STAY MONTCLAIR: THE GEORGE

 I'm always looking for a chance to get away, if only for a day, better yet, a weekend. Because I'm always scouring travel websites, blogs and magazines, I'm constantly bookmarking announcements for new hotel openings, especially ones that would be worth a trip. Some trips are about, food, some are about culture or history or art and some are just about getting to relax some place really nice.

I have to admit, I have not spent much time in NJ, maybe because it's so close to home, I've assumed that I know all I need to know. Or maybe I've just taken it for granted which is always the case for nearby destinations. However, one of my 2018 decisions was to complete more local and domestic travel and have been looking for cool places nearby to explore.

So, that's how I fell upon The George. I was immediately intrigued to find out that the owner was beauty guru Bobbi Brown and her husband who decided to change an old inn into a modern luxury boutique hotel. How do people find the time to accomplish so much, I would never know, but always inspired by entrepreneurs who don't stop, always creating, always pushing. I'm so happy they took on this challenge as The George is beautiful and their design sensibility is evident in every room.

Considering that the hotel wasn't fully open yet, we were one of only a few couples staying over the weekend. It made for perfect roaming and we settled on the Ed pictured below. Of the rooms I got to check out, I also highly recommend the Duke or the Cody room (more of a family room, with separate kitchenette, dining table and separate large living area ). Other highlights include a healthy options filled breakfast which was served until 10.30AM and the fireplace in our room, which kept us nice and cozy all night long.

The hotel is very centrally located in Montclair, about a minute drive from the heart of Montclair (shopping, restaurants etc). Montclair itself is a charming town with beautiful victorian homes, lush greenery and florals surrounding the homes - really quite pretty.  There's also loads to do and if you're a foodie, you should know that pretty much every cuisine is represented. From Brazilian, to Ethiopian, from Italian to Japanese and from BBQ to Vegan. I wish I had more time to try more of what Montclair had to offer. But fret not, I'll be back.

There are still a few quirks to be sorted, a few more hooks in bathroom would go a long way, additional drapery (which we were told was on its way) would also make a big difference when the early morning light starts pouring in. We were assured by Nick ( he was our everything during our stay) that they were well on their way to getting any and all loose ends tied up soon. I would definitely be going back to see their progress. They've already come a long way.