Toronto

Oyster’s Fact or Fakeout: The $99,900 Bed, Tom Cruise’s Solo Vacation, and More!

by Kristina on September 11, 2012

The luxe Hazelton Hotel wants its guests to be comfortable — no matter the cost.

1. FACT OR FAKEOUT? The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto recently installed a handcrafted bed from Hastens that costs almost 30 times the price of a week-long stay in the hotel’s Superior Guest Room.

2. FACT OR FAKEOUT? During Tom Cruise’s recent visit to the Forza Mare Hotel in Croatia, the film star requested that the hotel clear itself of all guests so he might enjoy a more private stay.

3.FACT OR FAKEOUT?  Guests at New York City’s iconic Bemelman’s Bar at The Carlyle were treated to an impromptu jazz performance from Mariah Carey last weekend.

4. FACT OR FAKEOUT? Reporters covering last week’s Democratic National Convention had a lot more to worry about than the return of Clint Eastwood’s chair: Hotels in Charlotte were reamed by reporters across networks for hosting everything from bedbugs to drug dealers during their stay.

5. FACT OR FAKEOUT? VH1′s next Vegas reality show is pitting model against model at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in which contestants have to complete Vegas-inspired stunts (think swimming with sharks at Mandalay or sleeping with the lions at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino) to win a spokesmodel contract with the hotel.

Check out the answers after the jump!

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Tagged as: Boutique Hotels, Celebrity Travel, Charlotte, Fact or Fakeout, Las Vegas, Luxury Hotels, New York City, Toronto, Value Hotels

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Wedding Wednesday: The Drake Hotel, Toronto

by Kristina on September 5, 2012

The rooftop lounge at The Drake Hotel is an ideal wedding venue for a rock & roll couple.

Rocker brides and grooms, get ready: We’ve found just the venue for your upcoming nuptials. Located in Toronto’s funky Art and Design District, The Drake Hotel is known for its edgy vibe befitting the neighborhood. Its 19 rooms each have their own hip style with modern touches — including Malin + Goetz toiletries, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docks — and each comes with a “pleasure menu” that adventurous newlyweds (or “lucky” bridesmaids) might enjoy. And perhaps the biggest draw for hard-partying couples and their entourage is the hotel’s popular nightclub, The Drake Underground, where a flash of your room key lets you skip the line, and the bass pumps into the wee hours: Beauty rest before the big day is better gotten elsewhere…but that’s overrated, right?

At The Drake, you will also be in walking distance of parks, museums, and shopping, so anything you might need for the big day is close at hand. Not that you’ll have to worry about much. The staff at The Drake is known as much for their attentive service as for their partyin’ lifestyle. And they’re not all about Rock & Roll receptions (though those hosted in the Underground are known to be legendary). The rooftop lounge, Sky Yard, has seen its fair share of classic outdoor ceremonies, for those looking for a more traditional wedding with just a hint of edge (perhaps to satisfy a certain overbearing mother-in-law — not that we’re naming any names). And the hotel will gladly take care of all décor and catering details, offering custom bake sale options and fresh flowers. So if you like to party and want a non-traditional locale, The Drake Hotel is a rockin’ choice. Check out more wedding-inspired photos of the hotel here »

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Tagged as: Boutique Hotels, Destination Weddings, Toronto, Wedding Wednesday

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Travel Like a Queen: Check Out the Luxury Hotels of Britain’s Royal Family

by Kristina on August 3, 2012

If there’s one thing we’ve learned this summer it’s that the Brits are classy. From the Diamond Jubilee to the ongoing Olympic games, it’s clear that Her Royal Majesty recognizes true luxury when she sees it (and isn’t afraid to parachute out of a helicopter, either…but that’s a whole other story). While we all might be wishing our way to London right now, it might be easier – and just as fabulous – to visit some of the Royals’ favorite hotels beyond the British Isles. They can’t take their castles with them when they travel, but Queen Elizabeth II and company do find some of the most elegant, indulgent properties to call home when touring the globe. Just don’t forget to pack your finery when traveling to these hotels – they are, after all, literally fit for a queen.

