Pera Palace Hotel, Agatha Christie rooms and Hemingway suites

The Pera Palace Hotel is one of Istanbul’s most famed and historic hotels, dating back from the times of the Turkish Empire. This centric hotel dates from 1892, when it was built for passengers of the Orient Express.

History.

This special category hotel can be considered as a museum hotel. The hotel is located in the Beyoglu district, a centric historical neighbourhood of the city, and is the oldest European hotel in the country.

The hotel has art nouveau elements with a touch of neoclassical and oriental style. The hotel officially opened in 1895. During many years, guests who arrived at the city by the Orient Express stayed at this hotel, and because of this the logo of the hotel is the same as the one of the Orient Express.

During the last century the hotel has lived through the fall of the Ottoman Empire and two World Wars. During the First World War the hotel was used as the main headquarters by the occupying forces. This building was the first building to have electricity, which was only used in palaces at the time.

Rooms and Prices.

The hotel has 99 rooms and 16 suites. All rooms are double rooms with a spacious bathroom. The rooms have been renovated maintaining the same style they had all those decades ago when both royalty and celebrities stayed here.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of Turkey, stayed in Room 101. In 1981, to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of his birth, the rooms was converted into the Atatürk museum, where visitors will find authentic antiques dating from 1917 and personal amenities that belonged to the man who founded the Republic of Turkey. The room is painted in a light sunrise pink, his favourite colour, and is decorated with ancient Turkish and international books of great value and collections of magazines, post cards, medals and other antiques.

Other historical figures who at some point stayed at this hotel are King George V, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Zar Nicholas II and the Austro Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph, and many others. Even personalities such as Great Garbo, Rita Hayworth, Jacqueline Kennedy and Zsa Zsa Gabor enjoyed a stay at this hotel.

The Deluxe Pera View rooms have views towards the famous Petits Champs street. These rooms can have either a kingsize bed or two large individual beds, and the bathrooms have either a bathtub or a shower. Some of the rooms have their own French balcony. Each room is decorated with crystal ornaments and has a lot of natural light. Price is around 155€ per night.

The Deluxe Golden Horn View rooms have views towards the Golden Horn. The bathrooms are made of marble and most rooms have a private French balcony. Price is 195€ per night.

The Grand Pera Studios have views towards one of the city’s main streets, Les Petits Champs. Guests will be able to enjoy views towards the centre of the city, which has many buildings and historical monuments, from the large sofas in their living rooms. The room is connected to the bathroom, which has both a bathtub and a shower.

Room 411 is known as Agatha Christie’s room. The Queen of Crime stayed in this particular room several times between 1926 and 1932. Several urban legends claim that this hotel was the place she spent the 11 days she was missing, and half a century after that incident a key to one of her still missing diaries was found in this room. This rooms is one of the most booked rooms at the hotel, and guests will have to book in advance if they want to stay at the place where she wrote Murder on the Orient Express.

The six Greta Garbo rooms are 50 square metres each, and have small French balconies with views towards the Petits Champs. The Swedish actress stayed in these six rooms. Price starts from 270€ per night.

The Pera Palace Special Suites are decorated with paintings, antique furniture and designer carpets. The large marble bathrooms have a bathtub and a shower. Most suites have French balconies, and each suite is named in honour of an historical figure who stayed at that room. Price varies according to the suite, with the minimum price being around 445€ per night.

Five suites are known as the Ernest Hemingway suites. The writer stayed here in 1922. The 55 square metre suites have a bedroom, a bathroom, a closet, a living rooms and a French balcony.

The Pierre Loti suites were some of the French writer’s favourite places. The suites are located on the corners of the building and have different views. The suites have a bedroom, a bathroom and a living room.

Suite 201, the Ismet İnönü suite, and Suite 301, the Celal Bayar suite, are senior suites named in honour of the second and third presidents of the Republic of Turkey. These suites have large balconies with views towards the Golden Horn. Each suite has a large bedroom with a marble bathroom and a separate working area.

The Piano suite is located on the sixth floor and has views towards the bay. The suite is decorated in an Art Déco style, and has a large bedroom, a bathroom and a living area.

The Presidential suites at the hotel are known as the King Edward VIII suite and the Franz Joseph suite. These suites are located on the fourth and fifth floors of the hotel. Each suite has 155 square metres, with a bedroom, a closet, a large living room area, a dining room, an office and two bathrooms.

Interior décor.

The reception, hallways and rooms at the hotel are covered in white marble and are decorated with Murano glass chandeliers that hang from the ceilings. New technologies have been integrated without disrupting the design.

