Beverly Hills

Fact or Fakeout: $500,000 Hotel Packages, Vegas Wedding Chapels, and More!

by Carolina on May 14, 2013

The Viceroy Room at the Viceroy Santa Monica; Los Angeles, CA

The Viceroy Room at the Viceroy Santa Monica; Los Angeles, CA

1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Viceroy Santa Monica has partnered with designer Marchesa to offer a $500,000 destination wedding package that includes a Marchesa bridal gown, a 12-setting Lenox china set, and 60 rooms for three nights. That will make for some happy wedding guests!

2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Peninsula Beverly Hills is now offering those traveling with kids its own version of a modern Cinderella experience: rides on sleek motorcycle-drawn carriages.

3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Aria Resort & Casino Las Vegas recently announced it will be closing its wedding chapel due to the shortage of couples willing to tie the knot in Sin City. The space will be turned into a sports bar.

4. FACT OF FAKEOUT? Jon Bon Jovi surprised JW Marriott Essex House New York guests with an unannounced appearance during the hotel’s formal reopening under the JW Marriott name.

5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York has rolled out a $14,999 Great Gatsby-themed package for couples that includes a custom-tailored shirt and suit from Bergdorf Goodman, a shagreen and onyx cuff from Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, and dinner at Jean-Georges.

Check out the answers after the jump!

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Tagged as: Beverly Hills, Fact or Fakeout, Las Vegas, New York City, Santa Monica

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Oyster’s Fact or Fakeout: In-Room Gambling, Guest Nutrition Advisers, and More!

by Carolina on February 19, 2013

Pool at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa; Atlantic City, NJ

Pool at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa; Atlantic City, NJ

1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has launched an in-room gambling program that allows guests to gamble through their TV sets.

2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Angelica Huston and Donna Karan were recently seen partying at The Surrey in New York until the wee hours.

3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The B Ocean Fort Lauderdale is offering several special promos for March 1st that include $13 rooms, breakfast buffets for $13 and two cocktails for $13, as the date will be palindrome (3/1/13).

4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Peninsula Beverly Hills has an on-site Nutrition Adviser who works upon request with the hotel’s chefs to create healthy meals for each guest.

5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Comfort Hotel Grand Central in Oslo is housed in the city’s original train station, built in 1854.

Check out the answers after the jump!

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Tagged as: Atlantic City, Beverly Hills, Fact or Fakeout, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Oslo

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Oyster’s Fact or Fakeout: Shirtless Football Players, $1,000 Spa Facials, and More!

by Carolina on February 12, 2013

The Junior Suite at the Pavillon de la Reine; Paris, France

The Junior Suite at the Pavillon de la Reine; Paris, France

1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Pavillon de la Reine’s special Valentine’s Day package includes a padlock inscribed with the couples’ names that they can lock to Le Pont des Arts bridge.

2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac now offers free BMW rides to all its guests staying three or more nights.

3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? New England Patriots player Rob Gronkowski was seen dancing shirtless at the Wynn Las Vegas the night of the Super Bowl.

4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The most expensive spa treatment at The Beverly Hills Hotel’s spa is a 90-minute White Caviar Illuminating Facial that includes a cellular three-minute peel.

5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta has just started offering a guaranteed 24-hour stay, meaning guests don’t have to check out at 11 a.m. anymore and can enjoy the room for a full 24 hours.

Check out the answers after the jump!

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Tagged as: Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Charlotte, Fact or Fakeout, Las Vegas, Paris, Quebec City

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Oyster’s Fact or Fakeout: $750 Cupcakes, Jason Wu’s Collection for St. Regis, and More!

by Carolina on February 5, 2013

Lobby at The St. Regis Deer Valley; Park City, UT

Lobby at The St. Regis Deer Valley; Park City, UT

1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Designer Jason Wu has created an exclusive handbag for The St. Regis Deer Valley, which can be purchased online along with dozens of other gifts given the property’s stamp of approval.

2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong offers its guests free use of USB modems during their trip, so that they can get on-the-go Internet access even outside the hotel.

