From Wikitravel

This article is a travel topic.

In many cities, there is an old hotel, often something built during Queen Victoria's reign, with an interesting history.

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 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 traveller with piles of money might consider a round the world flight staying in many of these hotels.

Contents 1 Asia 1.1 East Asia 1.2 Middle East 1.3 South Asia 1.4 South-East Asia 2 Africa 3 Europe 4 North America 4.1 United States 4.2 Canada 4.3 Mexico 5 South America 5.1 Argentina

Asia

East Asia

• Hong Kong, China — The Peninsula [1], Kowloon side at the foot of Nathan Road
• Shanghai, China — The Peace Hotel [2]
• Tokyo, Japan — The Imperial Hotel [3]
• Taipei, Taiwan — The Grand [4]

Middle East

• Jerusalem, Israel — American Colony Hotel [5]

South Asia

• Calcutta, India — Fairlawn Hotel [6]
• Kandy, Sri Lanka — The Queen's Hotel

South-East Asia

Many of South-East 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 [7]
• Surabaya, Indonesia — Majapahit Mandarin Oriental
• Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) — The Strand

Of course, there are some other very classy options as well.

• Bangkok, Thailand — The Oriental [8]
• Manila, Philippines — The Manila Hotel [9]
• Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Cambodia — Grand Hotel d'Angkor

Africa

• Alexandria, Egypt — Cecil Sofitel [10]
• Alexandria, Egypt — Metropole
• Aswan, Egypt — Old-Cataract Hotel [11]
• Bamburi Beach, Kenya — Whitesands [12]
• Cairo, Egypt — Cosmopolitan Hotel
• Cairo, Egypt — Marriott Hotel [13], originally the "Al Gezira Palace" built to house Napoleon's wife, Empress Eugenie of France
• Essaouira, Morocco — Villa Maroc [14]
• Fez, Morocco — Palais Jamai [15]
• Giza, Egypt — Mena House Oberoi [16]
• Kericho, Kenya — Tea Hotel
• Luxor, Egypt — Old Winter Palace [17]
• Marrakech, Morocco — La Mamounia [18]
• Nairobi, Kenya — Giraffe Manor [19]
• Nairobi, Kenya — Norfolk Hotel [20]
• Tangier, Morocco — Continental
• Tinghir, Morocco — Tomboctou [21]
• Zagora, Morocco — Dar el Hiba [22]

Europe

• Amsterdam, Netherlands — Amstel Hotel [23]
• Berlin, Germany — Hotel Adlon [24]
• Budapest, Hungary — Hotel Gellért [25]
• Hamburg, Germany — Hotel Atlantic [26]
• Helsinki, Finland — Kämp [27]
• London, UK — Savoy Hotel [28]
• Moscow, Russia — Hotel Ukraina [29]
• Munich, Germany — Bayerischer Hof [30]
• Paris, France — Hôtel Ritz [31]
• Valletta, Malta — The Phoenicia [32]
• Vienna, Austria — Hotel Imperial [33]
• Zurich, Switzerland — Hotel Widder [34]

North America

United States

• Mackinac Island, Michigan — The Grand Hotel [35]
• Cincinnati, Ohio — The Cincinnatian [36]
• Yosemite National Park — The Ahwahnee Hotel [37]
• San Diego, California — The Hotel Del Coronado [38]

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 [39]
• Calgary — The Palliser Hotel [40]
• Edmonton — The Hotel MacDonald [41]
• Lake Louise — The Chateau Lake Louise [42]
• Ottawa — The Chateau Laurier [43]
• Quebec — The Chateau Frontenac [44]
• Saskatoon — The Bessborough Hotel [45]
• Toronto — The Royal York [46]
• Vancouver — The Hotel Vancouver [47]
• Victoria — The Empress Hotel [48]
• Winnipeg — The Hotel Fort Garry [49]

Mexico

• Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Hacienda Chichen Resort and Spa[50]

South America

Argentina

• Buenos Aires — Hotel Alvear Palace [51]