When you travel internationally, it often feels like the modern world and old world have collided to create a refuge for the elite. Steeped in history and timeless elegance, we take you on a journey through Europe while staying at the best-of-the-best hotels. Traveling outside our borders introduces you not only to new cultures and experiences, but to a different style of luxury and opulence.
Four Seasons George V
Paris, France
An art-deco landmark built in 1928, Four Seasons Hotel George V is nestled in the Golden Triangle of Paris, just off the historic Champs-Elysees. Oversized suites with Eiffel Tower views welcome you after a day of wandering the quaint, Parisian streets, and three restaurants – with five Michelin stars among them – are home to some of the best food in France. A decadent new spa, an elegant swimming pool and a courtyard for whiling away the afternoons with a glass of wine are just some of the pleasures unique to this historic destination.
www.fourseasons.com/Paris; Photo: Four Seasons Hotel George V.
Grand-Hôtel Du Cap-Ferrat
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
With a guestbook signed by everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Winston Churchill and an enviable perch overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the palatial spread of the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel, has been the epitome of Côte d’Azur chic for more than a century. Today, sumptuous rooms with views from Nice to Monaco, Michelin-starred Provençal and Mediterranean cuisine and a lively pool club keep this landmark hotel at the forefront of Riviera life.
www.fourseasons.com/CapFerrat; Photo: Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat.
Belmond La Residencia
Mallorca, Spain
Just a stone’s throw from the clear, blue Mediterranean Sea, the charming village of Deià and the towering Sierra de Tramuntana provide a truly stunning setting for one of the world’s most renowned hotels. Two manor houses, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, have been lovingly restored and furnished to provide a hotel of real style, charm and character.
www.belmond.com; Photo: Belmond La Residencia
Bulgari Hotel
London, England
In the heart of central London’s most prestigious area, Knightsbridge, is the Bulgari Hotel London. The property pays tribute to Bulgari’s silversmith origins and Britain’s noble manufacturing traditions with an understated, elegant design concept. The 85 rooms and suites feature exquisite detailing throughout. The 2,000 square meter Bulgari Spa London is spread over two floors and includes every amenity imaginable.
www.bulgarihotels.com; Photo: Bulgari Hotel London.
The Langham
London, England
Opened in 1865 as Europe’s first ‘Grand Hotel’, The Langham, London has an unrivalled location and the most luxurious guestrooms and suites classically styled and evoking a warm residential feel. Chuan Spa Body + Soul provides a pampering haven and is London’s first luxury hotel spa to incorporate the ancient principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
www.langhamhotels.com; Photo: The Langham.
The Chedi
Andermatt, Switzerland
At the heart of the Swiss Alps, nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, this exclusive hotel in Andermatt will fascinate your imagination. The five-star deluxe hotel perfectly combines authentic Alpine chic with Asian design elements. The property’s 123 elegant rooms and suites offer fireplaces, large bathtubs with heated natural stone floors and separate rain showers, as well as panoramic windows to bring the scenic mountain landscapes to the comfort of the hotel. Guests can choose from a variety of excellent dining experiences with four outstanding restaurants and bars. The Japanese Restaurant was awarded a Michelin Star in 2017 and is the only Michelin starred restaurant in Andermatt, offering all the pleasure of authentic Japanese delicacies.
www.thechediandermatt.com; Photo: The Chedi.
Bürgenstock Resort
Bürgenstock, Switzerland
Towering 1,500 feet above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland is the Bürgenstock Resort, where the views are as unique as its history. Since 1873, the property has catered to the world’s elite, including prominent guests such as Audrey Hepburn, Jimmy Carter and Indira Gandhi. Four hotels are expecting you to explore – each one with its very own character and adhere to the highest standards. Innovative architecture and floor-to-ceiling windows reveal stunning lake and mountain panoramas. Try the splendid culinary landscape of the Bürgenstock Resort in eight restaurants, bars and lounges. In the Spices show kitchen, specialties from the Far East like sushi, curries and dim sum take center stage. The Alpine Spa provides a relaxation oasis, complete with infinity-edge pool looking out over the lake.
www.buergenstock.ch; Photo: Bürgenstock Hotel.
