In many cities, there is an interesting old hotel reminiscent of the days when travel meant long journeys by rail or sea. A place where the rich and the famous of the day would stay. Nearly all of these were built before the Second World War, and many date back to the reign of Queen Victoria.
Staying in such places is usually not cheap, though perhaps cheaper than a more modern high-end hotel. They are not necessarily the most luxurious option. Modern high-end places may be even better. However, the grand old hotels are usually very central and they have an appeal all their own. The old fashioned fittings, the lack of the latest amenities and a certain graceful agedness are often part of their character.
You need not stay in such hotels to enjoy some of their services. A visitor to Singapore, for example, might go to Raffles just for a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar where Rudyard Kipling and Noel Coward once drank, and check out the Billiard Room where Singapore's last tiger was shot.
A traveler with piles of money might consider a round the world flight staying in many of these hotels.
Africa [edit]
Egypt [edit]
- Alexandria - Cecil Sofitel [1]
- Aswan - Old-Cataract Hotel [2]
- Cairo - Marriott Hotel [3], originally the "Al Gezira Palace" built to house Napoleon's wife, Empress Eugenie of France
- Giza - Mena House Oberoi [4]
- Luxor - Old Winter Palace [5] The discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb was first announced on their bulletin board.
Kenya [edit]
Morocco [edit]
Mozambique [edit]
- Maputo - Polana Hotel
South Africa [edit]
- Cape Town - Mount Nelson [11]
- Riebeek Kasteel - The Royal Hotel (http://www.royalinriebeek.com)
Asia [edit]
East Asia [edit]
- Hong Kong, China - The Peninsula [12], Kowloon side at the foot of Nathan Road
- Beijing, China - Beijing Hotel [13]
- Shanghai, China - The Peace Hotel [14]
- Shanghai, China - Astor House Hotel [15]
- Hangzhou, China - The New Hotel [16]
- Seoul, South Korea - Westin Chosun [17]
- Taipei, Taiwan - The Grand Hotel [18]
- Tokyo, Japan - The Imperial Hotel [19]
- Yokohama, Japan - Hotel New Grand [20]
- Nara, Japan - Nara Hotel [21]
Middle East [edit]
- Jerusalem, Israel - American Colony Hotel [22]
- Jerusalem, Israel - King David Hotel [23]
- Aleppo, Syria - Baron Hotel
South Asia [edit]
- Bangalore, India - Taj West End [24]
- Chennai, India - Taj Connemara [25]
- Kolkata, India - The Great Eastern Hotel. Once known as 'the jewel of the east' the hotel is sadly dilapidated these days.
- Kolkata, India - The Grand Hotel [26]
- Delhi, India - The Imperial Hotel [27]
- Delhi, India - Maidens Hotel [28]
- Kandy, Sri Lanka - The Queen's Hotel
- Mumbai, India - The Taj Mahal Palace [29]
- Shimla, India - Clarke's Hotel [30]
- Bikaner, India - The Laxmi Niwas Palace Hotel [31], a 106 year old palace
Southeast Asia [edit]
Many of Southeast Asia's grand old hotels can be credited to a single family, the remarkable Sarkies brothers from Armenia, who founded all of the following icons:
- George Town, Penang, Malaysia - Eastern & Oriental [32]
- Singapore - The Raffles [33]
- Surabaya, Indonesia - Hotel Majapahit [34]
- Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) - Strand Hotel [35]
Of course, there are some other very classy options as well:
- Bangkok, Thailand - The Oriental [36]
- Hua Hin, Thailand - Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas [37]
- Hanoi, Vietnam - The Metropole [38]
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Continental Hotel [39]
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Majestic Saigon [40]
- Manila, Philippines - The Manila Hotel [41]
- Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Cambodia - Grand Hotel d'Angkor [42]
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Le Royal [43]
- Vientiane, Laos - Settha Palace Hotel [44]
- Singapore - Goodwood Park Hotel [45]
Europe [edit]
Northern Europe [edit]
- Copenhagen, Denmark - Hotel D'Angleterre [46]
- Helsinki, Finland - Kämp [47]
- Oslo, Norway - Grand Hotel [48]
- Stockholm, Sweden - Grand Hôtel [49]
- Nacka, Sweden - Hotel Saltsjöbaden [50]
- Sundsvall, Sweden - Hotel Knaust [51]
West Europe [edit]
- Brussels, Belgium - Hotel Metropole [52]
- Le Pouzin, France - La Cardinale hotel [53]