The hotel has conserved its XIXth century style, and little has changed in its décor. The elevator has been renovated conserving the same structure that the first elevator installed at this hotel had.

Bar and Restaurant.

The hotel’s restaurant, Agatha, combines the traditional cuisines of the three cities where the Orient Express stopped, Istanbul, Paris and Venice. Guests will be able to savour dishes from the French, Italian and Turkish cuisines. The restaurant has an open kitchen and its own wine cellar.

The Orient Bar remains one of the city’s most trendy bars. Many historical figures and celebrities have enjoyed a night out at this bar, which is known for its Oriental décor and its cocktail and wine list.

Events.

The Kubbeli Tea Room Saloon can be rented for private events. This room has high ceilings, large windows and a piano. Many guests come to this tea room during tea time, and live music is played during the afternoons.

Pâtisserie.

The hotel has an historical bakery, the Pâtisserie de Pera. This pâtisserie serves fresh croissants and ground coffee. Guests and visitors will be able to enjoy home-made cakes, chocolates and pies from both France and Turkey.

Spa.

The hotel has a 380 square metre spa where guests will be able to enjoy traditional Turkish baths. The spa has a gym, a swimming pool, several saunas and Turkish baths, and there are massage rooms.

Conference Rooms.

There are several renovated conference rooms which combine design and technology. The conference rooms have high ceilings and plenty of natural light. Some of the rooms can be divided into smaller rooms.

Location.

The hotel has views towards the Golden Horn, an estuary that divides the city, and part of the peninsula. The hotel is located in one of the city’s oldest districts, where people of European descent used to live, which explains why the area is known as Little Europe. Nowadays the neighbourhood is one of the most visited places in the city, and has many bars, restaurants and a variety of museums.

The hotel is located a short distance away from the main streets and main squares, such as Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square. There are many shopping centres, open air markets selling carpets, jewellery and spices, and traditional restaurants nearby.

Cube Hotel Savognin, a colourful cube near the ski slopes

The Cube Hotel is located in three different cities in Austria and Switzerland. One of these hotels is located in Savognin, near the mountains and several ski resorts.

The Hotel.

From the outside the hotel looks like the product of a giant disco ball and a huge sugar cube. The Savognin Hotel has a large lounge area, its own spa, a bar and a grill restaurant.

Rooms and Prices.

Each one of the 76 rooms has a special area right near the entrance where guests can leave their skiing gear. The bed linen and pillows are hypoallergenic. All rooms in this cube shaped hotel have a functional design, a bedroom with a flat screen television set, a safe, luggage storage space and a bathroom with a hair dryer.

There are quadruple rooms designed for families. The Cube Suites are even more spacious, with a kingsize bed, a bathroom with a separate bathtub and shower and a living room with a sofa bed. Price is 129€ per night for a double room, and the price includes a ski pass.

Extra Services.

The room key does not only open the door to each guest’s room, but can be used to access some of the ski slopes. All Cube hotels are located near the ski lifts and the skiing resorts. Some of the extra services offered by the hotel are a late breakfast option which allows guests to enjoy breakfast in their rooms until three in the afternoon, and a late dinner at the buffet which lasts until ten in the evening. On the day of arrival and departure guests can use the changing rooms and the showers in the lobby, and there is a luggage room for those who want to enjoy their last hours on the slopes before leaving.

All the floors at the hotel are connected between them by special ramps that allow guests to carry their ski gear without much effort. The hotel has an advanced climate control system that makes sure that the ski gear and ski clothes dry in the least possible time without damaging the material.

The cubes are made from steel and glass. As soon as it gets dark the façade of each cube illuminates in a different colour. All cubes are connected by colourful hallways, and the common areas are located in these hallways. The common rooms have glass floors that light up and fireplaces, leather armchairs and sofas where guests can relax.

On the ground floor of the hotel guests will find the spa, several saunas, steam rooms, a gym and massage areas. One of the hotel’s largest common rooms has a climbing wall.

Restaurants.

In the basement guests will find the Cube Club, a disco bar where parties are organized every night. On the ground floor there is a terrace. The hotel has a buffet restaurant where guests will find a wide range of regional and international dishes. The snack bar is open 24 hours a day. The Cube Grill is an upscale restaurant where gourmet guests will be able to savour traditional dishes with views towards the mountains. The restaurant offers international cuisine and has a large wine list.

Conference Halls.

There are several conference halls at the hotels, and all can be rented for events and presentations. These conference rooms are equipped with modern audiovisual technologies, have natural light and are located near the reception. The maximum capacity is around 140 people. The bars and restaurants can be rented for larger events of up to 600 people. The hotel organizes all kinds of corporate and private events and can find the appropriate catering and decoration services.

