcap after an evening of roaming the streets.  My wife enjoyed the mudslides, while I hoisted a Jack on the rocks to Papa Hemingway’s effigy.  Then, it was off to bed, to get ready for a new day at the beach.

Which will be the subject of the next post.

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