Can a ship be too big? Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Sea answers that question. It’s never too big! This ship targets teenagers (drop them off at the Boardwalk & pick them up a week later) as well as couples & singles who want a myriad of activities. Experience sun bathing, ice skating, a walk thru Central Park, a Broadway show, 20 dining options, comedy & jazz clubs,tasting & lets not forget room service for the romance. So use your airline miles & plan your great escape. First stop – Miami for a taste of the Latin beat!
Does being married or single influence Where2Stay? Location, cost, size & child friendly all play a part. Do you want your hotel, hip & modern with sexy dark lounges, a DJ spinning “singles” on the roof? Or do you prefer a quiet, elegant & romantic hotel? Sometimes you might want to “marry” the two which is the hardest to find. You will see an M (married), S (single), or an MS, (married/single) next to each hotel.
Where2Stay -Click On Hotel to Reserve
Perry South Beach – With the smallest room being 550 Sq.Ft this over the top cool hotel is truly a destination. Swim & dine on the “Rooftop”, lounge on round beds, listen to underwater music, work out at famous Spa at David Barton Gym & dine at STK. Did I forget to mention its gorgeous? (S)
The Setai – Dramitic design of coral pink, black granite, dark teak this long awaited hotel opening is cool elegance. Book a room in the new tower, have romantic strolls on the beach outside your door or choose from one of three pools all different temperature. Magazines and I Pods provided! (M)
Shore Club -Plan on never leaving. Modeled after YSL gardens in Marrakesh, with private walkways, alcoves for secret assignations, a sky bar, massages on the sand, beds by the 2 infinity pools, & dinner at Nobu. Steamy & hot? You bet! (M/S)
Where2Dine & Dance – South Beach – Home of Nuevo Latin food & music. Hot spots for dining – Yuca ( don’t miss Wed, Fri, & Sunday salsa lessons), Bongo’s Cuban Cafe owned by Emilio & Gloria Estafan. Baru Urbana combining food w/ Latin American wall art. Hit the Well Lounge for people watching and ultimate Latin dancing.
Where2Shop – For the fashionista search out Alchemist, a unique store w/a twist. It’s on the Fifth floor of a parking garage. Art installation, glass walls combined with curated international designer collections.
Where2Sail –
Nassau– don’t miss Paradise Island and lunch at GrayCliff, once a private home owned by pirates, turned into a luxurious hotel and a world class dining destination.
St Martin/St Maarten– the smallest island in the world to be split into two nations-Dutch & French. Marigot on the French side is perfect for designer labels & cosmetics . Philipsburg on the Dutch side is jewelry, watch and diamond heaven. Check out Effy and Zhaveri for jewels. Remember all is Duty Free! Don’t forget to purchase a new suitcase to carry it all! But remember you still are stopping in…
St. Thomas– The Grand Daddy of shopping ports. Little Switzerland & Diamond International are good to browse through but be sure to compare prices w/ other stores. Best buys also include liquor, spices & hot sauces (something for the guys). Hit the North Shore for beaches & dining in French town
Tip : Love David Yurman? The Caribbean is the only place to buy his collections at a discount -added plus it’s Duty Free!
Cruise N’ with the Wear Girls
Are there “good” shoes or “bad ones?” In this case they might mean the same thing. Shoes can instantly change your image, your outfit, possibly even your life. As Bette Midler once said, “give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.” We can’t all be like “Carrie” who would gladly sacrifice her Fendi Baguette or jewels to keep her Manolo’s safe, but if you find yourself in one of the cities below you can visit amazing shoe museums!
Does being married or single influence Where2Stay? Location, cost, size & child friendly all play a part. Do you want your hotel, hip & modern with sexy dark lounges, a DJ spinning “singles” on the roof? Or do you prefer a quiet, elegant & romantic hotel? Sometimes you might want to “marry” the two which is the hardest to find. You will see an M (married), S (single), or an MS, (married/single) next to each hotel. *BUT since all these vibrant cities offer much to do the hotels below are perfect whether you are married or single .
Click on Hotels To Reserve
Where2Stay – First Stop Manila, Philippines
Makati Shangri– La puts you in the perfect location for business, shopping and entertainment. Service is unparalleled. (MS)
Hotel H2O – Located on an archipelago, 30 minutes away from downtown, book an aquarium walled room where you are sleeping w/fish (MS)
Marika Shoe Museum in Manila, Philippines. The queen of excess, Imelda Marcos couldn’t take all her shoes into exile. Lucky for us for on view is 749 pairs of her shoes! That’s a big closet!
