Tag: Beach Hotels View All Tags
Killer View
You Don't Need a TV at the InterContinental Bora Bora
November 13, 2008 at 1:55 PM | 3 Comments
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Now really, people. If you were lying in bed here in your villa at the InterContinental Bora Bora, would you really be looking at that flat-screen television on the wall? Or would you be sitting up with your mouth open, drooling all over yourself while you gazed out at that gorgeous blue ocean view?
Surely it is nice that the TV is in the room, but we just find it so funny that the television is next to such a breathtaking view. We can't believe we're saying this, but we'd actually rather leave the TV off while Prison Break was on so we could stare at a view of Mount Otemanu rather than at Wentworth Miller. We know — bold statement.
Hotel News
Boris Becker Enters Celebrity Hotelier Echelon With Massive Tennis Resort Shaped Like a Turtle
October 14, 2008 at 12:05 PM | 5 Comments
Boris Becker: you broke a ton of tennis records and were once the number one player in the world. What are you gonna do now?
Build a 2.5 million square-foot mega-resort shaped like a turtle in the UAE, apparently.
According to Luxist, the German tennis superstar -- who some of us think looks vaguely like Chuck Norris -- is building the Boris Becker Beach Resort and Tennis Academy on Al Marjan Island. The complex will include a five star hotel, a spa, holiday homes, high end resort and spa facilities, and (obvi) a 7-floor tennis academy.
Also, this is important: it is going to shaped like a sea turtle when you see it from the sky. Yep.
Cape Cod Hotels
Cape Cod Hotels :: The Chatham Bars Inn Is Too Pretty for Proper Words
October 1, 2008 at 11:14 AM | 1 Comment
It was blazing hot day, the flowers dazzled and the clouds, all two of them, looked like cotton puffs. We were driving around the storybook town of Chatham, Massachusetts -- agog at the view of Lighthouse Beach, past a whale-shaped topiary alongside a saltbox house, off to buy a badminton set at Ben Franklin's General Store, a stop for an indescribably good meal at The Impudent Oyster...
When, still drooling at the views of the sea and sand, we drove up to The Chatham Bars Inn.
"Holy #$%@" was uttered as soon we realized this place was gorgeous.
Antigua Hotels
Get Playful in Private at Antigua's Hermitage Bay
September 26, 2008 at 9:15 AM | 0 Comments
Antigua's Hermitage Bay, a member of Conde Nast Traveler's 2008 Hot List, is inviting travelers to get playful.
No, not that kind of playful. We're referring to the resort's Playful in Paradise package, which -- for a mere $1084.50 nightly -- allows the soft adventurous to work off a picnic lunch (which is provided) by kayaking to the private island. The exploration continues with a private sailing lesson hosted by the resort's water sports staff, a guided tour of surrounding trails and tropical gardens and some time to zen out with yoga instruction.
Hotel News
You're Going to the Chapel at The St. Regis Bali and You're Gonna Get Married
September 16, 2008 at 4:05 PM | 0 Comments
Is anyone getting married soon? If so, might we gently (firmly, unequivocally) suggest you look into a destination wedding at the St. Regis Bali? You may not have heard about it yet since it just opened yesterday and all, but if you want to go ahead and book your nuptials here and invite us, the gesture would be much-appreciated.
The location is good: it's in Nusa Dua on an "elite beach enclave" on the Southern tip of the island. The resort has 79 suites, 42 private villas and two residences -- so, you know, plenty of room for us. There are two restaurants, a bar and a gourmet deli-type restaurant -- so we can keep ourselves nice and busy while you celebrate your wedding with your real family and friends, too.
Hotel News
Surftides on the Oregon Coast Gets a Boutique-y Makeover
August 25, 2008 at 1:05 PM | 1 Comment
The Surftides in Lincoln City, Oregon (about 2 hours southwest of Portland) just underwent a million-dollar makeover and has unveiled its new boutique-y, environmentally friendly look -- heart-shaped in-room jacuzzis and all.
The photos on the property's website still show the pre-reno rooms (and frankly, you can tell it was time for a bit of a facelift), but they spaces have been updated in a big way:
New guest rooms effortlessly blend modern amenities such as free wireless Internet, iPod docking stations, and 32" flat-screen televisions with vintage features such as in-room kitchenettes, private beachfront balconies, suites with fireplaces and heart-shaped Jacuzzi baths.
Maui Hotels
Maui Wowie at The Paia Inn
August 13, 2008 at 12:35 PM | 1 Comment
Maui, the second biggest island in Hawaii and the most touristy, has its share of monster resorts, expensive, over-the-top luau magnets and villas. So when we heard about Paia Inn, a little cool outpost on the island's North Shore, we thought, oh yeah!
