http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2013-05-21T23:11:23Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/ http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2013/3/1/145026/3205 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/36985/jenniferlawrence_kahala.jpg" class="top"><p> <p> We try not to judge or debate legalities when it comes to weed use in the celebrity world, but damn if it hasn't seemed like a trend lately. You've got <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2013/1/7/113718/8982">Justin Bieber photo'd puffing</a> (but seemingly not passin'--duuuude), Rihanna being unapologetically blunted in various Instagram and Twitter feeds, and then there's Lil Wayne who doesn't GAF about anything except "Good Kush and alcohol". And these are just the new jacks. We won't even talk about Snoop <strike>Dogg</strike> Lion, Willie Nelson, and other celebs who celebrate Mary Jane like a Rick James track. <p>But what about this gal <strong>Jennifer Lawrence</strong>? The 22-year old gal who's been the darling of the screen lately, and especially the film Chanize 2013-03-01T19:23:27-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2013/2/11/131421/405 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/Oahu_Budget_Hotels.jpg" class="top"><p>It's getting more and more expensive to visit <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/oahu%20hotels"><b>Oahu</b></a>, and, for once, it has nothing to do with the cost of coladas or airline tickets. This time, <strong>it's actually the hotel industry that's pumping up prices by turning budget-friendly accommodations into luxury lodging.</strong> Grr. <p>Now, don't think this is malicious -- there's a lot of good work being done -- but the fact is that budget-friendly hotels are disappearing. <a href="http://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Renovations-reduce-budget-hotel-room-availability-on-Oahu/">Smith Travel Research</a> reports the number of budget rooms on Oahu and Waikiki has <b>decreased by 10% over the last ten years.</b> <p>In 2006, Oahu had 33 budget properties but by the end of last year there were only 27 (less than 700 budget hotel rooms in wakeandwander 2013-02-13T09:18:05-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/11/26/173046/97 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/36985/SunbathersinWaikiki.jpg" class="top"> <p><i>It's Monday and just the right hour to take a minute and play Witty Wordsmith with us, whydontcha? That's right, it's time to Name.This.Caption!</i> <p>Check this photo taken during a visit to the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/2127"><strong>Hilton Hawaiian Village </strong></a>in Waikiki. There was something going down as a <b>Japanese film crew commanded part of the beach to capture a pop-star's video.</b> <p>But this couple sunning on the beach here? Didn't raise an eyebrow. Didn't move their backpack not one bit to see what all the fuss was about. <p>We were torn between watching them bake (and ignore the boom) and figuring out who was was being filmed. We're so nosy, we admit it! <p>So do we name this photo Chanize 2012-11-26T17:30:46-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/10/25/155924/70 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/36985/KerriWalsh2jpg.jpeg" class="top"> <p>London Olympics 2012 seems so last year but <strong>Kerri Walsh</strong> brought back the buzz in Waikiki. Along with <b>US Olympian Kevin Wong</b>, <strong>she hosted the Hilton HHonors Beach Volleyball Challenge </strong>at the <a href='http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/2127'><strong>Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa</strong></a>. The free event pitted Team USA vs Team China, with familiar Olympic-volleyball-medal-winning faces like Todd Rogers, Phil Dalhausser, Jen Kessy and April Ross. <p>While it was super hot with the Hawaiian sun glinting off plenty of glistening eight-packs (and those wrap-around, polarized sunglasses athletes seem to love), Kerri signed autographs, waved Miss America-style to hundreds of fans and got behind the camera at a VIP tent with that big personality she's known for. <strong>You would think with jimmyim 2012-10-25T15:59:24-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/8/20/194347/761 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/104818/hcFour.Seasons.Wailea.Serenity.Pool.Empty__2_.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>A Hawaiian vacation is notoriously expensive, especially at the tony resort town of Wailea in Maui. So when we heard about all the free amenities at the five-star <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/23"><b>Four Seasons Maui</b></a>, we were impressed, but skeptical. Had they just built the cost of all their freebies into the hotel rate? And how do other Maui hotels rate in comparison? We broke down the amenities to analyze the savings, if any. <p>First, the Four Seasons Resort, which costs around $465 per night, doesn't charge a resort fee and tells their guests to &#147;put away your wallet&#148; and enjoy their extensive complimentary services and amenities. <p><strong>Here's a sample of what they're giving away gratis: </strong> <br>&#183; Fitness classes glamtravel 2012-08-21T17:58:59-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/