Last week our return flight from our New York trip brought us into Seattle close to midnight Friday. After a full day of rediscovering the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a late transcontinental flight and a three-hour time change, we were exhausted and looking forward to a good night’s sleep. My husband, Harry, had found a place new to us, on Expedia, that was only a five-minute drive from the airport and promised to be atypical of the ubiquitous airport hotel. Let me tell you, the Cedarbrook Center did not disappoint. In fact, we could not have been more delighted with our stay.

Washington Mutual built Cedarbrook six years ago as its corporate conference center, and the property adjoins a protected wetlands in a residential neighborhood. Although situated perhaps only a mile as the crow flies from SeaTac and the usual line-up of airport hotels and convention centers along International Boulevard, Cedarbrook provides an oasis of peace. When JPMorgan Chase took over WaMu, the company’s leadership centers on the East Coast made this location superfluous for their corporate events, and the management looked for ways to fill up the gaps in its booking calendar. With some careful wording and an amendment to its use agreement with the local municipality, Cedarbrook is permitted a certain amount of “overnight lodging”, along with meetings, conferences, reunions, receptions and the like. My first-hand experience there tells me it would be ideal for any of those purposes.

The site is made up of three main buildings, no more than three stories high and featuring a Northwest lodge style which blends beautifully into the naturally landscaped grounds and neighboring preserve. The main building houses an assortment of meeting rooms equipped with all the latest audiovisual gear and high-speed Internet connections, in addition to a large central “great room” with enormous stone fireplace, soaring ceilings and clusters of overstuffed sofas and chairs. Adjoining this space is a cozy bar/library and the Stuffed Mushroom Restaurant. Included in our room fare was a generous buffet breakfast here, and even at the end of the service time, we found the food to be well-prepared and a step above what one usually finds at such offerings.

The guestrooms and a sizable, well-furnished fitness center occupy the other two buildings. Each room offers a floor-to-ceiling view, TV, plenty of storage space, a very sizable workspace with good lighting and free Internet access (and, yes, a coffeemaker and Starbucks coffee). It was hard to pick out the best feature of the bathroom: the spacious counter surrounding the sink; the deep, wide soaking tub and shower with adjustable, hand-held faucet fixture; or the plush towels, cozy robe and Thyme bath products.  Cedarbrook offers one more feature, though, which really sets it apart.

Each guest floor has a “parlor” where one can grab a book from the shelves and sit by a gas fire; watch programming or movies on the large TV; or raid the oversized ‘frig for a variety of sandwiches, beverages, yogurt and frozen treats. Fruits and snacks, tea and coffee are always on hand, too. For those just arriving late at night from an Asian or transcontinental trip (like us) whose internal clocks are in some other time zone, such choices are welcome–if not absolutely necessary!

Of course, all the amenities in the world can’t carry a property without the backing of great service. Here again, Cedarbrook came through. Even with our late arrival, check-in was prompt, and queries from our room were handled promptly and cheerfully. I arrived at almost the last possible minute for breakfast the next morning, but I received gracious service and did not feel resented or rushed to finish. Later, General Manager John Murphy was kind enough to give me a tour of the facilities and a sampling of the 102 guestrooms and suites. His obvious pride in this lovely property is certainly justifiable.  Whether you are looking for overnight accomodations for yourself or a location for anything from a wedding reception to a multi-day business conference for 200 or a quiet business lunch for eight, Cedarbrook can fit the bill. My next visit to Seattle, for overseas flights in May, will find me looking forward to another stay there.

Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader

I never really thought of myself as a female business traveler, just as a business traveler. I also never thought I would be the type to check myself into a hotel’s ladies’ floor. To tell you the truth, until a reservation was made for me, I didn’t even know what the ladies’ floor was, or why I believed it to have negative connotations. I have now stayed on a hotel’s ladies’ floor twice and would happily request it my next time around.

My first time on a ladies’ floor was at the Chopard Ladies’, “Floor at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai about three years ago. When I was told I was on the ladies’ floor, my immediate reaction was a regular floor will do.” The receptionist suggested I try the floor, as I could always change. I’m glad she did — I didn’t want to leave the room! I was greeted by pink sheets and a pink bathrobe, not to mention Chopard amenities throughout the floor. Plus, only female staff were allowed on the floor, and extra security was needed to get on the floor. It did give me an extra sense of security.

