Grand old hotels
This article is a travel topic
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. Many of these hotels have hosted world celebrities of the 19th and 20th centuries, and some are mentioned in classical works of fiction.
Staying in such places is usually not cheap, though more modern high-end hotels might be even costlier. 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.
As many Grand old hotels were built in the late 19th century to complement the railroads or the steamer docks, they might be close to, but not inside, an Old Town.
Africa
Egypt
- Alexandria, Egypt - Steigenberger Cecil [1]
- Aswan, Egypt - Old-Cataract Hotel [2]
- 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.
Morocco
Kenya
South Africa
Mozambique
Asia
East Asia
- Hong Kong, China - The Peninsula [14], Kowloon side at the foot of Nathan Road
- Beijing, China - Beijing Hotel [15]
- Shanghai, China - The Peace Hotel [16]
- Hangzhou, China - The New Hotel [17]
- Seoul, South Korea - Westin Chosun [18]
- Taipei, Taiwan - The Grand Hotel [19]
- Tokyo, Japan - The Imperial Hotel [20]
- Yokohama, Japan - Hotel New Grand [21]
- Nara, Japan - Nara Hotel [22]
Middle East
North East Asia
South Asia
- Bangalore, India - Taj West End [26]
- Chennai, India - Taj Connemara [27]
- Colombo, Sri Lanka - The Galle Face Hotel [28]
- 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 [29]
- Delhi, India - The Imperial Hotel [30]
- Delhi, India - Maidens Hotel [31]
- Kandy, Sri Lanka - The Queen's Hotel [32]
- Mumbai, India - The Taj Mahal Palace [33]
- Shimla, India - Clarke's Hotel [34]
- Bikaner, India - The Laxmi Niwas Palace Hotel [35], a 106 year old palace
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:
Of course, there are some other very classy options as well:
- Bangkok, Thailand - The Oriental [40]
- Hua Hin, Thailand - Centara Grand [41]
- Hanoi, Vietnam - The Metropole [42]
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Continental Hotel [43]
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Majestic Saigon [44]
- Manila, Philippines - The Manila Hotel [45]
- Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Cambodia - Grand Hotel d'Angkor [46]
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Le Royal [47]
- Vientiane, Laos - Settha Palace Hotel [48]
- Singapore - Goodwood Park Hotel [49]
- Yogyakarta, Indonesia - The Phoenix Hotel [50]
Europe
Northern Europe
Many Swedish towns have a town hotel, stadshotell, colloquially Statt, usually built with the advent of rail traffic in the late 19th century. This hotel is usually the most prominent historical building, second to the church or the city hall, and the city's nightlife hotspot. The rating is usually proportional to the town's size, at three stars in small towns, reaching five stars only in major cities.
West Europe
Central Europe
- Baden-Baden, Germany - Brenners Parkhotel [68]
- Berlin, Germany - Hotel Adlon [69]
- Budapest, Hungary - Hotel Gellért [70]
- Budapest, Hungary - Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal [71]
- Frankfurt, Germany - Frankfurter Hof [72]
- Geneva, Switzerland - Beau Rivage [73]
- Hamburg, Germany - Hotel Atlantic [74]
- Heiligendamm, Germany - Grand Hotel Heiligendamm [75]
- Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic - Grand Hotel Pupp [76]
- Krakow, Poland - Grand Hotel [77]
- Lucerne, Switzerland - Grand Hotel National [78]
- Munich, Germany - Bayerischer Hof [79]
- Saint Moritz, Switzerland - Badrutt's Palace Hotel [80]
- Vienna, Austria - Hotel Imperial [81]
- Vienna, Austria - Hotel Sacher [82]
- Wroclaw, Poland - Hotel Monopol [83]
- Zurich, Switzerland - The Dolder Grand [84]
- Zurich, Switzerland - Hotel Widder [85]
South Europe
Eastern Europe
North America
United States
There is a program called [Historic Hotels of America] with 200-odd hotels involved.
- Boulder, Colorado - Hotel Boulderado [99]
- Cincinnati, Ohio - The Cincinnatian [100]
- Grand Canyon, Arizona - El Tovar [101]
- Los Angeles, California - The Biltmore [102]
- Mackinac Island, Michigan - The Grand Hotel [103]
- Memphis, Tennessee - Madison Hotel [104]
- New York, New York - The Waldorf-Astoria [105]
- New York, New York - The Pierre [106]
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - The William Penn [107]
- San Diego, California - The Hotel Del Coronado [108]
- San Francisco, California - Palace Hotel [109]
- Waikiki, Hawaii - Moana Hotel [110]
- Washington, D.C./West End - The Willard Intercontinental [111]
- Yosemite National Park - The Ahwahnee Hotel [112]
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, the Canadian National 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, Alberta - The Banff Springs Hotel [113]
- Calgary, Alberta - The Palliser Hotel [114]
- Edmonton, Alberta - The Hotel MacDonald [115]
- Lake Louise, Alberta - The Chateau Lake Louise [116]
- Ottawa, Ontario - The Chateau Laurier [117]
- Quebec City, Quebec - The Chateau Frontenac [118]
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - The Bessborough Hotel [119]
- Toronto, Ontario - The Royal York [120]
- Vancouver, British Columbia - The Hotel Vancouver [121]
- Victoria, British Columbia - The Empress Hotel [122]
- Victoria, British Columbia - The Oak Bay Beach Hotel [123]
- Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Hotel Fort Garry [124]
Mexico
Costa Rica
 The Gran Hotel Costa Rica
- San José, Costa Rica The Hotel Grano de Oro [127], 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
- Havana, Cuba Hotel Nacional La Habana [128], a grand old lady filled with memories of times past
South America
Argentina
Brazil
Oceania
Australia
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