Oyster Blog

Beach Hotels

8 Memorial Day Weekend Beach Getaways

by Hilary on May 12, 2011

Whether you’re jetting to a rustic escape or beach-ing in style in Vegas (yes, Vegas), Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of summer for all of us. We couldn’t be more excited for swimsuits, sandy toes, and sunglasses. These hotel beaches are top-notch in Oyster’s book, so get ready for a fun Memorial Day Weekend soaking up the rays in awesome accommodations.

1. Rockhouse Hotel (Negril, Jamaica)

Gourmet dining, morning yoga, and cliffside loungers all make for a truly holistic haven at the Rockhouse Hotel in Negril, Jamaica. Its premium spa, no kids under 12 rule, and beautiful eco-appropriate design attract those who are looking for a secluded, peaceful getaway. While the amenities and views are priceless, the actual hotel rates are surprisingly reasonable.
Rockhouse Hotel

Rockhouse Hotel, Negril, Jamaica

{ 0 comments }

Rustic beach escapes for every budget

by Kelsey on December 10, 2010

Hotel Hana-Maui, Hawaii

Hotel Hana-Maui, Hawaii

Earlier this year, we showed you our favorite Bohemian escapes in Jamaica (The Caves, Tensing Pen, Rockhouse Hotel, and Jake’s), special places with lots of wood and stone, breath-stopping views, serene locations. Although Jamaica has mastered the art of rustic luxury, it’s not the only island that’s home to hotels with relaxed, back-to-nature vibes. We found a handful of other beautiful properties from the Caribbean and Hawaii that prove “rustic” doesn’t have to mean camping. In fact, some of our favorite rustic hotels are downright pricey. Below, take a look at where to splurge, and where to save, on your next bohemian beach escape. Read More »

{ 0 comments }

Beachfront luxe: Oyster’s most decadent hotels on the sand

by Kelsey on November 9, 2010

Beach at Tortuga Bay in the Dominican Republic

Tortuga Bay in the Dominican Republic is on our holiday wish list this year.

There’s no gift like the gift of travel. If we could have anything at all this holiday season, it would be to hit the sand at one of these uber-luxe hotels (we can dream, can’t we?). So go ahead and dream away — or, if it’s in the budget, start planning your posh beach getaway now. (We’ll try to contain our jealousy.) Read More »

{ 0 comments }

Best family beach resorts for a summer vacation

by Jennifer on June 10, 2010

Trump International Beach Resort in Miami is a great family option

Trump International Beach Resort in Miami is a great family option

Slideshow

Slideshow

School’s out for summer (or just about!), which means it’s time to plan the family’s summer vacation. If you’re a beach bum, you may want to start your planning by browsing our slideshow of the Best Family Beach Resorts. It’ll take you through different destinations across the U.S. and Caribbean, detailing our favorite option in each place.

If you need even more inspiration and ideas for where to take the family, you can head to this page of family hotels, where you’ll see lists of our favorite kid-friendly hotels split up by destination. In the mood for the Dominican Republic? Thinking about Hawaii? It’s all there. (And if you need to hit the beach but the kids aren’t part of the equation, head straight to this page of our favorite beach hotels).

{ 0 comments }

Oyster’s 11 favorite beachfront bargains for under $200/night

by Kelsey on June 3, 2010

Negril Tree House Resort is located on Jamaica's best beach and offers rooms for around $115/night.

Negril Tree House Resort is located on Jamaica's best beach and offers rooms for around $115/night.

Many travelers planning a beach getaway want one thing above all others: A hotel that’s located smack on the sand. Finding a hotel that’s truly on the beach isn’t always as easy as it seems (hotels that are a five-minute walk away don’t usually like to advertise that fact), and finding one that doesn’t cost a fortune can be even trickier. Luckily, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you and found 11 fantastic beachfront properties, all for under $200 a night. If you want to see more, check out our new beach hotels page. Read More »

{ 0 comments }

Ask Oyster: Where to spend your Marriott Rewards points this winter

by William on December 11, 2009

Want travel advice from the experts? Ask Oyster! Kate from Washington, D.C. wrote to our editors last night and we selected her question to be a part of our Ask Oyster feature. For help planning your next vacation, just shoot a question over to askoyster@oyster.com.

Question: Kate from Washington D.C.
My husband and I are looking to cash-in on some of our Marriott Rewards points this winter. We’ve collected A LOT over the years while traveling on business, but WE NEED A VACATION! We’re thinking a long weekend – maybe more, if we can afford it – but we’re not sure where we should splurge (somewhere warm, hopefully). Ideas? Thank you!!!

Answer: Will Begeny, Oyster’s Senior Editor

Thanks for asking, Kate. As with any of the hotel rewards programs, sifting through the website’s legal-qualifying jargon can be a nightmare. Your best bet is to take advantage of their travel-package deals, which typically toss in a generous helping of frequent-flyer miles (even if you don’t use the miles for the trip).

