Even though Hawaii is known for its breathtaking beaches, the 50th state actually offers much more than just a swim in crystalline waters and great waves to surf. Discover the archipelago’s wonders — away from its sandy stretches — with this selection of activities we’ve come up with for you. From the soaring cliffs of the Waimea Canyon in Kauai to the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Oahu, Hawaii will win the hearts even of those who are allergic to relaxing on lounge chairs under the sun. Check out the best sun-safe activities to do while visiting any of the islands — just make sure to slather on some SPF first.
Road to Hana, Maui; Maui, HI
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by Jane on January 24, 2012
Presidents Day is just around the corner and of course that makes us reflect on our country’s leaders — and Obama’s State of the Union Address tonight at 9 p.m. EST. But c’mon, we’re a hotel website so what it really makes us think about is presidential suites. The most lavish accommodations in hotels, presidential suites are fit for, well, presidents. In fact, they reportedly got their name from President Woodrow Wilson, who had a strict list of requirements for his hotel rooms. Some of those requirements may be standard nowadays (such as en-suite bathrooms) but the over-the-top luxury remains. Last time, we highlighted the best presidential suites in New York City and Washington, D.C. so this time we’re heading to the West Coast to find the most drool-worthy presidential eye candy in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Presidential Suite at the InterContinental San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
The Hotel: InterContinental San Francisco
Built in 2008 in the business-oriented neighborhood of SoMa, the modern InterContinental has luxury-level service, high-tech guest rooms, a lap pool, a popular spa, and a Michelin-star restaurant.
Presidential Suite at the InterContinental San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
Oyster.com’s Favorite Feature of the Presidential Suite:
There’s a lot to love about the two-floor presidential suite, but we really go gaga over the wrap-around balcony with amazing city views and the funky light fixtures.
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by Jane on January 24, 2012
The nominees for the 84th Academy Awards were announced this morning at 8:38 a.m. EST. And though our love for sleep is strong, our total devotion to all things celebrity won out and we watched the online broadcast live. If you snoozed your alarm one too many times, don’t fret (but we’ll allow you be ashamed) — we’ll give you the low-down. Not only will we tell you some of our favorite nominees, but more importantly, we’ll show you how to live like the characters or real-life actors in these Oscar-nominated films. Who wouldn’t want to live like George Clooney, right? Unless, of course, it’s George Clooney in The Descendants, with a wife in a coma and an unruly teenage daughter. Silver lining? He lived in Hawaii, so things must not have been all bad…
THE NOMINATIONS: Best Picture, Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Directing (Alexander Payne), Best Film Editing
THE FILM: The Descendants
Dolphin Quest at The Kahala Hotel and Resort; Oahu, HI
The heart-warming and heart-wrenching film tells the story of Matt King, a successful Honolulu-based lawyer dealing with difficult family truths after his wife has fallen into a coma. So you may not want to trade places with his character, but the real-life Clooney leads a pretty glamorous lifestyle that’s definitely envy-worthy. If you want to live like the actor, head to the luxurious Kahala Resort where Clooney (along with the rest of the cast and crew) stayed during filming. A celebrity retreat since 1964, the Kahala is one of the only quiet luxury options on Oahu, and offers amenities such as a swimming with the dolphins program, a quiet, beautiful beach, and large rooms with enormous bathrooms.
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Did you know Mark Twain wrote two of his books in The Willard Washington D.C. hotel? Or that The Plaza in New York City was the setting for Barefoot in the Park, with a young Jane Fonda and Robert Redford? Some of the coolest, most historic hotels still stand today. While some of them have undergone drastic cosmetic alteration, many, surprisingly, have hardly changed at all.
Please note: All historic photos can be credited to the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs database.
It’ll be hard to find a more interesting historic hotel in the States. It was in this very hotel that Mark Twain wrote two of his books in the early 20th century. A staple in D.C. culture, The Willard used to be referred to as the “center of Washington” by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. created a draft of his “I Have a Dream” speech while staying in a room here. Other notable guests include Charles Dickens, Buffalo Bill, and multiple presidents.
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Did you know you can learn Chicago by segway, or tour and taste its chocolate shops, bakeries and cafes? Staycations are the perfect way to feel like you’re on vacation while staying local. Discovering your city like you’ve never seen before is fun, educational and inspiring. Let us help you plan your perfect Chicago staycation.
Where to stay: Hotel Palomar
For family-style trips, the Hotel Palomar delivers. They’ve got welcome gifts for kids, in-room child-safety kits (outlet covers, toilet latches, nightlights), and high chairs and booster seats in the hotel’s restaurant. And it doesn’t end there — kids can bundle up in child-size animal print bathrobes, drink “mocktails” during the hosted evening wine tasting, and parents can enjoy babysitting services. Plus, the hotel has an indoor pool, connecting rooms, and a 24-hour concierge service that can recommend kid-oriented activities. Rooms with pull-out sofas and larger suites that can sleep up to five guests make this a perfect pick for families.
Lobby at the Hotel Palomar Chicago
What to do: Chocolate Tours
We’ve all got chocolate cravings. Treat yourself to a 2.5 or 3-hour walking and tasting tour of select Chicago chocolate shops, bakeries and cafe. Public tours are $40 per person, but private tours are also available upon request. You can purchase the tickets online, and there are tours daily, all year round. You can even choose the route: Downtown Loop, Magnificent Mile and Gold Coast, South Loop, etc.