3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Lindsay Lohan and her mom were turned down by several L.A. hotels before being allowed to book a room at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Sweet Surrender candy store at the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas is now selling a $750 cupcake.

5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Affinia Manhattan will host the 3,200 dogs taking part in the 137th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Check out the answers after the jump!

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Tagged as: Beverly Hills, Deer Valley, Fact or Fakeout, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York

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Oyster’s Fact or Fakeout: Vegas Hotel Busted for Drugs and Prostitution, British Airways’ Awesome Promotion, and More!

by Carolina on January 15, 2013

Executive Park View Junior Suite at the Baglioni Hotel London; London, UK

Executive Park View Junior Suite at the Baglioni Hotel London; London, UK

1. FACT OR FAKEOUT?  British Airways recently announced the “Big British Invite” promotion, which offers a free two-night stay at the ultra-luxe Baglioni Hotel London with the purchase of a round-trip ticket between the US and the UK.

2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Oprah Winfrey has bought a four-room, six-and-a-half-bath condo at the Montage Beverly Hills for $14 million. This will be her ninth residence, and her second home in California.

3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas will have to pay a $1 million fine as the result of employees accepting payments to supply prostitutes, cocaine and pain killers to undercover agents.

4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Faktum Hotels is a non-profit website that allows people to book a hotel room for the homeless living in Gothenburg, Sweden.

5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The W New York’s Detox for Retox package helps guests follow a juice cleanse program with a selection of juices and raw-food items delivered to their room.

Check out the answers after the jump!

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Tagged as: Beverly Hills, Fact or Fakeout, Las Vegas, London, New York, Sweden

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Golden Globes 2013: Party with the Stars in Tinsel Town

by Kristina on January 10, 2013

Lights, camera, action: The Golden Globes take place Sunday in The Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom.

Roll out the red carpet: The 70th annual Golden Globes is kicking off this years’ awards season with a bang this Sunday, January 13th, at one of Oyster’s favorite hotels. The Beverly Hilton has played host to Hollywood’s favorite awards night since 1961 — and with good reason. This 569-room bastion of Hollywood glamour oozes luxury, but at prices that won’t bust the budgets of fans looking to sneak a peak at their favorite nominees (if they can snag a room, of course). And this year’s crop of acclaimed actors and actresses is seriously stalker-worthy. Helen Mirren, Ben Affleck, Meryl Streep (obviously — the woman is still the leader in number of Golden Globes ever won), Steve Buscemi, and Zoey Deshanel are just a handful of the lucky few to garner praise from the Hollywood Foreign Press this time around.  And the show’s new hosts, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, seem ready to lead all of them through a night of celeb-studded hilarity — something tells us even the Dowager Countess won’t be able to suppress a smile at their antics.

And, thanks to Oyster, you might be able to get in on the laughs as well. Whether you’re looking to crash a pre-party awards campaign à la Weinstein & Co. or are dreaming about after-party shenanigans, we’ve got the low down on the best Beverly Hills hotels to rub shoulders with the stars. Check out the details here » 

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Tagged as: Beverly Hills, Celebrity Travel, Golden Globes, Los Angeles, Movies and Travel

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Oyster’s Fact or Fakeout: Exclusive In-Room Champagne Apps, Dirt-Cheap Suites, and More!

by Carolina on January 8, 2013

The Oriental Suite at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, China

The Oriental Suite at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, China

1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? When the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong first opened in 1963, it was the tallest building on the island.

2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Greta Garbo Suite, unveiled recently at the Radisson Blu Strand Hotel Stockholm on the occasion of the hotel’s 100th anniversary, displays memorabilia from the Greta Garbo Museum in Hogsby.

3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills offers in-room iPads with an app that allows guests to order a bottle of champagne to their room with just one click.

4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Hotel Indigo London – Paddington is now offering a package that includes free breakfast and a cocktail prepared using regionally-sourced ingredients.

5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The US Grant — a Luxury Collection Hotel recently offered suites for just $1.02 in celebration of its 102th birthday.

