We sat down with blogger Allison Graham, who is “driven to break the barriers in labels of menswear for women.” She recently traveled to Napa Valley to show her community of followers that you can step outside the norm, stay at amazing places and be safe. 

When I first came out, I’d have anxiety attacks. I’m an introvert to say the least. Most times I’d hold my head low, worried (also to avoid altercations) about who would think what of me for being me or so to say GAY. I’d always want to go places but opted not to worry about who I might offend with the choices I’ve made in life. To add salt to the wound, I’m black! A black lesbian that dresses like a man. Now I’ve gotten much pleasure with disrupting “normal lives” with my presence and being me, holding my head high. This is what traveling is to me. Learning the ways of the others but introducing them to who I am as well. 

I get very annoyed seeing my community being cliche in their travels because we are scared to step out of the norm. I want to show you guys amazing hotels and places to stay, starting with my first trip to Napa Valley.

I decided I wanted to take a trip to California and instead of visiting more commonly visited cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, I decided to check out Napa Valley. It’s considered one of the world’s great destinations for great wine and beautiful scenery. I immediately fell in love with Senza Hotel which I discovered on HotelTonight.

Senza Hotel is right in the middle of everything in Napa Valley. The check-in process was quick and I was informed that the hotel has wine tasting every night. Free wine, I’m in! My room was huge with a king size bed, with a beautiful fireplace, soaking tub and large balcony that overlooks the hotel vineyard. I was in heaven. I decided to take it easy my first day and check out the hotel amenities. I spent the rest of the day relaxing in the hotel’s heated pool and took a nice soak in their hot tub. As I was heading back to my room, I decided to check out the free wine tasting. I took a glass of wine back to my room and spent the rest of the night in front of the fireplace. 

While I was in Napa I visited Clif Family Winery, owned by the same family that makes Clif Bars. I was feeling slightly tipsy and I already knew I wasn’t going to be able to check-out the next day on time. So I decided to reach out to my HT concierge on my HotelTonight app, asking to have the hotel move my check out to a later time. No problem! My whole experience at Senza was fabulous. The staff made me feel right at home. I was happy, comfortable and pleased by their generosity.

Here’s how blogger Jennifer Lake of Style Charade used HotelTonight on a trip to Brooklyn. Inspired to visit New York? Download the app to get started.

The next time you find yourself traveling to the city that never sleeps, try heading across the bridge to Brooklyn. It was a really fun change of pace, and The Williamsburg Hotel makes for the perfect hip hideaway.

The best part about traveling to New York City is the ability to try new things. The options are almost endless. From a new exhibit at the Met, a trendy restaurant in SoHo, or an award-winning Off Broadway play. However, sometimes you need to escape the hustle and bustle of busy streets and explore a new neighborhood.

On my last trip to the Big Apple, I decided to skip Manhattan altogether and spend the weekend in Brooklyn. I’ve read all about the new hotels popping up in Williamsburg, and I loved that HotelTonight had so many options! In all honesty, I was torn between four different places. The Williamsburg Hotel caught my eye because of the colorful decor and amazing reviews. In short, I would absolutely book another trip at The Williamsburg Hotel. The location was perfect with proximity to so many restaurants, bars, and shops, plus they offered complimentary continental breakfast each morning. There’s nothing better than hot coffee and pastries to start the day!

One of the best aspects of the hotel is that it’s brand new, having opened at the beginning of 2017. The design is industrial yet comfortable with floor-to-ceiling windows; many of the rooms have their own balcony as well! Each and every staff member we interacted with was incredibly kind and helpful. Since we arrived at the hotel after a late evening flight, they were kind enough to make sure we had a higher floor so that the room would be as quiet as possible. Even better, the accommodations came complete with complimentary sleep masks, and the coziest pink robe!

Word on the street is that their rooftop space will open later this year along with an in-house restaurant called ‘Harvey.’ Currently, along with their continental breakfast, afternoon tea is served in the main lobby bar. When we were there, they had an amazing jazz singer  accompanying the tea service. It made for the most relaxing break in the middle of the day!

Here’s how blogger Sophie Longham of Sunny Peaches  used HotelTonight for a mini vacation in New York City. Inspired to visit the big apple? Download the app to get started.

New York is always a good idea.

