The Hotel:  One of the key things I look for in a hotel is location.  I usually do not go for hotels in a busy area and the Hilton Vienna Plaza delivered with the location.  It is in an accessible area but far away from the loud tourist crowd and walking distance from quaint local neighborhoods.  One of the main metro stations, Schottentor is located a short walk from the hotel, there is a metro stop directly in front of the hotel, and it's a 30 minute walk from the Vienna Museum Quarter.  Another thing to be noted at the hotel is the decor.  The hotel underwent a big renovation in 2014 and the new rooms are decorated to fit the 20's theme of the hotel.  You can see it in the bow-ties and hats of the men at the bar and the ruby red lips of the women at the front desk. You can see it in the art-deco details throughout the hotel and a screening of Vienna circa 1920's that plays continuously in the hotel elevator.

The Room: we stayed at a Plaza Room which is slightly larger than the regular Guest Rooms.  The beds were comfortable and I loved the minimalist decor with a pop of emerald green with the chaise longue chair at the foot of the bed.  Another highlight of the room was the deep bathtub which was perfect for a nice warm bath after a day of intense sightseeing. Tip: always ask for an upgrade upon checking in to a hotel, the worst thing they can say is no!

The Service: What truly makes a place is the people. Behind the beautiful rooms, gorgeous lobby, and great location there's a team of people that make the experience memorable.  We got that when the concierge went out of his way to book us last minute tickets to a classical music concert, a bartender with perfect attention to detail in making a cocktail, or the smile of a housekeeper after a long day.  From hunting down a cab on New Year's Eve to a simple chat with the front desk, we were made to feel at home. 

During the holidays, I spent a few days in Brussels visiting friends and researching the local hotel scene. One of the hotels that appealed to me was The Dominican Hotel. I used to go there quite often for a quiet cocktail with friends. To me, it always seemed like a luxurious oasis in the middle of the chaotic city center of Brussels. On a quiet side street facing the back of La Monnaie, the Opera House of Brussels the former Dominican monastery turned hotel resides. Tip: Go to the café at La Monnaie, it's quite popular with locals.



Facade of The Dominican Hotel in Brussels

Room:  My room at The Dominican Hotel was a deluxe room. Loved the simple décor of the room and its masculine colors and details. The dark curtains were perfect for taking a post flight nap and there was plenty of light from the courtyard when I needed it.  The hotel has free wifi and plenty of outlets to plug all my devices in. The bed was plush and comfortable but the highlight was the bathtub. After a long day at the Christmas Markets, I treated myself to a long bath in the deep bathtub (sea salts included).

Room at The Dominican Hotel Brussels

Food and Bar:  The food and bar of the hotel are quite popular with locals so I suggest to make a reservation if you plan to dine, especially on the weekend. The bar has been one of my favorite cocktail bars in the city for several years now. It's the perfect place to catch up with an old friend, go on a date, or just decompress after a long day of sightseeing.  The breakfast, in Belgian fashion is also delicious. The restaurant area faces the courtyard of the hotel, where you can sit in the summertime.

Bar at The Dominican Hotel

Location:  If you are on a short trip and want to see all the important sights, The Dominican Hotel is in the perfect location, just a short walk from popular attractions such as the Grand Place, Place Saint Catherine, Sablon, among others.  The metro DeBrouckere is a short walk from the hotel and there are plenty of buses and trams nearby as well. If you're a foodie, you will love the seafood restaurants near Place Saint Catherine. If you love to shop, head to Rue Dansaert which is hopping with new Belgian designers and hip vintage shops.



Cocktails at The Dominican Hotel

Verdict:  If you want to be in the middle of it all but still appreciate anonymity, The Dominican Hotel is the place for you. One of the things I enjoyed the most was walking to all the attractions I love about the city center and then retiring to a quiet and peaceful room. For tips on what to do on a weekend trip to Brussels, check out my Weekend Guide to Brussels.


Decor at The Dominican Hotel

* Disclaimer: My stay at The Dominican Hotel was sponsored by the hotel. As always opinions are my own and I only write about the things I love. 

Thanks to modern technology, traveling has become much easier. Thanks to my T-Mobile Simple Choice Plan, which allows me unlimited data and texting abroad, my Galaxy 5 is at my full disposal without having to troll around for free wi-fi at a restaurant or café. Here are a few apps that have gotten me through international and domestic travel.

Open Table helps me make reservations to memorable meals, like this one at Rural Society

For the foodies:

Open Table: This app I use both here in DC and also when I travel around the US. It's a quick way to make restaurant reservations without having to make a phone call. You can filter the restaurant selection via neighborhood and check reviews from fellow users. I was also happy to see that the app as extended to countries such as Singapore, Germany, United Kingdom, among others.

Urbanspoon: I first discovered this app when I was traveling in Australia. I found some amazing restaurants in Melbourne via this app such as Balancea and Cumulus Inc. I also love how it has a section where you can see blog posts about the restaurants. It currently only serves US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK but I am hoping it expands soon!


XE Helped me Navigate Through Hungarian Currency

For the International Traveler:

XE Currency Exchange: This app is a must for the international shopper. Sometimes when you're out there, you may think your Euro or your Pound is monopoly money. This app brings you back to reality and shows you the current exchange rate. Also, it ensures you are not getting ripped off by a currency exchange service abroad.

Google Translate:  When I travel, I make it a point to learn the basic phrases in the language. Some come easy to me, some not so much (was struggling in Hungary).  Sometimes the best food is found in places where there may not be many English speakers. The app is not perfect but it will at least get you the right dish!


Westin Cancun Mexico

To Chronicle your Adventure:

VSCO: Once I discovered VSCO for photo editing, I never used Instagram filters again! The photos look more finished and professional. The filters have more depth and detail as well.  On the picture above I was able to refine the beautiful colors of the sea with the VSCO Editing tools.

Google Keep: Most phones already have a memo feature but I prefer Google Keep.  As much as I love to handwrite, sometimes I need to take quick notes on the go. I love that I can organize my thoughts on Google Keep whether I'm on the metro, waiting for a bus, or at a café. It helps me document where I ate, what I saw, or what I experienced during a trip. 

Vivino: If you're a wine lover like me, this is an amazing app! No matter where I'm at, I can take a photo of the label of wine that I'm having and find out if they sell it near me. It's also a way to document wines that you don't want to have again!


Schintzel in Vienna

For Travel Tips:

Yelp:  Loving that Yelp has made its way around the world!  A few days ago, we were in Vienna and wanted to go to a local, non touristy restaurant. We went to Yelp and looked at restaurants with mostly local reviewers. We ended up having some great Wiener Schnitzel at a cozy Gasthaus in a residential neighborhood, Gasthaus Rebhuhn.

AFAR App: We love AFAR Magazine since it really makes its readers part of the discovery process instead of a tight group of editors and writers such as other publications. We found a delicious and affordable Burmese restaurant, Rangoon through its guide.

For Travel Info:

TripIt Pro: Are you traveling with people who are coming from different places? Want to keep up with their flight statuses? TripIt is a great app for that since you can consolidate all of the group travel information and track flights. For personal travel is great as it consolidates all of your travel plans to include finding you the best seats, gives you real-time alerts for cancellations, and even tracking your miles.


KLM Plane in Amsterdam Airport

Sometimes traveling is about disconnecting and getting in touch with the analog world. However, having a great app to organize your trip also saves you time to create those memories. What is your favorite travel app?