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Check-In to History

Updated: Apr 19

More than just a place to rest your head, these hotels are time-tested cultural institutions that have become a part of the fabric of the cities and landscapes they inhabit. They’ve welcomed the world’s most discerning travelers and set the tone for what unforgettable hospitality, design, and ambiance really mean.


The roundup can go on, but for now, here's what's on the bucket list:


Canyon Point, Utah

  • Blended into over 900 acres of striking red-rock country, Amangiri and its tented retreat, Camp Sarika, offer a sanctuary of calm beneath the sweeping canyons of Utah. With just 34 minimalist suites, signature Aman Spa, stunning desert-view pool, lounge, and restaurants, this remote hideaway is an unmatched base for exploration and wellness in the American Southwest.



Versailles, France

  • Nestled within the grounds of the Chateau de Versailles and offering a spectacular view over the parterre of the Orangerie and the Piece d'Eau des Suisses, Le Grand Controle hotel invites you to the Age of Enlightenment. A stunning house situated just a stone's throw from Versailles' famous Hall of Mirrors and quintessentially French gardens. Le Grand Controle is a true gem featuring 14 rooms and apartments, a signature Alain Ducasse restaurant, bar, wellness center, and indoor swimming pool.



Walland, Tennessee

  • Deep in Tennessee, this traditional farm is a chance to return to nature and rediscover life's simple pleasures. Being a part of the 700 hectares of land is set aside for farming ensures a steady flow of deliciously fresh produce all year round. Cheese, vegetables, herbs, honey, cider and much more are all produced right on the farm. Blackberry Farm's team of Chefs has established ties with local gardeners and tradespeople to offer a menu that respects the authenticity of the flavors and the integrity of the products. The result is simple and delicious recipes accompanied by excellent wines. As well as doing a spot of gardening and cheese making, you can become involved in life at the farm. Alternatively, you can just go fly-fishing, explore the region on a Harley-Davidson or by horse-drawn carriage, or try the variety of wellness treatments at the spa and wellness center.



Palm Beach, Florida

  • A crown jewel of Palm Beach since 1947, The Colony is more than a hotel—it’s a social institution dressed in pink. Freshly reimagined without losing its signature sass, this storied hideaway pairs old-school glamour with modern comfort. Just steps from the Atlantic and perched at the top of Worth Avenue, The Colony remains the town’s undisputed style setter. Its poolside terrace hums all day with sun-kissed breakfasts and golden-hour cocktails. The Colony doesn’t follow the scene. It is the scene.



Florence, Italy

  • The Four Seasons hotel Florence is a private enclave in a frescoed Medici-era palazzo and restored convent that is only minutes from Michelangelo's David. Guest rooms are located in the Palazzo Scala della Gherardesca and the conventino, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. This is the only hotel in the heart of Florence with an on-site spa and the property offers elegant, art-filled surroundings and impeccable service, making every stay memorable.



Chiang Mai, Thailand

  • The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai is located in the beautiful Mae Rim Valley just outside the artistic and cultural centre of Chiang Mai. Designed to recreate a traditional Thai lanna-village the resort sits against a backdrop of majestic mountains on 20 acres of tropical gardens, lakes, lily ponds, and terraced rice paddies. Guests are welcomed with a jasmine garland and refreshing cold or hot towels, and a tropical fruit drink. All accommodations include a covered outdoor veranda with a Thai-style daybed and chairs for reading and relaxation, as well as a dining table and chairs.



Gstaad, Switzerland

  • Over the years, the Gstaad Palace has earned an unrivaled reputation for discreet, refined hospitality and has always welcomed the most discerning international clientele. Set on a hill overlooking Gstaad, the resort is privileged to offer a breathtaking view of the majestic Swiss Alps. The 100 tastefully decorated rooms include 26 junior suites and suites, and the luxurious and sophisticated three-bedroom Penthouse Suite. The Gstaad Palace offers gourmet dining, live entertainment, and dancing at the famous GreenGo nightclub. A wide variety of activities are available near the hotel, such as golf, heli-skiing, and hot-air ballooning.



Rome, Italy

  • Sitting atop the famed Spanish Steps with the glory of ancient Rome below it, the Hassler Roma artfully blends Swiss elegance and service with the best of warm Italian hospitality. The Hassler Roma has 70 rooms and 21 suites overlooking Piazza di Spagna, the Spanish Steps, and Villa Borghese gardens, offering a unique panoramic view over the Eternal City. Each elegant room is a gem filled with art masterpieces and beautiful furniture. Venetian lamps and chandeliers from the island of Murano lend a romantic glow, and splendid tapestries, mosaics, and frescoes provide extraordinary decorative accents. Imago, the Michelin-starred panoramic restaurant, delights guests with breathtaking views over the Eternal City and a creative Mediterranean menu. The Hassler Bistro at Palm Court is a green oasis in the heart of the hotel, a relaxing space ideal for light meals and cocktails during the warmer seasons, while the Hassler Bistro at Salon Eva and the famous Hassler Bar offer light meals, tea, and evening drinks during Fall and Winter.



Perugia, Italy

  • Elegance, rustic charm, and a dash of romance welcome guests to Castello di Reschio in the hills of Tuscany. This exclusive estate, located on 3850 acres of the Umbrian wilderness, is a blend of beguiling history and contemporary luxury, complete with rolling hills, scented olive groves, vineyards, and a private lake. The 1000-year-old castle has been meticulously restored and styled to perfection. Spend days exploring beautiful grounds, finding shade under the Cypress trees, or lazing by the pool with a good book. The estate has been designed for peace and total relaxation, but it also offers heart-racing experiences for those who like to get active. Head for the hills with your hiking boots, on a mountain bike, or on the back of an Andalusian horse. If wellness is more your speed, experience the ethereal bathhouse and relax by the blazing fire with the scent of essential oils.



