On The Road With the Oscars

If you find yourself traveling during the Academy Awards, you do not have to settle for watching it all alone in your hotel room with a bottle of wine and room service--though that is still a good option. But if you are looking for something a bit more social and fun, many hotels are hosting Oscar parties for guests, complete with food, contests and games. There are plenty of pre-show fashion events and themed cocktails to keep you entertained while hanging out with other hotel guests.

Some people may not think a hotel Oscar party would be well attended, but in a survey, 34% of people said they would go because it is way more fun to watch the Academy Awards with other people. Another 41% said it would depend on how good it is, and only 25% said they would not be interested.

Greektown Casino Hotel

In the home state of the Oscars, hotel guests can find a number of great parties to attend. In San Francisco, the sky lounge at the Top of the Mark at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins is hosting a viewing with light appetizers and cocktails. Attendees have a chance to win a grab bag during the red carpet show by guessing the winners in specific categories.

The nation's capital is really getting into the festivities. The Jefferson Hotel is having an "Oscar Buzz" event, complete with special movie-themed cocktails starting at $15 each. The Washington Renaissance Hotel will project the show on its large-screen HD screen in the lobby while serving up chipotle-flavored popcorn and a variety of local micro-brews and cocktails.

New York certainly knows how to celebrate the film industry, and the W Union Square is a great place to enjoy the Oscars. For $40 per person, guests can enjoy gourmet popcorn, candy and adult milkshakes, as well as partake in a "fashion police" chat about all the red carpet glamour. 

Another eventful evening is taking place at the Homewood Suites in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The hotel is hosting a party where guests have a chance to win a free stay or 1,000 Hilton HHonors points. The "best dressed" will win a future weekend stay, and the "worst dressed" will be awarded the Hilton points.

For those guests who want to watch the Oscars, but worry about not being able to hear the program at a loud party or bar, Salamander Resort in Tampa Bay is featuring a $10 in-room promo, including movie-style popcorn, a collection of candy and soda.

There are a number of other hotel parties going on around the country in which you can participate. So if you find yourself stuck in a hotel room for the big event, check with your concierge or someone at the front desk to see if your or any other local hotels are throwing an Oscar bash. Hey, it's better than sitting alone with that bottle of wine and some convenience-store chocolate while watching Anne Hathaway and James Franco make playful jabs at one another on stage.

And if you are not traveling on this most momentous of nights, then make yourself a nice dinner, pop a bowl of popcorn, open a bottle of bubbly and settle in. It's going to be an incredible evening! Enjoy the Academy Awards everyone!