From Sheet Notes to Studio Time: The Best Hotel Room Music Amenities
Since its birth, rock and roll and hotels have gone hand in hand. Whether it involves bands hitting the road on tour, infamously trashing a suite, or taking up temporary residence while working on an album, there’s an unmistakably inspirational quality to booking a room and letting loose. Luckily, a few hotels understand this relationship and offer their guests the ability to live like a rock star with some over-the-top music amenities. We strapped on our Stratocaster and hit the road to show you the hotel rooms bound to make music fans weak in the knees.
Hotel Saint Cecilia
South Congress, Austin, Texas, United States
Austin is a city that's known for its hip music scene and hip crowds. It's not surprising, then, that the Hotel Saint Cecilia has done away with a traditional front desk in favor of a cool collection of vinyl records and a turntable that guests are free to use. In-room record players and iPod docks make it easy to take the party back to your room, where decor reflects the artistic lifestyle Austin loves to support. Just don't get so carried away spinning vinyl that you miss the James Blake SXSW set you scored tickets to.
Ace Hotel New York
Flatiron, New York City, New York, United States
Like the Hotel Saint Cecilia, the Ace Hotel NY harkens back to a time when vinyl was king. Rooms have curated touches like Music Hall turntables with a vinyl library that allows guests to put their own spin (ha!) on their in-room entertainment. Those who are musically inclined can even book units such as the Loft Room, which come equipped with Gibson Epiphone guitars and blank sheet music.
St. Jane Hotel
The Loop, Chicago, Illinois, United States
By now, most people are familiar with the Hard Rock chain's style of decorating their properties with rock memorabilia and photographs, and this hotel is no different. What sets it apart is the Fender program, which allows guests to test-drive Strats, Telecasters and other "surprise" models in the comfort of their rooms. Staff will deliver the ax (or bass) of your choice to your room, along with an amp and headphones so you can rock out without damaging your neighbors' eardrums. You can find further inspiration in the décor: each floor is themed after a different artist, from Madonna to John Lennon. Just make sure you don't pull a full rock star moment and trash your room.
Geejam
Port Antonio, Jamaica
Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to lay down tracks. Luckily, the Geejam agrees: There's a fully functional recording studio on-site. Producer-turned-hotelier Jon Baker built the studio back when the resort was a secluded, private artists' retreat. Some serious notables have laid down tracks here, including Bjork, Common, the Gorillaz, and India.Arie. The focus on music carries throughout the property -- eclectic reggae music plays in public areas -- all the way back to the rooms themselves. All rooms are musically themed suites and villas with names like the Ska Suite or the Drum and Bass Suite, featuring plenty of rock-inspired artwork. All suites come stocked with high-tech entertainment systems including iPod docks and AppleTVs that are preloaded with an impressive selection of reggae and soul music.
