The Best Western Loyal Inn Scores with Handy Amenities and Great Seattle Location
Published August 22, 2011 | 
I want to travel more. I want to travel a lot. As a result, to enjoy more time traveling it means watching our dollars as we head out on our excellent adventure. Truth is, I don’t want to “travel” in the typical sense – I want to live in new places – maybe for a month or more at a time.
So, when Ernie and I talked about taking this Pacific Northwest Tour we had to lay out how much money we could spend. If we wanted real elegance – we probably could have taken a long weekend. A little less and we could travel for a week. If we were even more careful we could head out on our excellent adventure for ten days. (If we were willing to camp – we probably could’ve been gone three or four weeks.)
Elegant hotels call my name. Their siren song is seductive. When I step in a gorgeous lobby with pristine decor, excellent service and every detail attended to, I’m putty. In fact, the day before leaving on vacation, my friend Stacey and I met at The Four Seasons in Las Vegas for lunch and reveled in the beauty of it all.
When I worked for a successful author and seminar leader I stayed at lovely hotels traveling on business. I was working 12-14 hour days. Believe me, when I fell into bed at the end of a very long day I appreciated elegance. Still do.
Thursday night in Portland OR we stayed at the Ramada Portland Airport. We didn’t arrive until almost midnight. We checked out by 9:00 am. Our bargain basement room ($60) wasn’t a bargain.
The bathroom sink didn’t work, the shower didn’t work and the TV remote control didn’t work. I brought these issues to the attention of the Manager and he gave us a key to another room to shower and dress. We also got our breakfast free. I appreciated his willingness to make things right, but still.
When we arrived at our hotel in Seattle, I wasn’t expecting much for $79 a night. I was happily mistaken. Okay, it’s not The Four Seasons. It’s not even the Hilton I stayed at last month in San Francisco. But it’s spotlessly clean, the bed is uber-comfortable and the amenities are impressive at double the price.
We got that screaming price because we booked our room six weeks ago at the hotel’s website. We talked with another couple who booked their room just before arriving over the phone and they paid $139. Honestly, that’s still a good price for a hotel room in downtown Seattle Washington.
My experience is, the ritzier the hotel, the more they nickel and dime you to death for extras. For example, $20 more for a wifi connection in your room, $25 for parking. Or, $7 for a bottle of water.
We stayed at The Best Western Loyal Inn on 8th Avenue between Denny Street and Westlake.
Our spotless room had a pillowtop queen size bed, a comfy club chair, a flat-screen TV, a desk and office chair, a microwave, refrigerator, iron and ironing board, fluffy towels, hair dryer, toiletries, a coffee maker and coffee, a safe for valuables, free breakfast, daily newspaper, a dry sauna, a large indoor jacuzzi and free local calling. Oh, the front desk service is gracious, friendly and helpful. The view from our window was alley and a cement block wall, but it seems to me the trade-off was definitely worth it.
Best Western: Loyal Inn
2301 8th Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98121-1907
Phone: 206-682-0200
To visit the website click here now.
Posted in Excellent Adventure, Travel Adventures | 
adventure, excellent adventure, hotel review, travelAm I Making the Moment Excellent Right Now?
Published October 21, 2010 | Are you doing what makes you happy right now? 
Are you making the moment excellent right now?
Are you feeling relaxed and fulfilled with your direction?
Answering those questions is about making an assumption you KNOW what makes you happy. You KNOW what makes a moment excellent and fulfilling.
Some people feel there is no greater joy in life than helping others. Later on down the pike some of those same people reach a pivotal moment when they decide, “The hell with this! These people don’t appreciate my hard work and efforts.” So a life that’s been based on providing service and kindness to others results in burn out and feelings of disappointment and resentment.
So, first it’s about struggling to figure out what change they need. What will make them feel happy and fulfilled. Challenging when your entire adult life has been about service to others and not about even tuning in to what you want.
Assessing the Adventure so Far
Published October 18, 2010 | The notion of “Denise’s Excellent Adventure” was “launched” about five months 
ago. How are things going so far?
I can best sum it up by saying it takes a lot to make big life changes – especially when you already have a lot invested in who and what you are. Yes, I’d love to jet off to Italy or Patagonia for a month but it’ll be awhile yet before that happens. I’m looking for ways to live an excellent adventure right where I’m at until I’m ready to go to exciting places. Of course many people think I live in one of the most exciting places on earth – Las Vegas.
The original notion of the excellent adventure was to seek out and immerse myself in new cultures and to write. Writing has always been my passion – since I was a girl and all the way through Journalism and Advertising school in college to ad copywriting, articles, media releases, business proposals and website copy.
The Perils of “Cupcake Marketing”
Published September 7, 2010 | Let’s be honest. 
Many women who own businesses say they’re dedicated to creating success but they really have an expensive hobby. They take mincing steps questioning spending ten bucks on flyers or twenty bucks for a new book. But they effort spend hundreds on a new outfit or purse. Will this help you get closer to living an excellent adventure?