Check out the answers after the jump! Read More »

Tagged as: Beverly Hills, Fact or Fakeout, Hong Kong, London, Miami, San Diego, South Beach, Stockholm

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From Designer Condoms To 3D Glasses: Wacky Hotel Minibar Items

by Kristina on December 24, 2012

Hotel minibars have a bit of a naughty reputation. After all, they tempt and tease world-weary travelers with salty-sweet goodness at all hours of the day, and then come with a double-digit price tag to boot! But sometimes, the items up for grabs can at least provide guests with a moment of amusement. Some hotels feature rather surprising minibar offerings — we’re talking walking sticks and 24-karat gold vibrators. It’s enough to make guests pause in their perusal of the candy selection and say, “Wait, what?” We’ve come across some of the wackiest minibar items during our travels; here are some of our favorites:

Alexander Wang-Designed Condoms at the Thompson Beverly Hills 

Get your groove on at the Thompson Beverly Hills.

At the flashy Thompson Beverly Hills, spending the night with that special someone just got more fashionable. Designer Alexander Wang created special packaging for PROPER ATTIRE condoms, which are for sale at all Thomspon properties, as well as on the brand’s website. Couples pay $5.99 for a pack of three assorted (which include extra large, ultra-thin, and studded — oh my!) and proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood.  Read More »

Tagged as: Beverly Hills, Boston, London, Los Angeles, Minibar, New Orleans, New York City, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto

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Eight Crazy Nights: Hanukkah Celebrations Around the World

by Kristina on December 7, 2012

This year, the Festival of Lights takes place from this Saturday (December 8th) through the 16th. Celebrations vary from the traditional — lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and giving gelt — to the more unique gatherings (skiing with the “Adventure Rabbi”, anyone?), but all are heartfelt, fun affairs that involve the whole family. Jews around the globe will be coming together over the next eight nights, and there are plenty of events for them to explore the world over. We’ve collected some of our favorites here, but no matter where you end up, here’s wishing you and yours a very Happy Hanukkah!

This holiday season, The Plaza is playing host to the world's largest menorah, in addition to other celebrated guests.

Visit the World’s Largest Menorah in New York City

Standing 32 feet tall and weighing two tons, New York City‘s menorah is the largest in the world. It stands on a piece of prime real estate, right in front of the iconic Plaza hotel on 5th Avenue, across the street from Central Park. Admission is free, and guests can stay to enjoy sufganiyot — holiday jelly donuts — and folk dancing after the lighting, which starts at 5:30 nightly (excluding the Sabbath). On December 8th, there will also be live music, singing, and dancing to kick off the holiday, as well as Hanukkah gelt for the children and hot latkes for everyone to enjoy.

Where to Stay: The Plaza

As NYC’s menorah is so conveniently located in front of The Plaza, why not stay at the iconic New York hotel? The century-old landmark has huge rooms, gold-plated bathroom fixtures, an exceptional spa, and 24-hour butler service. It’s definitely worth the splurge this holiday season.

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Tagged as: Berlin, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Denver, Hanukkah, London, New York City, Rome, Washington D.C.

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Five of the Most Expensive Minibar Items in Hotel History

by Kristina on November 28, 2012

Hotels are notorious for placing ridiculous price hikes on minibar offerings. That bag of chips that looks so good after a long plane ride becomes a lot less appealing when it comes with a $9 price tag. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From sex toy collections to custom chocolates, hotel minibars are becoming more and more exorbitant every day. Here’s a list of some of the priciest minibar offerings in hotel history. Prepare yourself for some serious sticker-shock!

$400 Pleasure Pack at The Drake Hotel, Toronto

And with peek-a-boo showers, do you really need that $400 pleasure pack?

This funky boutique hotel in Toronto’s newly gentrified Art and Design District is full of unique, modern elements that attract a hip crowd — as does the hot nightclub on-site. But even these riotous visitors might balk at the $400 price tag on one of the hotel’s in-room pleasure packages. The Lap of Luxury set includes a black silk scarf and a 24-karat-gold waterproof vibrator for some serious (and seriously luxurious) sexy time. Batteries are included, so that’s something.

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Tagged as: Beverly Hills, Chicago, New York City, Toronto

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