Interview with Kathy in Bora Bora in April 2008. Appeared in the 2008 season of “D List” on Bravo.

THERE ARE HOTELS THAT FEEL PRETENTIOUS and there those rarer destinations that feel like home, kind of like an episode of déjà vu. After at least a dozen weekend trips to Palm Springs in as many years, the spankin’ new Ace Hotel and Swim Club ranks at the top of my list for getting nearly everything “right.”

Well Done Thing #1: The Marketing. I found their stylishly designed matte postcard at my local Rudy’s barbershop in Silverlake. That should have been my first clue that my husband and I were in for a truly “underground” treat. We were indeed, with a standard $89 room (upgraded for no additional charge by Jesse upon arrival). Cool lobby details: Fake deer antlers, the Scoutmaster handbook, and a photo booth.

Well Done Thing #2: The Rooms. Think “the W goes camping.” A huge, comfy bed. Slatted walls for hooks, bathrobes and magazine clippings. A big flatscreen TV with high speed Internet (included) and a roomy shower with an enormous rain-style can showerhead. Canvas-covered walls with grommetted canvas flaps instead of curtains. Oh and that faux-mini bear rug? Genius.

Well Done Thing #3: The Service. I’ll be damned if we didn’t phone the front desk at 3am for an extra pillow (big boys need two apiece) and they actually brought it to the room within 10 minutes. Much earlier poolside, We asked for a pour of Hendrick’s gin and the waitstaff made it happen. Then there was that seamless upgrade I mentioned earlier. And keep in mind, we were there on opening weekend, when everything’s bound to go wrong.

There were a couple hiccups. The poolside staff hadn’t stocked towels, and the steam/sauna in the Spa wasn’t up and running on our trip. The indoor restaurant wasn’t open (but the outdoor section was pretty much packed on a pretty chilly February night). But these were minor glitches in the Matrix.

The best part about the hotel was that it allowed us to really unwind and find a little peace (and love!)  before returning to the sometimes frenetic, chaotic city life. That’s what a good hotel should be all about. And that’s why the Ace Hotel and Swim Club is all aces, baby.

Bronson and I will (possibly) be on Kathy Griffin’s My Life on the D-List, this Thursday, July 24, on Bravo. The episode is called “Busted in Bora Bora.” I say (possibly) because we don’t know how the show was edited and if we’re in or out until the party on Thursday evening, where we’ll see it simulcast with the Eastern Standard Time broadcast (three hours earlier than the rest of L.A.)

As you will recall, we went to Bora Bora in the Spring, so I could interview Kathy for Passport Magazine. We couldn’t show you all of the pictures, for a couple of reasons. (more…)

In March 2008, I met with Emmy Award® winning actress Kathy Griffin in Bora Bora to volley some questions for Passport Magazine. Here’s the second half of our talk.

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1392383&w=425&h=350&fv=]

Special thanks to my amazing editor, Andrew Mersmann, and publisher Don Tuthill, for the opportunity of a lifetime!

In March of 2008, PASSPORT Magazine flew me to Bora Bora to meet with Emmy Award® winning actress Kathy Griffin and volley some fun questions in this tropical paradise. This “Escape with the Stars” trip was conceived by Mikael Audebert of StandOut Destinations and sponsored by PASSPORT.

Here’s part one of the interview. Special thanks to my amazing editor, Andrew Mersmann, for giving me the opportunity.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.627243&w=425&h=350&fv=]

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6048882444845960364]

You can also click here.

Kisses to Jennifer of StandOut Destinations for this photo from my interview with Kathy Griffin on a private island in Bora Bora.

You can read the exclusive interview with La Griffin in an upcoming issue of PASSPORT (subscribe already!) and see me this summer in the upcoming season of Kathy’s Emmy award winning “My Life on the D List”

BIG KISS to Francine Balderama and Jennifer Dussan of StandOut Destinations for the stunning photos. You can read my exclusive interview with Kathy Griffin in an upcoming issue of Passport Magazine.

(more…)

Here are the first of the photos from Bora Bora. Thanks India! Our digital camera broke the day we arrived, so we don’t have many of our own shots. As you can see it was a great time. Sponsored by Passport Magazine and StandOut Destinations. (more…)

Photo: David Beebe
© 2008 Passport Magazine