Where is the nicest hotel that you ever went to in your lifetime?

I want to vacation somewhere sometime later this year, but I am not sure where I want to go yet.  I need some ideas.

Hmmm, I stayed in a hotel in Chicago right next to the House of Blues. I went there for a Kenny Wayne Sheperd (I think that's how you spell his name!)  concert. For the life of me I can't remember what the hotel's name was. But the rooms were beautiful and had a very current style, and most importantly, it didn't smell like a hotel room! Just a nice fresh, clean smell. Not the typical "aroma" of bleach and shame!

lamallcool:

I don't remember the name of it but it was on the Island of Capri, Italy and was in the late '80s, and was a very elegant place! 

Westin Grand Cape Town

It's funny - I only look to hotels as places to sleep.  I spend about 250 days a year in hotels - read:  I am never really home.  They all blend in together after a while and really mean nothing to me.  

When I travel to exotic places, sometimes the nicest places I have ever stayed are not necessarialy the nicest but the host makes the whole difference.  Not to mention the atmosphere of the town;  I completely eschew all-inclusive crappy all-you-can-eat resorts and fat-ass adventure "travel".  

I was in a remote area and found a small "hotel hostel" run by an expat Texan and his wonderful wife.  They made me feel so welcome I stayed an extra three days just because.  I will always remember that place.  After being on the road for three months straight it actually felt like I was home.  

I have been to many nice hotels in my lifetime, but my favorites are usually historic hotels from the art deco period.  My favorite is probably the Waldorf Astoria Casa Marina in Key West:

JK

It has been more than twenty years since I was last there, but the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs comes to mind...

Royal Caribbea: Vision of the Seas - a floating hotel going from Vancouver to Alaska - awesome

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?shipClassCode=VI&shipCode=VI&br=R

I love the American Southwest. Northern California is nice, too. Lots of cool places in New Mexico and Colorado.

When I lived in West Texas, our vacation destination of choice was Fort Davis and then down to Big Bend National and State parks. Fort Davis has the old fort you can visit and learn interesting things like the US Calvary tried out camels in the desert. You keep thinking an Indian will be hiding behind the rocks on the mountains because it looks so much like the TV westerns. There is an observatory nearby and well, it's beautiful there and fun to bbq, etc. At Big Bend we bbqed right on the Rio Grande banks, looking straight across at the 8,000 ft wall of rock called the Sierra Del Carmen of Old Mexico. Down there it was a dry 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Up in the Chiso Mountain Basin, just a drive up in your car to about 10,000 ft, it was 85 degrees.

In Fort Davis, we loved the Limpia Hotel. I felt like Miss Kitty and Festus were going to walk in any minute with Marshal Dillon. The wrap around covered porch is mighty nice to sit and have your morning coffee with a friend or mate. There are gift shops and a hotel. Then Big Bend is nice to see, too. It's not my favorite place to go, but it's in the top of the list:

http://www.hotellimpia.com/

This hotel in Florida called the Marriot beach place palace it was nice located in Fort Launderale Florida.

The Club Quarters in S.F.

I use the public rooms and shops at the legendary NY hotels-the Pierre, Plaza, Waldorf-Astoria, and Carlyle. 

My favorite hotel in NY is the W Hotel at 14th St. approimately. It is a boutique European hotel. The luxury was relaxed. Those elite hotels seem frozen. It was a completely different hotel experience than I ever had. The restaurant, Olives, is so special. Drinks are expensive. Fifteen to twenty but they are worth every penny.

It does not draw a Midwest tourist crowd. Many Europeans use it. It is extremely popular with locals. Dogs are very welcome. They are greeted with great flair at registration. It was hard to believe my eyes. They had special treat packages. The concierge is a true concierge. Besides Broadway and the traditional stuff, they can hook you into the downtown arts scene.

The problem I see with fancy, expensive hotels in world cities such as NY and London is that I am not there for recreation. My goal is adventure. I'd rather spend the money on someting else. Hanging around a room in NY seems idiotic. 

On the less luxurious end, I found a clean, decent, safe hotel at very low rates in the Museum of Natural History area on the Upper West Side. It was functional. I walked around Central Park in the evening. No hotel can beat Central Park. I don't know the name off hand but I can find it with a google search.  The place is cheaper than those slick, nauseating motels in NJ. One of the best neighborhoods. No bad areas.

The George Hotel Edinburgh. Brittish Telecoms were paying - or Post Office Telecommunications as they were known in the good old days.

I stayed at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City ,,, none better.

http://www.fairmont.com/frontenac

And for all-inclusive resorts,,, Hedonism in Negril, Jamaica.  Let me see what it's called now ...

http://www.superclubs.com/

w00t!  I would go for the all-inclusive, if you just want to veg and RELAX .... you can also take day tours to tourist sites, or just take a taxi into 'town' (Negril) if you want to shop for some awesome local carvings or clothing.

I love vaca!  Enjoy!

xo

tal

PS.. The all-inclusive means everything ---- food, sailing lessons, horseback riding, cigs, alcohol,,,, you only pay if you leave the resort for a day trip,, it's like a cruise ship... just sayin',, so you know.

have a great time, whatever you do,,, Iam!

Also, I went to Vegas,,,, it is cheap, and OMG,, the FOOD,,,, and the shows --- that is the place to go if you want to see live entertainment, and I'm not talking strippers!

xo

tal

Fairmont in Monte Carlo during the 2007 F1 Grand Prix...The Fairmont's main entrance is at the bend of the famos hairpin turn.  Watched the race from the rooftop terrace...

Watched the race from the rooftop terrace...

That must have been a fantasic experience.