This is a quiet, boutique inn on the North Shore's Hana Highway. Five suite rooms sit smack on the beach and away from the craziness of those gigantic resorts. The rooms have flat-screened TVs, bamboo floors, and funky artwork, plus a boutique and an art gallery right on site.
Gloria Estefan
1, 2, 3 Pretty Good Reviews of Gloria Estefan's New Hotel
July 29, 2008 at 12:12 PM | 0 Comments
We dropped in on our trusty pal TripAdvisor to check in on Gloria Estefan's new Vero Beach hotel, Costa D'Este, now that it's been open for a few weeks.
And the verdict? All three guest reviews have given the hotel four out of five stars. Guests were satisfied with the location (rooms "20 feet from the pool and 50 yards from the ocean"), the rooms and even the green attributes like "green flushing instructions."
There were, of course, a few service-related kinks that needed to be worked out, but that's to be expected of a brand new hotel (though still unacceptable) - but user goldring suggested maybe the staff should go to the Ritz for training (ooooh, burn!)
Insane Hotel Package
Fertile Myrtles Meet Fertile Turtles at Marco Island Marriott
June 18, 2008 at 3:45 PM | 2 Comments
Calling all Fertile Myrtles and their significant others: you can be one with the sea turtles and conceive your child at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort!
Oh no, we're not kidding. Their Fertile Turtle package (greatest package name ever) is indeed meant for couples who are interested in pregger-nating on their vacation:
As sea turtles are known as a symbol of fertility, lovebirds have the opportunity to watch sea turtles eggs hatch, right on the resort's very own three-mile stretch of beach, while trying to fertilize an egg of their own.
Ha! It gets better...
Ft. Lauderdale Hotels
The Pelican Grand in Fort Lauderdale Introduces $99 Day Rates
June 4, 2008 at 4:15 PM | 2 Comments
If you're down in South Florida, consider grabbing the kids, your friends and/or a beach tote to spend the day at the Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale.
Until September 15, the hotel is offering a day rate of $99 Monday through Thursday to compensate for slower business during the summer months.
The rate includes an oceanfront room for the day (check in after 8 a.m. and head out by 6 p.m.) for up to six, use of their pools (Lazy River pool too!), all facilities, free ice cream and, of course, lots o' beach.
The overnight rate starts at $189.
[Photo: chasjarvis]
Andre Balazs
Andre Balazs' Sunset Beach Opens May 16th at $245 a Night...During the Week
April 3, 2008 at 1:50 PM | 2 Comments
Sunset Beach on Shelter Island is what we have called Andre Balazs' dark secret because the rooms and amenities are less than what we are used to when it comes to AB Hotels. Hello, couch stains and early 1990s TVs! Not to mention dingy kitchenettes.
Nevertheless the place is reopening on May 16th (it's a seasonal joint) and rooms start at $245 a night for a midweek stay. The rates jump up to about $420 for a weekend stay.
We haven't made up our minds if this is a good rate or not. On the one hand, you do have a kitchenette plus a private sundeck with a seaview and complimentary wireless. And you are on the beach.
On the other hand, your accommodations may look like this. So you may not be in the same caliber of lodgings as your other tony Hampton friends.
On a sidenote, if you're in need of a summer job, Sunset Beach is hiring some people now.
Maxim Bungalows
Maxim Bungalows Sound Too Good To Be True
Where: Puerto Plata, Dominican RepublicMarch 31, 2008 at 9:05 AM | 0 Comments
Late last year we mentioned that the Maxim Bungalows in the Dominican Republic were ready to open, and now this hotspot for adventure, beach and a round of golf is in full swing.
We stopped by to check the TripAdvisor reviews and find out how the first guests have enjoyed their experience of Maxim Bungalows. Maybe because we just read about the new EU law which has made it illegal (not just plain dumb) for hoteliers to post positive reviews about their own hotel on sites like TripAdvisor, we were a little suspicious to see how universally positive the reviews to date have been.
Is Maxim as good as they say? A few of the adjectives thrown around by more than one guest include immaculate, comfortable, gorgeous, relaxing, stylish and gorgeous. The staff get fantastic feedback too, from the cleaners who apparently tidy the rooms several times a day, to the concierge who can organize everything, and the staff who supply endless drinks at the pool.
If this is all true--and in all the reviews, there's not a single, tiny criticism, which does make us wonder--then the opening months of Maxim Bungalows have been a big success. We probably won't believe it though until we try it out for ourselves.
Have you stayed at the Maxim Bungalows? Give us your review in the comments section below.
[Photo: fineron]