New York City. The city that never sleeps.  The Big Apple. A Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of. No matter the reason, the season or the budget, New York is always a good idea. From the arts, fashion, architecture, hustle and bustle, food, sightseeing, parks, it’s hard to argue that New York City doesn’t have something for everyone.

My boyfriend and I decided to take a mini vacation to the Big Apple this past weekend and selected to stay at Duane Street Hotel from the HotelTonight app – a hotel located in the city’s bustling Tribeca neighborhood. We knew we wanted to stay in Lower Manhattan and were excited to book this hotel located within walking distance to Chinatown, SoHo, Little Italy, and a short subway ride to Brooklyn. Needless to say, it’s central location in Lower Manhattan made Duane Street Hotel easily accessible to many parts of the city - which made for an action-packed weekend filled with lots of walking and adventure.  

The hotel’s space offers stylish, industrial design alongside modern sophistication, making it the perfect hotel option for couples, business and leisure travelers.

For starters, the boutique hotel is located in a fantastic location in the city’s Tribeca neighborhood.  Duane Street Hotel describes itself as “Old New York European sensibility” filled with “timeless design and discerning residential comforts” such as luxurious bed linens, plus terry bathrobes, and Nespresso machines.

As someone who spends most of her vacation exploring from morning to sunset (did I mention we walked on average of 11 miles per day??!), it’s important for me to come to a peaceful hotel with comfortable amenities. And Duane Street Hotel did not disappoint!

The main floor is divided into three spaces: a work section with copies of newspapers, the lobby with bench seating, and the hotel’s newly renovated bar and lounge, Graffiti Earth – which overlooks Tribeca’s energetic Church Street. We indulged in Happy Hour one night for some craft cocktails before walking over to Little Italy for some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had. Snacking on lobster ravioli, a caprese salad and seafood linguine, Michael and I were immediately reminded of our recent trip to the Amalfi Coast at dinner.

The hotel also offers a bike program for guests to discover Tribeca by bike! We learned that the bicycles were specially designed by Republic bikes and are available for complimentary loan on a first-come, first-serve basic.

It was our first time using the app and I highly recommend it! We can’t wait for our next adventure with HotelTonight.

Here’s how Instagrammer Jordan Santos used HotelTonight in New York City. Inspired to visit? Download the app to get started.

I got engaged last summer and with my fiance being from England, it’s been hard for our families to meet. My family is from Southern California and Ben’s family is from England, which is why we chose to meet in New York since it’s a midpoint between the two. Ben and his family had never been to New York so they wanted to stay more uptown, where most of the tourist spots are. Because we wanted to be close to all the sights we would see and our families, we chose Arlo Nomad.

Arlo Nomad is just north of Madison Square Park and a walk away from the Empire State Building. We also noticed that the property had AMAZING views of the city and a cool deck that had a glass floor so you can see into the traffic and buildings. It was also a couple blocks away from a subway station, which made it really easy to get around the city!

Hotels with free breakfast, yes please! We’ve gathered up some of our favorite International hotels with complimentary breakfast. Yum!

The Hoxton Shoreditch: Light breakfast delivered to your door is a lifesaver after a big night at nearby Shoreditch bars.

Relais Orso: Vicolo 88 is home to the complimentary breakfast by day; modern Italian eats & a rooftop cocktail bar by evening.

Hotel Oderberger: Smart guestrooms give ya a break from the buzz, but must-haves like flat-screens & WiFi keep ya in the loop. Oh, and how about a daily free breakfast?

Starhotels Splendid Venice: Tear yourself away from the marble bathrooms to the fifth-floor rooftop terrace for views that impress even the most seasoned of travelers. Complimentary hot breakfast available.

Margot House (Breakfast Included): Rise & shine with the locally sourced onsite breakfast; 24-hour eats conquer late-night cravings.

Here’s how blogger Jenn lake of Style Charade used HotelTonight on a layover in New York City. Inspired to visit the big apple? Download the app to get started.

A weekend getaway is always a good idea - especially if you have a long layover. One of my favorite places for a stopover? New York City! The Big Apple offers countless activities to fill an itinerary, and it’s an easy place to spend five hours or five days before heading to the next destination. Whether enjoying a Broadway show in Times Square, shopping in Soho or brunching in the Meatpacking District, New York City offers something for everyone.

