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Times
21-05-2025
- Times
10 of the world's most famous hotels
There are hotels, and then there are hotels, those grand, world-renowned establishments that have stood the test of time and become famous in their own right. They're known for their exciting, exclusive locations, impeccable service, opulent decor, enigmatic histories, not to mention an evolving guest list of typically deep-pocketed clientele from royalty to film stars. Most in this league will have ensured their legacies live on, too, catering to every modern traveller's whim while staying true to their heritage by refreshing the design with a nod to the original and incorporating modern amenities. In my 15 years as a travel writer, I've visited hundreds of hotels, many for my book Grand Hotels of the World. When exploring a destination, I find it fun to seek out a famous hotel for a snoop, as I would a department store or gallery, and wander around the common spaces. Often I'll stay for a drink in the bar or book in for a spa treatment for entry to those less open-armed to nosy tourists. There's something endlessly exciting about escaping into these worlds of dazzling lobbies, uniformed bellboys, and jet-set guests. Especially, of course, if you're lucky enough to be staying in one. These are my favourites. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue £££ | SPA | Best for city glam New York has the lion's share of glitzy, big-name hotels, so picking out one isn't an easy task. There's the screen-famous Plaza and the rock 'n' roll Hotel Chelsea — but, for a taste of old New York high-society glamour, it has to be the Waldorf Astoria, which opened in its Park Avenue location in 1931 (the original site was razed for the Empire State Building). The gleaming Midtown property has been closed for eight years and is soon set to emerge from an epic revamp. The scale and beauty of the original art deco architecture has been retained, but refreshed with contemporary furnishings that pay homage to its heritage, including brass light fixtures and fluted columns. The hotel reopens with fewer but more spacious rooms — 375 down from a whopping 1,400, which will be some of the largest in Manhattan (now taking reservations from September) — along with 375 private residences on its upper floors. Guests and residents alike are invited to unwind at the sumptuous Guerlain spa, throw parties at a new opera-inspired grand ballroom that is set to become the crown jewel of the New York society scene, and dine on creative, seasonal American classics at the two-storey, pastel-hued restaurant Lex Yard. • Read our full guide to New York £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for impeccable service Check into this five-star landmark in London's Mayfair for a taste of timeless elegance, sophisticated luxury and faultless service. Entering through its famous revolving doors is a thrill: Claridge's is one of the world's grandest heritage hotels and has remained a magnet for royalty and celebrities since it opened in 1856. Even after its recent multi-million-pound mega refurb, which involved the addition of a subterranean spa, Claridge's still feels firmly grounded in the Jazz Age, when it was transformed into an art deco icon with a new entrance, 80 more rooms and a striking ballroom. Recently refreshed, pastel-coloured rooms remain true to the original style and come beautifully furnished with velvet chairs, period dressers and marble bathrooms. Meanwhile, its celebrated Foyer & Reading Room is a hit for breakfast, lunch and Claridge's Afternoon Tea — a London institution with more than 20 flavours of tea to choose from, freshly baked scones and Claridge's signature strawberry and vanilla jam, not to mention a delicate array of handmade pastries and dainty sandwiches. • Read our full review of Claridge's £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for old Hollywood charm This gigantic Californian pad, perfectly positioned where the world-renowned shopping street Rodeo Drive meets Wilshire Boulevard, is most famous for being the Pretty Woman hotel. Despite its short amount of screen time — only the exterior and historic brass lift inside it featured, with many interior scenes filmed elsewhere — the Beverly Wilshire has become an essential stop for fans of the 1990 film. It became a Four Seasons hotel in 1992 (though the brand's management is set to end in December), and is renowned for its exemplary service, destination spa and showstopping display of fresh florals atop a round table in the marble-floored main lobby. Less well known is that its Mediterranean-style pool is modelled after the one at Sophia Loren's private villa in Italy. Inside it's a cosy, polished and tasteful affair, with a contemporary-design-meets-old-Hollywood feel. Elegant rooms in light greys are