Grounds at the eco-friendly Arenas Del Mar Beach and Nature Resort in Costa Rica.
Happy Earth Day! Today more than ever calls for some tree-hugging and eco-friendly practices, so we’ve picked ten of our favorite green hotels around the globe where you can celebrate by being kind to Mother Nature. From solar panels to vertical gardens, these unique spaces make it a point to be respectful of the environment. Need official proof? Most of them are LEED-certified. But if you don’t have a chance to get away to celebrate, pretend by clicking through our slideshow — just remember to power down afterwards and enjoy the great outdoors for a change!
Tagged as:
Aspen,
Barcelona,
Botswana,
Buenos Aires,
Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic,
Jamaica,
Las Vegas,
New York City,
Sonoma County
The Ahwanee, Yosemite National Park
Nothing man-made can rival Mother Nature at her finest. For those who love the great outdoors, the most memorable vacations aren’t at massive mega-resorts — they’re at hotels that bring you closer to some of the world’s natural wonders. From an historic landmark hotel in Yosemite National Park to a lodge at the top of a massive waterfall to luxury tree houses nestled among California’s redwoods, these 10 hotels have natural settings that are truly jaw-dropping.
Tagged as:
Bermuda,
Botswana,
Costa Rica,
Jackson Hole,
Lake Tahoe,
Sedona,
St. Lucia,
Travel Inspiration,
Washington
The Marriott Wailea Resort is a romantic honeymoon locale on Maui.
Honeymoons must be two things: romantic and memorable. Any old trip to the beach is just not going to suffice for a couple’s post-nuptial getaway. But thankfully, there are plenty of unique and luxurious properties out there for newlyweds. Remote jungle hideaways, cozy mountain lodges, luxe European grand dames, and gorgeous beachfront properties are waiting with a bottle of champagne at the ready to toast your “I dos.” These romantic hotels around the world are perfect honeymoon locales; go ahead and swoon over them in this slideshow.
Tagged as:
Austin,
Big Sur,
Botswana,
Cape Cod,
Carmel Valley,
Costa Rica,
Destination Weddings,
Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis,
Guatemala,
Hawaii,
Honeymoons,
Hong Kong,
Ireland,
Jamaica,
Lisbon,
Maui,
Paris,
Rio de Janeiro,
Romantic Hotels,
Rome,
San Juan Islands,
Singapore,
Washington,
Yosemite
Tanque Verde, a quintessential Western dude ranch
Sometimes, the journey is about the destination. Because the destination is so special, your whole travel experience is wrapped up inside it. We’ve traveled the world and have been to some pretty special spots. From a western dude ranch to a Florentine palazzo to an African canoe excursion, these 11 trips offer a far richer experience than your typical overnight stay.
Tagged as:
Boston,
Botswana,
Costa Rica,
Florence,
Jamaica,
Lisbon,
Long Island,
Rome,
St. Lucia,
Tucson
Ever dreamed of sleeping in a castle? Check out all 15 of Oyster's bucket list stays.
If you’re like most of us, you probably have a dream trip tucked in the back of your mind — the improbable fantasy hotel stay that will happen one day down the road when you have the time/money/etc. Maybe. But now that we’ve all survived the Mayan apocalypse and are busy working on New Year’s resolutions, Oyster has a resolution challenge for you that you probably won’t mind keeping. In 2013, don’t put off that trip you’re planning to do before you die any longer. Because if the Mayans taught us anything, it’s that we could be dead tomorrow, right? To help you take the plunge, we’ve compiled 15 incredible and utterly unique hotel stays that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Tagged as:
Belize,
Big Sur,
Botswana,
Brooklyn,
Costa Rica,
Ireland,
Jackson Hole,
Jamaica,
Napa Valley,
New York City,
Paris,
Riviera Nayarit,
San Juan,
Sedona,
South Carolina,
Turks and Caicos
Most of us forget our New Year’s Resolutions as soon as we’ve written them down, but we’re sure a lot of you out there at least aim to unplug a little this year by talking more face-to-face and less via social networks; planning at least a short getaway to the countryside; and hitting the road to get back in touch with nature: No TV, no Internet access, no cell phone service. It’s easy to fall into the office-gym-home routine and find that it’s the end of the year again and you haven’t quite done all you’ve set out to do (although if you keep up with the “gym” part, maybe you will have lost those 15 pounds!). Well, we’re determined to help you stay on the “back to nature” bandwagon this year. Check out our favorite unplugged havens and pick the best one for you. Then it’s time to lose the cell — at least for a weekend.
Rooms are housed in open palapas with no window panes or screens.
Haramara, a luxurious yoga retreat located on 12 seaside acres of wild vegetation, is arguably one of the most special hotels in Mexico. All hotel structures have been built using traditional construction techniques to minimize the environmental impact, and there is no electricity besides in the restaurant and the yoga studio. Each room is housed in a private, standalone thatched hut with no window panes or screens separating the indoors from the jungle, and only gauze curtains and mosquito nets protect guests from bugs and critters. Even the bathrooms are open. The peaceful retreat is geared towards those in need of some detoxification and relaxation, with yoga and meditation classes, an open-air spa, a vegetarian and seafood restaurant, unpaved trails, and limited cell phone service.