As we prepared for spring break in the Dominican Republic, we decided to extend our stay and spend the weekend in NYC before heading to the Caribbean. It gave us the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends, try a few new restaurants, and explore areas of the city that we’ve never seen before.

HotelTonight has become my go-to solutions for finding hotels at a moment’s notice. Often, I book trips to New York kind of last-minute, and the HotelTonight app always has fantastic (and affordable) options. We stayed at SIXTY SoHo on Thompson Street. The location is perfect for shopping and dining downtown, and the decor is absolutely gorgeous. It is so elegant, yet comfortable - the perfect balance. Not only that, but SIXTY SoHo has a seasonal rooftop bar - ideal for a summer evening in the city.

Here’s how blogger Alyssa Lenore of Styled & Smitten used HotelTonight on a trip to Los Angeles. Inspired to visit downtown LA? Download the app to get started.

Guess what? HotelTonight is now the official booking partner of The New York Yankees! Their home opener is today and we’re sharing 5 of our favorite hotels in New York City with you!

James SoHo - The trendy rooftop bar attracts local fashionistas with wicked views of both rivers.

ViceRoy Central Park - Masculine, modern ship cabin vibe heavy on the leather, brass and exotic woods. Tech-savvy rooms equipped with smartphone remotes (text the concierge!) plus a Beats by Dr. Dre sound system.

SIXTY Soho - A magnet for celebrities, you never know who will walk through the chic lobby.

SIXTY Les - Seasonal rooftop pool with psychedelic Warhol art at bottom.

11 Howard - Scandinavian chic rules the rooms. Even the bowl for your keys and change is cool. A collab between Anda Andrei & Space Copenhagen, this just-opened stay has slick touches like self-check-in and smart room service.

Here’s to making a night (or weekend) of it!

One of the coolest perks of working at HotelTonight: HT Roulette! About once a month, someone on the team wins a spontaneous – and totally free – weekend trip. We spin a wheel, find our winner and let them know how much they have to spend on their flight and in HotelTonight credits. They then have one hour to book their trip. We take this “plan less, live more” thing seriously.

Recent winner Elliot (from our San Francisco office) went to Istanbul! In his own words:

How’d you feel when you won the trip?
Disbelief at first, then once it sunk in (after about 6 seconds) and I realized what was happening, that disbelief led to adrenaline-fueled excitement.

Why Istanbul?

I’ve always wanted to visit Turkey after doing some traveling in the Middle East a few years ago. Istanbul is one of the most exotic places we have hotels in and the flight there just met my allotted airfare budget. Plus I hate beaches.

Coolest part of the trip?

I landed in Istanbul at 7pm local time after a 13 hour flight from San Francisco, and I was incredibly jetlagged. This actually played to my advantage since I ended up wandering around the city all night, a nocturnal observer in a foreign land. I ate a ton of street food, mingled with drunk partiers, witnessed a street fight, visited the Old City, pet a ton of cool little cats, met some refugees from Syria, rode the metro, relaxed and drank tea at a hookah cafe, and walked about 8 miles total, all in that first night. Definitely channeled my inner Dave Attell there.

How did people react when you told them why/how you were there?

“You’re crazy.”

Funniest/most memorable moment?

I don’t speak any Turkish, so communicating with non-English speaking locals was mainly relegated to some basic English and primate-like hand gestures. Sometimes I’d order food and have no idea what I was getting. The first night, I tried ordering (in English - obviously) a fish sandwich from a cart on the street. The Turkish man serving the food mentioned he was born in Iran, which was great, since I speak Farsi. I was finally able to order exactly what I wanted.

Lisa Linh // blogger // Weekend escape in Malibu 

My boyfriend recently surprised me with a last minute getaway. With the help of HotelTonight, he scored an amazing deal for a peaceful Malibu hideaway and was able to book it right away with ease. 

We pulled up to the valet and were promptly greeted and assisted with our luggage. We walked up the short flight of stairs and into the gorgeous year old lobby. The concierge smiled as she checked us in, explaining what amenities the property had and the time frame for the complimentary breakfast.

After all business was done, we were given complimentary champagne and were led to our bungalow. During their walk, we noticed the beautiful landscape and enjoyed the fresh air - something rare to find in downtown LA.