Location.

The hotel is located in Savognin, in the Swiss canton of Grisones, and offers many activities for guests. Guests will be able to enjoy the many ski slopes located right outside the hotel, and practice sports such as ski, snowboard and snowmobiles. All skiing gear can be rented at the hotel. Other activities such as riding snowbikes, practising airboard and skifox are offered. Those who enjoy hikes and long walks in the mountains will find guide books in the lobby, and during the summer months guests can bathe in the Barnagn Lake.

A hotel in a barn in the Alps

Hotel L’Ecurie is located in Morzine, in France. The hotel is in a small Alpine city, right next to several skiing resorts, and has views towards the snow capped mountains.

History.

The hotel is located in what used to be an ancient granary that was later on transformed into a stable, which in turn was remodelled into two Alpine chalets. The granary dates from 1861, and 140 years on it became two separate chalets catering for 12 or 16 people each. The chalets have the same structure as the granary, with high pine ceilings and stone walls. The granary’s décor combines traditional Alpine ornaments with an historical setting.

Rooms, or Chalets.

These two chalets have six double rooms with a private bathroom, and most have a Jacuzzi. There is a family sized duplex which can accommodate up to four people, and there are three triple rooms. Three rooms have a balcony with views towards the mountains.

Price per week changes depending on the season. Price is usually between 600 and 700€ per week for two adults sharing a room, with an extra charge between 300 and 400€ per child per week.

Common Areas.

The common rooms have fireplaces, television sets and a collection of fiction and non fiction books. The hotel has a restaurant with several large oak tables where guests can enjoy international cuisine and a glass of champagne. The common room and the dining hall have windows that occupy a whole wall and have mountain views. There is a play room designed for children with many children’s books, films and toys.

Skiing.

The ancient granary has been renovated, creating a two chalet complex located only one minute away from the ski slopes and the Morzine cable car. The closeness of the hotel to the ski resort has converted the place into an accommodation option frequented by those who enjoy winter sports such as skiing. Near the reception area guests will find a large storage room where they can leave their skiing gear after a day on the slopes, and skis and ski boots can be rented near the lobby. The hotel can organize skiing lessons for individuals and groups, both for those at the beginner level and for those who have skied before.

Location and Services.

The hotel is located only an hour away from Geneva. The hotel can recommend ski monitors and babysitters for guests with children, and there is a sauna and a jacuzzi on one of the hotel’s floors. In the garden guests will find a large heated jacuzzi for six people.

Morzine is located in France, in the Porte du Soleil region, known for its hundreds of kilometres of slopes. The region has views towards the mountains. A couple of minutes away guests will find the historical centre of the town, with wide streets full of bars, restaurants and all kinds of shops.

MyHotel Chelsea, a boutique hotel and hot water bottles

MyHotel Chelsea is a fashionable hotel located in Chelsea, London, in the United Kingdom. The boutique hotel is near many of the world’s best known restaurants and shops, and is known for its attention to detail.

Features.

During the cold winter months the hotel provides guests with furry hot water bottles to keep them warm during the snowy season. Each room comes with a hot water bottle for each guest, and each hot water bottle is covered in a furry sleeve. These sleeves are washed every day, allowing guests to enjoy a cozy night in.

Building.

The hotel is located inside a Victorian era building. Years ago, this five storey building used to be a local Police department, until the James Soane from Project Orange decided to turn it into a modern boutique hotel.

Rooms and Prices.

There are several types of rooms. All rooms have a television set, a safe, a working desk and Internet access. The bathrooms have heated towel bars and BeeKind amenities, bath products made with honey and other ecological ingredients.

The Standard Single rooms are the smallest rooms at the hotel and have a bathroom with a shower. These rooms have an individual bed and cost around 105€ per night.

The Standard Double rooms are larger rooms with a double bed and bathroom with a separate shower. These rooms are decorated in pastel colours and cost 140€ per night.

The Superior Double rooms are spacious rooms with a separate working area with views, and bathrobes and slippers are provided for guests. Price is around 176€ per night.

The Studio Queen rooms are large studios with a queensize bed and a working area. There are bathrobes and bedroom slippers for each guest. The Studio King rooms are larger rooms with a kingsize bed and a matching bathroom with bathrobes and slippers for guests. This studio has a separate living room area with sofas. Both studios cost 282€ per night.

The Thai Suite is the hotel’s largest accommodation quarters, and has an oriental décor and statues of Buddha. All suites of this type have a large bathroom with a double sink and a separate jacuzzi and shower. There are special make up and shaving mirrors. These suites have a kitchenette and views towards the gardens.

Restaurant.

This hotel has a restaurant which follows the hotel’s philosophy. The restaurant can change its lightning, its colour and its music depending on the time of day. There is a breakfast buffet and snacks are served around midday. All meals are made from fresh produce. Guests will be able to savour desserts such as strawberries in chocolate and chocolate mousse. During the Christmas holidays Christmas puddings and other typical winter recipes are served.

Conference Halls.

There are several conference rooms at the hotel. All halls are spacious and have plenty of natural sunlight and modern decorations. There is Internet access, telephones and audiovisual technologies available at all halls. These meeting spaces can be used for both formal and informal events.

The Sage Hall has crystal decorations and fresh flowers. This room has a chic décor and natural sunlight. The meeting space is versatile and can host both meetings that require a theatre seating and larger stand up events such as cocktails.

The Lavender Hall is more spacious, with windows that cover one whole wall. This room has access to a private patio decorated with flowers, a fountain and many different plants.

The Conservatory Hall is a grand ballroom with a lot of natural light. This hall is used for large events such as corporate events and cocktails.

Gym and Spa.

The hotel is located in one of London’s most chic neighbourhoods, and has its own gym and spa. There are several beauty salons, such as the Jinja room where guests can enjoy traditional oriental skin treatments. The gym, called the Energy Zone, has several cardiovascular machines, weights and an exercise room.

Library.

Guests will be able to relax in the hotel’s library. The library has a large collection of classic literature and press. During the evenings tea is offered at the library.

Location.

The hotel is located in the centric neighbourhood of Chelsea. There are many boutique shops and haute cuisine restaurants a few steps away, and guests will be able to visit many historical landmarks, such as Oscar Wilde’s house. The Thames flows near the hotel and guests will be able to enjoy long walks along its banks, filled with bars, shops and monuments.

Three Ways House, a hotel all about puddings

The Three Ways House Hotel is located in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, in England. This hotel is part of a select club of those who enjoy pudding, and all rooms are pudding themed and cater for those with a sweet tooth.

Pudding Club.

The hotel has close ties with the Pudding Club, an association of people who enjoy traditional puddings. All the hotel’s decorations feature elements that have to do with puddings. Many of the Pudding Club’s meetings take place at this hotel, and for less than 40€ guests will be able to enjoy a pudding tasting party. The Club sells many souvenirs such as teddy bears, recipe books and large mugs with the club’s logo.

Rooms.

The hotel has 48 rooms. All rooms are double rooms with a bathroom. Each room has an individual décor, and the largest rooms are decorated according to a pudding theme. All rooms have coffee and tea making machines, a television set and WiFi access. There is a spacious bathroom with either a bathtub or a shower in each room.

The Standard and Superior rooms are located in the main building. Each room has a double bed, a bathroom and an individual décor. The Superior rooms are larger than the Standard rooms, and have a CD collection, a larger television screen, bathrobes and a wider range of bathroom amenities.

There are several rooms adapted for people with mobility difficulties that are located on the first floor of the hotel. Some of these rooms are larger family rooms which have space for extra beds.

The hotel was founded in 1985 by the Pudding Club, whose main objective was to maintain the historical importance of traditional puddings. There are seven pudding themed rooms, known as the Pudding Club rooms. All seven rooms are located in the Garden Wing of the hotel.

The Sticky Toffee Room is decorated in caramel colours and has a large mural representing a desert. Lord Randalls is a chic room covered with red velvet. The Spotted Dick and Custard Room, named after the dessert, is decorated in a pale lemon colour and has a mural with dalmatians. The Syrup Sponge room is decorated with golden silks. Oriental Ginger is a room designed in shades of orange with a dragon mural covering one wall and a pudding recipe on the door. The Summer Pudding room looks like a large colourful cake, with lavender walls and flowers. The Chocolate Suite, decorated in chocolate colours, comes with bathroom amenities that include chocolate shampoo, chocolate bath foam and chocolate sweets elaborated with fair trade cocoa.

Restaurant.

The hotel has a restaurant which specializes in all kinds of puddings, such as the traditional meat based Yorkshire pudding and the internationally known chocolate pudding. Randalls Bar and Brasserie is a more informal dining place with a bar.

Events.

The hotel can organize conferences and events. The conference halls at the hotel are spacious and have a lot of natural light. Either before or after a meeting all team members will be able to enjoy a delicious local meal. The recently renovated Hidcote Suite is located on the first floor of the hotel and is equipped with ergonomic chairs designed to provide more comfort during the conference hours. The Terrace Suite is the largest conference hall, and has a modern décor and a private terrace, and is capable of accommodating up to forty people.

Location.

The Cotswolds region is known for its natural landmarks. The hotel organizes hikes and guided walking tours around the region. Only a ten minute drive away guests will find the town of Stratford Upon Avon, William Shakespeare’s birthplace. Other nearby historic places are the towns of Broadway and Chipping Campden.

Rustic hotel in a Hanseatic League town

The Hanseatic Hotel is located in Bryggen, Bergen, in Norway. This ancient hotel is considered to be one of the region’s oldest buildings, and is near the historic centre and the port.

The hotel.

This hotel is located inside an ancient building, the Finnegaarden, a place considered to be a World Heritage building. The façade of the hotel is decorated in many colours, and the inside of the hotel has a rustic design.

Rooms and Prices.

The hotel has sixteen spacious rooms decorated in dark hues and velvet. Each room has a double bed with a private bathroom. All bathrooms have either an antique claw foot bathtub or a separate shower. All rooms have Internet access and television sets.

There are several types of rooms that vary by price, size and decoration. There are four Standard rooms, which are the smallest rooms, with beamed ceilings. The seven Deluxe rooms are more spacious. The three Junior Suites have an antique décor with art works dating from the start of last century. The Top Suite is a spacious suite with a large double bed and a bathroom with a claw foot bathtub. The Senior Suite is the hotel’s best known suite, with a lounge area, a bedroom, a Victorian era bathroom and views towards Bryggen. Price starts from around 111.8€ per room per night, with an extra 31€ for an extra bed.

Common Areas.

The rest of the hotel follows the same theme and is decorated in a rustic style. All the wooden furniture has been crafted by hand and there are leather sofas in the common rooms. Most of the décor at this hotel has an antique twist to it, as if it were still living in the early nineteen hundreds, with high ceilings and wooden beams.

Conferences and Events.

The hotel has a large conference hall that can accommodate up to sixty people. There are several smaller meeting rooms at the hotel which can accommodate between five and thirty guests. All the meeting spaces have a large wooden table, leather chairs, Internet access and audiovisual technologies.

Restaurant.

The hotel has a traditional restaurant, the Finnegaarden, and two other restaurants specializing in international cuisine, the Mediterranean style Mezzo and the Mexican Casa del Toro. All three restaurants are spacious with a rustic décor, high beamed ceilings, dark wooden furniture and red velvet decorations.

Building and Location.

Guests who stay at this hotel will be able to visit the next door Hanseatic Museum, one of the city’s landmarks. The hotel is located in Bryggen, the oldest part of Bergen where merchant houses and warehouses used to stand, since the city was one of the main ports of the Hanseatic League. A few minutes away from the hotel guests will find St. Mary’s Church, considered to be one of the city’s oldest buildings with some parts dating from as far back as the twelfth century. Other activities in the area include exploring Bergen on foot, visiting the historic port and participating in the many outdoor sports activities offered near the city.

Lancrigg Country House, gluten free menus in a mansion by the lake

The Lancrigg Country House is located in Lake District, in the United Kingdom. This hotel is located in a large territory with several gardens and has a restaurant that provides gluten free and vegetarian menus.

Rooms and Prices.

This hotel has 12 rooms. Each room is a double room with a four poster bed, a bathroom with either a shower, a bathtub or a jacuzzi, and an individual décor.

The Nightingale Room, named in honour of Florence Nightingale, can be either an individual or double room. The room is decorated in pastel colours and has a double bed and a bathroom. Price is 100€ per night.

The Whittington Room is one of the most spacious rooms at the hotel and is located on the first floor. This modern room has a large kingsize bed and views towards the valley.

This hotel has a room honouring William Wordsworth, a poet who visited this region in Grasmere, Cumbria, in England, a lot. The Wordsworth room is decorated in several shades of white, has a kingsize bed and views towards the valley both from the bedroom and the bathroom.

The Franklin Room is located on the hotel’s ground floor, and is decorated in a rustic way. This room has a four poster bed, Turkish carpets and mahogany furniture. All three rooms cost 112€ per night.

The Darwin Room has a large double bed that can be converted into two individual beds. This room is decorated with wooden furniture and painted in shades of gold, and has views towards an eighteenth century granary.

The Dickens Room is named in honour of Charles Dickens, a writer who used to visit this region when looking for inspiration. The room has a kingsize bed and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi. There is antique furniture and views towards the Silver Howe Valley.

