Neverland Ranch Interactive Road Trip Map (opens in a new tab/window)

Quick search for hotels that do online booking within 20 miles. You can change the search and distance once you are on the page.

Update: Please watch the news for the latest information. The latest reports say that nothing is happening at Neverland Ranch, which makes sense given the road and neighborhood. Although the word is out, expect chaos and who knows what will really happen.

As it once was. Click for larger image.

Search those that do online booking within 20 miles. You can change the search and distance once you are on the page.

Neverland Ranch, formally owned by Michael Jackson is where his public memorial viewing will be held on Friday, July 3, 2009. A precession of vehicles will bring his body to the Neverland Ranch on Thursday. A private service follows on the weekend.

Update: Please watch the news for the latest information. The latest reports say that nothing is happening at Neverland Ranch, which makes sense given the road and neighborhood. Although the word is out, expect chaos and who knows what will really happen.

Workshops are also held throughout the event and vendors have tables set up as well.

For those who want to fully immerse themselves in the experience of the Rod Runs, the only lodging choice would one of the many hotels located on the main Parkway.  This allows visitors to literally step outside of their hotel room into the car show.  It also allows one to fall asleep to the sounds of engines revving all night long, so keep that in mind when choosing where to stay.

Of course, sometimes not every member of the family is going to be on board for a three day car show.  There is a way, however, to make a trip to the Rod Runs fun for all.

For those who are bringing along some less than eager family members, staying in the heart of nearby Gatlinburg is a much better choice.  This will allow the car lovers to drive to Pigeon Forge, but the other family members can walk from the hotel room to nearby shopping, dining and attractions such as Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, the Ripley’s Aquarium and many others.

Those members of the family who do not care about the car show will not have to put up with the traffic jams along the Parkway, and can simply stay in Gatlinburg enjoying all that the city has to offer.

The show goes all day and all night.  At night, the line of cars meandering slowly down the Parkway is constant and gives visitors a chance to hear the engines of the cars they have looked at during the day.

The Rod Runs provide a great chance to network with others from around the country who are interested in similar types of cars.

Those wishing to stay right on the Parkway should make their reservations as far in advance as possible as this is one of the most popular yearly events in the area.  Also, expect to pay a premium price during these events, even if choosing to stay off of the Parkway.   It is noisy all night long on the Parkway, so that is not the best choice for all visitors.

There are other smaller car shows held during the year, but the Spring Grand Rod Run and the Fall Grand Rod Run are, by far, the two biggest.

It costs under $50 to enter a car into the show and vendor tables are available for under $200.

Car lovers must put this on their bucket list!

Sardinia - Photo by cristianocani

When self-exiled British author D. H. Lawrence said that Sardinia was, “lost between Europe and Africa and belonging to nowhere,” he could not have been more accurate.  A distinct dialect of Italian is spoken here that is difficult even for Italians to understand.  The western side of the island is more prone to the qualities that inspired the quote.  Rugged beaches facing Spain and a less densely packed population offer not only a sense of slipping back in time, but also a number of National Parks and protected areas that are fantastic for viewing sea life and having a slowly paced trip. In the northwestern portion of the island both the Cap Caccia Marine Protected area and the Asihara National Park boast amazing natural beauty.  As you slip further down the coastline to the west portion, you come across Piscinas Beach.  The beach is appropriately named because the water is as clear and sparkling as a pool.

The southern portion of the island is the most densely populated and the location of the capital of Cagliari and also home of the busiest of the islands three airports.  One of the most famous areas of the island, not just the south, is the Capo Carbonara Protected Marine Area. With ample beaches and wildlife galore; whether your preference is for soaking up sunshine, swimming with dolphins or donning SCUBA gear and staying submerged; everyone can find something fantastic in what the area has to offer.

If the idea of time away from maddening crowds sitting on an idyllic beach that is backed by limestone cliffs in the region of one of Europe’s only remaining coastal forests puts that far away look in your eye, then head to the eastern coast of Sardinia.  The Gulf of Orosei embraces a peaceful pace of life that focuses on being outdoors, enjoying sports and activities and is off the most beaten tracks. Grottos and caves dot the coast, carved by time out of the limestone cliffs, offering opportunities to explore on land as well as sea.

