And we don't mean Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa, either. We're talking, of course, about Art Basel Miami Beach.

The bustling art fair and all its satellite events, exhibitions and packed-to-the-rafters parties takes place December 1–4, although the fun begins a few days before that, with the glam gallerist gang getting into town right after Turkey Day weekend.

As always, hotels are a hot-bed of Basel activity. This isn't the definitive guide, as venues are still finalizing their event deets, but here's a sampling of what's happening. We'll have more info on Basel happenings soon--as well as a last-minute room-rate check for the late-to-the-party art fans among you.

]]> MsRebecca 2011-11-17T09:19:48-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/27/84722/0977

Miami is full of sexy hotels, we know that. But what about sexy bathrooms? You know, the kind that offer more than just your run-of-the-mill shower. A place to cool off after a day at the beach or to steam things up with your special someone.

Here are the Five Sexiest Hotel Bathrooms we've seen in Miami.

1. Soho Beach House (above)
Sexy Details: A soaking tub, full-sized Cowshed products, a comfy visitor's chair next to the tub--all in a pretty, sun-splashed bathroom the size of many Ocean Drive hotel rooms.

]]> MsRebecca 2011-09-27T10:30:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/22/74334/4624

Fall? Phooey! Eighty-five degree days are still the norm in Miami, and summer-centric activities continue at the beach's and city's hotels.

Our picks for hotel-based fun this weekend include a luau complete with a pig roast and hula girls and a beach volleyball tourney in a classy city-waterfront location.

Festivities begin on Saturday night, when Sunny Isle hotel Solé On The Ocean kicks off its luau at 5 p.m. Officially, it's a summer send-off party, but forget cozy beach sweaters and bonfires. This bash is all about throwing back Mai Tais, getting lei-ed (huh), paddle boarding, doing the limbo and watching fire dancers and hula dancers. Miami goes Gidget!

]]> MsRebecca 2011-09-22T10:43:07-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/7/21/101458/598 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/ChefJoelHuff.jpg" class="top"><p>With <a href="http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/20/105757/342/travel/Three+Hot+Tables+to+Book+for+Miami+Spice%27s+Two+Months+of+Discount+Dining"><strong>Miami Spice</strong></a> (a two-month long 'Restaurant Week') on the horizon in Miami, we have food on the brain. To prepare for the food-fest, we've been scoping out some of the city's best hotel restaurants to bring you the inside word on where to book your Spice tables. Today: <strong>Azul</strong> at the <strong><a href='http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/17'>Mandarin Oriental Miami</a></strong>. <p> One of Miami's poshest, the restaurant opened in 2000 but has a breath of fresh air in the form of <strong>Chef Joel Huff</strong>, who joins the hotel after stints at Mandarins in <strong><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Mandarin+Oriental+San+Francisco/local/2015">San Francisco</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/MANDARIN+ORIENTAL+NEW+YORK/local/190">New York</a></strong>, and at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/FOUR+SEASONS+BILTMORE/local/1616"><strong>Four Seasons Biltmore</strong></a> in Santa Barbara.<p> Despite serving up seriously high-class dishes like Eggs & Caviar and MsRebecca 2011-07-21T11:30:02-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/4/12/85812/1320

It's one of the poshest spas in Miami, and has just undergone a complete refurbishment. The service is hushed and attentive, the treatments indulgent, and the views from the spa suites drop-dead gorgeous. But our favorite part of the newly renovated Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami? The showers.

For reals, these showers are so much fun, we'd make an appointment just to have one--hold the massage.

As you can see in the photo above, the fun starts with multiple jets to blast yourself with. But there's more...

]]> MsRebecca 2011-04-12T10:01:56-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/