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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Bizarre Foods Host Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern is a chef, food writer, the host and producer of Travel Channel’s hit series, Bizarre Foods. Andrew, a recipient of the prestigious James Beard Award, has traveled the world, and understands the importance of a hotel and its amenities.
Andrew browsed around Oyster and chose his favorite kid-friendly hotels exclusively for us. Find out which hotels he loves and why.
We know how bloated/badly/gross you felt on New Year’s Day — and how you vowed to kick the nasty habit causing your “pain.” (Or weight gain, whatever.) Well, folks, it’s January 16 — can you say that you’ve started your resolution yet? Because around here at Oyster.com, many of us have (whoops) let our resolutions fall to the wayside — because we’re so dedicated to our jobs, of course. But for the rest of you, well, you don’t have an excuse. No matter what you’ve planned on resolving, we’ve got the perfect hotel to remedy it.
YOU RESOLVED TO: HIT THE GYM
VISIT: The Affinia Dumont, New York City
The fitness center at the Affinia Dumont; New York, NY
WHY: This fitness-themed hotel (Like, literally, there’s sports-themed artwork in the lobby) provides a complimentary “StayFit Kit” in each room, which includes a yoga mat, stretching blocks, 3 DVDs, workout bands, wrist/ankle weights, and a city map for a DIY jog. Basically, the Affinia Dumont is giving you all the tools to get ripped — in your PJs. And since the hotel is suites-only, you’ll have the space in your room to do so. Should you want to actually throw on some clothes, there’s an amazing gym and a special fitness concierge to help whip you into shape, too.
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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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Even if you’ve just returned from a Christmas vacation (lucky you!), winter’s cold temperatures take a toll on us all — and what else would we do but recommend taking a quick, refreshing break? Right now, there are some great deals — but only if you know where to look. We checked out our favorite summer spots for nothing short of a fabulous (if frigid) winter break.
Nantucket
Where to Stay: The Vanessa Noel Hotel
Cafe V at The Vanessa Noel Hotel; Nantucket, MA
Why Now: Unlike its other cottage-y counterparts, the Vanessa Noel has minimalist chic room decor that reminds us more of the Delano in South Beach. This spot is no-kids-allowed, so if you’re looking to tote your entire fam, you’ll have to find an alternate resort. Great for couples, though, there’s also the hip, delicious Cafe V and a killer shoe store attached to satisfy any fashionista’s shopping needs.
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by Jane on January 9, 2012
OK, so even though Oyster.com is a travel website and our main goal is to deliver the truth about hotels, we also secretly moonlight as a life coach. That’s right, we can dole out advice on waaaay more than just hotels; don’t forget — we helped you get over your ex, offered Lindsay Lohan some sound legal advice, and dissected the key moments in Kris and Kim’s “marriage” (if you can call it that) that lead to the split. So yeah, we’re basically the new-and-improved Dr. Phil with a ton of travel tips to boot. To help transform your lifestyle, we scoured the globe and found the destinations best suited for changing your life for the better. (We guess some people can handle the total transformation at home but a vacation is always nice, right?) So grab a friend who’s also in need of a little improvement and head to Oyster’s top five picks for transforming your life! Check ‘em out below or on Shape.com.
Sunday Farmers' Market; Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Ranked by PETA as one of the most veg (and vegan)-friendly cities in the country, Washington, D.C. is the perfect spot to transform your diet. Going vegetarian is all the rage (Meatless Monday, anyone?) — it’s been proven to be good for your heart, your skin, and your immune system – and D.C. has tons of vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants. But even if you’re just looking to increase your veggie intake without completely swearing off meat (I mean, have vegetarians never had a hamburger before? Hard to give up, don’t you think?), D.C. is a good place to be. With the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” nutrition initiative, the capital is all about you getting your three to four servings of fruits and veggies (each!) every day. Read More »
by Jane on January 4, 2012
Some people are so focused during their workout that they hardly notice where they are, let alone which famous faces may be passing by them. And we applaud those people who dedicate the utmost concentration to their fitness regimen. But some of us may have a wandering eye while working on our fitness (hey, it doesn’t hurt to see the toned bods of fellow exercisers). For that extra bit of motivation, we’ve come up with a list of the best workout spots for star sightings – and which hotels to stay in to be close to the fitness hotspots. Check ‘em out below or head over to Shape.com.
Credit: Mark Savage/startraksphoto.com
Runyon Canyon Park
It seems like tabloids feature photos of celebs running, hiking or walking their dogs in Runyon Canyon Park every week. At 160 acres, this park offers hiking trails of various difficulties, so it’s no surprise that stars of every age and fitness level are spotted here (and the no-leash policy means it’s also a popular spot for bringing pooches on a stroll). The three main trails are Runyon Canyon Road, Star Trail, and Hero Trail. Named for the celebrities who grace it, Star Trail is a moderate hike while Hero Trail is the most challenging thanks to its super steep inclines. Josh Duhamel and his wife, Fergie, are often spotted jogging together, and Khloe Kardashian Odom was recently spotted alongside her hubby Lamar Odom and her brother, Rob. When Scarlett Johansson was getting hot and heavy with Sean Penn (remember those five minutes?), she and her then-boyfriend got hot and sweaty on a jog with pal Owen Wilson.
WHERE TO STAY: Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, L.A., Calif.
The 300-room Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, an L.A. landmark, is a luxe, hip hotel that’s just a 10-minute walk from one of the park’s entrances. The hotel combines the shimmer of silver-screen history with a cutting-edge party scene, centered around a massive pool (perfect for a post-workout dip) and a bar, plus a casual restaurant open 24 hours. Service is surprisingly good (lacking the snobbery of some upscale L.A. hotels) but the rooms, though well designed, are smaller than average.
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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 Jane on December 27, 2011
You know what New Year’s Eve means: cocktail dresses, wild parties, a midnight countdown, and just hours until your New Year’s resolutions kick in. It can be tough to start in on your new diet-and-exercise regimen — especially after a night of raucous debauchery — so we’ve come up with the top six last-minute active getaways to help you jump start your goals for 2012. You will have never looked or felt better! We have a destination for every kind of woman in every kind of location (with great deals to boot) so getting in shape will be fun – we promise! Whether you like to burn calories whizzing down the slopes or want to start fresh with a detox and yoga, we have a spot for you. Check out Oyster.com’s top picks for active getaways below, or on Shape.com!
The rock wall in the fitness center at the Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa
For the party-girl: Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa Miami Beach in Miami
Some of you will undoubtedly be hitting up the clubs in Miami Beach for a wild New Year’s Eve. So for all you party girls out there, the Canyon Ranch Miami Beach is the perfect choice: It has a slightly more relaxed vibe than other Canyon Ranch resorts (so there will be no judgment for your escapades the night before) and it offers about 40 free fitness classes everyday (so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to burn off the calories from the New Year’s Eve champagne toast). The Canyon Ranch brand is synonymous with good health and the Miami Beach outlet is no different; guests sign waivers that they will not smoke while at the resort, the restaurant serves healthy options off of a menu with detailed nutritional information next to every item, and the massive fitness center includes dozens of cardio machines and a rock-climbing wall. Best of all, starting on January 1st, the hotel offers a four-night Your Stay, Your Way package for guests staying in room types of the Ocean Palm suite or higher, which entitles them to a $400 credit that can be used towards the spa, the shop, and the restaurant. So after a sunset yoga class or a beach conditioning workout, you can order an icy, alcoholic beverage by the pool (albeit low-cal and flavored with acai juice) – hey, you’re still a party girl at heart.
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