THE IVY HOTEL
205 E. Biddle St., Baltimore, (443) 503-4501, www.theivybaltimore.com
COST: Room rates begin at $475.
DRIVE TIME: One hour, 15 minutes.
THE SCOOP: When someone greets you with complimentary valet service and a glass of champagne, you know you’re going to get the royal treatment. This brand-new luxury boutique hotel, situated in a 19th-century brownstone mansion in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, is all about doing just that. All gratuities are included with your room rate, so you feel more like a guest than a customer. Children are welcome, and you can bring along your favorite furry friend if you like.
AMENITIES: Each room has a fireplace; some also have balconies. Full gourmet breakfast is included, as well as afternoon tea service by the fire, cocktails in the evening and a midnight snack. A car and driver are at your disposal (complimentary, of course) to take you anywhere in the city you want to go.
DON’T MISS: A treatment—or package of treatments—can be designed just for you by a therapist at the hotel’s on-premises spa. If you prefer, you can arrange to have a massage en suite. Book a dinner at Magdalena, the Ivy’s elegant bistro. The Maryland Wine Festival, featuring over 30 Maryland wineries, more than 50 artisans and lots of local music, is Sept. 19-20.