by Jane on February 1, 2012
On Valentine’s Day, just about anything can get a person in the mood — but there are some things are a sure bet. That’s why we perused our most romantic hotels to find come-hither amenities that could have even total strangers getting hot and heavy in no time. Grab your spouse, significant other, or the eye candy that lives next door and check in to one of these sexy spots.
THE LUSTY AMENITY: The Clothing-Optional Pool
The Clothing-Optional Lower Pool at the Ventana Inn & Spa; Big Sur, CA
The Ventana Inn & Spa is all about creating a zen, holistic retreat with such offerings as yoga classes, discovery walks, afternoon wine and cheese, Japanese baths, and two pools. Forgot to pack your bathing suit? No problem! One of the pools is clothing-optional (read: everyone’s in their birthday suit), so it’s easy to dive in and feel sexy. Check out more super-sexy hotel features after the jump!
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Here at Oyster we appreciate the art of a fine bath — and how it fits into a hotel room, too, considering it’s our No. 1 way to relax when we’re not at work. We scoured the 2,000+ hotels we cover to find the five most incredible tubs for you to dive into (no pun intended).
The bathroom in a one-bedroom suite at the Grand Luxxe; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The Tale Behind the Tub: Grand Luxxe is the most posh of a group of Mayan timeshare resorts located in the Puerto Vallarta area. The huge rooms and suites (complete with gigantic private terraces) are designed with some serious flair — including each of the bathrooms, natch. Check out the tub, above, in a 1-bedroom suite: The free-standing unit comes equipped with a little wooden stand for all your bath-time essentials, and should it get a little stuffy, open the folding French doors to take a peek into what’s going on in the other part of your suite.
CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR FAVORITE TUBS >>
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by Jane on January 12, 2012
Credit: Kyle Rover/startraksphoto/AP
Season 5 of MTV’s Jersey Shore premiered last week, and it’s nice to seem them back in Jerz, with the boardwalk, the beach, and plenty of — or in some cases, too much — booze. But now that each of ‘em rakes in $100,000 per episode, our favorite Guidos and Guidettes can afford to get drunk and trash a place that’s way more luxe than their current Shore digs, so we found hotels where the cast can GTL (for non viewers, that means “gym-tan-laundry”) and enjoy a whole slew of Jersey-approved amenities. After all, you can take Snooki out of the Jersey Shore, but you can’t take the Jersey Shore out of Snooki.
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Vegas, baby, yeah! (Can you hear the Austin Powers accent?) At this point, the city of sin is pretty much synonymous with any night-time activity — gambling, dancing, drinking, grubbin — so its no wonder that Las Vegas hotels have stepped up their game when it comes to their room service menus. We applaud the hotels who already offer 24/7 service — personally, we think it’s essential everywhere — but for those who don’t, well, those hotels should probably take a peek at what our favorite properties are currently turning out.
Most Extensive Menu: Encore at the Wynn
The European Pool at the Encore at the Wynn; Las Vegas, NV
When you’re not gambling at the unique poolside casino or partying at hotspot Surrender, you’re probably resting it off in your 700+ square foot room on your cozy bed. (Really!) Open up a drawer to find a nearly overwhelming 40-page menu that starts with — what else — morning cocktails. In addition to traditional American fare, the Encore offers up hot wings, made-to-order sushi and party snacks should you decide to entertain in your suite.
Oyster.com Order: Angus Beef Sliders (Make it a double, please.)
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We already knew that airlines were regularly ripping us off — $25 to check a bag, $10 to board in the first group — but now we’re finding more hotels charging so-called daily “resort fees,” some which are obscured a bit during the hotel booking process. Hotels will often explain these extra fees are for using the amenities, upkeep of the property, pretty much anything a concierge or bellman can think of on his or her toes. And when we read yesterday that a guest at Walt Disney World‘s Swan and Dolphin Resort was fighting with the Starwood-owned property over an “unmentioned” $10 per day resort fee, we decided to go on a mini-mission: To find three super-luxurious hotels that charge the daily rate (plus tax, natch) and that’s it. The result? Many of our fave spots did charge said resort fee (upwards of $35 a day) — but three incredibly luxurious resorts made the cut. (If you can’t leave your cube, don’t fret — the pictures alone make us feel like we’re on vacation, too.) Check out ‘em out below, and then tell us: Would you pay a daily resort fee?
Punta Cana Hotel & Resort, Dominican Republic
The main pool at the Punta Cana Hotel; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Why We Love It: This resort is practically the definition of luxury, with not only one of the best swimming beaches in all of the D.R., but also two crystal clear pools to splash around in. Need even more R&R? Check out the major Six Senses Spa — but make sure to book your massage in one of their beachside cabanas. Can’t you hear the ocean breeze already?
