It’s time to get wet, y’all! With Spring Break just around the corner — and the rest of us here dying for a warm-weather vacation — we thought about where we’d wanna party in the sun. Check out the hottest pool parties around the globe, and then tell us: Which is your favorite pool party?
The Pool at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino; Las Vegas, NV
WHY SPLASH AROUND HERE: Easily one of the most popular with the bachelor-and-bachelorette set, the weekly Sunday Rehab Pool Party is notorious for bringing in huge (but sexy!) crowds. An eight-hour affair (it starts at noon), the party is known to bring in top party DJs from around the globe including Paul Oakenfold and Bad Boy Bill who spin tunes that range from Top 40 pop hits to banging house beats.
Check out more sexy hotel pool parties after the jump!
Read More »
Pooch lovers, rejoice: The 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is around the corner, airing on February 13 and 14. (Check your local listings for exact times and stations.) And since the many participants need to set up shop in New York for the big show, we figured we’d share our hotel expertise, but this time, we’re matching the dog — not (really) the owner — to the best spots for, well, Spot, to call home. Check out more of our hotel picks for different kind of pups, then vote: Which hotel would you stay with your dog at?
Credit: Courtesy of Flickr.com (dog); the lobby at the Affinia Dumont; New York, NY
WHY IT WORKS: Like its sister properties, the Affinia Dumont offers food and water bowls, doggie sidewalk bags, and even the services of a pet psychic through its Jet Sets program. But the Dumont is also known for its fitness focus, and an athletic dog like a lab needs to get its exercise. You can easily set up some extra walks (at an additional fee), or just head over to the East River path nearby for your own free stroll — or run.
THE COST: $25 surcharge; $250 and up for any pet-related damage after check-out.
Read More »
There’s nothing like a classic New York versus Boston sports game: There’s the always-dueling Red Sox and Yankees; the formidable Celtics and decent (?) New York Knicks; and of course, the new rivalry of the New England Patriots and New York Giants. This year’s Super Bowl also marks a rematch of 2008′s Big Game . But if you couldn’t afford to jet out to Indianapolis to catch your favorite football team in play (and who could, with hotel rates in the city hovering around $450/night), hole up a hotel bar local to your team. Not only will you have the camaraderie of fellow fans, but you’ll also be able to watch in style, too. Bonus? If you get too drunk, you can stay in one of the hotel’s available rooms. Just saying.
The Bar: Champions
Champions Bar at the Boston Marriott Copley Place; Boston, MA
With 44 HD TVs strategically positioned throughout the bar, a 12’X24’ viewing screen, 36 beers on tap (we recommend one of the Dogfish brews) and a long list of cocktails, the Champions Sports Bar at the Marriott is one of the best places to catch the game. Whether you sit at the bar over a drink and a small bite, or at one of the tables enjoying a full meal — order the Boston Lobster sliders — you’re sure to get a good view of the screens. Plus, you’re within a stone’s throw of Fenway Park and the TD Garden — two venues that’ll make any sports afficionado feel right at home. (At least a Boston fan.)
Read More »
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.
Read More »
by Jane on January 10, 2012
Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/startraksphoto.com
Well, we can start considering January 7th a national holiday because from now on because it marks the date of one of the most anticipated births in hip-hop history. If you haven’t checked your Twitter account or listened to the news in the past couple of days, then we’ll be the ones to tell you: Music power couple Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z welcomed their own pint-sized diva, Blue Ivy Carter, this past Saturday night. Sorry, Suri, your relevance just plummeted…because shortly after baby Blue’s birth in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital (where Jay-Z reportedly rented out an entire floor to ensure his growing family’s privacy), the Twittersphere exploded with congratulations from the couple’s famous friends, all wishing them and little Blue the best. And we bet some of those friends will soon be making trips to the Big Apple to visit the bouncing bundle of joy. But where are these celebs to stay? Don’t worry, Kanye, we found the perfect hotel for you. And you too, Gwyneth. We scoured the city and found hotels suited to each of the couple’s besties, no matter his or her style.
Read More »
The Park Suite at the Gansevoort Park Avenue; New York City
First there was New York City’s Restaurant Week, where hundreds of hotspots and local dives alike offer seriously discounted prices on (what are usually) three-course meals. Enter NYC ‘Hotel Week.’ From January 6 to January 15, several properties around the city are offering hotel rates starting for as little as $100 a night — with both budget and luxury options. For $100 you can snag a night at the Pod Hotel; If you’ve got a few extra bucks to spend, check out Andaz Wall Street or Gansevoort Park Avenue (where a certain Kardashian resided during the failure of her 72-day marriage) for up to $250 a night. Wanna know more? After the jump, check out the hotels involved this year and how to score the deals.
Read More »
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.
Read More »
by Zach on December 7, 2011
Since its birth, rock and roll and hotels have gone hand in hand. Whether it involves bands hitting the road on tour, infamously trashing a suite, or taking up temporary residence while working on an album, there’s an unmistakably inspirational quality to booking a room and letting loose. Luckily, a few hotels understand this relationship and offer their guests the ability to live like a rock star with some over-the-top music amenities. We strapped on our Stratocaster and hit the road to show you the hotel rooms bound to make music fans weak in the knees.
“You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)”: Hotel Saint Cecilia
Front Desk at the Hotel Saint Cecilia
Austin is a city that’s known for its hip music scene and hip crowds. It’s not surprising, then, that the Hotel Saint Cecilia has done away with a traditional front desk in favor of a cool collection of vinyl records and a turntable that guests are free to use. In-room record players and iPod docks make it easy to take the party back to your room, where decor reflectss the artistic lifestyle Austin loves to support. Just don’t get so carried away spinning vinyl that you miss the James Blake SXSW set you scored tickets to. Read More »
by Jane on October 24, 2011
‘Tis the season! Are you the type to head to New York City for the Rockefeller Center tree and lavish window displays? Or are you Caribbean-bound this time of year for some R&R? Either way, Oyster.com has found a destination and a hotel to suit your needs. So whether you’re planning on packing a parka or a bikini, check out our list below of the best places to stay this holiday season.
Christmastime in the Courtyard of The New York Palace
New York City
From Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the tree at Rockefeller Center, New York City knows how to celebrate the holidays and so do New York City hotels, with over-the-top decorations like the tree at The New York Palace.
Lights at the Entrance of The Pierre
Read More »
New York recently became the sixth and largest state to legalize gay marriage. This historic occasion is likely to turn the Big Apple into a hot spot wedding destination for same-sex couples across the country, and we thought it would be fitting to post some of the city’s best places to say “I do.” Take a look at our top wedding hotel picks below.
The Plaza
For a romantic, iconic wedding locale, the Plaza is hard to beat. The in-house wedding planner, Emily Reifel, is the best of the best, and can arrange everything from hair and makeup, to photographers, to florists (and more). And after a recent multi-million-dollar renovation, the Grand Ballroom Foyer is as grand as ever. The 24-hour butler service ensures that couples feel pampered post I-dos: the butler can unpack luggage, stock the room’s private bar, and draw baths.
Read More »
