Hotel: Courtyard Dallas Market Center

City: Dallas, TX
Chain: Marriott
Property: Courtyard Dallas Market Center
Address: 2150 Market Center Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75207
Phone Number: (214) 653-1166

Check Out: February 13, 2007



Your basic Courtyard experience, although the shower was much nicer than usual, and the dining room and room service seemed a bit more than usual. Also, a real bar with a real bartender who poured great drinks.

There's a Denny's next store if you need something different. There's a little pool and garden area in the middle of the building (outside). It seemed a bit more upscale than a normal Courtyard.

Rating:

• Safety: 1
  
• Dining: 1
  
• Bar: 1
  
• Internet: 1 (free and slow, or paid and fast)
  
• Wireless in Common Areas: 1
  
• Work Space, Power: 1
  
• Shower: 1 (awesome - high up and wasteful)
  
• Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
  
• Common Areas: 1
  

Total: 9

Directions:

Last Visit: February 13, 2007 ($209 a night)

Flight: United #5351 SAT-IAD

Departing From: San Antonio, TX (SAT)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (IAD)
ETD: 12:02PM February 14, 2007 (actual: 3:00 PM)
ETA: 3:20PM February 14, 2007 (actual: 7:00 PM)
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate: 16
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment:
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Other:

I was supposed to be on a 1-stop through O'hare. But there was winter weather all up the northeast portion of the country which killed schedules everywhere. This was a flight that was supposed to leave before I got to the airport, but it was delayed because Dulles was closed. So, I was able to get on, which was a double bonus:

My connection through O'hare was cancelled later.
The equipment and crew were here, so I knew this flight would get there once Dulles was open.

So, ended up home a little later than original, but I did much better than I would have with the original tickets!

Airports: Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Airport Name: Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
FAA Sign: CLT
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Airport Web Site: http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Airport/Home.htm

Airports: Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Airport Name: Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport
FAA Sign: DCA
Location: Washington, DC USA
Airport Web Site: http://www.metwashairports.com/national/

The smallest, and the best of the three Washington area commercial airports. The perfect size for lots of services, easy parking, and getting in and our easily. There is a Metro stop right there, and the daily parking is an easy walk across a bridge to get inside. Lots of dining and shopping, an incredible view across the Potomac river to our nation's capital.

Driving there can be difficult. During rush hour you are fighting every other driver in the DC area. One mistake by one driver on the GW parkway means you might miss your flight if your schedule is tight. However, heads and shoulders the best experience compared to IAD and BWI.

Restaurant: White Horse Tavern

707 East Lancaster Avenue, Route 202 & 30
Frazer, PA 19355
Phone: 610-524-5500

Historic tavern attached to a Sheraton hotel. The decor is "tavern" - a fireplace in each room, chair rail moulding, creaky floors, etc. We had breakfast here buffet style, and it was good and the service was good.

We liked all the horse themed pictures on the walls.

Flight: US Air #2043 BOS-DCA

Departing From: Boston, MA (BOS)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (DCA)
ETD: 04:45PM January 23, 2007
ETA: 06:20PM January 23, 2007
Est. Duration:
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Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Airbus A319
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Flight: US Air #978 CLT-BOS

Departing From: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
Traveling To: Boston, MA (BOS)
ETD: 09:30PM January 22, 2007
ETA: 11:24PM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
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Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: Boeing 757-200
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Flight: US Air #2362 Gainsville, FL-CLT

Departing From: Gainesville, FL
Traveling To: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
ETD: 07:10PM January 22, 2007
ETA: 08:30PM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: CRJ50
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Flight: US Air #2401 CLT-Gainesville, FL

Departing From: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
Traveling To: Gainesville, FL
ETD: 09:19AM January 22, 2007
ETA: 10:36AM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
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Arrival Gate:
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Equipment: CRJ50
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Flight: US Air #1680 DCA-CLT

Departing From: Washington, DC (DCA)
Traveling To: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
ETD: 06:59AM January 22, 2007
ETA: 09:19AM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
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Equipment: Airbus A320
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Hotel: Radisson Valley Forge

City: King of Prussia, PA
Chain: Radisson
Property: Radisson Valley Forge
Address: 1160 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone Number: 610-768-3222

Check Out: December 31, 2006



Seems like I've looked at this hotel most of my life.

In high school the hotel include a two screen movie theater that was much larger and nicer than the ones in Pottstown. It was much more of an adventure going to the movies there. Over the years the complex added an office building and replaced the movie theater with a convention center of some kind. Still very recognizable to be with its distinctive cylinder shape, but quite different than 30 years ago.

The round cross section creates somewhat pie shaped rooms. So, the rooms are cramped near the door, and the bathrooms are kind of small. But the room area is nice. There is a little balcony long since sealed up, and depending on the side of the building your room is on you're either looking at a parking lot or you get a sense of the rolling hills of Valley Forge. Over the highway.

One major warning - avoid the "fantasy suites". The top floor is a series of rooms each with a "theme" of over the top decorations. This floor doesn't feel like it was meant to have rooms - you have to walk up steps after getting off at the top floor. My guess is that these used to be two floor suites or something from the floor below since it doesn't make sense that you would walk up a floor to get in the room. The themes are silly, in a Poconos way, although kids probably think its great to be in the spaceman room or something. But the rooms have no windows to the outside and the furnishings are more style than comfort.

The regular rooms are fine. The resturant was OK, and if you don't like it, King of Prussia mall is over the hill.

Rating:

• Safety: 1 - you're out away from everything.
  
• Dining: 1
  
• Bar: 1 (separate bar)
  
• Internet: 1 (pay per day)
  
• Wireless in Common Areas: 0 (I think)
  
• Work Space, Power: 1 (except top floor)
  
• Shower: 1
  
• Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
  
• Common Areas: 1
  

Total: 7

Directions:


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Last Visit: December 31, 2006 ($118 a night)

Restaurant: Daily News, Bethesda MD

Bethesda Metro Center,
Bethesda, MD

Nice place sitting in the middle of causal and nice. The menu is varied, and the decor is booths with dark wood. I've been here a few times for lunch, this was the first time for dinner, and the service was good. Salmon was cooked right, and the Chicken Marsala was very good, although serviced with mashed potatoes was a little different. Bar is well stocked - Hendricks martini was poured well.