The Easeadale Room is located on the hotel’s ground floor. This spacious room is decorated in shades of blue and has a double bed that can be converted into two individual beds and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi.

The Wainwright Room is named after Alfred Wainwright, a writer who wrote many guide books about the region. There is a four poster bed in the pastel coloured master bedroom, and a double sofa bed in the living room. The bathroom has a separate bathtub and shower. These four rooms cost around 117€ per night.

The John Richardson Rooms used to be the Arctic explorer and naturalist’s library. The ancient library has been remodelled into a spacious room with a private entrance to the garden and views towards the Easedale Valley. The ceiling of this room is a work of art, as are the rest of the room’s decorations. The four poster bed is covered by lace, and the bathtub with lace curtains is located between the bedroom and the bathroom. This rooms has a big closet.

The Silver Howe has views towards most of the Silver Howe Valley. The room has a large gilded double bed covered by lace and red velvet, and the bathroom has a Jacuzzi.

The Azalea Suite is a spacious suite with views towards a garden filled with azaleas and magnolias. The main bedroom has a kingsize bed and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi. The suite has a lounge with views towards Easedale. These three rooms cost 120e per night.

Common Areas.

The Lounge Rooms is the hotel’s common room where guests can relax while they enjoy views of the gardens and the rolling hills. This room has large windows and a chimney that is used during the cold winter months.

Health and Wellness.

This hotel was the first hotel in the country to be granted the Health Creation Status. The hotel organizes holidays for those people who have health issues and their caretakers, offering them the opportunity to enjoy a couple of stress free days. These holidaymakers are offered special menus for all kinds of dietary restrictions, meditation walks, cooking classes and therapy.

Restaurant.

The hotel’s restaurant, the Green Valley, uses organic ingredients as much as possible in their dishes. The menu offers a wide range of vegetarian dishes, and there are many gluten free and vegan options, fit for all dietary needs and food preferences. The restaurant is open at breakfast, for lunch and during supper time, and guests will be able to enjoy coffee and tea with snacks at all times. There is a wide range of beers and organic wines.

Location.

The hotel is located in a traditional mansion in Lakeland. The hotels is a place for relaxation, and many poets and writers have lived in this region throughout the years. Near the hotel guests will be able to enjoy long walks near the lakes and views towards the mountains.

Motorbike hotel in Milwaukee.

The Iron Horse Hotel is located in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin in the United States. The hotel is a theme hotel dedicated to the world of the metal horses, commonly known as motorbikes.

The Building Inside and Outside.

The hotel is located in an historic building which used to be a warehouse. The interior of the hotel is decorated in dark colours, giving it a mystique sense. The hotel specialises in motorbikes, and has lately begun to cater to those travelling on business. There are several conference rooms equipped with the best technologies and a small museum with several exhibits of historic motorbikes.

Rooms and Prices.

The hotel has 102 rooms styled as lofts. Each room is a spacious double room with a private bathroom. There are rooms for people with limited mobility and rooms that can be connected in order to form family rooms. The hotel allows dogs, and those travelling with pets get a complimentary water bowl, a food bowl and a special menu for dogs.

All rooms have either a queensize or a kingsize bed, with designer bed linen, mattresses and pillows. Each rooms has a working area with a large working desk and a leather chair. There is a minibar with a fridge stocked with drinks and snacks. Guests will be able to connect their iPods, laptops and mobile phones to the 42 inch television screen to charge them. There are coffee and tea making machines, a safe, an ironing board and climate control. The spacious bathrooms have a separate make up and shaving mirror, rain showers and bathrobes for guests.

The Urban Classic rooms are chic double rooms. The rooms have large windows, brick walls and ceilings with wooden beams, with wooden furniture covered by colourful textiles.

The Custom Deluxe rooms have large windows etched into the thick brick walls of the ancient warehouse. The ceilings have wooden beams and modern furniture decorates the rooms. There is a separate lounge area where guests will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner with views.

The Corner Alcove rooms are located in the corners of each floor, and each one has different views towards the city. The large windows and brick walls are decorated with pieces of art. Each room has a bedroom, a bathroom and a lounge area with a sofa, several armchairs and a large dining table.

The Premium Loft rooms are located on the hotel’s highest floor. The beamed ceilings are almost four metres tall. These rooms have a separate living room with sofas, a dining table and brick walls covered by works of art.

The Hotel’s Philosophy.

