Sara B. -- Oyster Reporter
Sara has lived in eight states and seven countries (and may be forgetting some) since 2000, including two years in a wind-battered apartment in Reykjavik, Iceland, a greenhouse in Santa Fe, N.M., and a cabin off the Maine coast. Before streamlining her belongings to a few duffel bags, Sara worked as a volunteer Wilderness EMT in the White Mountains, a dogsledding guide in Maine, and a logistics coordinator for Hurricane Island Outward Bound School.
- Hotels Reviewed: 72
- Destination Expert for: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Oahu, Dominican Republic, Miami
- Hometown: Houston
- Places Lived: New York; Reykjavik, Iceland; Hong Kong; Geneva; Pristina, Kosovo; Salamanca, Spain; Cochabama, Bolivia; Waterville, Maine; Hurricane Island, Maine; Lovell, Maine; North Conway, N.H.; Waitsfield, Vt.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Seattle; Carpinteria, Calif.; Houston
- Education: B.A., Colby College; M.S. in journalism, Columbia University
- Prior Experience: Outside Magazine, Iceland Review, and Atlantica (Icelandair's in-flight magazine). Contributed to: the Christian Science Monitor, Outside Go, the Smart Set, Men's Journal, Plenty, and the Chicago Tribune.
- My Favorite Hotel: The London West Hollywood. In a city where style often means snobbiness, the London is a revelation. Beautiful rooms, flawless service, and a killer rooftop pool. Oh, and how about those bathrooms.
My Favorite Hotels
1
Casa De Campo
- Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
- Location: La Romana, Dominican Republic
- Price: $400/night
The D.R.’s classiest, most famous resort since 1974, Casa de Campo’s massive, 7,000-acre property comes with three world-class golf courses, an on-site horse stable, an immaculate beach, a luxurious spa, 20 restaurants, and even a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean villa. This place is excellent for families, honeymooners, and anyone who loves variety.
2
Tribeca Grand Hotel
- Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
- Location: TriBeCa, Manhattan
- Price: $250/night
With spacious rooms, a lively lounge scene, and the occasional star-studded film screening, the Tribeca Grand is still a cool and comfortable place to grab a slice of urban hipsterism -- even if its cachet slips a little every time a new downtown boutique like the Bowery and the Standard opens up.
3
Library Hotel
- Pearls: Rating: 3.5 Pearls
- Location: Midtown East, Manhattan
- Price: $440/night
A homey, 60-room, literary-themed boutique, located down the block from New York's famous Public Library, and among Midtown East's corporate skyscrapers. It's one of New York's best values, mostly because of the perks: an upscale bistro on the ground floor, a lively bar on the penthouse floor, free Wi-Fi, free gym passes, and free daily pastries, wine, and cheese.