spread across two buildings: the 10-floor Wilshire Wing and the 14-floor Beverly Wing, split by a private driveway — El Camino Real — where uniformed car valets help illustrious guests make a discreet entrance or quick getaway. • Read our full guide to Los Angeles £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for literature lovers and cocktail connoisseurs Few hotels are more rich in history than this 115-suite grande dame surrounded by tropical gardens. It occupies an entire block of Singapore's historic civic district, and has attracted the rich and famous since it opened in 1887. The white-fronted hotel counts writers Joseph Conrad, William Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling among its storied guests, all of whom have suites named in their honour. Impressively refurbished with respect for its colonial heritage, elegant rooms blend high ceilings, ivory white walls, and dark teaks with historic features such as ceiling fans and oriental rugs. The hotel's Long Bar is a popular spot: many visitors come simply for a taste of its Singapore Sling, the cocktail said to have been invented here in 1915 to resemble fruit juice for ladies who weren't allowed to be seen drinking alcohol in public. • Read our full review of Raffles Singapore £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for people watching A stay at this opulent five-star next to the Casino de Monte-Carlo gives you one of the city's best locations, right on the F1 Monaco Grand Prix track. The hotel was built in 1864 by the French entrepreneur François Blanc, whose vision was to create a decadent centre of high-class gambling and entertainment. It's been modernised over the years and in 1909 was entirely renovated in the distinctive style of the belle époque era, with a new façade and arched doorways. A multi-phase revamp between 2014 and 2019 added two of the most lavish suites in the world: the Prince Rainier III and the two-floor Princess Grace, each costing upwards of £30,000 a night. They are decorated with the couple's personal objects and ornaments, including the Princess's favourite books and poems. There's fine-dining galore, too: panoramic views impress at the Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant Le Grill, with its retractable roof, while Le Louis XV — Alain Ducasse a l'Hôtel de Paris shines with three Michelin stars. • More of Monaco's best hotels £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for atmosphere La Mamounia opened in the 1920s — in the upmarket Hivernage area of Marrakesh, not far from Djemaa el-Fna square — and it's been a beacon of luxury and Moroccan hospitality ever since. Outfitted doormen welcome you in through grand Moorish doors into the decadent, low-lit lobby lounge, on to a plush red-velvet sofa where a steaming hot towel, glass of almond milk and plate of dates await the weary traveller. It's especially atmospheric arriving at night, when the historic 20-acre garden is magically lit by strings of fairy lights and hundreds of candles in lanterns. The garden is worth exploring by day, too, with hundreds of olive trees — some over 900 years old — as well as orange trees, jacaranda trees, cacti, bougainvillea and delphinium. Each of the 209 spruced-up rooms gives a sense of place, with arched headboards and mosaic tiling, and some have balconies overlooking the gardens. With four excellent restaurants dishing up varied cuisine, you'll be well fed here. • Read our full guide to Marrakesh £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for a party Affectionately named 'the Copa', nothing epitomises Brazilian glamour like the flawlessly beautiful art deco Copacabana Palace, Rio's oldest luxury hotel overlooking Copacabana Beach. Its impeccable service and lavish facilities — including a Michelin-starred restaurant and a rooftop tennis court — have lured everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Princess Diana since its arrival in 1923. The hotel evokes the grandeur of the early 20th century, with vast chandeliers and copious amounts of marble. Polished Brazilian wood is everywhere, from the grand lobby to the rooms. • Read our full guide to South America £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for A-list nostalgia Perched on a cliff overlooking the popular hilltop Sicilian town of Taormina is the enchanting, peach-exterior San Domenico Palace, the spectacular setting for season two of The White Lotus. Fans will love the ridiculously photogenic, screen-famous pool, sun-drenched terrace and piano bar — all as dreamy in real life as on the HBO show. Set in a former convent, the hotel has welcomed the elite since it opened in 1896, including stars such as Liz Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. It captures everything that has made Sicily a timeless destination, with many of its original features