I have never spent much time in Maryland. I visited Annapolis once and found it charming, not actually a Southern state, but possessing a southern reminiscence with its Georgian Revival architecture still commonly found south of the Mason-Dixon line. With a greater number of reasons to visit the proper southern cities of Savannah and Charleston and the occasional visit to our nation’s capital, Maryland just seemed to drift off the radar. I had very few preconceived expectations during my first ever visit to the aptly named “Charm City”. Baltimore feels like a mixture of the old south with a touch of New England – it feels like true Americana, which is perfectly appropriate given that it’s the birthplace of the National Anthem. The Old World architecture is still evident in the brownstones and colonial mansions in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, and the historic pockets of town are not unlike a neighborhood in Massachusetts or New Hampshire.

Baltimore is an old city, founded in the early 1700s and has been home to some very notable Old World money. Before the Astors settled in New York, they resided in Baltimore, and the renowned DuPont family lived in nearby Delaware. A tour of one of the oldest homes in Baltimore, now the Mount Clare Museum http://www.mountclare.org/ will provide an authentic education on some of Baltimore’s first patriots. Plantations and landmarks associated with slavery and indentured servitude in America are tours over which I have very mixed emotions. While there are certain elements of American history worthy of learning about, the ghosts of those grand mansions tend to linger with me, so this was not a place I visited. I did, however, have the opportunity to stay at the amazing Ivy Hotel in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore. The Ivy Hotel was built in 1889 by John Gilman, a prominent Baltimore banker. He did not live to see its completion and his widow later sold it to the inventor, William Painter. The home changed hands two more times before it was donated to the city of Baltimore in in the early 1980s when it was used as a house for visiting dignitaries. Covenants of the gift required the home to remain available to the public, so when it was eventually sold to its current owners in 2015 it became a hotel.

The hotel has only 16 rooms, 8 rooms and 8 suites over 3 floors, which are priced based on square footage. Rates begin at $525 per night for a smaller room with a courtyard view, to $1,500 per night for a 2-story suite spanning the second and third floors of the hotel. We had the opportunity to tour several of the rooms and suites and found some elements were consistent throughout the hotel. No matter the size or price point of the room it will be equipped with a King bed, seating area, gas fireplace, and well-appointed bathroom. Heated floors are standard in the bathrooms, and all but one, Room # 8, have a soaking tub. The bath products are from the luxury line, Natura Bisse from Barcelona.

Of the rooms we could tour, Room Six, was among our favorites. This was the former Master Bedroom when the hotel was a private residence and, although not considered a formal suite, it is as spacious as some of the suites, with a working fireplace, ample seating area, and a lovely soaking tub in the bathroom. Pricing for Room Six begins at $695 per night. I chose Suite Thirteen for the weekend stay and was very happy with the choice. It is slightly larger than a standard room, with the exception of Room Six which is about the same size. It is priced at $775 per night and includes a turret with dining area, additional seating, and a very large bathroom with rain shower, soaking tub, and marvelous heated floors. Rooms Five and Six are side by side on the second floor, and Room Twelve and Suite Thirteen are side by side on the third floor. They are well positioned within the corners of the original building and make it easy to combine for groups wanting more communal space, or families vacationing together. The rooms are surprisingly quiet and the inside shutters block out the street light remarkably well. Despite its location in a vibrant neighborhood with a great walking score, the room manages to create a quiet respite from the bustling streets below.

 

 

 

 

While the rooms are higher priced than other Baltimore hotels including 5-star hotels like the Four Seasons, after you arrive, the complimentary amenities make the extra price well worth it. The nightly room rate includes unlimited mini bar and snacks provided in the “barmoire” in each room, wine, champagne and cocktails located at various self-serve bars throughout the main lobby area, breakfast in the restaurant hotel, and late night snacks. Valued at $150-$200 per day (or more depending on how much you drink), these complimentary amenities make the price much more relatable. The Ivy also offers a free car service via its London Cab or Black Car to locations within a few miles of the hotel.  Each afternoon the hotel serves traditional English tea with scones and tea sandwiches and a lengthy tea menu. The tea ranges from traditional English tea to bourbon infused smoky blends and teas aged in tequila casks. The hotel has a “no tipping” policy, which I personally believe applies more to the concierge and administrative staff, than the room attendants, drivers, and tea service personnel. I believe it is still appropriate to tip the housekeeping staff, the driver, and tea server. Of course tipping in the bar and the restaurant is still expected. Everywhere else is intended to feel as if you are a guest in the home of a close, yet very dignified, relative. By creating a nearly all-inclusive, no-tipping atmosphere, it truly does feel as if you are staying at the home of a close friend with impeccable taste and wonderful hosting abilities.

The Ivy Hotel is a destination within itself. I would make the trip again simply to stay here. The service and amenities are unrivaled and the experience is worth the price tag. You can find more information on the history of the Ivy Hotel here http://www.theivybaltimore.com/about-the-ivy/history-of-the-ivy/. Even if a stay at the Ivy Hotel is not in your future, consider making afternoon tea, now offered to the public by reservation, a part of your next Baltimore itinerary.

 

For questions regarding Baltimore attractions or to learn more about the Ivy Hotel reach out us at info@whytravelfrequently.com.