Holiday Staycation at Le Meridien Columbus

ALL IMAGES ROOSEVELT GROUP

The countdown is officially on folks. We are just a few days away from Christmas, which means that every one and their momma will be out shopping for these 8 days. If I am being completely forth coming, I have yet to purchase ONE SINGLE PRESENT. NOT ONE. As I grow older, the more I realize how physical gifting isn’t neccessary. Don’t get me wrong, everyone loves presents (myself included). However, I think we put too much emphasis on finding the perfect gift when we can actually gift something much more meaningful…OUR TIME.

Between 24/7 social media engagement, work, giving back, etc. most of us live our lives in a constant state of organized chaos. It’s fun, but exhausting. In many situations the chaos does not leave very much free time for us to marvel in our relationships with family and close friends. Another tidbit that I am learning as I grow older is just how important it is to spend QUALITY TIME with the people you love most. Alitzah (one of my absolute closest girlfriends) and I had been brainstorming some different ways we could spend time together and celebrate each other this holiday season! With both of us having insanely busy schedules, venturing out of the city was definitely out of the question. Thanks to a little extra thought and creativity, we decided to take an adventure in the heart of our own city, Columbus’ Short North. Yes, STAYCATION.  And guess what? That’s exactly what we did. Two days of sheer girltime.

While some may find the idea of a STAYCATION semi-corny, Alitzah and I can both attest, that is not the case! Especially when Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph is the CORE of your experience. In hopes of inspiring you to gift one of your loved ones with a little staycation and some much needed quality time, I am breaking down the THREE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS of taking a vacation in your city: SLEEP, EAT AND PLAY. 

You already know, but we rested our pretty little heads at Le Meridien Columbus (affectionately known as The Joseph by true 614-ers). I must admit, when planning a staycation, where you STAY is without a doubt the priority of your EXPERIENCE. Since Alitzah and I already live in Columbus, it was high priority to stay somewhere lush and lovely. According to my friend Monica, when you stay at a hotel it should be 4 times nicer than your home, otherwise, what’s the point! Well, The Joseph is 10 TIMES NICER than my little apartment. The décor is perfection, the beds are heaven and the atmosphere is soothing.

Alitzah and I checked in around 3:30PM last Saturday and spent a good little while just hanging out in our room on the 7^th Floor (with a High Street View…AMAZE) and marveling at the wonderful experience that makes up The Joseph before heading out to dinner. Valet, an attentive concierge (Todd you ROCK), bell service…yup, the works. In my opinion, Le Meridien Columbus is the epitome of LUXURY.

The Short North Art District is known for its incredible variety of amazing food. With a number of restaurant options at our finger tips, Alitzah and I decided to enjoy the variety of cuisine options The Joseph offers! Yet another reason to place high value on the sleep location on your staycation, because you can also dine there!  One morning we ordered in-room dining service, which was absolutely delightful. That same evening we ventured down to the Soul Bar at The Joseph to partake in an appetizer, a few beverages and of course an entrée. I selected the spaghetti and it was nothing short of amazing! Another phenomenal dining option at The Joseph is The Guild House! You can access it from the lobby level and it too is amazing!

As you can see, we stayed in our neck of the woods for the majority of our eats! However, there are a few notable Short North spots that are worth visiting, one being Philco Diner. With a maxium occupancy of 44 peeps, Philco Diner is an Americana spot that serves the best burgers and coneys on the planet! I am loyal to this place guys and would it eat it 24/7 if possible! On this particlar adventure, I selected the coney dogs and Alitzah snagged a grilled cheese and fries. I know, very simple foods. But Philco has this magical touch that everyone in the 614 needs to experience. Another notable spot in the Short North hood is, Jeni’s Ice Cream. It’s Jeni’s. Do I really need to say more?  After grabbing a bite at Philco, we scooted over to Jeni’s to partake in some creamy holiday flavored goodness.

Everyone has a different definition of PLAY.  Motivated by our desire to simply enjoy ourselves and each other, Alitzah and I played easy and recharged by utilizing The Joseph’s suite and spa services. On Sunday morning after gobbling up our in-room dining, we ventured to the 4^th Floor and enjoyed aroma therapy massages. I must admit, visiting the spa was definitely the highlight of the weekend for me! Perfectly relaxed in the most gorgeous spa suite your eyes will ever see. I am currently trying to figure out how I can convert my bathroom into a dreamy relaxation suite. Our massage service lasted an hour and we had some additional time in the suite to relax, enjoy some non-alcoholic champs and all that other fun girl stuff. Again, MAGICAL.

Intitally, Alitzah and I had rather large adventure plans for our exploration around the Short, but ended up spending time lounging in the room. Those beds y’all. Additionally, The Joseph is known for it’s unique artwork throughout the hotel. Each room has some uniquely curated pieces which enhance the space’s overall aesthetic beautifully. There is a decently large collection of art located on the lobby level and 2^nd floor, so we took some time to just admire, discuss and share our interpretations of the artwork showcased throughout the hotel.

And of course we shopped! One of our first stops included Anthropologie at The Joseph. So much to admire in that store! We lingered in the mug and candle section for quite a longtime. Other shopping stops included On Paper, Ladybird, ReVue, and Homage. Columbus’ downtown is truly unique as it has a plethora of local boutiques and we LOVE local.

Now that you’ve had an inside glimpse into our holiday staycation adventure, a staycation is sounding pretty dang awesome, right? What I love about gifting quality time is that you literally get the best of both worlds, adventuring and hanging out with one of my closest peeps. With just 8 days until Christmas, don’t scramble any longer for the PERFECT gift idea, because I just gave you one! I must mention, Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph, is offering some pretty spectacular holiday packages that perfectly accommodate these gift ideas:

OUR GIFT TO YOU THIS SEASON

Capture the beauty of the season and create new memories with your loved ones. Experience the special offer:

• Overnight accommodations
• One $100 Spa Suite gift certificate (a gift for a loved one or a treat for yourself)

*Mention Code LNC @ time of booking 

HOLIDAY STAYCATION IN THE SHORT NORTH

Unwind this holiday season in luxury – find the perfect gifts at the surrounding boutiques and shops and do not forget to treat yourself too. Book our exclusive holiday staycation package and enjoy:

• Complimentary valet parking for one vehicle
• One complimentary holiday-themed welcome amenity
• 20% discount on spa services in our exclusive Spa Suites (based on availability)
• Complimentary standard wireless Internet in guestroom

*Mention Code LPE @ time of booking 

Scoot on over to their site for more specific details or even just call! They will be happy to assist. I’m seriously considering gifting one of these to Jason!

Happy HOLIDAYS.

Get The Look:

• Gap Stripe Colorblock Sweater 
• Gap Pure Body Print Joggers
• Gap Holiday Socks (IN STORE ONLY)
• Alitzah’s Black Nightshirt

This post is kindly brought to you by Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.