Bonus: Is your craving more pastry-focused? Good news. There are also Cupcake Tours at $50 per person.
What to do: Bike Tour
You can choose from several different bike tours, a great way to explore your city without using gas and getting some exercise. The Lakefront Neighborhoods Tour takes you off the beaten path and onto the quiet neighborhood streets, city parks and beaches. The Night Tours have the same prices, duration and level. It visits the Millennium Park, the Buckingham Fountain, Museum Campus, and more. If you’re looking to include the whole family, the Kid’s Edition is for families with kids 10 and under. The Historic Hyde Park Tour calls for moderate to advanced riders—it covers 24 miles in 4 hours. It’s the only tour allowed to ride past Obama’s former mansion!
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Just because Anthony Weiner’s Twitter scandal is current breaking news doesn’t mean we can forget about our past. Being such a powerful city, it is no wonder Washington, D.C. has seen its share of political controversy. Lucky for us, some of the juiciest scandals took place in hotel rooms. Below are some of our favorite stories to hit the newsstands.
1. Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel has been home to many career-ending affairs. In 1998 a photo surfaced of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky hugging outside the building after Clinton’s reelection in 1996. Sounds innocent, but it only fueled the fire after he claimed he did not have a sexual relationship with the intern. Before his eventual impeachment she was interviewed about their affair in the hotel’s presidential suite. A decade later, New York governor Eliot Spitzer brought call-girl Ashley Alexandra Dupré back to room 871 — an illicit encounter that became public and helped bring about his resignation.
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by Allie on January 19, 2011
What adjective would you use to describe your perfect weekend getaway? Literary? Refreshing? How about groovy? Try out these cool historical trips for an out-of-the ordinary vacation.
San Francisco:
If you were part of the counter culture during the Summer of Love, then you undoubtedly feel the calling to visit Haight-Ashbury. Even if you weren’t a flower child, there is so much to do and see near the intersection of these famous streets.
View of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, one sight to see on your groovy vacay
Do: Embrace your inner Flower Child and tour The Haight
Take the Flower Power Walking Tour or be your own guide. Be sure to see the residences of The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin. Stroll the side streets of Haight Ashbury and Cole Valley where Victorian homes are plentiful. The Haight has a wide variety of cafes and restaurants—why not end the day with Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia? Read More »
by Ben on October 28, 2010
The Waldorf Astoria
New York is a city that has it all. The Empire State Building, Wall St., Central Park, and dozens more iconic sites make it unlike any other city in the world, and it’s an ever-popular backdrop for movies and films of all types. The city is also home to some of the world’s finest hotels, and it is no surprise that some of them have made it onto the silver screen. Here is a list of some Oyster.com favorites that have appeared in the movies.
A Midtown East icon, the 1,300-room Waldorf-Astoria comes with some of New York’s best spa services, fitness facilities, restaurants, and bars. The dress code and antique décor aren’t for everyone, but the cinematic history and unrivaled elegance make the price tag well worth it. The hotel has been used as a classic New York backdrop in dozens of movies including the hilarious Coming to America (1988) in which Eddie Murphy plays an African prince who travels to New York to find his queen.
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A woman who committed suicide on this site in the 19th century still haunts the halls of the Hay-Adams, trailed by the scent of mimosa.
Prepare yourself for a spine-tingling visit from beyond the grave at these eight haunted hotels. Visit the New York hotel where Sid stabbed Nancy, or get haunted by Marilyn’s ghost at the Hollywood Roosevelt.
The Hay-Adams was built in 1927, for the not-too-modest sum of $900,000, over the former homes of best friends John Hay (Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary and later a secretary of state) and Henry Adams (the author and descendant of John and John Quincy). Supposedly, the ghost of Adams’ wife, who committed suicide on this site in 1885, still walks the halls, trailed by the scent of mimosa. Read More »
by Ben on September 15, 2010
A common occurence for LA hotel-goers
It’s well known that Los Angeles is the center of the film universe, but it is also home to some of the finest hotels in the country. What happens when the two industries collide? Beautiful onscreen magic. Whether it’s Julia Roberts and Richard Gere rolling around the Presidential Suite of The Beverly Wilshire in Pretty Woman or Arnold Schwarzenegger riding a horse into a Westin Bonaventure Hotel elevator in True Lies, Los Angeles hotels always find a way to get their fifteen minutes of fame on the big screen.
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites
The glass exterior of The Westin Bonaventure
The Westin Bonaventure’s elegant modern glass exterior enclose some of the best views in all of LA. This incredible piece of architecture has become a common backdrop for some pretty memorable movie moments. Clint Eastwood plays Secret Service Agent Frank Horrigan, who tries to thwart a Presidential assassination attempt by John Malkovich’s character Mitch Lear, in In The Line Fire (1993), and arguably the most notable Westin Bonaventure moment is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s horseback ride into one of the hotel’s elevators in True Lies (1994).
Other movies filmed here include:
- Wonderland (2003)
- Heat (1995)
- Forget Paris (1995)
- Nick of Time (1993)
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
- Rain Main (1988)
- Blue Thunder (1983)
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