Logo Voyage

Grand old hotels Voyage Tips and guide

You can check the original Wikivoyage article Here

    Some hotels have a heritage from the golden age of steam railways and ocean liners, before the Second World War, in the 19th or early 20th centuries. These hotels were where the rich and the famous of the day would stay. Some of them have been the accommodation of choice for foreign leaders, including monarchs and presidents, and have a VIP suite for that purpose; some have hosted important political conferences. They have an appeal all their own: old fashioned fittings, the lack of the latest amenities, and a certain graceful agedness. They are often in superb locations, either smack in the middle of cities – very often being next to or part of a major railway station, as they were often constructed to house railway travelers – or close to major outdoor attractions. Some were also located next to sea ports to serve steamship passengers. They are likely to neighbor a legacy department store or a legacy food market from the same era. For this article, we also include some mid-20th century hotels that are iconic and historically significant.

    New York City, London, Paris and the Los Angeles area are known for having a particularly high concentration of such hotels.

    Understand

    [edit]
    Map
    Map of Grand old hotels

    Even today such places generally offer fine accommodation and are usually not cheap, though more modern high-end places may be even more luxurious and are often more expensive.

    • The Leading Hotels of the World. This is an association, primarily for marketing, with over 400 member hotels in many countries. It includes many of the grand old hotels, but also many newer luxury hotels. The Leading Hotels of the World on Wikipedia

    A traveller with piles of money might consider a round the world flight, broken up with stays in many of these hotels. Travelling around the world overland, on routes such as the one taken in Around the World in Eighty Days, would give a more authentic experience of pre-flight travel.

    While the grand old hotels are usually privately owned, they sometimes accommodate visiting heads of state and other dignitaries.

    Do

    [edit]

    You need not stay in such hotels to enjoy some of their services. Many have fine dining, live music and nightlife, as they had in the days of yore, and gambling if local law allows. A visitor to Singapore, for example, might go to Raffles just for a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar where it was invented, and where Rudyard Kipling and Noel Coward once drank, and check out the Billiard Room where Singapore's last tiger was shot.

    Sleep

    [edit]
    Le Grand Hôtel in Paris

    Grand old hotels tend to have a 4- or 5-star rating. Due to their legacy and premium location, they can cost more than newer hotels with similar amenities.

    Cope

    [edit]

    As the buildings are old, they might be less accessible for travellers with disabilities. In most cases, the staff will be helpful for guests who need assistance.

    Africa

    [edit]

    Democratic Republic of Congo

    [edit]

    Egypt

    [edit]
    Winter Palace, seen from the Nile

    Kenya

    [edit]

    Morocco

    [edit]

    Mozambique

    [edit]

    South Africa

    [edit]

    Tanzania

    [edit]

    Tunisia

    [edit]

    Zimbabwe

    [edit]

    Asia

    [edit]

    East Asia

    [edit]
    The Peninsula, Hong Kong
    The Grand Hotel, Taipei
    • 1 The Peninsula (Hong Kong, China). Kowloon side, by the ferry dock and right at the foot of Nathan Road, a major tourist street. Famous for serving traditional English afternoon tea in Victorian splendor. The Peninsula Hong Kong (Q1757744) on Wikidata The Peninsula Hong Kong on Wikipedia
    • 2 Westin Josun (Seoul, South Korea). The oldest Western-style hotel in South Korea, founded as the Chosun Hotel in 1914. However, the original building has been demolished and the current one was completed on the site of the original in 1970.
    • 3 The Shilla (Seoul, South Korea). Originally built by the Park Chung-hee government in 1967 as the state guest house for visiting foreign dignitaries, it was converted to a luxury hotel in 1979, and its today the most iconic hotel in Seoul. While the hotel guest rooms are in a modern 1970s high-rise building, the original state guest house, known as Yeong Bin Gwan and built in a traditional Korean architectural style, has been preserved on the hotel property and can today be rented for events such as weddings and conferences. It is a popular venue for South Korean celebrities and tycoons to get married.
    • 4 The Grand Hotel (Taipei, Taiwan). Built in the early 1950s, mainly so that Chiang Kai Shek's government would have a suitable place to accommodate visiting dignitaries. Grand Hotel (Q712865) on Wikidata Grand Hotel (Taipei) on Wikipedia
    • 5 Hotel Central (Macau). Dating back to 1928, and originally called the President Hotel, it was home to Macau's first elevator and first licensed casinos. Although a favourite hangout spot for celebrities and diplomats when it first opened, it began to lose its luster with the opening of newer hotels in 1960s, and had become dilapidated by the turn of the 21st century. However, it was bought over by a local businessman and painstakingly restored to its former glory in 2024, with themed floors featuring rooms designed to invoke a 1920s, 1930s or 1940s aesthetic, albeit without a casino. Hotel Central (Q25238467) on Wikidata Hotel Central on Wikipedia

    China

    [edit]
    • The Grand Hôtel de Pékin was built by the French and completed in 1915, with new wings added in 1917 and 1954, known as Block B and Block C respectively. The original 1915 building was demolished in 1974 to make way for the current Block D, and a new wing known as Block E was built behind Block B in 2001. The different wings are now operated as multiple separate hotels.
      • 6 Beijing Hotel NUO (Beijing, China). Housed in the historic 1917 French Beaux-Arts Block B and the newer Block E.
      • 7 Grand Hotel Beijing (Beijing, China). Housed in the 1954-built Block C, the building's exterior is a blend of Stalinist and traditional Chinese architectural styles, while the interior draws heavily from traditional Chinese palatial architecture, including a replica of the now-ruined Haiyantang fountain of the Old Summer Palace.
      • 8 Beijing Hotel (Beijing, China). Housed in the 1974-built Block D, it was the tallest building in Beijing at the time of its completion. While the exterior looks unassuming, the interior is surprisingly opulent, with heavy influences from traditional Chinese palatial architecture.
    • Shanghai has several fine hotels built in the Art Deco style in the city's glory days, the 1840s to the 1930s:
    • 12 Astor Hotel (Tianjin, China). The Astor Hotel Tianjin (Q111404989) on Wikidata
    • 13 Centre Hotel (Nanjing, China). Centre Hotel (Q5062274) on Wikidata Centre Hotel (Nanjing) on Wikipedia
    • 14 Modern Hotel (Harbin, China). Modern Hotel (Q110110100) on Wikidata

    Japan

    [edit]

    The following three are regarded as the Three Great Hotels (御三家 gosanke) of Tokyo, in reference to the three main branches of the ruling Tokugawa family of the Edo Period:

    • 15 The Imperial Hotel (Tokyo, Japan). The oldest of the three, tracing its history to 1890 during the Meiji era, though the current building is a modern one completed in 1970. The entrance courtyard and the main lobby of the 1923 Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building was moved to the Meiji-Mura Museum in Nagoya, where it can be viewed today. Imperial Hotel (Q712476) on Wikidata Imperial Hotel, Tokyo on Wikipedia
    • 16 Hotel Okura (Tokyo, Japan). Opened in 1962 and a symbol of Japan's Postwar economic boom, the original building was demolished in 2015, and the current building completed in 2019, though its main lobby was painstakingly recreated during the reconstruction to preserve the feel of the original. The Okura Museum of Art, the first private museum in Japan in a building dating back to 1927, is located on its grounds. The Okura Tokyo (Q11337851) on Wikidata Hotel Okura Tokyo on Wikipedia
    • 17 Hotel New Otani (Tokyo, Japan). Completed in 1964, just in time for the Tokyo Olympics, it was the tallest building in Tokyo at that time. The New Otani was built on the grounds of an Imperial prince's residence and preserves its classical Japanese gardens, which date back to the 1600s. The only one of the three to still keep its original building. Hotel New Otani Tokyo (Q11337880) on Wikidata Hotel New Otani Tokyo on Wikipedia

    There are some other grand old hotels to be found:

    • 18 Tokyo Station Hotel (Tokyo, Japan). A comparative upstart, the Tokyo Station Hotel dates back to 1915, but was only reopened as a hotel in 2012. Tokyo Station Hotel (Q11524193) on Wikidata
    • 19 Hotel New Grand (Yokohama, Japan). A historic hotel in Yokohama, Japan, overlooking Yamashita Park. It opened in 1927 and was used as accommodation by American troops during the occupation of Japan; one of the suites is maintained as it was furnished when General Douglas MacArthur stayed there. The hotel is believed to be the place where the famous yoshoku dish naporitan was invented by a head chef. There is also a late eighteen-story extension. Hotel New Grand (Q5911779) on Wikidata Hotel New Grand on Wikipedia
    • 20 Nara Hotel (Nara, Japan). Nara Hotel (Q6965236) on Wikidata Nara Hotel on Wikipedia
    • 21 Nikko Kanaya Hotel (Nikko, Japan). The oldest surviving Western-style hotel in Japan, having opened in 1873. Nikkō Kanaya Hotel (Q11504902) on Wikidata Nikkō Kanaya Hotel on Wikipedia
    • 22 Fujiya Hotel (Hakone, Japan). One of the oldest Western-style hotels in Japan, dating back to 1891, it was inspired by Victorian American hostelry, but it has an English feel to it. Fujiya Hotel (Q864344) on Wikidata Fujiya Hotel on Wikipedia

    Japan also has numerous traditional ryokan inns, some very grand and old indeed: the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamanashi dates back to 705 AD. See Ryokan for more.

    Middle East

    [edit]

    Egypt is listed under Africa above.

    South Asia

    [edit]

    India

    [edit]
    Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai

    Pakistan

    [edit]
    • 35 Faletti's Hotel (Lahore, Punjab). built in late 18th century by an Italian, and now renovated. Faletti's Hotel, Lahore (Q5431864) on Wikidata Faletti's Hotel on Wikipedia

    Sri Lanka

    [edit]

    Southeast Asia

    [edit]
    Raffles, Singapore

    Several of Southeast 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:

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

    Savoy Homann, Bandung

    Europe

    [edit]

    Northern Europe

    [edit]

    Nordic countries

    [edit]
    Hotel Kämp in Helsinki, Finland

    Baltic countries

    [edit]

    Western Europe

    [edit]
    Amstel Hotel, Amsterdam
    Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland

    Central Europe

    [edit]
    During the century and a half of its existence, leaders have died and Czechoslovakia was "born" at Beau-Rivage in Geneva

    Southern Europe

    [edit]
    Hotel de Paris, Monaco

    Eastern Europe

    [edit]
    Hotel Ukraina

    North America

    [edit]

    Canada

    [edit]

    The grand old hotels in Canada, also referred to as railway hotels, have a unique place in Canadian history. Most of them were built during the first quarter of the 20th century by the Canadian Pacific Railway or Grand Trunk Railway to provide elegant accommodation while viewing the natural beauty along the rail line. Canadian Pacific, which purchased the former Grand Trunk (Canadian National) hotels in 1988, spun off all non-rail subsidiaries (including Fairmont, its hotel group) in 2001.

    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. Three – Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper- are major tourist resorts in their own right, located amid stunning Rocky Mountain scenery.

    Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

    Listed approximately east-to-west, they are:

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

    Costa Rica

    [edit]
    The Gran Hotel Costa Rica

    Cuba

    [edit]

    Haiti

    [edit]

    Mexico

    [edit]

    United States

    [edit]

    There is a program called Historic Hotels of America with 260-odd hotels involved as of 2015. Each of these hotels is over 50 years old and is (or is eligible to be) a historic landmark.

    The Cincinnatian Hotel.

    South America

    [edit]

    Argentina

    [edit]

    Brazil

    [edit]

    Peru

    [edit]
    • 86 Gran Hotel Bolívar (Lima). Gran Hotel Bolivar Lima (Q20995355) on Wikidata Gran Hotel Bolívar on Wikipedia – The cocktail Pisco Saur was invented here. Royalty stayed here, and the Rolling Stones had to leave for bad behavior.

    Oceania

    [edit]
    Hotel Windsor, Melbourne

    Australia

    [edit]
    • 56 Canberra Hotel (Canberra). What was once "Hostel No. 1" originally opened in 1924 to house politicians visiting Parliament. After a period of decay and a decade in office use as parliamentary annex, it was renovated and reopened as a luxury hotel in 1988. Low-rise and diminutive from the outside, it's surprisingly grand inside, with 1920s Art Deco style throughout. Hotel Canberra (Q10930619) on Wikidata Hotel Canberra on Wikipedia
    • 57 Hotel Kurrajong (Canberra). Like the aforementioned Canberra Hotel, this hotel was initially built to house politicians when Parliament was in session. Completed in 1927, it was then known as "Hostel No. 2", and is slightly newer than the Canberra Hotel. Not quite as grand as the Canberra Hotel, but still rather posh with an Art Deco interior design. Hotel Kurrajong (Q18165792) on Wikidata Hotel Kurrajong on Wikipedia
    • 58 The Carrington Hotel (Great Western Hotel) (Katoomba). Grand resort hotel built in 1882–1883, soon extended; there would be alterations during several periods. It retains much of the fabric of its major phases of development. The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba (Q48796718) on Wikidata Carrington Hotel, Katoomba on Wikipedia
    • 59 Esplanade Hotel (Fremantle). Originally built in 1875, first used as hotel in 1895, and altered and enlarged many times. Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle (Q5399021) on Wikidata Esplanade Hotel (Fremantle) on Wikipedia
    • 60 Hotel Windsor (Melbourne). Purpose-built as grand hotel in Renaissance Revival style, opened in 1884 and enlarged several times. In the 1970s it was run-down and risked demolition, but was saved by government intervention. There was a major restoration of the hotel in 1983, re-establishing its position as a leading five-star hotel. After a change of owners in 2005, major less respectful redevelopments have been proposed and partly realised. Hotel Windsor (Q12060553) on Wikidata Hotel Windsor, Melbourne on Wikipedia

    Fiji

    [edit]

    New Zealand

    [edit]

    See also

    [edit]
    This travel topic about Grand old hotels is a usable article. It touches on all the major areas of the topic. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.



    Discover



    Powered by GetYourGuide