Home Away From Castle: Half Moon, Jamaica

Half Moon Entrance

Regal Entrance to Half Moon, Jamaica

Since opening in 1954, Jamaica’s Half Moon resort has played host to many a royal, including HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, HRH The Prince of Wales, and HRH Princess Margaret. This exclusive resort is built on a perfectly shaped crescent beach (hence its celestial name), and is known for its timeless, understated luxury across every nook and cranny of its 400 acres. Classic design, attentive service and quality cuisine are abound – even at the swim-up bar. But what truly sets Half Moon apart from other resorts is its endless breadth of activities. Guests can swim with dolphins in the resort’s private cove, play tennis or golf, windsurf, kayak, choose from a myriad of spa treatments…the list literally goes on for a bit. With so many options (even if HRH chooses only to soak in the Jamaican sun), the island’s status as member of the British Commonwealth, and Half Moon’s dedication to service and taste, it’s no wonder the royals feel right at home here.

Oyster’s Fave Royal Amenity: Half Moon’s Equestrian Center gets it major British brownie points. Polo is as British as tea and crumpets, and at Half Moon the boys (Their Royal Boys?) can work on their form, beach-side.

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Tagged as: 2012 Olympics, Barbados, Berlin, Jamaica, Los Angeles, Luxury Hotels, New York City, Toronto, Washington D.C.

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Foto Friday: Sky High in Toronto

by Carly on June 29, 2012

Look at that view: Who would’ve guessed that a Canadian city-scape could rival one of our own stellar NYC lookouts? [Ed. note: Sorry, we're biased.] At the Thompson Toronto, the rooftop bar offers gorgeous views and is furnished with sexy, striped loungers. Plus, the walls of glass surrounding the area lend an open, airy feel to the space and the rooftop’s infinity pool speaks for itself. But the hotel’s cool amenities don’t end there; down below there is a state-of-the-art screening room, the renowned Scarpetta restaurant, and a yoga studio to ground you – in case all of that open air gets to your head.

Thompson Hotel

View from the Rooftop Bar at the Thompson Toronto

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Tagged as: Foto Friday, Toronto

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Super-Intimate Inns: Hotels That Have Sex Toy Menus

by Devon on April 17, 2012

Find the best hotels for fun in bed (Credit: iStock)

We’ve been to some tantalizing spots over the years — like these adult-only getaways — but some hotels are introducing room service menus that whet more than just your appetite, if you catch our drift. Whether it’s an intimacy kit or an (almost) full-service sexy concierge, these hotels hit the (G) spot by letting guests explore their freakysides. But pleasure-seekers be warned: These thrilling amenities can add hundreds to the final bill.

Check out some of our favorite hot spots after the jump!

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Tagged as: Boutique Hotels, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, Romantic Hotels, San Diego, Toronto

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Mad Men: Hotels for Today’s High-Powered Ad Executives

by Zach on April 2, 2012

Mad Men Season 5 Portrait

Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

 

The style, sexiness, and glamor of Don Draper and his lifestyle are quickly becoming a mainstay of popular culture. But even though Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce may be a fictional agency, the advertising industry of the real world still has an allure (now partly fueled by the show, of course) for its sleek tendencies and over-the-top tactics for wooing clients. We’ve done our research and come up with hotels that modern day Don Draper’s will love, so grab a fresh drink, tell Joan to hold your calls, and take a look after the jump!

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Tagged as: London, Los Angeles, New York City, Television and Travel, The Hamptons, Toronto

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Keepin’ It Quirky: The Best Hipster Hotel Amenities

by Zach on February 20, 2012

Hipster culture is something that has been mocked since mainstream culture became aware of its rise during the 2000s. In fact, making fun of someone’s flannel shirt, skinny jeans, or preference of PBR has become so commonplace, it’s practically passé. But all of this attention hasn’t deterred the culture from working its way into hotels around the world. So put down your second-hand paperback, throw on your favorite vinyl record, and take a look at some of our favorite “hipster-style” hotel amenities.

The Ace Hotel and Swim Club – Palm Springs, CA

 

The Swim Club Pool at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club; Palm Springs, CA

The Ace Hotel and Swim Club has a way of wooing the residents of Silver Lake and Echo Park away from their Intelligentsia coffees for weekends in the desert. There’s an undeniable party vibe at the hotel: like its sister properties, weekends are host to music events (especially well known DJs), where the two pools become lined with chest tattoos and vintage sunglasses. Rooms have retro touches like radios, record players and vinyl. And even though the nearby Coachella music festival is way too mainstream to be considered a hipster party anymore, the bands that play it are just as likely to end up on a Gorilla vs. Bear post as anyone. Just make sure you don’t forget to hit up the photo booth in the lobby before you head back to LA.

Read about more so-cool-they’re-not-cool-but-still-ironic amenities after the jump. Read More »

Tagged as: Austin, Berlin, Chicago, Hotel Art, Music and Travel, Palm Springs, Toronto

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Sex Toys, Nude Pools, and More: Hot Hotel Amenities

by Jane on February 1, 2012

On Valentine’s Day, just about anything can get a person in the mood — but there are some things are a sure bet. That’s why we perused our most romantic hotels to find come-hither amenities that could have even total strangers getting hot and heavy in no time. Grab your spouse, significant other, or the eye candy that lives next door and check in to one of these sexy spots.

THE HOTEL: Ventana Inn & Spa; Big Sur, CA

THE LUSTY AMENITY: The Clothing-Optional Pool

Clothing-Optional Lower Pool at the Ventana Inn & Spa; Big Sur, CA

The Clothing-Optional Lower Pool at the Ventana Inn & Spa; Big Sur, CA

The Ventana Inn & Spa is all about creating a zen, holistic retreat with such offerings as yoga classes, discovery walks, afternoon wine and cheese, Japanese baths, and two pools. Forgot to pack your bathing suit? No problem! One of the pools is clothing-optional (read: everyone’s in their birthday suit), so it’s easy to dive in and feel sexy. Check out more super-sexy hotel features after the jump!

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Tagged as: Bermuda, Big Sur, Los Angeles, New York City, Romantic Hotels, San Francisco, Toronto, Valentine's Day

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Party 2011 Away: The Best New Year’s Eve Hotel Parties In New York, Las Vegas, and More

by Carolina on December 26, 2011

It’s that time of the year. You’ve been so busy wondering how it’s possible that it is already late December that you still haven’t planned where and how you will spend the last night of 2011. No need to fret — Oyster has compiled a list of the best hotel parties in our most popular cities to help you ring in 2012.

LAS VEGAS

Bellagio

Bellagio

WHERE: Bellagio
WHAT: A jam session by Bruno Mars, champagne, and other surprises await at The Bank, one of Las Vegas’ most exclusive nightclubs. Hyde, slated to open on New Year’s Eve, will put the cap to the celebrations with a grand opening party on the 31st and a New Year’s Day session by Paul Oakenfold. Tickets are $175 per person.
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Tagged as: Chicago, Hotel Bars, Hotel Nightclubs, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Year's Eve, New York City, San Francisco, Toronto

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Toronto is now an Oyster city!

by Hilary on July 22, 2011

We just returned from Toronto, where we explored the largest city in Canada and discovered the ins and outs of the best hotels. We gazed at the CN Tower from our window in The Fairmont Royal York and walked steps to the hip area of Bloor Street at the luxurious Hazelton Hotel. At The Drake Hotel, a nightlife and dining hot spot, we sipped cocktails at the rooftop patio bar. And, because we’re Oyster, we’ve got photos of it all.

We’re excited to help you plan your own Toronto adventure, and look forward to sharing many more beautiful places with you in the coming year.

Go ahead — get inspired!

Toronto

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Tagged as: Toronto

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