Sardinia beach with crystal waters - Photo by ezioman

The Costa Smeralda is the crown jewel of Sardinia, with water worthy of the name.  The north eastern portion of the island is hands down the most popular tourist destination, not only for the amazing natural gifts the island has to offer, but for celebrity spotting as well.  The highest concentration of hotels, restaurants and nightclubs is here, overflowing with bronzed tourists famous and normal alike. In the Costa Smeralda, as in the majority of the island, you will notice a scent in the air as you walk through towns, hills and beaches.  Wild herbs grow abundantly and scent the air continuously, adding to the sensation that you are indeed in one of nature’s most perfect creations.

By Gillian Birch

Cathedral Peak in Central Drakensberg - Photo by Fihliwe

A moderate and gentle undulating hike takes you from the Forestry station to the Sterkspruit Falls. This small mountain stream drops 30 metres into a rock pool below. The path takes you to the top of the falls where you can peer over the edge. Be cautious though as there are no railings.  If you continue to the right there is a narrow and somewhat overgrown path that will take you to the base of the falls. It’s a steep descent but the swim at the bottom makes it worthwhile.  The route is out and back which means that you return on the same path.  As a round trip including stops it should not take you longer than two hours walking at a slow to moderate pace.

A more challenging climb is up to the Sphinx. This natural rock formation, whilst much smaller in size, was named after the Egyptian monument because of it’s similar shape.  It sits high up on the hillside as though surveying the territory.  The total ascent is a distance of just over 3km, the gradient is steep and it will take you at least an hour and a half to reach the top. En route is a beautiful waterfall where you can enjoy a refreshing snack stop.

A third route combines both of these hikes. Starting out on the Sphinx trail you go beyond the Sphinx lookout up Verkykerskop and past breakfast stream. You then hike across the saddle for a short way towards the big berg. A few hundred metres further you’ll find a marked trail to your right that goes down the gorge. It’s a stepped descend so can be quite hard on the knees but the scenery is beautiful. The trail takes you down to just above the Sterkspruit falls and then back to the forestry station.  The route can take up to 5 hours including stops so it’s best to set aside a full day to enjoy it.

The last on my list is the Grotto walk. This gently undulating walk starts out from the Drakensberg Sun Hotel. The concierge will point out the trail end to you if you unsure where to go. The route follows a small river and takes you through lush indigenous rainforest. You have to cross the stream several times but there are broad stepping stones so you should not get wet. There are beautiful waterfalls along the way and a large pool at the end. It’s great for swimming if you don’t mind the chilly water temperature.  The hike takes 2-3 hours return at a moderate pace. I would suggest packing a picnic and headding out late morning to get to the grotto at midday. Hiking within the forest you will be protected from the sun and the swim will be a refreshing way to cool off.

No visit to Lancaster would be complete without a ride in an authentic Amish buggy, a visit to a working Amish farm, educational information about this group and fabulous home cooked food created from traditional Amish recipes.  A stay at the Amish View Inn puts all of these elements in one location.

The AAA  three diamond, boutique hotel is set right next to a working Amish farm.  During the day, the clean lines of the fields can be seen from the window of the hotel room.  Just across the road, buggies go back and forth up and down a dirt road.  On Monday, Amish garments can be seen swaying in the breeze, having been hung out to dry on the traditional wash day.

Located on the property is the Amish Experience Theater.  This is a multimedia presentation that seeks to help visitors understand Amish customs, style of dress, and other aspects of Amish life.  Visitors can tour a nine-room house that mimics an Amish farm house to get an even better understanding of the daily lives of this group of people.

A local Amish family owns a company that provides buggy rides and these rides begin at the hotel.  Visitors are taken on a ride through working Amish farms, and have the chance to see an Amish school house, machine shop and horse stable and also have a chance to patronize some Amish road side stands.

The buggy driver will be happy to answer any questions.  This buggy ride is a great way to be able to interact with members of the Amish community in a respectful, non-intrusive manner.  Be sure to ask permission before taking photographs.  Some buggy drivers will not mind, but others prefer not to have their picture taken.

Dinner is served at the Plain and Fancy Farm Restaurant, just a few steps from the front door of the hotel.  The food is served family style and includes many Amish favorites such as home style roast beef, fried chicken, pork chops, chow chow and a selection of fresh from the farm vegetables and fabulous desserts.

There is plenty of shopping within a short drive from the hotel as well.  Antiques, quilts and other items can be found in one of the many shops located nearby.

The hotel itself offers amenities galore. The rooms are extremely comfortable and nicely appointed.  Some rooms feature a fireplace and/or Jacuzzi tub.  A state of the art fitness center, video arcade and a pool are available as well.

A full breakfast is included which includes oatmeal, made to order eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, waffles, assorted fruit, cold cereal and several varieties of juice, pastries and breads.

For a visitor who only had a day or two in Lancaster, and wanted to see as much of the Amish experience as possible, the Amish View Inn offers a perfect solution.

There are many farms within the Green Mountain State that offer lodging to guests who are curious about how these farms operate on a day to day basis.  Sometimes the lodging is as simple as an extra bedroom located within the family farmhouse.  Other farms have cabins dotted over their acreage, providing more privacy to visitors.  Most farm stays include at least some, if not all, of the meals during the stay.

The type of farm visitors should choose would depend, of course, of the time of year.  March and April are the maple sugaring season.  During this time visitors who stay on a maple sugar farm can see how the sticky sweet stuff is made from tap to table.

A stay on a dairy farm is another option.  One farm has over 150 head of cattle and visitors are invited not only to learn about the daily work involved in such a farm, but to participate in it as well.  Visitors can feed the cows, clean the stalls and pet and feed the barn cats.

This vacation idea is often especially appealing to families with children who are old enough to appreciate the experience.  These vacations are not all work, however. One farm has a fully stocked pond in which visitors are encouraged to swim or fish.  There are plenty of hiking trails and, in winter, snow shoeing and skiing are popular activities.

In the spring and fall, some farms feature a corn maze, apple picking and pumpkin patches.  Some farms offer horseback riding, a grape harvest, sheep shearing and other farm related activities.

Some farms offer special holiday themed stays. One example is the many Christmas tree farms.  Visitors learn about the process of growing and caring for these trees and then take one home with them to use as their Christmas tree.

Even when staying on a farm, there will be plenty of shopping and antiquing within driving distance which will allow plenty of opportunities to shop for mementos of the visit.

While there is plenty to do, there is also plenty of opportunity to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of a quaint New England Farm.

Fresh hand made mozzarella - Allstays.com

In the early spring, when the rains have finished and the hills are even more lushly green than the rest of the year, the crowds begin.  If you have ample time the Italian Sommeliers Association offers a certification program in Florence that could accompany a semester in one of the many culinary institutes of the region.  For the typical person that does not have three spare months to learn the intricacies of Italian cuisine, spring is the perfect time to do a week long cooking jaunt in one of the myriad of villas in the Tuscan hills that have been converted to luxury hotels offering cooking classes and wine tours.  Sleep the night away in a centuries old villa surrounded by vineyards, enjoy coffee and brioche before heading to a farmer’s market and then spend the afternoon learning to make pasta from scratch, a vibrant tomato sauce and artichoke risotto.

When the Tuscan sun is reaching its zenith in the summer and there is nary a cloud in the sky to threaten a sudden brief thunderstorm, the options broaden.  Bicycling tours going from farmhouse to winery to restaurant join their automotive cousins in showing tourists everything from how salami is made to how those grapes become that luscious liquid that should accompany every dinner. Tomatoes are everywhere, strawberries and peaches are abundant and classes and tours will always focus on fresh, in-season ingredients.  August is hot. August is the month to be at the beach in Italy so most small businesses close and it is infinitely more recommended to come to Tuscany in the fall.

Autumn is the ideal time to visit Tuscany for the food and wine addicted.  The grape harvest is coming in and every town from San Gimignano to Siena is awash in fellow aficionados.  In some places tourists can actually participate in the harvest as a portion of the wine touring, which is about more than Chianti.  Autumn is also the time for truffles.  Hunters are taking their dogs out daily, digging up the delectable fungi and bringing them to restaurants and food festivals to be shaved over everything from omelettes to risotto to bistecca.  The most famous area for truffles is San Miniato, and the truffle festival there is not to be missed by the agritourist.  The pungent, earthy aroma lingers over the festival, inviting you to deeply inhale in anticipation of everything you are about to consume.

Peaks for travel for agritourists are in spring and fall, but classes ranging from a few hours to a week are held year round throughout the region.  Booking ahead during these peak times is key to finding availability because the vast majority of the hoteliers that cater to this sector are smaller and tend to have high occupancy rates.  The economic turndown has not affected agritourism in Tuscany as much as it has impacted other areas of travel so while Florence hotels have fairly wide availability for the season, planning ahead for this particular Tuscan dream is recommended.  The lack of turndown also tells you just how fantastic and well appreciated the Italian reverence for food and wine is among fellow travelers.  Mangia.

Wandering Japan, you may notice hotels with signs out front offering several prices. You may see rests, stays, short stays, long stays or overnight stays on the signage along with bright neon signs on the hotel. You have found a love hotel. I may have just offended a hotel owner however. Love hotel is the old term and probably the easiest term to use as well. Business persons and more proper minded people would prefer that I call them leisure hotels, couples hotels, theme hotels, fashion hotels, or maybe boutique hotels. Those terms are also used by other types of hotels around the world so “love hotel” is still the best term in my opinion. You’ll also find these in other places like South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. If you are in Central America and Mexico, the term is “autohotels”.

Inside the door, in what would otherwise be a hotel lobby, you’ll probably find a menu wall. It’s like a big vending machine only you are getting a room instead of a candy bar. This wall will have lots of photos of rooms, some of them are lit up and some are darkened. If it is lit up and visible, the room is available right now. Push the button next to the photo. Hand over the cash and a faceless shadowy person behind the smoky dark glass gives you the keys to the room you selected. That’s it. You are on your way to a room in a love hotel.

The Reality

Sound sordid? Not really. Is it some dark underground market? No. Are the floors sticky like an old theater just off Times Square? No. The fact is that in Japan, dwellings are tiny and there may be many people or multiple generations living in a small space. The walls may be just rice paper. Privacy just isn’t found in abundance if at all. So many years ago, love hotels starting popping up all over. You pay for the room for the time that you need it and no more. This allowed married couples to have time to themselves. Of course, other relations would use them too. Sex seems to be accepted as more of a fact of life in Japan than it is in the west. And love hotels usually only allowed a man and a woman into a room.

Business hotels in Japan are very expensive. Love hotels are usually reasonable and some may even say cheap. Some of them are just nice hotel rooms. Some have more mirrors than normal, large TVs with Karaoke, a bathtub and a bed. Those are the basics but it has been taken to all new levels over the years. Whatever you can imagine good and bad, dirty and twisted, it has probably been done with a love hotel. From bumper cars to swings and mini-Hollywood like sets, you can find it and fulfill your fantasies in them. I won’t go into any details here but if you can order certain kinds of toys from room service and have a cash machine in your room, you know where you are.

For some great down time entertainment, look for the love hotel diaries in your room. These are little books left in the room for customers to write notes and messages to one another. They may be written by anyone that had the room which could be university girls, older married couples or men on business.

The Business

Love hotels started out with guys in mind. Just think back to the 1970s. The designs were basic and not very feminine. Now the business realizes that you have to attract the female and the guy will always follow. The designs are getting better and amenities are greater. The rooms are cleaner with nicer bathrooms. More upscale touches are everywhere. This change benefits everyone however, not just women. I like a clean bathroom!

It is big business. Both for locals who use it as intended and tourists who just have to experience it once. Imagine flipping a room every few hours instead of just once a day? The rent is adjusted accordingly of course. You don’t have it for the night and you can’t come and go as you please. You pay one price to get in and you pay again if you come back. It is important to know the rules in advance. You pay for the time you used. You should also take off your shoes before entry of the room.

The Decline

Despite their improvement and going more mainstream, the number of old love hotels is declining. New big theme park places are built on the edge of cities. Contracts limit the ability to transfer ownership of old love hotels as well so they may just close down when an owner dies instead of going to the next generation. Many of them were built above cemeteries since land is at a premium. No one wants to live above a cemetery but a love hotel? Yes. Overall the numbers of love hotels are in a massive decline. There are less than half as many as in the 1980s. The long standing turmoil in the economy in Japan probably hasn’t helped.

The rates are higher in the evening and late at night. If you can spend your time in a love hotel in the morning to mid afternoon, you’ll pay a fraction of the later rate and save some cash.

I had a couple of good resource websites I wanted to list here but they seem to have gone away. I can only find dead sites and broken links so the subject is one that you just have to have your feet on the ground and be there when you need the room. You can’t really plan a trip to these places in advance. LovehoMap, mostly in Japanese, can be useful if you can figure it out.

The closest the big hotel chains get to this business is to fill your TV with pay per view options and then not talk about all the extreme money they make off of it. But that’s another story.