The breakfast buffet at the Punta Cana Hotel; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Our Favorite Free Amenity: Gourmet buffet breakfast. Yum. Fruit on a tropical vacation? Yes please!
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Most of us spent last weekend popping bottles of (cheap) champagne, passing cheese platters, or ordering in MSG-loaded Chinese food. Regardless of which indulgence you chose, there’s definitely at least a tinge of holiday hangover – alcoholic or otherwise. Start the year off right by heading to one of these super-sleek spas in a city near you.
The spa bathroom at the Beverly Wilshire; Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES: The Spa at the Beverly Hills Wilshire
The Detox Treatment: The Detox Massage ($180 for 60 minutes)
The Deal: As if complimentary use of the 8,000-square foot spa’s saunas, steam rooms, and experience showers (which feature the likes of colored lighting and variable pressure) wasn’t rejuvenating enough, every treatment here is top-notch, which is why we’d head straight for a Detox Massage. Therapists at the Rodeo Spa use specific massage techniques to flush out kidney, liver and other bodily toxins that will relax your mind, too.
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by Zach on December 14, 2011
Traveling during the holiday season is as old as the holidays themselves – literally, if you ask anyone who owns a manger in Bethlehem. But just because people hit the road doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to feel the spirit of the season wherever they go. To help get you feeling festive, here are some killer seasonal perks that hotels have provided to their guests.
Santa Paws at the Eventi
Santa and his helper meet with the Eventi's four-legged guests
The holidays are for everyone: not just adults and children, but for pets as well. This past weekend, the second annual Santa Paws event at the Eventi Hotel in Manhattan treated four-legged guests to a visit from St. Nick. There was no shortage of festive dog biscuits or fresh water bowls as pets took their turns explaining to Santa why they can’t seem to stop digging up the front yard.
Ripken meets Santa at the Eventi
Kimpton properties such as the Eventi are already well-known for being super pet-friendly, so arranging a pet photo opp with Santa and his helper is simply par for the course. Of course, everyone was on their best behavior – including owners, who were treated to candy canes and delicious hot chocolate. If this was any indication of who made the “nice” list, Santa is going to be delivering a ton of bones this year. Read More »
by Zach on December 7, 2011
Since its birth, rock and roll and hotels have gone hand in hand. Whether it involves bands hitting the road on tour, infamously trashing a suite, or taking up temporary residence while working on an album, there’s an unmistakably inspirational quality to booking a room and letting loose. Luckily, a few hotels understand this relationship and offer their guests the ability to live like a rock star with some over-the-top music amenities. We strapped on our Stratocaster and hit the road to show you the hotel rooms bound to make music fans weak in the knees.
“You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)”: Hotel Saint Cecilia
Front Desk at the Hotel Saint Cecilia
Austin is a city that’s known for its hip music scene and hip crowds. It’s not surprising, then, that the Hotel Saint Cecilia has done away with a traditional front desk in favor of a cool collection of vinyl records and a turntable that guests are free to use. In-room record players and iPod docks make it easy to take the party back to your room, where decor reflectss the artistic lifestyle Austin loves to support. Just don’t get so carried away spinning vinyl that you miss the James Blake SXSW set you scored tickets to. Read More »
These hotels clearly had the one percent in mind when they designed the decadent services below. Read on for a voyeuristic peek into the lives of the people that the 99% loves to hate. (We’ll give you a hint: It sometimes involves butlers whose sole job is rubbing on sunscreen).
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, New York City
WHAT: White-glove elevator operator
The economic crisis might have killed many of the extras in some upscale hotels, but the Carlyle in New York keeps the bar high. This historic property pampers its guests from the moment they walk through the door, with bellboys, valets and a special concierge vestibule. However, their most unique amenity is the white-gloved elevator operator that transports you not only to your room, but to New York’s golden days.
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If you’re citified but like to hike, a foodie but ride your bike more than your car, or use your Patagonia Solar Wind Jacket for a city blizzard, you can consider yourself Urban Rugged by Oyster’s standards.
These destinations and hotels are rustic-chic with lots to do, whether it’s hiking, cycling, shopping, going to art galleries or eating in top notch restaurants. At these eight hotels, you can always tap into your natural — and metropolitan — side.
The Travaasa Hana hotel overlooking Hana Bay delivers rustic luxury in the middle of Maui’s lush, secluded east coast. It has incredible service, a long list of stuff to do and only 70 rooms on acres of uncrowded property. The rooms are large, clean, sleekly furnished — and stripped of TVs, clocks and radios. Though it’s hard to reach, it’s worth the trip. The gorgeous, secluded location near hikes, waterfalls and beaches, excellent cuisine using local products, one of the most beautiful spa facilities on the island and unmatched personalized touches make this hotel one of your best choices in Hawaii.
Travaasa Hana, Maui, Hawaii
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