Who doesn’t love a beach vacation? The sun, the sand, and the ocean all come together to make for a relaxing getaway that, when complete, will send you home rested and relaxed – and hopefully with a tan! Where you stay, however, can make a big difference on just how fabulous your beach trip is. That’s why we’ve found the 15 most decadent hotels on the sand to ensure that you enjoy the ultimate beachfront luxury.
Eden Roc at Cap Cana
The Eden Roc, opened in 2012, is one of the most high-tech properties in the Dominican Republic, and is located in the gated Cap Cana community — which has a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, marina, and beach club. The 34 colorful suites are clustered around a small, man-made lagoon and feature elegant decor (picture four-poster beds, intricate floor tiling, and spacious bathrooms). Up-to-date amenities include iPad-controlled lights, sound systems, and TVs with numerous channels in Spanish and English. Suites also come with small pools and golf carts for getting around the property.
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Santa Monica
Getting fit doesn’t have to be on your to-do list after you travel. While many hotels offer state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment, we know that treadmills can get downright boring after a while. So we’ve found the hotels that have one-of-a-kind fitness amenities that will add a little spice to your workouts while you travel and below we’ll tell you where to find them.
The Fitness Feature: Kayaking and Canoeing
Kayaks at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
The Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
Plenty of beach and lakeside hotels offer kayak and canoe rentals, but few offer as many options for your paddling session. For those who prefer a trained professional to accompany them, guided tours at this Ritz include two-hour eco-tours along Shingle Creek ($60 for adults; $30 for children) and excursions on Grande Lake where paddlers can watch the sun rise and set ($20/hour for adults; $10/hour for children).
Other hotels with similar offerings: Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
The upscale Terranea Resort offers myriad activities, including two-hour ocean kayaking tours along the Catalina Channel, where paddlers can spot bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, leopard sharks, and bat rays ($89 per person). Or guests can opt for “kayorkle” — a two-hour excursion where guests snorkel and kayak, also for $89 per person.
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Boston,
Las Vegas,
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Maine,
Miami,
New York City,
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The Hamptons
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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Beverly Hills,
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Hotel bars are often a convenient spot for a nightcap or a quick after-work drink (anything to take the edge off!) while on a business trip — but not all have the right vibe and noise level to help free your mind of all the stress after a long day of work. Whether you have been working all day in your office, or running from meeting to meeting while on the road, these great hotel bars are a safe bet for some after-work fun.
The Red Owl offers Independence Hall views and great drinks.
The Red Owl Tavern is a hip spot located off the lobby at Hotel Monaco. It offers a fantastic wine list (put together by Kimpton Hotels master sommelier Emily Wines), and hand-crafted cocktails. With huge windows overlooking Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, a couple of cool industrial-inspired details, and house-cured charcuterie board specials, the bar attracts a varied crowd of professionals.
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San Francisco,
Santa Monica,
Washington D.C
King Room at the Mansion on Forsyth Park; Savannah, GA
1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Autograph Collection, which owns hotels such as the beautiful Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah, has a Facebook tool that analyzes your handwriting and recommends a holiday experience based on the findings.
2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? A woman was arrested for spending the night on a couch in the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel‘s lobby.
3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Sharon Osbourne was caught vacationing at the Esperanza Resort in Cabo San Lucas with a man that was not her husband.
4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? DoubleTree Hotels, a Hilton Hotels brand, has designed a clear vinyl hotel room complete with a bed, a bedside table, and a dresser. The company plans to open several pop-up, see-through hotels in New York, Sydney and London in 2013.
5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The FBI raided the Helly Nahmad Gallery at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York last week as part of an investigation into unlawful gambling.
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Santa Monica,
Savannah
by Jane on February 26, 2013
The Gramercy Park Hotel is one of the sexiest spots in New York City.
There’s something about boutique hotels that make them sexier than your average getaway: Smaller spaces and dark corners, personalized service, and often diligent attention to detail make them well-suited for the romantically-inclined. We picked our favorite boutiques that have all the necessary trappings for romance.
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Jamaica,
Los Angeles,
Luxury Hotels,
Miami,
New York City,
Punta Cana,
Romantic Hotels,
Santa Monica
by Jane on October 15, 2012
A picturesque scene at the beach at the Huntley Hotel.
Though it’s about a 15-minute walk away, the beach by the Huntley Hotel is well worth the stroll. Over 100 yards wide, it’s an ideal spot for swimming and boogie-boarding, as well as snapping breathtaking shots like the one above. Beachgoers can also bike along the 22-mile beachside path, or play volleyball at one of the many nets. And after a long day in the sun, the Huntley’s gorgeous Penthouse restaurant is the perfect place to unwind with a glass of wine — surrounded by 360-degree views, no less. So as we say every week: sit back, relax, and soak up the goodness that is The Huntley Hotel Santa Monica Beach.
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Los Angeles,
Luxury Hotels,
Monday Morning Ahhhh,
Santa Monica
The iconic Chateau Marmont has been a celeb favorite for years.
1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Lindsay Lohan owes the Chateau Marmont a whopping $46,000 “in minibar charges, cigarette purchases and restaurant bills.”
2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Snoqualmie Falls — which the luxe Salish Lodge & Spa overlooks – is Washington’s second most visited attraction.
3. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The price of spending a night in the Tiffany Suite at The St. Regis New York is the same as the price of a pair of platinum Victoria cluster earrings with marquis diamonds from Tiffany & Co.
4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino will be hosting the world’s largest bachelorette party — ever – at the end of the month.
5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The average price of a night’s stay in a double room in Newport, RI is $319, making it the most expensive city in the U.S. when it comes to hotels.
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Los Angeles,
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Martha's Vineyard,
Napa County,
New York City,
Newport,
Santa Monica,
Seattle
Soaring Sunset at the Huntley Hotel Santa Monica Beach
This week, amid NYC’s honking horns and grey days, we couldn’t help but indulge in a little California dreamin’. Peace, quiet, and a tan, oh my — it sounds pretty nice — and we think a stroll down the Santa Monica Pier is just what the doctor ordered. At the Huntley Hotel, the focus is certainly on strolling and shopping in the hotel’s quirky neighborhood. Plus, the hotel’s top-notch restaurant boasts gorgeous views of the sunset that you — and the birds, apparently — will be drawn to.
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