restored during a grand facelift in 2021 when it reopened as a Four Seasons hotel. This includes immersive gardens in the old cloister and a fragrant courtyard. Of the 111 sophisticated rooms, the Princess Cecilie suite is among the most coveted, with its views of Mount Etna. • More of Sicily's best hotels ££ | SPA | Best for stately surroundings Vienna's Hotel Sacher has remained an independent, family-run five-star — and Austrian landmark — since it opened in 1876. It recalls old-world Vienna, with heavy, old-fashioned decor: a wood-panelled jewel box of creams, deep reds, dark greens and vivid blues, embellished with 19th-century paintings, crystal chandeliers and silk damask furnishings. The hotel has been meticulously refurbished several times during its 150-plus years in operation, yet there's a real warmth that's rare in high-end hotels. Expect to see tourists queuing up along the street for a slice of the original Sacher-Torte — invented in 1832 by the father of the hotel's founder, and served at its quintessentially Viennese coffeehouse, Café Sacher. • Best ski resorts in Austria ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for waterside opulence The Taj Lake Palace is a hotel like no other, set inside a former 18th-century white marble palace that floats on a four-acre island in the middle of manmade Lake Pichola in Udaipur. It's a dream to behold, let alone check in to. No matter who you are, all guests are treated like royalty here (expect to be showered with rose petals on arrival). Surrounded by manicured gardens, fountains and landscaped courtyards, there are striking features at every turn, from the weathered carvings of Hindu gods in the sculpture garden to the floating spa, located on a tugboat. The 83 rooms and suites feature a palette of rich reds, greens and golds, Indian textiles, and ornate furnishings. As for food, take your pick from four restaurants including Neel Kamal, serving wood-fired Indian specialities, and rooftop Bhairo, dishing up juicy cuts of steak. Alternatively, a butler can set up a private table at a spot of your choice on the island. The hotel's moment in the limelight came in 1983, when it played a starring role in the James Bond movie Octopussy, as the temptress-in-chief's home. It comes as no surprise that Vivien Leigh, Jackie Kennedy and the late Queen Elizabeth II all stayed here. • Best cities to visit in India Discover more about the world's most famous hotels in Grand Hotels of the World by Ellie Seymour (Luster, £45). To order a copy go to Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ members.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'You''s Madeline Brewer Says Filming 'Intense' Standoff Between Joe and Brontë Was 'Really Traumatizing in a Lot of Ways' (Exclusive)
Madeline Brewer is opening up about her role as one of You's final girls. At the launch celebration for the PEOPLE app, held at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City on Tuesday, April 29, Brewer, 33, broke down the show's dramatic ending. The actress told PEOPLE exclusively, "It was a huge moment and it was really exciting to help land the plane of these five seasons of a show." She continued, "It was intense, but it was really choreographed. It was every moment, down to where little scrapes and things were on us were super choreographed. But really traumatizing in a lot of ways. I talked about this on Penn [Badgley]'s Podcrushed Podcast. Yeah, it was really intense. It was great though." Related: You Season 5 Ending, Explained: Does Joe Get Caught — or Does He Get Away with Murder Again? Brewer stepped into the role of Louise Flannery in the hit Netflix show's buzzy final season. Louise is an English student from Ohio who once worked with TA Guinivere Beck (Elizabeth Lail) at New York University. Beck was the central love interest in You season one, and among the show's serial killer Joe Goldberg's (Penn Badgley) first victims. Upon discovering that Beck's true killer may have gotten away with murder, she adopts the alter-ego of Brontë (named after the famous literary Brontë sisters of Gothic literature) to lure Joe Goldberg to justice after getting a job in his bookstore. The show's final showdown sees Brontë and Joe engaged in a grisly confrontation in the woods near the U.S.-Canadian border, where Brontë enticed him under the guise of fleeing the country together. Throughout the show's five-season run, Joe's character kills off several of his love interests, starting with Beck, and later his wife, Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) along with a number of other characters in their orbit. Related: Penn Badgley Looks Back on Joe's Dark Past and Teases You's 'Killer Finale' in Chilling Season 5 Teaser: 'Goodbye, You' In the end, You's serial killer is caught and brought to justice for his crimes after an international killing spree spanning several years. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Badgley, 38, previously spoke with PEOPLE about saying goodbye to his controversial character. "He's been a profound experience for me. He's not a real person. So what have I been doing? I've been engaging in this ... my entire 30s," Badgley said. "I became a father while I was on this show. I only got married just before I took the role. So I've grown a lot and I've grown with Joe in a strange way," he added. "He's taught me a lot about what it is to be a man by knowing what it is not. And I don't mean the obvious things like, 'Oh, don't murder, that's bad.' That's very clear." Season 5 of You is now streaming on Netflix. Read the original article on People
Khaleej Times
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Lights, camera, vacation: These filming destinations are popular among UAE residents who love to travel
As Eid-Al-Fitr arrives in the country, UAE travelers are turning their cinematic dreams into reality by embarking on journeys to the filming locations of their favourite films and TV series. Expedia's latest data reveals a remarkable surge in travel searches for destinations that have graced the silver screen, with set-jetting becoming the hottest travel trend among UAE residents. From the sun-drenched dunes of Abu Dhabi to the enchanting tulip fields of Amsterdam, travelers are flocking to locations that have played pivotal roles in this year's most celebrated productions. Here's a look at the top trending destinations inspired by the magic of film and television. Abu Dhabi: A sci-fi dream in the desert Abu Dhabi's Liwa Oasis has long been a muse for cinematic grandeur, most recently serving as the otherworldly backdrop for a blockbuster sci-fi epic Dune 2. The desert's golden dunes have drawn an 85% increase in travel searches among tourists and UAE locals, as fans seek to experience the vast landscapes in person. Malta: Walking in the footsteps of 'Gladiators' Best time to visit: April–June or September–October Steeped in history and cinematic spectacle, Malta has seen a 175 per cent rise in travel searches following its feature in a highly anticipated Gladiator sequel. From the grandeur of Fort Ricasoli to the dramatic coastline of Fort Manoel, this Mediterranean gem is a history lover's dream. Amsterdam: A colourful cinematic wonderland Best time to visit: March–May Inspired by the Broadway musical adaptation Wicked, which features a field of tulips, Amsterdam's fields of flowers have drawn much interest this year, with searches climbing 165 per cent. The Amsterdam Tulip Festival in April offers a floral spectacle reminiscent of the film's magical & Vatican City: A tale of power and intrigue Best time to visit: March–May Conclave, the drama of a high-stakes Vatican thriller has reignited fascination with the historic splendour of Rome and Vatican City, with travel searches increasing by 115 per cent. Visitors can witness the real Sistine Chapel, where cinematic storytelling meets timeless artistry. New York City: A folk legend's playground Best time to visit: April–June The electric energy of New York has always been a filmmaker's paradise, but the biopic about a legendary folk musician, A Complete Unknown, has sparked a 70 per cent surge in searches. Wander through Greenwich Village and check into the famed Hotel Chelsea, where artists and writers have long found inspiration. Thailand: Luxe drama in paradise The White Lotus, a comedy-drama set in an opulent Thai resort, has catapulted Thailand to the top of UAE travelers' wish lists, with a staggering 285 per cent increase in searches. Koh Samui's turquoise waters and luxurious hideaways promise an unforgettable getaway.
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
New York's Hotel Chelsea, where rock 'n' roll lore meets luxury for US$600 a night and up
As we checked into what may be New York's most storied hotel – at least to rock 'n' roll fans – I asked for a pamphlet that would point us to where all the history actually took place. Advertisement It is not the Hotel Chelsea's style to spill its secrets, though. Never mind that its old lore is a big reason its new operators are able to charge US$600-plus per night after reopening to the public in late 2022, following a strangely long 11-year rebirth. 'Just walk around the hallways yourselves,' the front-desk rep offered in consolation. 'You'll feel the history.' The clerk probably felt my eyeroll. Soon, though, I would learn there is indeed a 'feeling' at the Chelsea that goes beyond whatever you can read about the hotel, built in 1884 on W. 23rd Street between Midtown and Lower Manhattan. The Hotel Chelsea in 1947. It has stood at 222 W. 23rd Street, New York since its completion in 1884. Photo: Museum of the City ofReading about it is what brought us there.