- Paris, France - Hôtel Ritz [54]
- Paris, France - Hôtel de Crillon [55]
- Paris, France - Le Grand Hôtel InterContinental [56]
- Nice, France - Hôtel Negresco [57]
- Amsterdam, Netherlands - Amstel Hotel [58]
- London, UK - Savoy Hotel [59]
- London, UK - The Ritz [60]
- London, UK - The Langham [61]
Central Europe [edit]
- Vienna, Austria - Hotel Imperial [62]
- Vienna, Austria - Hotel Sacher [63]
- Berlin, Germany - Hotel Adlon [64]
- Frankfurt, Germany - Frankfurter Hof [65]
- Hamburg, Germany - Hotel Atlantic [66]
- Heiligendamm, Germany - Grand Hotel Heiligendamm [67]
- Munich, Germany - Bayerischer Hof [68]
- Budapest, Hungary - Hotel Gellért [69]
- Budapest, Hungary - Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal [70]
- Krakow, Poland - Grand Hotel [71]
- Wroclaw, Poland - Hotel Monopol [72]
- Lucerne, Switzerland - Grand Hotel National [73]
- Saint Moritz, Switzerland - Badrutt's Palace Hotel [74]
- Zurich, Switzerland - The Dolder Grand [75]
- Zurich, Switzerland - Hotel Widder [76]
Southern Europe [edit]
- Athens, Greece - Hotel Grande Bretagne [www.grandebretagne.gr]
- Pisa, Italy - Royal Victoria Hotel [77]
- Valletta, Malta - The Phoenicia [78]
- Lisbon, Portugal - Pestana Palace Hotel [79]
- Lisbon, Portugal - Hotel Avenida Palace [80]
- Barcelona, Spain - El Palace [81]
- Madrid, Spain - Hotel Ritz [82]
- Madrid, Spain - The Westin Palace [83]
- Seville, Spain - Hotel Alfonso XIII [84]
- Istanbul, Turkey - Pera Palace [85]
Eastern Europe [edit]
- Moscow, Russia - Hotel Ukraina [86]
- Saint Petersburg, Russia - Grand Hotel Europe [87]
- Saint Petersburg, Russia - Hotel Astoria [88]
- Lviv, Ukraine - Hotel George [89]
North America [edit]
United States [edit]
There is a program called Historic Hotels of America [90] with 200-odd hotels involved.
- Boulder, Colorado - Hotel Boulderado [91]
- Cincinnati, Ohio - The Cincinnatian [92]
- Grand Canyon, Arizona - El Tovar [93]
- Los Angeles, California - The Biltmore [94]
- Mackinac Island, Michigan - The Grand Hotel [95]
- Memphis, Tennessee - Madison Hotel [96]
- New York, New York - The Waldorf-Astoria [97]
- New York, New York - The Pierre [98]
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - The William Penn [99]
- San Diego, California - The Hotel Del Coronado [100]
- San Francisco, California - Palace Hotel [101]
- Waikiki, Hawaii - Moana Hotel [102]
- Washington, D.C./West End - The Willard Intercontinental [103]
- Yosemite National Park - The Ahwahnee Hotel [104]
Canada [edit]
The grand old hotels in Canada have a unique place in Canadian history. Most of them were built during first quarter of the 20th century by the Canadian Pacific Railway or Grand Trunk Railway in order to provide elegant accommodation while viewing the natural beauty along the rail line. Later, the railway sold them to international chains, mainly Fairmont.
These hotels are popular with tourists and locals alike and though overnight stays are expensive, they represent a fine piece of Canadiana worth visiting even if you only have time for a walk through the lobby. Two - Banff and Lake Louise - are major tourist resorts in their own right, located amid stunning Rocky Mountain scenery.
- Banff - The Banff Springs Hotel [105]
- Calgary - The Palliser Hotel [106]
- Edmonton - The Hotel MacDonald [107]
- Lake Louise - The Chateau Lake Louise [108]
- Ottawa - The Chateau Laurier [109]
- Quebec City - The Chateau Frontenac [110]
- Saskatoon - The Bessborough Hotel [111]
- Toronto - The Royal York [112]
- Vancouver - The Hotel Vancouver [113]
- Victoria - The Empress Hotel [114]
- Victoria - The Oak Bay Beach Hotel [115]
- Winnipeg - The Hotel Fort Garry [116]
Mexico [edit]
- Chichen Itza, Yucatan - Hacienda Chichen Resort and Spa [117], 16th Century colonial landmark
Costa Rica [edit]
- San José, Costa Rica The Gran Hotel Costa Rica [118], 20th Century colonial landmark
- San José, Costa Rica The Hotel Grano de Oro [119], Grand old hotel of Victorian design. Also listed as a small, distinctive hotel. In the heart of San Jose by Sabana park and walking distance to the art museum.
Cuba [edit]
South America [edit]
Argentina [edit]
- Buenos Aires - Hotel Alvear Palace [121]
Brazil [edit]
- Rio de Janeiro - Copacabana Palace [122]
- Salvador - Convento do Carmo [123]