Most recently, I stayed on the ladies’ floor at the Hotel Lotte while in Seoul, Korea last week. The Lotte has just gone through renovations, and the rooms were wonderfully designed. The amenities were not Chopard, but L’Occitane, and the room was bright, spacious and comfortable. To get on the floor, I needed my key to go through sleek sliding doors and enter the floor off the elevator. In addition to the club room, the floor offered its own lounge, which was peaceful and quiet — a great place to stretch out or read a book. The ladies’ floor did not yet offer wireless Internet, but broadband was available.

Whenever a ladies’ floor is offered, I encourage female business travelers, or those just looking for a girls’ weekend, to reserve a room on the special floor.

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

There are many attributes to living in NYC that reiterate the fact that moving here was the right choice on my part. At this point in my life, I am very happy to be unaffected by gas prices. With the recent financial crisis and the economy in such a questionable state, I can still attend readings, concerts and art exhibitions for free or for a small fee. Rent will always be expensive, but New York is the only place where I can hear a reading by Dave Eggers in Manhattan, a speech by Joan Didion in Brooklyn and see famous graffiti art by the famous pseudo-anonymous Banksy on the outside of a restaurant four blocks from my apartment.

There is one element that New York City will unfortunately never be able to simulate, and that is the great outdoors. This time of year, with the pleasantly crisp, fresh air, allows an optimum experience for one of my favorite recreations: camping! On the school calendar, September was the best time to escape the beginnings of fall responsiblities one last time, avoid any appearance complexes and just flat out have a good time with friends.

I’ve always enjoyed “roughing it” during my travels, mostly because my personal budget never left me much of a choice. But living in New York has quickly taught me how working hard and living comfortably go hand-in-hand. In the city especially, money = luxury, comfort and convenience, and with money, these luxuries are all things attainable. Now that I’m moving away from college and towards a career, taking flight before the first day of class is no longer an option. Upon my morning browse through Nytimes.com, I have found how adults with a specific taste in travel can collide with nature–in the most luxurious way!

I have finally reached the subject of my blog: Glamping. Glamping is the most luxurious way to experience the outdoors without exactly roughing it. These chic and stylishly simple tents are more like a canvas hotel room than your typical self-pitched, rain-soaked, backyard tent. Starting at about $115 per night, guests can stay in tent bungalows suitable for two at Costanoa. Located in the San Francisco area, these tent bungalows are complete with indoor hot showers, heated concrete floors, a 24-hour dry sauna and an outdoor fireplace. Sound appealing?

If that doesn’t tickle your luxury bone, some of these Glamping opportunities really take it to the 5-star teepee level. At Paws Up, for $695 per night, two can enjoy tents along the Blackfoot River in Montana, complete with king-size beds, art on the “walls,” a private master bath and a personal butler! Come on! I know Alex could get into this kind of camping!

Maybe Glamping doesn’t appeal to you as an avid indoor participant. Lacking electricity and Wi-Fi, at least you won’t be sucked into that $10.95 per day Internet access charge!

 Courtney Centeno, account executive

The last time I was in NY for a GT function, my accommodations were well documented (if not well kept). This time, for GT’s Annual Wines on the Wing Airline Wine Competition, my lodging was top notch.

I needed to start and end my trip at GT’s world headquarters in Yardley, PA. Therefore, I needed to stay fairly close. The Pineapple Hill Bed and Breakfast Inn is located in New Hope, PA, about 15 minutes away from GT’s offices. I don’t usually stay at B&Bs on business, but GT is not your usual company. The Pineapple Inn is not quite your usual B&B either.

The Inn has five rooms, three suites and one apartment suite. Innkeepers make sure that everything is right. All of the rooms are meticulous, attractive and comfortable, decorated with locally obtained antiques and artwork. Each room has a small fireplace and cable television (a must for me). The parlor is open to all and features a fireplace, books, television and games.

For a previous stay, I know the Pineapple Hill B&B Inn serves a wonderful breakfast. Unfortunately for me, due to logistics, I had to be on the road by 3 a.m., but Cookie made sure I had a hearty bagged breakfast. I was extremely grateful for this extra special effort.

New Hope is a beautiful town. Whether you like antique shopping, outdoors activities, or quaint (and tasty) dining, you will be happy with your visit. When you are done for the day, stay over at the Pineapple Hill B&B for the perfect ending of that day and beginning of the next.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist