The World’s Top Ten Party Hotels – PART 10

The lightning bolt motif that traverses this party hotel’s sleek 27-story glass facade is just the first indication that theWit is positively sizzling.

The ROOF lounge, its year-round indoor/outdoor crowning glory, has been Chicago’s reigning “it” spot since its May 2009 debut, granting skyline and starry views; roaring fire pits; a menu of signature cocktails and small plates; and danceable beats doled out by weekend DJs or via the live rock and pop bands showcased in the June 2010-debuted concert series, ROOFLIVE (held twice monthly in summer/early fall).

Add to that theWit’s bustling Loop location (just a stone’s throw from top theatres and eateries); duo of popular on-site restaurants; tricked-out movie theatre available for private party screenings; and some 300 stylish guest rooms to harbour your hangover in and you have just the energy-infused, merry-making recipe to whip up a regular roster of party-minded patrons.

And theWit isn’t about to gather any moss on its primo party-circuit status: Though they say lightning doesn’t strike twice, its newly debuted second-floor Phoenix Lounge is already creating some sparks, with a menu of classic cocktails, a reader-friendly wine-list (“Lush Red”, “Buttery White”), and Mediterranean-inspired small plates rounded out by chic décor (black velvet chairs, silver leather banquets, modern sculpture) and live evening acoustic sets from local artists (Thursdays through Saturdays). Summer rates go for $229/night.

The World’s Top Ten Party Hotels – PART 8

A renaissance continues to rock LA’s formerly business-only Downtown neighbourhood.

The past decade has brought slick residential condos, a concert hall, plenty of art galleries, and stylish bars, restaurants, and party hotels (the rooftop at The Standard Downtown remains a trendy drink spot) and, now, the transformation – from a no-fly zone to a stylish city enclave – is nearly complete with the unveiling of the enormous, 2.5-billion-dollar L.A. LIVE, a sports, entertainment, and hotel complex next to the STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre.

Considered the cornerstone of Downtown’s new entertainment endeavour, the Ritz-Carlton at L.A. LIVE, opened in April 2010, is stacked on top of the also new JW Marriot and the Ritz-Carlton Residences on the upper floors of a 54-story, LEED-certified tower, and features a sleek, contemporary aesthetic (a fresh look for a Ritz) and a full-service spa.

Just minutes away from the hotel, guests can take advantage of L.A. LIVE’s offerings — bowl at Lucky Strike Lanes, dine at restaurants like Katsuya or Rosa Mexicana, catch a Lakers game, rage at a Lady Gaga concert (she has shows scheduled at the STAPLES Center in March), perhaps even attend the Grammys — then head for some pre- or post-event partying to the Ritz’s Club Lounge on the 23rd floor for cocktails and sweeping city views; the rooftop pool lounge, Ion, on the 26th floor; or WP24, Wolfgang Puck’s onsite Asian restaurant.

The hotel’s I Love L.A. LIVE package, priced from $309/night, includes a guest room, 10 percent off dining, valet parking, and any two L.A. LIVE add-ons like Bowling with shoe rental at Lucky Strike Bowling, movie tickets at Regal Cinemas, ESPN Zone Game Cards, and Grammy Museum tickets. Standard rack rates go for $309/night.

The World’s Top Ten Party Hotels – PART 7

If you want to party in Paris with the in-crowd, the Murano Resort is the place. Situated on the border of the trendy Marais neighborhood, the Murano’s 43 rooms and nine suites (two with private outdoor heated pools) feature cutting-edge technology; each opens using fingerprint ID and can essentially transform into a personal disco, thanks to in-room stereos and a high-tech system for playing with the room lights’ colours and levels.

Down in the bar lounge — actually two party venues separated by a glass wall with a DJ booth in the middle — you’ll find 180 types of vodka on offer. Paris’s young and fabulous gather here for nightly DJ sessions with special guests hitting the turntables on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Take a breather away from the techno-fuelled turntables at the ground-floor Martini Terrace lounge (open-air in summer, covered in winter), serving up Italian fare with smooth martinis until 2am. Even Murano’s dining options cater to the party set: The Murano Restaurant has its own DJ and serves breakfast until noon (perfect for the hangover-prone). Plus, all rooms have an espresso machine for an immediate caffeine fix. Stay over on a Saturday and indulge in all-day Sunday brunch, available from 11.30am to 5pm. For a full-on weekender, this party hotel offers the Rock n’Luxe package (from €600/night) for two nights in an M room, champagne upon arrival, round-trip airport transfers, unlimited mini-bar access, breakfast daily, and late checkout. Rates start at €350/night.

PART TWO:

Buddha Bar Hotel, Prague

This legendary outlet is located in the heart of the brand new Boutique Hotel concept bearing its name; a unique urban resort designed to redefine Lifestyle within the Hospitality Industry. With luxury rooms and exquisite suites, the first Buddha-Bar Hotel embodies the essence of contemporary modern Asian interior design with French colonial influence and is located in the heart of Prague, in a historical building just a few steps away from the Old Town Square.

The ever-so-stylish Buddha Bar Restaurant and Lounge chain dominates the world’s top party cities (London, Paris, and Sao Paolo all claim Buddha Bar outposts) with a reputation for attracting party animals prepped for all-night revelry, so it’s no wonder that the hot-spot brand now offers hotel rooms in equally groovy environs.

The chain opened its first Buddha Bar Hotel in January 2009 in the old town of Prague, a city previously known for boisterous beer-swilling. But the Buddha Bar changed all of that: decked out with statement-making reds, golds, and exotic prints, each of the 39 rooms also comes outfitted with rain showers, in-bathroom televisions, and high-def TVs that can play the music mixed by the DJs in the mezzanine-level bar.

The party vibe continues downstairs where DJs spin nightly at the property’s namesake lounge, while the Buddha Bar Restaurant dishes inventive Asian-Pacific Rim fusion cuisine and the more casual Siddharta Café offers international eats in what is dubbed a “Pop Art Eatmosphere” environment (think an Andy Warhol-inspired colour palette with funky, semi-psychedelic décor). Rates start at approximately $494/night.

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The world’s 10 most happening holiday destinations – to party, unwind and dance the night away!

After working hard at office and earning your pay for the best part of the year, who could blame you for yearning for the chance to escape the nine-to-five and head for climes, exotic and extravagant?!

Anything goes in the world’s top party cities. And the big names, such as Rio, London and Vegas play host to the hottest hotels around – each one a self-contained pleasure-dome. Mega-cllubs, rooftop bars, sexy pool lounges, trendy restaurants, and venues for concerts, movie-screenings, and even sports events – the world’s top 10 party hotels have all you could possibly need for an unforgettable party experience.

PART ONE:

ARIA Resort & Casino, Las Vegas

FAST FACTS

- Designed by the world-renowned firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

- 4,004 guest rooms, including 568 suites

- An exhilarating casino floor designed to provide intimate gaming spaces

- 300,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space

- Three primary pools with 50 cabanas, one adults-only pool retreat

- 16 restaurants and 10 bars and lounges, including a nightclub

- 1,800-seat theatre housing Viva ELVIS™, a tribute to Elvis Presley from Cirque du Soleil

Few cities demand as much unadulterated partying as Las Vegas, and the towering, 4,004-room ARIA Resort and Casino in the 68-acre City Center (both opened in December 2009), has quickly become one of the Strip’s hottest party hosts. Partnered with The Light Group, the name behind Sin City clubs like JET and The Bank, ARIA executes its onsite nightlife scene with die-hard partying in mind: Three of the party hotel’s eight bars and lounges mix cocktails 24/7 (the rest close at the early-bird hour of 4 a.m.), so it’s all too easy to keep the party rolling until the early hours without even stepping foot outside the resort.

Head to Haze, the resort’s onsite nightclub, for a chance celebrity sighting (Mariah Carey, Usher, and Katy Perry have all held events at the 25,000-square-foot space) or look for notable gourmands at one of the 17 restaurants, which have celebrity chefs like Jean-Georges, Masayoshi Takayama, and Michael Mina at their helms.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city grace all the guest rooms as do automated curtains (so you can catch some shut-eye after the sun comes up), one-touch lighting and temperature controls, and gadgets that automatically notify the front desk when batteries are running low. Rates start at $129 on weekdays, $199 on weekends.

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