I call it Cupcake Marketing.
Back in the day women were always asked to bake cupcakes for bake sales. So they did. Some women still do. Many women always comply – and never ask for anything in return. They give it all away. Their hard work and ingredients are sold.
Eventually, many get peeved they’re always asked to bake cupcakes. But they wouldn’t dare say “no.” After all, they want to “be nice.” Nice is more important than time or money.
Another Day of Your Life. How did You Spend it?
Published September 2, 2010 | 
When I work with my marketing mentoring clients one of the first things I do is help them really understand at a deep level who their ideal clients are for their home-based business. In doing this I ask them a series of questions to help ‘em gain more clarity. The second bunch of questions fall under the category of, “What makes your ideal customer tick?”
Under that category I ask five specific questions including:
- * Why does your customer get out of bed in the morning?
- * Who is the most important person to him/her in the world?
- * What is most important to him/her in the world?
- * What do they want to accomplish before leaving this world?
- * What does he/she really love about their life?
As a result of that – I keep asking these questions of myself over and over again.
Are You Kickin’ it? Or Winding Down?
Published August 31, 2010 | This weekend I read a blog post by a woman who said she’s 
enjoyed wonderful travels over her lifetime to amazing, exotic places. However age has taken it’s toll. She wrote chances are her travels are pretty much over. She described creaky joints and how walking up curbs is like climbing mountains. Money’s tight, too. She said she’s 54.
I was stunned. Only 54? Are you kidding me?
As I’m typing this I got a hip joint that’s achy. I need to lose weight. (My weight’s always fluctuated – more ups than downs.) I have a slow metabolism that’s getting slower. My health is reasonably good – but I’m not likely to climb Katmandu any time soon.
Why Change Feels so Damn Challenging
Published August 29, 2010 | 
Friends are fascinating. We see in them who we are – and sometimes we see who we don’t want to be. It’s natural to want to help people who are struggling but very often what’s most screwed up is their mindset. For whatever reason each person must experience their own journey just like a butterfly must release itself from it’s cocoon or a baby chick must break free of the egg on it’s own.
This post is about three people I know and care about. All have fallen on tough times economically. All have been pushed into massive mid-life change and are doing their best to deal with the adjustments. Each has handled it differently.
Eat, Pray and Love Your Adventure
Published August 16, 2010 | An Excellent Adventure can be all about 
simple but amazing things that alter our lives in amazing ways. Consider the:
• Simple elegance of Italian olive oil drizzled on asparagus
• Quiet beauty of people meditating at an Indian ashram
• Riotous colors and tropical heat of Bali
As Julia Roberts, in the role of writer Elizabeth Gilbert, experiences a year of personal growth in the movie “Eat Pray Love” away from the hustle-bustle of New York City a few thoughts kept rambling around in my mind.
Who Gave You Permission to do THAT?!?
Published August 16, 2010 | 
My husband Ernie and I rented the DVD of the Michael Jackson documentary “This is It” a couple nights ago. We watched in awe his amazing talent. His passing a year ago was like the passing of an era.
I was inspired by what Jackson was creating – by thinking it up and moving energy. You can argue Whacko Jacko was un-balanced. Watching this film you see his brilliance. He was in control of everything. He was energetic, engaged and happy.
I thought, “Who told Michael Jackson he could do this? Who gave him permission to become King of Pop?”
Posted in Confidence for U, Empower U | adventure, business, Confidence for U, confident, excellent adventure, faith | 
1 CommentYour Business Model and Your Excellent Adventure
Published August 13, 2010 | Enjoying an excellent adventure that involves 
extended travel will probably include finding ways to create cash flow on the road. Since you don’t want to work 40+ hours a week as you travel, it’s crucial to find ways to create more income in less hours.
One great thing about my life is for 18 years I’ve found ways to make money doing what I’m passionate about. Y’know, the “Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow” idea from Marsha Sinetar’s book.
Fine, but at age 52 I’m aware I never stop DOing. I’m ready to be a human BEing rather than a human DOing. Ready to DO different things.
A $14,000 Purse? Are You Kidding?!?
Published August 11, 2010 | A few weeks ago on “Housewives of New York” on the 
Bravo TV network, one of the “housewives” held up a purse her husband apparently bought her as a birthday gift. It still had the price tag on it. $14,000.!!
$14,000 for a purse?!? As if we’re supposed to aspire to that. As if we’re supposed to feel “not good enough” if we can’t afford that extravagance.
Geez, for $14,000 a lot of people could have an amazing excellent adventure and tramp halfway around the world. Or, pay to go back to school. Or, a lot of things.
I was reading the New York Times and discovered an article with the headline, “But Will it Make You Happy?”
Welcome!
Dedicated to every 40+ person still kickin' it. If you have dreams and adventures you refuse to abandon - follow me on the journey. Life is one big adventure! Make yours excellent.
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