I see a possible trend developing here. A little while back I told you about the Berkeley Hotel in London, where an iPad was stocked and waiting in your room. Sure, a night at said hotel with iPad in-tow was expensive as all get-out (£1,850 per night), but it was the first instance of an iPad being used as an ‘amenity’ in a hotel. At least, it was the first one that I came across. Building upon the trend, I received a note the other day telling me about another hotel (the Pavilion Hotel on Catalina Island, 22 miles from Los Angeles), doing much of the same thing. For free.
Turns out the Pavilion Hotel, which just opened back on May 14th is offering complimentary use of an iPad to all hotel guests. Internet access via the iPad is free-of-charge as well. If you’re in the area, and are looking for a nice island getaway only minutes from the bustling city of Los Angeles… The Pavilion Hotel (formerly the Pavilion Lodge) packs quite a few amenities, including:
- Completely renovated and remodeled 71-room, two-story hotel, just 14 steps from the beach
- Upscale design with expansive garden courtyard area
- Most ground level rooms will have private lanais with French doors leading into these outdoor living areas, making it the only hotel in Avalon where guests can relax in the comfort of their own private courtyard
- Two luxury suites with breathtaking ocean views
- Elegantly landscaped garden sitting area with fire pit
- Indoor lounge and Internet café
- Wine and cheese bar, and continental breakfast
- Open-air ocean-view lounge area near the front lobby…
…and of course, we can’t forget about the use of your own complimentary iPad for the duration of your stay. If you’ve stayed at the Pavilion before, or another hotel offering free iPad use, I’d love to hear from you. Was Apple’s ‘magical’ device handy to have on-hand during your visit? Or could you care less? Me thinks we’re going to see a lot more of this as we move forward. Free iPad use during your stay FTW!