This hotel is a hotel that revolves around motorbikes. There is a special parking and cleaning service for motorbikes. Several different kinds of motorbikes can be rented at the hotel. During the summer months several motorbike conventions are organised at the hotel, which fills up with Harley Davidson bikes. There are special rooms for motorbikers, with large pegs to hold their heavy leather jackets and small benches near the entrance for their boots and helmets.

Bar and Restaurant.

This hotel has a bar, Branded, and a restaurant, Smyth, known for their traditional and rustic approach to food. The Yard is another bar and restaurant with its own terrace, where guests can dine al fresco while enjoying the views towards the city.

Gym and Spa.

The hotel has a large gym equipped with several weight lifting machines and flat screen television screens. There is a weight lifting area and a yoga area. The gym has several spa rooms which offer different relaxing massages and skin treatments.

Conference Rooms.

The hotel has several conference rooms and a business centre which is open 24 hours a day. These spacious conference halls are equipped with the latest audiovisual technology. The hotel has a catering service for large events. There is Internet access throughout the hotel.

Sustainability.

The hotel has not only managed to conserve the structure of the old warehouse, with its brick walls and wooden beams, but it has managed to turn this place into an ecologically sustainable place. Recycled rubber has been used for the floors of the gym and the laundry room, and all carpets are woven with recycled material. Even the sculptures that decorate the rooms are made from recycled aluminium. Low consuming light bulbs are used in all rooms, as are organic soaps, recycled paper and almost all counter tops are ecological.

Location.

This hotel is located a short distance away from the Midwest Airlines Convention Centre. Guests will be able to visit the  new Harley Davidson Museum that is located near the river. The hotel is only a short walk away from the city centre, near the historical neighbourhoods of Fifth Ward and Latin Quarter. This area of the city is filled with bars, restaurants, shops, historical buildings and cultural landmarks, such as the Milwaukee Museum of Art, the Northern Lights Theatre and the Discovery World Museum.

Wine and a wave shaped hotel in La Rioja

The Marqués de Riscal Hotel is located in Elciego, in Spain. This hotel was designed by Frank Gehry, an architect known for his unique architectural style that can be seen throughout the hotel.

Architecture.

Sometimes known as The Twentieth Century Château, the hotel’s building was designed by Frank O. Gehry. The building is a giant structure shaped like a coloured metal wave.

Rooms and prices.

Inside, the hotel has a modern décor. The hotel has 42 rooms of several different types and a large suite, all of them decorated with strange shapes and bright colours. The rooms are spacious, with a bedroom and a marble bathroom, decorated in different ways. Price varies depending on the type of room and on the season, and starts from 321€ per night.

The rooms have a either a kingsize bed or two individual beds with several types of hypoallergenic pillows to choose from. Each room has a large flat screen television with cable TV, mp3 docks, a safe, a radio, an alarm clock, a telephone and Internet connection. The minibar in each room holds a selection of several snacks.

The hotel has two interconnected wings. The Deluxe and Executive rooms are housed in the spa wing. The Deluxe rooms can either be Grand Deluxe or Premium Deluxe. Each room has a unique style, and all have large, differently shaped windows covered by red velvet curtains with views towards the vineyards. The Premium Deluxe rooms have windows that cover a whole wall and have views towards either the town of Elciego or the other wing, shaped like a present box with colourful ribbons.

The Executive Suites are located in the spa wing of the hotel. These suites are spacious with a modern design. The floors are made from wood, while the rest is painted in white. There is a living room area with a table and chairs, a sofa and a coffee table, all of it made by famous designers. The working area is equipped with the latest technologies, and the minibar has a Nespresso machine and a Porsche kettle.

The Gehry Suite is the hotel’s largest suite. The suite is spacious, with four metre high ceilings and wooden walls. There is a separate living room area and a large terrace with views towards the vineyards and the Cantabrian mountain range. The bedroom has large, windows of different shapes that allow in a lot of natural light, a kingsize bed and a décor designed by the world’s best interior designers. The bathroom is made from black and green Italian marble and has a separate bathtub and shower, a telephone and spa bathroom amenities. There is a separate working area equipped with all the necessary materials, and the suite has its own kitchen with a Nespresso coffee maker and a Porsche kettle.

Special services.

The hotel has special access for people with mobility problems. The hotel admits children, and there are special bathroom amenities and bottle heaters available for children. Some pets are allowed at the hotel.

Restaurant.

The hotel has an haute cuisine restaurant. The menu consists of different courses elaborated with local and traditional ingredients with a touch of design. There is a long wine list which includes both national and international wines. The hotel has several conference rooms where meetings and events such as weddings can take place, and the restaurant can be rented for large gatherings.

