travel
10 incredible heritage hotels
The imposing and ornate facade of The Boscolo Hotel in Budapest is home to The New York Cafe, which was for decades the most important hub of Hungarian literature. – Insight Vacations pic, February 20, 2016.Heritage hotels have had the privilege of living through the ages. Tasteful, charming and elaborate, their walls hold the secrets to history.
From grand European architecture to the exotic charms of Indian palaces, premium tour company, Insight Vacations, picks out 10 of the best heritage hotels in the world:
The Boscolo Hotel, Budapest
You definitely won't miss the imposing facade of Budapest's Boscolo Hotel.
The imposing and ornate facade of The Boscolo Hotel in Budapest has stood the test of time. Built in the late 19th century by the New York Life Insurance Company and refurbished in 2006, the hotel is home to The New York Cafe, which was for decades the most important hub of Hungarian literature. The interiors are as spectacular as its exterior, luring guests in with its Belle Époque charms and four storeys of statues, paintings and frescoes.
Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner
Laxmi Niwas Palace is as luxurious as it is beautiful with latticed screens and ornate filligree work complementing carved four-poster beds and antique furniture while peach sandstone frames polished marble.
Originally the residence of Maharajah Ganga Singh, ruler of Bikaner, the palace was built in 1904 and quickly became a draw for flights of European royalty.
Chateau Frontenac in Quebec is one of the most photographed hotels in the world. – Insight Vacations pic, February 20, 2016.Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City
Chateau Frontenac in Quebec is one of the most photographed hotels in the world.
Frontenac is one of the most photographed hotels in the world and with good reason, possessing the best of the old and new worlds.
It shares the grounds of Chateau Haldimand, residence of the British governors of Lower Canada and Quebec. A Unesco World Heritage site, Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt discussed their strategy for World War II here before Alfred Hitchcock eventually filmed “I Confess” on the same site.
Trianon Palace, Paris
Constructed in the early 20th century at the entrance of Versailles Park, the Trianon Palace Hotel functioned as the allied forces’ headquarters in World War 1 and it was also here that the Treaty of Versailles was prepared. With impressive Rococo architecture and stunning views of the Palace of Versailles, the walls of the beautiful Trianon Palace surely has many stories to tell.
Alhambra Palace offers panoramic views of Granada on one side and the gorgeous Sierra Nevada Mountains on the other. – Insight Vacations pic, February 20, 2016.Alhambra Palace, Granada
Alhambra Palace is a sprawling complex with forts, gardens and palaces at every turn.
Alhambra Palace is strategically perched on La Sabika hill with panoramic views of Granada on one side and the gorgeous Sierra Nevada Mountains on the other.
The expansive complex of palaces, fortifications, roads and manicured gardens are styled with a medieval Moorish architecture, hinting at the region's Islamic past.
Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans
When Roosevelt Hotel opened in 1893, it was known as “The Grunewald”. It was later renamed as an acknowledgement to the president for building the Panama Canal which brought huge amounts of business to New Orleans.
Having entertained famous musicians from Louis Armstrong to Ray Charles, the hotel has since undergone a US$145 million (RM610 million) restoration with touches of contemporary class.
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Montreux
From the moment it opened its doors in 1906, Switzerland's Fairmont Le Montreux played host to many a Venetian parties and masquerade balls attended by anyone from Russian princes to maharajahs.
Apart from being the venue of the Montreux Convention in 1936, the hotel also has the privilege of saying that it had been the permanent home of Russian-American author, Vladimir Nabokov.
Grande Bretagne, Athens
The Grand Bretagne has had various uses from first being the house of a wealthy business to serving as headquarters for military forces in the mid-20th century.
It was also the home of former prime minister Georgios Papandreou during the early days of the Greek Civil War before it was renovated in 2006.
Villa le Maschere, Tuscany
There's nothing to bring out your inner Renaissance prince or princess like a centuries-old Italian villa with sweeping views of the Mugello Valley.
Built at the top of a rise of a road from Florence to Bologna, it has hosted a pope and two Savoy kings. The current owner, Milva Fusi, has restored the villa to its glorious heyday updated with some contemporary class.
Hotel Bristol, Vienna
Located just opposite the opera house, Hotel Bristol's first celebrity guest was composer Gustav Mahler followed by the Prince of Wales in 1935. Post-WW2, the US embassy was relocated here and in 2009, it began renovations that cost upwards of millions of dollars.
Bask in the glow of Vienna's glorious sunsets from one of their top-level rooms with a view overlooking the Ringstrasse.
For escorted tours to these hotels and destinations, head to www.insightvacations.com for more information. – February 20, 2016.
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