Grand Hotel Kempinski
High Tatras, Slovakia
Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras is a five-star oasis of luxury on the shores of a glacial mountain lake, overlooking the majestic panorama of the High Tatras. The hotel is located in the immediate proximity of the most beautiful Slovak alpine lake– Štrbské Pleso – which is situated over 4,432 feet above sea level. The property perfectly captures the romance and charm of royal times while providing all the luxury and comfort of today.
STAY… The hotel offers 98 spacious rooms including suites with contemporary design and breathtaking views over the mountains, alpine lake and the valley. The elegant rooms have lavish heated marble floors and are equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
EAT… The Grand Restaurant provides outstanding international cuisine and focuses on using only the finest products and local specialties, prepared by an experienced head chef Tomáš Tejbus. He prepares dishes that offer rustic interpretations of typical Slovak dishes in a modern form.
DO… Located within Tatras National Park, guests are encouraged to explore the alpine lake and hike the nearby countryside. Guided mountaineering is also available for the adventurous.
www.kempinski.com; Photo: Grand Hotel Kempinski.
Hotel Monte Mulini
Rovinj, Croatia
This extraordinary boutique hotel is a synergy of design, functionality, harmony and elegance. An impeccable blend of beauty, luxury and cultural heritage turns each moment of your stay into something special. Only a 10-minute walk from Rovinj, a town with many unique attractions, Hotel Monte Mulini provides luxuriously equipped rooms, fine dining, pools, beach access and wellness and spa activities. Mediterraneo Restaurant offers an innovative blend of well-known traditional Greek, Spanish, Lebanese and North African specialties which use old recipes as inspiration. The Wellness & Spa is an intimate oasis which encourages harmony with nature.
www.maistra.com; Photo: Hotel Monte Mulini.
Aman Venice
Venice, Italy
Filled with museum-quality treasures, Aman Venice’s home on the Grand Canal is the 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli, one of the city’s most significant buildings. Each of hotel’s 24 rooms and suites is individually decorated and includes a kingsize bed and sitting area. The historically important interiors have been sensitively furnished by Jean-Michel Gathy. Paying tribute to Italy’s rich culinary heritage, Arva is a new dining concept which celebrates the shared enjoyment of uncomplicated flavors in a welcoming and convivial atmosphere. The great 18th-century painter Tiepolo once lived here, and his frescoes adorn the walls of many of the rooms.
www.aman.com; Photo: Aman Hotels and Resorts.
Belmond Hotel Caruso
Ravello, Italy
Perched on a clifftop 1,000 feet above sea level, Belmond Hotel Caruso overlooks the spectacular Amalfi Coast from its location at Ravello’s highest point. This delightful resort, set around an 11th- century palace, is renowned for its beautiful gardens and historic buildings. It offers the latest in luxury accommodations, fine dining and superb service, with guests able to enjoy a heated infinity pool, wellness center, complimentary shuttle to Amalfi and Positano and daily mini-cruise along the Amalfi Coast.
www.belmond.com; Photo: Belmond Hotel Caruso.
Amanzoe
Porto Heli, Greece
The helicopter flight from Athens to Amanzoe creates a swift segue into an altogether wilder Greece – a place of pure nature, where time stands still. Scattered with UNESCO ruins, the undiscovered Peloponnese has been at the heart of Greek culture for millennia – and it is here that Amanzoe has made its hilltop home, a modern-day Acropolis from which 360-degree views encompass olive groves, Aegean blue, and little else.
STAY… Drawing on classic Greek Architecture with inspired strong lines yet sleekly contemporary, Amanzoe’s Pavilions and Villas open to expansive private terraces, creating a seamless extension of the airy interiors and an unrivalled sense of space and seclusion.
EAT… From Nama’s Japanese cuisine to the Restaurant’s Mediterranean fare, Amanzoe places the focus on simple flavors, expertly prepared. Daily deliveries of local bass, bream, grouper and crustacean, as well as locally reared lamb, pork and rabbit, make Amanzoe a champion of gourmet dining.
DO… Accessible via water taxi, the car-free Spetses is known for its sea-faring traditions, neoclassical mansions and horse-drawn carriages. Quaint villages and verdant pine forests can be explored by scooter, quad bike or bicycle. Guests are encouraged to explore the sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidurus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to ancient temples and an amphitheater.
www.aman.com; Photo: Aman Hotels and Resorts.
