Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I’ve been a full-time travel writer since 2008, and that has allowed me to stay the night in some of the finest hotels the world has to offer. Just for fun, because I’m in Mexico as I write this and it’s raining, here are ten of the most luxurious places I’ve bedded down for the night.
Hotel Hassler Roma, Rome. My daughter and I stayed here in, oh, 2012 or 2013 and had a room that looked down on the Spanish Steps. We had a small balcony and bought a bottle of wine and some snacks. We were sitting out and enjoying a little Dolce Vita when we noticed a crowd was gathering at the bottom of the steps. A piano soon appeared, and then a man stepped up to a microphone and began singing beautiful Italian opera tunes. It was as magical a hotel moment as I’ve ever had. My daughter, too, I suspect.
Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia: This might be the most exotic hotel I’ve ever stayed at. Rooms are open to the elements, with sensational views of the towering Pitons and the ocean. All rooms have private pools and a butler, and they’re beautifully decorate. The food is also exceptional. A truly unique place on a gorgeous Caribbean island.
Jade Mountain resort Saint Lucia.
Le Bristol, Paris: This is old school, French luxury at its finest. Think overstuffed chairs, lacy curtains and luxurious linens. The food is exquisite, as is the service. There’s a beautiful indoor pool with walls decorated with nautical scenes, and the hotel is quite close to the Champs Élysées. Not that we talk much about Woody Allen these days, but the hotel was featured prominently in the film Midnight in Paris.
The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, Tahiti: An overwater bungalow at this resort, with views of the famous lagoon of Bora Bora and the profile of Mt. Otemanu looming in the near distance, is something I’ll never forget. Towering palms and a full rainbow of flowers and shrubs are all around. There’s a large lagoon with colourful fish, a kid’s club, tennis and beach volleyball courts, kayaking and paddle board equipment, a marvellous spa and truly fantastic food. The hotel can set you up on a Bora Bora lagoon tour with a local fellow who can take you swimming with manta rays and harmless sharks and teach you to paddle a Tahitian canoe. Simply fabulous.
A hammock at the Four Seasons Bora Bora, with overwater bungalows and Mt. Otemanu in the distance. Jim Byers Photo
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The lobby is on the 103rd floor and the rooms occupy 15 floors above that. Located on the Kowloon side of the bay, the hotel offers truly stupendous views of bustling Hong Kong Harbour. The food is excellent, as well. The hotel has a bar located on the 118th floor called Ozone that’s a real beauty, with remarkable views from the outside terrace area as well as a cool interior. A remarkable hotel in a remarkable destination.
The Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta, Canada: The granddaddy of all hotels in Canada, the history here is simply unbeatable. Just walking into the lobby makes you feel special. There are tremendous food options, including Castello Restaurant and Vermilion. The Rundle Bar patio offers some of the world’s best mountain views. If those somehow don’t work, try the spectacular Fairmont spa, which has warm mineral pools and tumbling waterfalls. It might be fave spa on the planet. The patio offers some of the world’s best mountain views. I’m not usually much of a winter person, but a snowy day at the Fairmont Banff Springs is pure magic. In warmer weather, the Banff Springs golf course is one of the best, and hands down one of the most beautiful, in Canada.
The classic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta.
Park Hyatt, Sydney: This is a fabulous hotel on its own. But it achieved legendary status owing to the rooms that look directly across the harbour at the Sydney Opera House. It’s hard to sleep in a room with a view like that, believe me. Rooms feature works by Australian artists, and there’s a fine restaurant on the ground floor, with fabulous city, harbour and Opera House views. Not to mention a rooftop pool! The Park Hyatt is an exquisite experience in one of my fave countries to visit.
The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland: The Queen Mother used to come here regularly for roasted lamb, and no less a musical figure than Paul McCartney is known to stay the night now and then. The hotel, built in 1902, has wide staircases created to accommodate turn of the century women’s skirts. Balmoral means “majestic dwelling” in Gaelic, and it’s one of only two Forbes five-star rated hotels in Scotland. SCOTCH is a handsome, cozy bar that serves more than 450 types of whisky. My kind of place.
The regal Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Beverly Hills Hotel, California: This famous, pink palace has hosted just about every A-list Hollywood star you can think of, and probably a good many B-listers. The famous Polo Lounge has been hosting Hollywood types for years, and the hotel sports photos of everyone from Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren to Jimmy Stewart. The hotel was built in an empty field in 1912 to lure folks to the area for real estate sales. It worked, as Toronto-born Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks built their home “Pickfair” not far away. There are great stories of Howard Hughes insisting his food be brought to him and hung in a tree outside his bungalow, and of Charlie Sheen ordering not one but two glasses of Scotch that cost $2,800 each. And that was a good 15 years ago.
GREAT HISTORIC HOTELS OF THE U.S.
I was writing this and a story popped up on TravMedia, which gives me daily updates with travel stories from around the world. The story that suddenly showed up on my screen was an article in Afar Magazine about historic hotels in the U.S. and was written by a friend of mine, Jill Robinson.
The Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, Florida.
Some of these I don’t know, but I have stayed in two of them; the Moana Surfrider on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, and the Gasparilla Inn on Boca Grande on the gulf coast (Gulf of Mexico, that is) in Florida. They’re both amazing, and filled with fabulous history.
A FABULOUS WORLD CRUISE FROM MSC
Bookings for the 2029 MSC World Cruise are now open, inviting guests to embark on an extraordinary 119-night journey around the globe aboard MSC Magnifica.
From the ancient wonders of the Mediterranean and the wild landscapes of South America to the remote islands of the Pacific and the cultural treasures of Asia, guests can discover 45 destinations across 21 countries – all without having to repack their suitcase. The thoughtfully curated itinerary combines iconic destinations with hidden gems, with nine overnight calls and 15 included excursions offering guests more time to discover each destination and immerse themselves in the experience.
A key highlight of the 2029 itinerary is the extended exploration of Australia and Indonesia. Guests will enjoy a rare circumnavigation of Australia, experiencing its remarkable diversity from the iconic cities of Sydney and Melbourne to the wildlife-rich shores of Kangaroo Island, the renowned wine regions of Adelaide, the beauty of Perth, the rugged landscapes of Broome and the lush tropics of Darwin.
The sailing continues through Indonesia, with extended stays in Bali, Lombok and Java, giving guests more time to experience the country’s rich culture, distinctive landscapes and some of Southeast Asia’s most remarkable heritage sites.
Uluru, Australia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The experience continues on board the newly refurbished MSC Magnifica which now features the exclusive MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises’ award-winning “ship-within-a-ship” concept. MSC Yacht Club guests can enjoy keycard-only access to an array of private facilities, 24-hour butler and concierge services, spacious and elegantly appointed suites, a dedicated restaurant and lounge, and a private sundeck with hot tubs, grill restaurant and bar – all while being within easy reach of everything the rest of the ship has to offer.
Guests on MSC Cruises’ 2029 World Cruise can also enjoy destination-inspired activities, themed dining nights, local food pairings and port-inspired cocktails, along with live music, large-scale productions, language and dance classes and more.
Offering four convenient embarkation options in early January 2029, the itinerary gives guests the flexibility to choose the departure that best suits their plans, with embarkation available from Civitavecchia for Rome on January 4, 2029, followed by Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona.
My wife and I had a wonderful voyage on the MSC World Europa a couple years ago.
