Grand old hotels
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In many cities, there is an interesting old hotel, something to remind you of the days when travel meant long journeys by rail or sea, a place where the rich and the famous of its day would stay. Nearly all of these were built before the Second World War, and many date back to Queen Victoria's reign.
Staying in such places is usually not cheap, though it may be cheaper than a more modern high-end hotel. Nor are they necessarily the most luxurious option; the modern high-end places may be even better. However, the grand old hotels are usually very central and they do 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.
Of course, you need not stay in such hotels to enjoy some of their services. For example, a visitor to Singapore might just go to Raffles 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.
[edit] Africa
[edit] Egypt
- Alexandria, Egypt - Cecil Sofitel [1]
- Alexandria, Egypt - Metropole
- Aswan, Egypt - Old-Cataract Hotel [2]
- Cairo, Egypt - Cosmopolitan Hotel
- Cairo, Egypt - Marriott Hotel [3], originally the "Al Gezira Palace" built to house Napoleon's wife, Empress Eugenie of France
- Giza, Egypt - Mena House Oberoi [4]
- Luxor, Egypt - Old Winter Palace [5] The discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb was first announced on their bulletin board.
[edit] Morocco
- Essaouira, Morocco - Villa Maroc [6]
- Fez, Morocco - Palais Jamai [7]
- Marrakech, Morocco - La Mamounia [8]
- Tangier, Morocco - Continental
- Tinghir, Morocco - Tomboctou [9]
- Zagora, Morocco - Dar el Hiba [10]
[edit] Kenya
- Bamburi Beach, Kenya - Whitesands [11]
- Kericho, Kenya - Tea Hotel
- Nairobi, Kenya - Giraffe Manor [12]
- Nairobi, Kenya - Norfolk Hotel [13]
[edit] Asia
[edit] East Asia
- Hong Kong, China - The Peninsula [14], Kowloon side at the foot of Nathan Road
- Shanghai, China - The Peace Hotel [15]
- Taipei, Taiwan - The Grand Hotel [16]
- Tokyo, Japan - The Imperial Hotel [17]
[edit] Middle East
[edit] South Asia
- 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 [20]
- Delhi, India - The Imperial Hotel [21]
- Kandy, Sri Lanka - The Queen's Hotel
- Mumbai, India - The Taj Mahal Palace [22]
- Shimla, India - Clarke's Hotel [23]
[edit] Southeast Asia
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, Malaysia - Eastern & Oriental
- Singapore - The Raffles [24]
- Surabaya, Indonesia - The Majapahit
- Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) - The Strand [25]
Of course, there are some other very classy options as well:
- Bangkok, Thailand - The Oriental [26]
- Hanoi, Vietnam - The Metropole [27]
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Continental Hotel [28]
- Manila, Philippines - The Manila Hotel [29]
- Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Cambodia - Grand Hotel d'Angkor [30]
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Le Royal [31]
- Singapore - Goodwood Park Hotel [32]
[edit] Europe
- Amsterdam, Netherlands - Amstel Hotel [33]
- Berlin, Germany - Hotel Adlon [34]
- Budapest, Hungary - Hotel Gellért [35]
- Budapest, Hungary - Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal [36]
- Frankfurt, Germany - Frankfurter Hof [37]
- Hamburg, Germany - Hotel Atlantic [38]
- Heiligendamm, Germany - Grand Hotel Heiligendamm [39]
- Helsinki, Finland - Kämp [40]
- Istanbul, Turkey - Pera Palace [41]
- Lisbon, Portugal - Pestana Palace Hotel [42]
- London, UK - Savoy Hotel [43]
- Moscow, Russia - Hotel Ukraina [44]
- Munich, Germany - Bayerischer Hof [45]
- Paris, France - Hôtel Ritz [46]
- Paris, France - Hôtel de Crillon [47]
- Pisa, Italy - Royal Victoria Hotel [48]
- Saint Petersburg, Russia - Grand Hotel Europe [49]
- Saint Petersburg, Russia - Hotel Astoria [50]
- Sundsvall, Sweden - Hotel Knaust [51]
- Valletta, Malta - The Phoenicia [52]
- Vienna, Austria - Hotel Imperial [53]
- Zurich, Switzerland - Hotel Widder [54]
[edit] North America
[edit] United States
- Boulder, Colorado - Hotel Boulderado [55]
- Cincinnati, Ohio - The Cincinnatian [56]
- Grand Canyon - El Tovar [57]
- Mackinac Island, Michigan - The Grand Hotel [58]
- New York, New York - The Waldorf=Astoria [59]
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - The William Penn [60]
- San Diego, California - The Hotel Del Coronado [61]
- Yosemite National Park - The Ahwahnee Hotel [62]
- Waikiki, Hawaii - Moana Hotel [63]
[edit] Canada
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 [64]
- Calgary - The Palliser Hotel [65]
- Edmonton - The Hotel MacDonald [66]
- Lake Louise - The Chateau Lake Louise [67]
- Ottawa - The Chateau Laurier [68]
- Quebec City - The Chateau Frontenac [69]
- Saskatoon - The Bessborough Hotel [70]
- Toronto - The Royal York [71]
- Vancouver - The Hotel Vancouver [72]
- Victoria - The Empress Hotel [73]
- Winnipeg - The Hotel Fort Garry [74]
[edit] Mexico
- Chichen Itza, Yucatan - Hacienda Chichen Resort and Spa [75], 16th Century colonial landmark
[edit] Costa Rica
- San Jose, Costa Rica The Gran Hotel Costa Rica [76], 20th Century colonial landmark
[edit] Cuba
[edit] South America
[edit] Argentina
- Buenos Aires - Hotel Alvear Palace [78]
[edit] Brazil
[edit] Oceania