Where2Stay – Brussels, Belgium
Sofitel, Brussels – It is #1 for a reason. Excellent service, perfect location, remodeled rooms, your wish is their command. (MS)
Hotel Welcome – Completely innovative, think Country Inn in the city. Each room- completely themed – choose Kenya, Bali, Tibet. All fabulous. (MS)
Sons Museum in Kruishoutem, Belgium. Outside Brussels, partially owned by a Belgium shoemaker couple. This museum houses over 1200 pairs of their personal collection. Highlighting cultural differences in shoes, w/ major works of art. The building itself is worth a visit. So is the chocolate!
Photo : Designboom.com Photo: Marikinalife.com
Where2Stay – Toronto, Canada
Trump International Hotel – this glass & steel luxury hotel has it all from leopard headboards, huge rooms, Frette sheets, indoor pool & 18,00 sq.ft. spa to soak your aching feet. Located in the financial district of Toronto – your guy can keep happily busy. Or if single, find one there! (MS)
Park Hyatt Toronto – Located in the Yorkville area, surrounded by high end shopping & trendy restaurants. Rooftop bar, an oasis of calm. (MS)
Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada- the world’s largest shoe museum. Over 10,000 pair of shoes w/ an ever changing exhibit comprising four galleries. Emphasizing style & culture from Chinese bound shoes to platforms. Even an arts/crafts area for the kids. You’re never too young for shoes!
Where2Stay – Philadelphia, Pa
Hotel Palomar – Friendly & uber cool with a statue of ” Ben” greeting you at the door. Hotel corners the market on style. We say any hotel that supplies leopard robes in the room and free wine cocktail hour at 5 is our kind of place! (MS)
Rittenhouse 1715 – Intimate & romantic, European style boutique hotel w/23 rooms is classic yet cosmopolitan. Enjoy VIP service. (MS)
TUSPM Shoe Museum in Philadelphia just happens to be located in Temple University, in their school of Podiatric Medicine! What better place to analyze ” Why People Wear Shoes?” The course of study. We can tell them why – our outfit would be lost without them! (how else can we appear taller?) View the 950 pair collection by appointment only. Interesting factoid they discovered – women have 4x as many problems w/ their feet as men. Really? Shocking!
* Life it too short to wear tight shoes… but no pain, no gain!
Its official! Summer has begun. We wait all year for warm days, wearing fewer clothes, swimming & sultry nights (unless you live in SF.) No matter how long your vacation lasts, make every minute count. We love fireworks (all kinds.) Let the Wear Girls show you where to to find the best sparks!
Does being married or single influence Where2Stay? Location, cost, size & child friendly all play a part. Do you want your hotel, hip & modern with sexy dark lounges, a DJ spinning “singles” on the roof? Or do you prefer a quiet, elegant & romantic hotel? Sometimes you might want to “marry” the two which is the hardest to find. You will see an M (married), S (single), or an MS, (married/single) next to each hotel.
Where2Stay
CLICK ON HOTEL TO RESERVE
Bahamas – The Reef Hotel– How about experiencing two Independence Days? On American Express Travel book your flight & imagine yourself in the hot Caribbean. Not only does Freeport celebrate the U.S. Fourth but also has one of its own, the Bahamian Independence Day on July 10th. On Paradise Island in Nassau, choose from studios & one bedroom suites w/ complete access to the Atlantis Resort. Water parks, kid’s camps & casinos and Nobu for the adults. In other words everyone goes to camp! MS
Washington D.C. – Is there a hotel more famous then the Hay-Adams. M Splurge on the room that faces the White House. If you want to boast that you slept with a President book a room at the elegant and royal St Regis. M Centrally located, the fireworks at the Lincoln Memorial are two blocks away. The stylish West End offers the chic Park Hyatt with its famous spa rooms, Blue Duck Restaurant & shopping around the corner. M For boutique lovers, the Rouge Hotel (Kimpton Hotel) offers complimentary cold weekend pizza mornings w/ bloody marys, zebra robes, over sized rooms and kids under 17 stay for free. And yes, the rooms, lobby & bar are red! S
Florida – It’s hot & muggy but your children won’t notice. They get to visit Mickey in Orlando or play at the beach in Miami. In the heart of South Beach stay at Loew’s where you will “Love Kids Program.” With shopping, six restaurants, & the beach at your feet everyone is happy or the cool Casa Moderna with its 14th floor rooftop deck. In Orlando, choose the Grand Floridian or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It may not be your first choice but your kids will love you. MS
Boston – Combine a concert featuring the Boston Pops, add Jennifer Hudson to the mix and you get one of the largest Fourth of July extravaganzas. Staying at the Boston Harbor Hotel gives you a front row seat. MS Across the river in Cambridge book the Marlowe, a Kimpton Hotel which faces the Charles River. Throw on the animal robes, cuddle up and watch fireworks from your room. Then make some fireworks of your own. M
Light up your night with the Wear Girls