Value Hotels

Plenty of business people find themselves traveling to New York City for work. And while New York has plenty to offer all kinds of travelers, it can be tough for business travelers to find some time to enjoy the city’s many perks. Fortunately, we’ve gone through our database and have found the top business hotels that are perfect for mixing business and pleasure.

For the Sports Fanatic: ONE UN New York

Tennis courts at the ONE UN New York

Across the street from the UN, the ONE UN is a popular choice among diplomats and dignitaries, and thus is well-equipped for business travelers. Business-minded amenities include 7,500 square feet of meeting space, room service, a new coffee bar, and rooms with large work spaces. Sports and fitness fanatics will be particularly happy at this hotel, which boasts a 24-hour fitness center, a lap pool with an on-duty lifeguard and great city views, and an indoor tennis court; the ONE UN is the only New York City hotel to have one.

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For many New Yorkers, heading to the Hamptons isn’t just about the beach — it’s about the hopping nightlife. When the weather gets warm, it’s the Hamptons,  not Manhattan,  that becomes the place to see and be seen after dark. The first step in planning your Hamptons party weekend is choosing where to sleep when the partying is done, and we’ve saved you time by selecting five hotels to suit different tastes — and pairing each with a cool party spot of a similar style. Don’t forget your designated driver.

Stay: The Trendy Hot Spot

Capri Southhampton

The 24-room Capri Southampton received a beach-chic makeover in 2011, and the new owners brought in a BLT Steak and Lacoste uniforms for outdoor staff. These brand names attract a certain social crowd — the kind that drinks champagne and munches on seafood while mingling poolside.

Party: The Bathing Club

At this trendy hotel, the party is at your front door — literally. The rooms are all on the first floor and doors open up right to the grounds that surround the pool lounge, dubbed The Bathing Club. Lounge music pumps through the outdoor speakers, and live DJs spin on Fridays and Saturday nights. Guests can relax on daybeds and cushioned chairs, and on the weekends cocktails are served by the pool until 2 a.m.

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The Pool at the Magdalena Grand

An upper-middle-range beachfront property, the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort (like many resorts on Tobago) offers rooms at reasonable rates; the price covers a buffet breakfast, bicycle rentals, shuttles to a nearby beach, and numerous other freebies. Facilities include a fitness center, large pool, and nearby spa, and the hotel has numerous restaurant and bar options (although the restaurants can be overpriced). Rooms are simple, and some furniture shows wear and tear, but all feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and best of all, ocean views. So as we say every week, sit back, relax, and soak up the goodness that is the Magdalena Grand.

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It's a pink explosion in the Barbie Suite at the Palms!

Hotels often incorporate themes into their rooms, but these so-called themes are usually “classic elegance,” “boho chic,” or “understated luxury.” In the case of the rooms in this slideshow, however, the themes are a bit more specific — and over-the-top. From a suite that Barbie would approve of, to a room dedicated to David Beckham (and, in particular, his abs), we’ve found some amazing themed rooms and suites that are worth a visit (or at least a look).

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Summertime is fast-approaching and we can’t wait till the days of top-down convertibles, cover-ups and flip-flops dress codes, and mini weekend getaways. After all, a share can be great but there’s something about a spontaneous trip to the beach to really make it feel like summer. So whether your home base is New York or Los Angeles, D.C. or San Francisco, or even Boston, we have a beach destination that can easily be reached via a quick road trip. So grab a map, your sunglasses, and some road trippin’ munchies, and make your escape!

Weekend Getaway from New York City: Montauk

Travel time: 2 hours, 30 minutes via car

Visit Montauk before the "too cool" Hamptons vibe has rubbed off on it.

It may seem cliche, but there’s a reason why Manhattanites flock to the Hamptons come summer. Home to upscale restaurants, trendy workout clubs, quirky shops, and of course, beautiful beaches, it offers a nice reprieve from the congestion and smog of the city — while maintaining that cool (and sometimes snobbish) city vibe. Montauk, located at the furthest tip, however, has a more laid-back feel; residents fear that a recent influx of visitors will taint its unpretentious reputation, but for now it’s a nice alternative to the ultra-exclusive vibe of other Hamptons.

Where to Stay: A cool party spot, Sole East attracts a young, beautiful crowd. With a tasty on-site restaurant, a small pool with loungers, and beach cruisers available for rent, it’s a great pick.

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1 Trip, 5 Ways: London

by Jane on April 19, 2013

London, considered one of the world’s most vibrant and multicultural cities, also happens to carry a reputation for being rainy, and a public-transit rider’s nightmare. But like most of the greats, this city’s best qualities lie in its history, culture, and activities, and it’s certainly not a destination you want to miss! So we’ve found just the spot to stay for almost every kind of traveler. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or want to take the kids along, Oyster has a hotel in London for you. We brought them to you all week on Captivate elevator screens, so see the full roundup below!

Hotel for Couples: Langham Hotel London

Langham Hotel London

With gorgeous, classically decorated rooms, an in-house book butler, a spacious fitness center, and a premier location for West End shopping, this is a good place to be. The beautiful Chuan Spa, 16-meter pool, and salt sauna just adds to it’s romantic vibe.

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Ah, springtime! While we celebrate the warmer months all around the globe, they are particularly welcome when they come to chillier (read: freezing) spots such as Amsterdam. Visitors may shy away from this Eastern European beauty during the winter, but the tourists return in droves come April, when the sun, colorful flowers, and outdoor markets reappear. Just strolling along the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam is a wonderful way to spend a day, but we’ve got five activities you can’t miss during your springtime trip this year. And of course, where to stay nearby.

Walk through beautiful gardens

Amsterdam's colorful tulips are a main attraction during the warmer months.

Come April, Amsterdam’s streets are lined with flower stands selling colorful tulips, the official country flower of Holland. Tulips can be seen sprouting up just about everywhere throughout the city, but the Keukenhof Gardens and Tulips Fields is the most popular place to enjoy them. The largest flower gardens in the world, it is home to over seven million flowers, and not just tulips — daffodils, hyacinths, amaryllis, and crocus are also there to be admired.

Where to Stay: A bit east of the city center, the Keukenhof Gardens are about a 30-minute drive from the majority of Amsterdam’s hotels. For those visiting the gardens, and other major attractions along the way, the Conscious Hotel Vondelpark is a solid mid-range option that will particularly appeal to tree-huggers: The hotel features a vibrant plant wall as well as furniture made from recycled and sustainable materials.
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Who doesn’t like to get their drink on while taking a dip? It’s both the ultimate cool down and the possibly best way to spice up a relaxing vacation. We’re craving some refreshing fun in the sun, so we’ve picked our favorite places to liquor up — all from the cool comforts of hotels’ pools. So get your blender and piña colada mix ready — you’ll be thirsting for a fruity cocktail after browsing these awesome hotel pool bars.

The Watering Hole: Catalonia Bavaro Beach, All Inclusive — Punta Cana, Domincan Republic

Pool Bar at the Catalonia Bavaro Beach

Pool Bar at the Catalonia Bavaro Beach

You can almost imagine you’re on the set of the movie ”Cocktail” at Catalonia Bavaro Beach‘s swim-up bar, where the bartenders are quite entertaining. This laid back property comes with lots of awesome amenities, including a gorgeous beach, a golf course, and room balconies that feature private hammocks.
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1 Trip, 5 Ways: Paris

by Jane on April 12, 2013

We love Paris in the springtime! And as the most visited city in the world, Paris has all kinds of visitors teeming through the streets — and checking into the city’s hotels — on a daily basis. We’ve found just the spot to stay for almost every kind of traveler, so whether you plan on bringing the kids along or hope to taste some of the finest French cuisine around, Oyster has a hotel for you. We brought them to you all week on Captivate elevator screens, so see the full roundup below!

Hotel for Couples: Hotel Plaza Athenee

Hotel Plaza Athenee

View from the Eiffel Suite at Hotel Plaza Athenee

With a top-notch Dior Institute spa that features tons of couples treatments and gorgeous views of the Eiffel Tower from numerous rooms, the Plaza Athenee is one of the most romantic spots in Paris.

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1 Trip, 5 Ways: Jamaica

by Jane on April 5, 2013

Jamaica is a popular Caribbean getaway, with brilliant reggae, delicious jerk chicken made in an oil-drum pan, beautifully rugged cliffs, blue lagoons, and overwhelmingly pleasant — if a bit flirtatious — locals. We’ve found just the spot to stay for almost every kind of traveler, so whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or want to take the kids along, Oyster has a hotel for you. We brought them to you all week on Captivate elevator screens, so see the full roundup below!

Hotel for Families: Beaches Negril Resort & Spa

Playground at the Beaches Negril Resort & Spa

Playground at the Beaches Negril Resort & Spa

Partnered with Sesame Street, the Beaches brand of resorts offers Muppet-led activities for kids. Beaches Negril comes with a great water park, a pristine, calm beachfront, an extensive, supervised kids’ club, and enough entertainment to keep kids totally occupied.

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