Upon arriving to our room, we noticed the spacious private patio and were surprised with a bottle of wine, a gift from the property. The attendant left them alone and as soon as she turned away, we threw our bags on the ground and jumped on the bed. 

From the drive up, you’ll immediately notice the beautiful scenery around you. A change from the concrete jungle of LA that you’re used to. I loved the charm of the property back and was excited to finally be staying overnight at their guest ranch.

Calamigos Guest Ranch offers private cottages, bungalows, signature suites and estate rooms. We were placed in a one bedroom butterfly bungalow, located near the main pool area. The property features two gyms, two swimming pools and jacuzzi, a park and beach club. Not to mention it is just down the street from Malibu Cafe. Room service is provided 24/7 and despite hosting weddings on the property, you really don’t hear a thing. You’re surrounded by mountains, a few harmless raccoons and a cow on the farther end of the property that you only hear if you go towards the gym (or maybe it was just mooing at us).

The bungalow was cute, quaint, and cozy. The king bed was so comfortable that we fell asleep by 9PM and the smart TV was a huge plus because I spent all night watching ‘Friends’ on Netflix.

Complimentary breakfast was available in the lobby until 11AM the next morning and featured a delicious breakfast buffet. (Note: choose the bacon over the sausage.) The staff was friendly and very responsive, we never had to wait more than 30 minutes for room service, and valet left complimentary water and mints in our car for us.

Out of the entire property, my favorite place was the jacuzzi. The temperature of the water was perfect and despite the moody weather we received during our stay, we made good use of the pool area - at least photo wise. The area was deserted as it was lightly raining but we saw it as an opportunity to be creative ;)

Here’s how photographer and Instagrammer @stevenfingar used HotelTonight on a trip to London. Inspired to visit England? Download the app to get started.

London has been one city that has always evaded my travel itineraries in Europe – until now.

I recently had the pleasure to visit England with HotelTonight to cap off my three-week European adventure. Since much of Europe is in off-season during the months of January to March, one of my best friends took it upon herself to accompany me to London and show me around, as she used to live in the city for school.

Since the city is large and spread out geographically, we made it a point to split half our time in West/Central London and the remainder in East London/Shoreditch. The central area of London hosts many tourist destinations that we wanted to cross off our list at the beginning of the trip. Some of the places included The Natural History Museum, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Kensington, Hyde Park and others. These first few days included a lot of walking and drinking coffee while hopping from landmark to landmark, and occasionally stopping for a glass of rosé or something of the sort. Some of our most memorable stops included Monocle Café and Fabrique Bakery, as well as an amazing French-inspired lunch at Aubaine in Selfridges that boasts a wisteria oasis in the heart of London.

After spending a few days in the tourist conglomerate of London, we made our way over to East London/Shoreditch to get a more intimate feel of the city. This area of London was one of my favorites during the trip, as it exuded both the feel of Brooklyn, NY and San Francisco – but with a European flair, of course.

My friend and I stayed next to The Gherkin at the Devonshire Club, an exclusive members-only club that hosts guests in their hotel from time to time. The level of opulence was visible throughout the club, from ornate details at the Prosecco bar to the club staff that went to all ends to make sure your experience was of similar quality, and the food and wine list that were expertly-curated for a posh London experience. The 1920s inspired décor was gorgeously incorporated into the modern furnishings of the establishment, all of which was surrounded by an elitist environment of ‘who’s who’ in the city.

The club is located in the financial hub of London – a quick walk to the Liverpool station and Gherkin. This area houses some of the best pubs and bars of the city, any of which can be found from long queues that are visible while exploring the streets. Spitalfields Market was a popular resting spot during our adventures as it had everything from smoothie/juice bars, to restaurants and pubs, and many designer shops.

Right outside of Spitalfields market was the area of Shoreditch, which transported us back to Williamsburg with its trendy coffee shops, dark brick buildings, and plethora of artist studios. Each morning we grabbed our favorite breakfast and coffee at Ozone Coffee Roasters before exploring Shoreditch and the surrounding area. Some of our favorites included Indian food at Dishoom, pastries from Paper & Cup, and drinks at The Alchemist. Every corner of East London had something new and interesting to explore, and it ended up offering much more than we originally expected.

Our experience in London with HotelTonight re-instilled a feeling of wanderlust in both of us. I have my sights set on this amazing city in the near future, and I can’t wait to return. Until next time, London.