The adults-only pool at the Marriott Wailea Resort

The adults-only pool at the Marriott Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii

Read More »

{ 1 comment }

Go inside Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas — without fighting the crowds

by admin on November 4, 2009

Dolphin Cay, Atlantis Paradise Island

Dolphin Cay, Atlantis Paradise Island

Surely you’ve heard of Atlantis, the over-the-top massive megaresort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The architecturally-stunning behemoth spans 171 acres and boasts (brace yourself) more than 4000 rooms, three beaches, 11 pools, a rock-climbing wall, a golf course overlooking the ocean, a tennis facility, a 3,800-square-foot gym, a pilates studio, a state-of-the-art spa, a massive water park featuring a slide with a 50-foot drop, the biggest casino in the Caribbean, a movie theater, a comedy club, three discos, a faux-archaeological dig, an aquarium, a model-car building studio, a dolphin habitat, luxury shopping boutiques, and a pottery studio… just to name a few of the highlights.

Sound exhausting? It is — especially since this is, at its core, a family resort, which means you can expect kids, crowds, seriously steep prices, and plenty of roaming nonguests on “Discover Atlantis” tours or using the pool facilities.

To put it bluntly, this is not a place to go for a relaxing vacation. If you’re looking for an upscale, quiet tropical escape, your best bet might be the nearby One-and-Only Ocean Club. But if an action-packed, Disneyland-esque family trip is in the cards (or you just want to see what all the fuss is about), check out our comprehensive coverage of Atlantis Paradise Island — complete with 300+ photos of the property.

Read More »

{ 2 comments }

Real-life Couples Retreats: Oyster’s list of the best — and the worst

by Kelsey on October 9, 2009

At Oyster, we’ve, well, gotten around. Our reporters have been to hundreds of resorts in sexy destinations from Jamaica to Maui, and stayed at some truly special romantic escapes – as well as those they couldn’t wait to escape from.

You might be planning to see Couples Retreat this weekend, and you might not (the reviews have been less than stellar). Either way, don’t make the same mistake as Vince Vaughn’s character and book a trip to a couples-only hell. To make it easy for you, we’ve compiled a list of our all-time favorite couples retreats – and a few we’d rather forget.

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace Resort

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace Resort

Read More »

{ 0 comments }

The New Look of Oahu’s Royal Hawaiian Hotel: Fugly or fabulous?

by admin on September 24, 2009

A newly-renovated room in the historic wing

A newly-renovated room in the historic wing

What does a $60-million renovation of an iconic Hawaiian hotel look like? Apparently, it looks like this.

Starwood Luxury Collection’s Royal Hawaiian (on Oahu), a.k.a. the ”Pink Palace of the Pacific,” has just come off a pricey makeover — and those dolla bills certainly weren’t used to tone down the resort’s signature girly-hued decor. Also (and this is pretty important): only the guestrooms in the historic wing have been renovated; the rooms in the tower haven’t undergone any upgrades yet.

But: the new rooms have quite a bit going on, no? While the still-to-be-renovated rooms sport the look of, in the words of our reporter, “subdued rooms from generic midrange hotels like the Hawaii Prince Waikiki,” the new decor in the historic wing looks…busy. Patterns on the walls, the chairs, the carpet — it’s all quite modern and fun and colorful, but it can’t possibly be everyone’s taste, right? Maybe not ideal for the bachelor party before an island wedding?

If you’re into the whole zen, calming-white thing, we’d suggest checking out the Halekulani instead. If the photo of this room alone was too much for you, maybe you should just sit at your desk and flip through pretty pictures of beaches to chill you out.

{ 2 comments }

Wedding Photo Fakeout: A classy, intimate beach wedding for everybody!

by admin on August 13, 2009

gazebowedding1

Myth: Shiny, happy people.

Reality: Boozey, sunburned people.

Reality: Boozey, sunburned people.

 

Imagine setting a date to say your vows — notifiying only your nearest and dearest; a handful of your most cherished family members and pals — and running off to the Dominican Republic with your spouse-to-be, dizzy with excitement and drunk on love. And imagine, if you will, that this lovely photo of a beaming just-married couple led you to book this pristine white gazebo at the Riu Palace Punta Cana in which to say your nuptials.

And then imagine that all of this imagining (courtesy of the heartbreakingly misleading photo on the resort’s website) carries you on a cloud of delight and excitement all the way to this not-so-awesome reality check at the altar: your wedding ceremony has been crashed by this hot crew of ladies and gentlemen in full-coverage tropical swimwear.

Nothing says elegance like an uninvited onlooker in a leopard print sarong.

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries