Gayle

My picks: St. Clerans, 18 mi south of Galway in Ireland. Gorgeous setting, friendly staff, unfortunately expensive. Hotel Tresanton, St. Mawes, Cornwall -- same as above -- beautiful view of moonrise over water with lighthouse. Hotel Craigallachie, in the Scottish highlands. A little less expensive, you have to drive or walk for the great views, however, they have 100 varieties of Scotch. In Seattle, always prefer Inn at the Market to sit on the roof and watch the ferries. Does anyone have a website for the Angleterre in Paris, mentioned above?

Susan

The Grand Hotel Villa Balbi in Sestri Levante, Italia! They gave us a top-floor room, gorgeous view, filled with antiques, marble floors, painted ceiling, gorgeous bath, wonderful service, beautiful common rooms and what a view! Looking out our room window there was the blue, blue Med, dotted with sailboats. I felt like Italian royalty and they were also so kind to our kids. Did I mention the view?

Kathy

Alright, let's add some asian hotels to this list. <BR> <BR>The Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. It's a lovely hotel with a lot of history and in a very quaint part of town. And the staff... the staff is the best I've ever met ANYWHERE! A place where everyone literally knows your name. <BR> <BR>As for the European list, the Belvedere Hotel in Bellagio, Italy tops my very modest list. Beautiful views of Lake Como and just a few steps outside town so it's quiet and serene. <BR>

Ann

Rex-are you SERIOUS about the Watergate Hotel? That's got to be one of the worst so-called upscale hotels in DC! My husband booked us in for New Years Eve once as a surprise. It couldn't have been worse. The bedspread was torn, wall paper was peeling from the wall, the staff was nasty (didn't see the point in giving us a new bedspread). And it wasn't just our room. We ended up joining a party in progress down the hall, and their room was just as bad, if not worse! <BR> <BR>For DC, you absolutely cannot beat the Jefferson Hotel. <BR> <BR>My favorite hotel: Cashel House Hotel in Co. Galway in Ireland. My drinks were served on a silver platter, and they have their own ponies! What more do I have to say?

cdf

No website for the Angleterre but they have an email address and will send you a brochure and rate sheet.. <BR>[email protected] <BR>Hope this helps ~C

gina

Someone asked about the Hotel Umbra in Assisi. WELL! Let's see what I remember. It is in the absolute perfect location...right on the Piazza Publica where everything is happening. When you sit at the restaurant you have a great view of the valley. The room is huge, and so is the bathroom. You could actually do your laundry in the bathroom,even though I'm sure they wished we wouldn't. The breakfast is in this beautiful room, gorgeous buffet! You can walk anywhere from this hotel. At night you can smell the heavenly entrees they prepare in the restaurant below the balcony of your room. The service is slow so you can really enjoy your meal and your wine. I don't know, I think it was the nicest place I ever stayed anywhere.

Deepa

Our recent stay at the Locanda Del Amorosa (a restored village, all with its own church etc.), in Tuscany, was great. Wonderful setting, large and comfortable rooms done very tastefully, fantastic breakfast in a room with old olive oil presses, great restaurant and staff, the pool with views that are unbelievable and a drive-way lined with cypress trees...

Rex

My stay at the Watergate Hotel was probably between 1990 and 1992; can't remember more specifically than that. It was not a Swissotel yet, and I thought it was marvelous. I was there on a client's expense account.<BR><BR>There was a VERY fancy, VERY expensive French restaurant (Jean-Louis? I can't remember, and I think it has since closed). Our host was very into trying to show off with ordering wine; there were 22 people and the tab was $5500!! And everyone left there hungry!<BR><BR>The conclusion was that we would all have done better to buy a used car, and draw straws for it.<BR><BR>But my recollection of the hotel, and particularly our room, remains that it was spectacular.<BR>

Kriszta

Last Thanksgiving we spent a nice week in Lisboa at he Hotel Britannica. It was so cool. The architectural design, the white marble bathrooms, the helpful people... I would go back any time.

Paul Zanini

I am addicted to Hotel Hacienda Na Xamena in Ibiza, Spain. This place is located on the wild part of this Balearic Island, with spectacular sea views from your room that hang on the cliffs. It is on a remote location but only 30 minutes from the very lively town of Ibiza great for night life.<BR>You get the best of both worlds.<BR>I booked that hotel at:<BR>http://circumvista.com/naxamena.html

Digital_Traveler

I was think about this today and did a search knowing this thread had to exist.

Chateau du Plessis
Vitry-aux-Loges
It is approx. 30 Km east of Orleans.
The Beauragards are a lovely couple with a very charming home. There was only 3 rooms and ours was great. I can help but smile thinking about our stay there.

diva48

For my 50th birthday my partner took me to the Hotel Gritti in Venice. Although we travel to Venice every year (twice a year for me!) the experience at the Gritti was memorable. They upgraded us to a suite overlooking the Grand Canal. The bed had Frette sheets, the 2 bathrooms had Frette towels, the walls were wallpapered with Fortuny silk. It was incredible! The suite was large enough to have a huge birthday bash with all our Venetian friends! To top it off the service was impeccable!

BoulderCO

St Regis Grand, Rome - incredible service
Llansanffraed Court, Abergavenny, Wales - beautiful countryside surrounded by sheep
Park Hyatt, Sydney - unbeatable views of opera house and downtown
Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree Rainforest, Australia - rainforest setting, wild pigs and other creatures running amok
Royal Hideaway, Playa Del Carmen, Mex - total relaxation and unlimited liquor
L 'Olmo, Montechiello, Italy - serene setting in Tuscany
Manele Bay Hotel, Lanai, Hawaii - so perfect I thought I had died and gone to heaven
Princeville Hotel, Kauai - views of Napali coast are amazing

WanderingTexan

1) Hotel Timeo, Taormina
best view, best terrace, my all time favorite

2) Le Sirenuse, Positano, great staff, great view, great spa, was my all time favorite until I stayed at the Timeo

3) La Bastide de Marie, Menerbes, France, relaxing, quiet, the best food I have ever had!

4) La Residencia, Mallorca, Spain best island hotel I have stayed at in Europe. Deia is a lovely place. We had our own pool with our room!

5) Caneel Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands, best beaches, great food.

6) Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, most beautiful beach

7) Villa D'Este, Cernobbio, Italy, perfect staff - actually tied with the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, TX for perfect staff.

8) Luna Baglioni, Venice, perfect location

JmVikmanis

The Palace Hotel in Bucaco Portugal. It was a former hunting palace of the kings of Portugal and it has a stairway of blue azulejo tiles depicting Columbus discovering America as well as a restaurant with an outdoor second floor &quot;deck&quot; with stone arches in Manueline style. When the king was deposed the place was turned over to the chef who turned it into the hotel it is today. The rooms are in a kind of time warp with preserved 1920's art deco furnishings but totally modernized bathrooms. To get there you must drive through the Bucaco forest where the church owns the trees and they are protected by papal edict. I've been to lots of wonderful hotels but this one is unique, and oh so elegant and historical. When we were there in 1997 all this luxury only cost about $200 per night. A real bargain. The best thing in all of Portugal IMO.

JmVikmanis

Rereading this old thread set me to wondering. Are Book Chick and Bob Brown still with us?

bookchick

I'm here. I'd now add the Hotel San Carlo on via delle Carrozze in Rome to my list. While it is not luxurious, the Annex rooms have quite a few amenities, the staff has always been friendly and helpful, and the location cannot be beat. Breakfast is included, and even room service does not have an additional charge. I've stayed there in winter and prices were very reasonable indeed.

Another post on this thread mentions Locanda Sturion in Venice, and I, too, will vouch for its high quality and good valuable, but must caution that like the Hotel San Carlo, the big drawback (more so for some than others) is the lack of elevator. The San Carlo will have a staff member deliver your backs to your room, and when you depart to the lobby, however.

Buon Viaggio a Tutti,
BC

JohannaRK

My all-time favorite (so far) is in Santorini, Greece. The name is Astra Apartments and although they're not in the center of town, it's close enough. They have breathtaking views! There's a pool (with bar) and the edge of the pool is on the edge of a cliff. Rooms have balconies and breakfast is brought up every morning. Decorations are simple yet beautiful (very Greek)and there's only about 10 apartments. By far, the most beautiful and unique hotel I've ever stayed in.

barbarabean

There's a great place in Ireland, specifically in Connemara, the prettiest place I've ever been. The hotel--family-run--is called The Rosleague Manor. It is within walking distance of the national park (wonderfully wild and woolly compared to our parks). It is also near Clifden and the Renvyle Peninsula. The manor is very refined and gracious and quiet. The grounds are lush and impeccably groomed. The public rooms are spectacular, decorated with both boldness and decorum. Spectacular breakfasts in the dining room ringed by family portraits,teas in the leafy conservatory--this is the life! The owners and staff are friendly but they also give you your space. One of a kind. Worth every penny.

barbarabean

Oh, and while I'm at it, I second the vote for Caneel Bay, St. John--great for a getaway without a lot of fuss or unexpected challenges. Altho it also doesn't have the exotic air one sometimes craves.

For a taste of Europe without the long flight, try St. Lucia. Exotic, warm, THE BEST snorkeling,right off the beach. Do be prepared to stay on the premises and loll about on the lovely beach. No TVs or phones or computers. Open-air rooms. You can get a shower with a tree growing through the floor. The first night we were there,our neighbors were having some very noisy fun at 2:00 a.m. and we heard every move, but the management moved us post haste. Try the creme de cacao specialty drink.