Antibes, France

  • Gracing the southern tip of the Cap d'Antibes, the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc belongs to those iconic establishments where time seems to stand still amidst the rustle of the Aleppo pines behind. For the past one hundred years, this elegant Napoleon III hotel first welcomed artists and writers and then later Europe's elite and aristocracy. Nowadays, the property has become a confidential sanctuary for movie stars and discerning travelers, especially during the Cannes Film Festival. A true garden of Eden where privacy, luxury, and charm are intertwined.



Marrakech, Morocco

  • A stay at La Mamounia is a visual experience with plays of light between indoor and outdoor spaces and beautifully contrasting colors, such as the zellige tilework in Majorelle blue, green, and orange. It is also a tactile experience with the flowing lines of arabesque sculptures, the textured and velvety smooth fabrics, and the gentle warmth of wood, as well as the subtly enchanting presence of water in the hotel's fountains and ponds. The hotel also offers delights for the nose with fragrances of jasmine, orange blossom, cedar, and powerful leather. Last but not least there are delicacies for the palate such as almond milk and dates, which are served to welcome guests to the hotel in keeping with the Moroccan tradition of hospitality. A powerful experience for all the senses.



Paris, France

  • The Ritz Paris is not just a hotel; it's an icon of Parisian elegance and timeless luxury. Nestled in the prestigious Place Vendôme, in the heart of Paris’s 1st arrondissement, the Ritz embodies the grandeur and romance of the city. Founded by César Ritz in 1898, it has long been a favorite of royalty, celebrities, and literary legends — think Coco Chanel (who lived there for decades), Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Princess Diana. The hotel underwent an extensive four-year renovation and reopened in 2016, seamlessly blending its storied past with modern comforts. Step inside, and you’re greeted by opulent interiors: glittering chandeliers, gilded moldings, marble fireplaces, and lavish floral arrangements that change with the seasons. The guest rooms and suites feel like private Parisian apartments, many overlooking the charming rooftops or the tranquil hotel gardens. The Ritz is also home to world-class dining — including the two-Michelin-starred La Table de L’Espadon, and the legendary Bar Hemingway, a cozy, intimate spot known for its cocktails (especially the clean, perfect martini). The hotel also boasts the famous Ritz Club & Spa, complete with its jewel-toned indoor pool, one of the most beautiful in Paris. In short: the Ritz Paris is where Old World glamour meets impeccable contemporary service — a true Parisian palace hotel, synonymous with romance, refinement, and unforgettable experiences.



Santa Barbara, California

  • Nestled in the Montecito foothills of Southern California's wine country, San Ysidro Ranch has provided a tranquil vacation destination for discriminating travelers for over a century. Guests are drawn to the Santa Barbara hideaway for its blend of natural beauty, romantic heritage, and classic luxury. Myth and history mingle in the lush gardens where Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier exchanged vows, in the setting of John and Jackie Kennedy's honeymoon retreat. Located just south of Santa Barbara in the exclusive enclave of Montecito, on over 500 rolling acres of unspoiled coastal landscape. From its site in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Ranch overlooks the Channel Islands and offers dazzling panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean as well as a terrific base point for exploring the coastal Californian region. With its idyllic climate and deep embrace of the outdoors, San Ysidro Ranch is the perfect place to indulge the senses and invigorate the soul. Forty-one individually decorated private cottages and suites wind along San Ysidro's hillside creek- and tree-lined paths. Built in classic bungalow style, all offer plush king-size beds with fine linens, fireplaces, and patios.



Singapore

  • Home to the legendary Raffles Butlers and the Singapore Sling, this is the original Raffles hotel, opened in 1887. The hotel was designated as a national monument in 1987. Perhaps the single most enduring and alluring element of Raffles Hotels' style is its architecture, an arrangement of low-rise verandas, enclosed colonial-style buildings, painted white with terracotta pitched roofs set amidst courtyards and gardens. The contrast between the lush and tropical gardens and turn-of-the-century colonial architecture has rarely failed to generate an appreciative response. The second key element of Raffles style was the making of myth and legend. As many people traveled the world for pleasure, Raffles Hotel became one of the rites of passage of world travelers, and "see you at Raffles soon" became a signature parting shot. The third element of Raffles' style is a quintessentially Singapore blend of old and new (East and West) heritage and high tech. The hotel is now infused with life in a manner that honors its past and traditions as much as it suits the present. The quality of timelessness is evident throughout the hotel: in the lush gardens, generously appointed and spacious suites, the fine restaurants, the famous Long Bar, the shady verandas, the polished timber floors, and the whirring ceiling fans. The fourth and final element that composes the Raffles style is the personalized service provided by discreet and well-trained staff, adding to the unique and truly memorable Raffles Experience, where residents are pampered in an atmosphere of privacy and intimacy.



St James, Barbados

  • Elegant and exceptional, Sandy Lane is set in an ancient mahogany grove overlooking a 1000-foot crescent of gorgeous white sand beach. Whether you seek an idyllic escape basking in the warm Caribbean sunshine, or an invigorating activity, Sandy Lane will cater to your every desire. With luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, 45 holes of championship golf, a magnificent spa, floodlit tennis courses, and an exciting program for children, the exceptional staff will anticipate your needs and surpass expectations.





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