Osaka has many great options if you are looking. The best love hotels tend to be around here. There are four popular areas: Umeda, Namba, Ikutamateramachi, and Sakuranomiya.

Here are just some hotels to look for if you are so inclined. As mentioned before, love hotels are not something you book ahead of time for a vacation so they don’t have websites like I wish they did. These are some of the bigger names and most likely to still be around for a while as others come and go. You can do searches for any of these and find more photos online. Because I run a family site here, I just can’t post some of the photos that should be seen by interested travelers.

Ikutamateramachi area

Adonis
Osaka, Tennoji-ku, 5-5-15, Tel. (06) 6761-0168
Adonis is theme heavy with all it’s rooms. From S&M to cartoon characters, you can have dreams or nightmares.

Gang Snowman
Osaka, Tennoji-ku, Ikutamateramachi 4-4, Tel. (06) 6772-1414
It’s what this named hotel used to be but it still deserves mention. There’s a big red 70’s Cadillac on the roof that’s been converted into a bed, Guests can use it for free for forty minutes. Gang Snowman is located close to Namba and just a 5 minute walk south of Shitennoji Station on the Tanimachi subway line.

Public Jam
Osaka, Tennoji-ku, Uehonmachi 5-5-12, Tel (06) 6762-6338
A nice modern hotel, typical except for the merry go round in one of the rooms.

Namba area

Hotel U’s
Osaka, Chuo-ku, Dotonbori, 2-3-14, Tel. (06) 6211-5199
This is famous for the basket chair room. It is a chair hanging from the ceiling with a hole in the bottom of it. Although you can buy this stuff for your private home nowadays, it all starts somewhere and that somewhere is probably in a love hotel in Japan.

Hotel Pamplona
Osaka, Chuo-ku, Dotonbori 2-4-11, Tel. (06) 6212-4615
A love hotel to love. Only here can you can find a bed with a cage around it, torture chambers, Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse. I bet those big corporate folks love that.

Umeda

Little Chapel Christmas (two locations)
Osaka, Kita-ku, 11-5 Doyama-cho, Tel. (06) 6365-7750
Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi 1-9-18, Tel. (06) 6212-7322
It is Christmas every day and you can relive the most romantic moments over and over again in a room here. This is definitely a place designed to appeal to women more than men with tasteful decor and old fashioned beds.

Sakuranomiya area
This area east of Umeda is a bit more run down than the others. Many of the places are cheap but that also means old. It may not be the place to take your romantic getaway.

Tower’s Hotel
Osaka, Miyakojima-ku, Nakanomachi 1-12-18, Tel. (06) 6353-3760
This is an upscale modern hotel with a pools, billiard tables, bumper cars and more.

Kobe
The love hotel area is near Shin-Kobe station.

Tokyo
You need to just walk around and find something that strikes you. There isn’t as much that stands out here as in Osaka. Shibuya’s Love Hotel Hill is the most famous area in Japan due to sheer numbers of people.

P&A Plaza
Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Dogenzaka 1-17-9, Tel. (03) 3780-3211
Kinky fun for groups or lots of people in some of the rooms.

P&A Plaza II
Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Dogenzaka 2-26-12, Tel. (03) 3780-0023
The second Plaza is more refined and appealing to women than the first.

Sagamiko Elizabeth Sekitei
Kanagawa-ken, Tsukui-gun, Fujinomachi, Hizure 1680-1, Tel. (0426) 87-4001
This is a replica of the HMS Queen Elizabeth II and is one of the most famous of love hotels in Japan. Nautical themes are popular here of course.

Hotel Art
Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Dogenzaka 2-26-2, Tel. (03) 3780-6211
If you love modern art while taking a rest…

Hotel The Rock
Gunma prefecture, Takasaki-Shi, Kamisanomachi 1095-3, Tel (027) 325-6969
Did you ever dream of romance in a prison? Well you can pay for it here. Lots of rock and a warden to greet you.

The numbers are in decline but the demand is still there and always will be part of human nature. So to be like a local in the 1980s and 1990s, put your sunglasses on, pull your hat down and take a peek inside one of the hotels. And if you are up to it with company, take a rest while you are there.

Have you ever been to a Japanese love hotel? Please share your thoughts and (clean) experiences if you have.

More information:
KansaiNow
Tokyo Journal’s Top Ten Tokyo Love Hotels