After skipping New Orleans and spending the night in quaint but not-luxurious Defuniak Springs, Florida, we were still in need of that vacation. Enter the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale – on the beach, short on customers, and brand new. The result? Poshness and a balcony with an ocean view for a low low price. Plus there was a white plush alligator on the bed – how can you beat that?

We showered for the first time in 52 hours (no joke, we smelled bad and they still upgraded us, probably out of pity) and then walked down the beach for dinner, drinks, and a perfect evening.

Now, besides your inevitable jealousy, you are surely wondering whether we feel guilty. The W is a hotel chain, after all, owned by Starwood Resorts of White Plains, NY. But there is no guilt. We were helping a new, not-so-local business get off the ground.

(Did you buy that?)