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Tagged as:
Belize,
Botswana,
Guatemala,
Riviera Nayarit,
Zimbabwe
Unique, exciting, gorgeous: Going on a safari honeymoon is all that and more.
This ultra-remote, luxurious safari lodge on an island in Botswana‘s Okavango Delta isn’t a hotel, it’s an experience, where everything — including the excellent food and the guided excursions (game drives, bush walks, river cruises) — is included in the price of the stay. At the &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp, newlyweds can get up close and personal with exotic wildlife on both land and water (think: lions and hippos), and even arriving to the property is an adventure, requiring transport by small plane, safari vehicle, and a boat. The nine safari “tents” are fully screened in and thoroughly high-end, with huge soaking tubs, four-poster beds, lots of wood, and private plunge pools, creating a charming and romantic atmosphere.
Tinged with the sense of excitement that comes from being on safari — especially here as the camp is not enclosed — a honeymoon to Botswana is definitely going to be a memorable one. As an added bonus, the &Beyond Lodges offer a great honeymoon package that newlyweds might consider. Brides receive a 50 percent discount on their accommodations, and other special requests — such as private excursions — can also be made in advance. Check out more honeymoon inspired photos of the &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp here »
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Tagged as:
All-Inclusive Resorts,
Botswana,
Boutique Hotels,
Honeymoons,
Luxury Hotels,
Romantic Hotels
‘Tis the season for annual awards lists, but if you think you know what’s coming, guess again. Oyster’s awards aren’t like the other guys’ — we’re not like the other guys, so why should our awards be? You can find lists of the world’s best luxury hotels in a dozen other places, but only Oyster digs deep to learn every hotel’s secret quirks. Our hotel investigators trot the globe and visit every hotel in person so we can bring you the unvarnished truth, and this year, for the first-ever annual Oyster Hotel Awards, we’d like to show you the wackiest, coolest, weirdest, and most interesting things they came across in their travels. We are thrilled to present the 2012 selection of Oyster’s Most Interesting Hotels in the World. Are you ready for this?
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Tagged as:
Boston,
Botswana,
British Virgin Islands,
Chicago,
Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic,
Finger Lakes,
Hong Kong,
Ireland,
Jamaica,
Las Vegas,
Lisbon,
Miami,
New York City,
Paris,
Rio de Janeiro,
Riviera Maya,
Rome,
San Diego,
San Francisco,
Sao Paulo,
Virgin Gorda
by Carly on July 11, 2012
Sure, a week holed up in a beach bungalow or a romantic jaunt to the City of Lights is a nice way to spend one’s honeymoon. But we’d argue it can be a bit cliché, and you’re not just any other couple, right? If you and your significant other identify more with the less-than-traditional set of newlyweds, why not jet off to some exotic, unexpected locale instead? Taking the road less traveled for a honeymoon can be all the more romantic, now that you have someone else to protect you, natch. So before you book that all-inclusive in the Caribbean, give our five alternative honeymoon destinations a look — you never know where they will take you!
1. Go on an African Safari in Botswana
&Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp
The &Beyond Xaranna Okavanga Delta Camp is an all-inclusive resort in Botswana– but not like one you’ve ever been to before. (Read: you’re not going to be carrying around that same old plastic cup all week.) Set on an island that’s home to a 62,000-acre nature preserve, this unique getaway combines natural beauty and a far-away feel that’ll be sure to create a sexy atmosphere — for an adrenaline-junkie couples happy. Couples can go on game drives, bush walks, and river cruises, or simply enjoy cocktails on the hotel grounds, waiting for lions, hippos, or monkeys to mosey by. The tented suites are a study in glamping (that’s glamorous camping for the uninformed), complete with soaking tubs, indoor and outdoor showers, and four poster beds. A holiday on safari is the perfect way to begin the adventure that is marriage, don’t you think?
Tagged as:
Botswana,
Boutique Hotels,
Charleston,
Guatemala,
Hong Kong,
Lisbon,
Luxury Hotels,
Romantic Hotels
Lake Tahoe, California
It’s true that the ocean is awesome — but reaching it can be a trek for many travelers. And even for those who live close to the beach, there comes a point in the summer when you get sick of sand getting stuck between your toes. That’s why we’ve compiled some of our favorite spots for freshwater fun; these beautiful lakes and rivers are an active traveler’s dream, offering activities such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing, nearby hiking, and more. Check out our trip options suited to a range of tastes — whether you prefer picnicking on Tahoe’s shores or cave tubing along the Macal River in Belize.
Tagged as:
Belize,
Botswana,
Boutique Hotels,
Geneva,
Guatemala,
Lake Placid,
Lake Tahoe,
Luxury Hotels,
San Juan Islands,
Washington,
Whistler