Extras.

The hotel has  spa where guests will be able to enjoy both traditional massages and treatments such as vinothérapie, with wine based products. The spa has a swimming pool with a relaxation room, a steam room, a gym, a Jacuzzi, a special bathtub where guests can enjoy foot massages and other facilities.

Location.

The hotel is located in an area known as the Ciudad de los Vinos, the City of Wine, in the region of La Rioja. Near the hotel guests will find hundreds of square kilometres of vineyards where some of the country’s and the world’s best wines are produced.

The hotel is a located in a region known for its wine culture, and the hotel’s theme is wine. The hallways and rooms at this hotel are painted in shades of yellow, pink and red representing the different types of wine. There is a wine museum and a shop where guests will be able to buy several different vintages, and the hotel organizes tours to the many different vineyards in the region.

Museum Inn, a rustic and gourmet hotel

The Museum Inn Hotel is located in Dorset, in the United Kingdom. This hotel is known for its historical building, its links with the archaeological world and its gourmet catering.

History.

This inn belonged to the person considered to be the father of modern archaeology, General Augustus Lane Fox Pitt Rivers. The inn was built to serve as accommodation for the visitors of the nearby archaeological museum. Today the inn has been transformed into a hotel with eight rooms and a gourmet restaurant.

The hotel has several types of rooms located in the old mansion. Some of the rooms are located in what used to be the stables. All rooms are double rooms with a bathroom with bathtub and shower. The rooms have a television, coffee and tea making machines, a wide variety of organic chocolates and cookies and magazines.

Rooms and prices.

Standard rooms are double rooms with a bathroom and a rustic décor. These rooms are located in the ancient stables. Price is around 128.5€ per night.

The Chase, The Catch and The Boot Room are rooms related to the world of fishing and hunting. The Catch is decorated with cushions and is painted in shades of brown and gold, and many photographs of hunting trips in the region hang from the walls. The Catch room is decorated in greens and blacks with paintings of several different species of fish. The Boot Room is decorated with orange Scottish plaid, with many pictures of Wellington boots. Price is 157.7€ per night.

One of the best rooms is the General’s room. This spacious room has a large four poster bed, a bathroom, and dark wooden furniture with red decorations. The room has two balconies with views towards the town. Price is 192.7€ per night.

Prices include a complete breakfast where guests can choose between several types of ham and cheese, bacon with fried eggs, fresh fruit and freshly baked pastries followed by tea. There is 12€ discount if the double rooms are used as individual rooms.

Architecture.

The country house has conserved a large part of its historic structure, and still has low ceilings and flagstone floors. The interior décor is full of antiques and hand carved furniture. The halls at this hotel have large chimneys where fires can be lit during the colder days.

Restaurant.

The hotel is located in the city of Farnham. This inn dates from the XVIIth century and has become well known because of its delicious and traditional menus. Guests and visitors will be able to discover many different types of goat cheese, fish and pies, sea food, rhubarb dishes and home made desserts.

One of the great halls at this ancient inn has been converted into a large bar and restaurant with long benches and wooden tables for guests. The meat served is certified organic meat, and organic vegetables are used whenever possible. At the restaurant guests will be able to try several types of ale and cider, both of them made locally in several different independent breweries in the city. There is a wine list of more than 160 types of wine from vineyards all over the world.

During the weekends the hotel’s restaurant, The Shed, opens in another location, an ancient annex that used to be the townhouse. The restaurant can be rented for conferences and celebration of events. When one reserves the restaurant they can decide what kind of menu they want for each occasion.

Location.

Dorset is a region with many small traditional towns and prestigious golf courses where guests can enjoy a relaxing day outdoors. There are several stables nearby for those who want to explore the region by horseback.

Farnham is a small idyllic town, recognizable for its traditional rural houses. Guests will be able to enjoy quiet walks while contemplating the nature of this place, and activities such as hunting and trekking are available for more active visitors. The hotel organizes other activities such as the possibility to fly kites and go on bicycle tours. The hotel can prepare picnic baskets full of snacks for those who want to spend a day outdoors. During the evenings guests will be able to enjoy a wide range of board games and films.

Near the hotel visitors will find Kingston Lacy, a large mansion with a park known to hold the largest private collection of Egyptian artefacts in Britain. The Larmer Tree Gardens, inaugurated by Pitt Rivers in 1880, are known for their many species of plants, their broad walks and Victorian era buildings. During the weekends guests will be able to enjoy tea at the Victorian pavilion, and during the summer months the Larmer Tree Festival takes place at the park.