Luxurious Accommodations: The Finest European Hotels

Spain: St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort

Formerly the Mardavall Hotel and Spa, this five star hotel is set beneath vibrant blue skies on a breathtakingly beautiful coast in Spain’s Balearic Islands. The pristine Mediterranean islands are an extremely desirable vacation destination, and the Mardavall is the very finest of luxurious accommodations. As part of “The Luxury Collection,” this fabulous hotel creates a magnificent first impression with its stunning Mediterranean architecture. The interior is designed to create an atmosphere of elegance and is decorated with spectacular original works of art by Mallorcan artists such as Beil Bover and Jose Tobal.

Guests enjoy the exclusivity of the Mardavall’s private beach, and luxuriate in the comforts of the Altira Spa with its indoor seawater pool. Spa clients are pampered with relaxing shiatsu massage, thalassotherapy and oriental medicine. The spacious rooms and suites provide amazing comfort, with satin sheets by Christian Fischbacher and plush, cozy bathrobes. Dining in one of the hotels 3 gourmet restaurants is a gastronomical delight, and many guests especially enjoy the exclusive Functional Eating style of the S’Aigua restaurant. Room rates here range in price from 367€ to 4,377€.

Italy: Nhow Milano

The city of Milan is known as one of the world’s leading fashion centers, and its Nhow Hotel is the perfect representative of progressive design and elite accommodations. This stunning building is an ultra-modern artists’ rendition of creative sophistication with a style in the very forefront of contemporary architectural achievements. Located in the heart of Milan’s fashion district, the Nhow is only 2km from the city center and 12 km from Linate Airport. This area of “Tortona and Navigli” has been reclaimed its previous industrial uses and has evolved into a fashionable locale for the city’s sophisticates to enjoy outstanding restaurants, exciting bars, exclusive fashion showrooms and elite design and photography studios. The Nhow Hotel itself is a reconstruction of an industrial building.

Guests of the Nhow may feel as if they have stepped into an exclusive art gallery when entering this fabulously designed hotel. Incredibly futuristic furnishings have been designed specifically for these luxurious, modern accommodations by premiere furniture designers including Knoll, Artemide, Zuchetti and Poltrona Frau. Amazing works of art are hung throughout the spacious rooms and are available for purchase. Luxurious suites provide every modern convenience, including spectacular showers with water flowing from an overhead spotlight. The Nhow Milan restaurant offers a euphoric dining experience with mouthwateringly creative dishes, and the T35 club in the hotels basement provides exclusive entertainment for Milan’s hip crowd. Many fashion shows, exhibitions and private parties are held at the Nhow in its marvelously luxurious and ϋber-contemporary atmosphere. The price to stay at the Nhow Hotel ranges from 247€ to 3,000€.

England: The London Halkin Hotel

Situated in London’s most elite and luxurious neighborhood, Belgravia, the London Halkin Hotel is well suited to its locale. This incredible five star boutique hotel offers premium guest services and the finest contemporary accommodations. Just a few steps from the excitement of Piccadilly Circus and lovely Hyde Park, the award-winning Halkin Hotel provides privacy and discretion for its guests while giving quick access to the attractions of England’s bustling capital city.

Beautifully designed in postmodern décor, the hotel is notable for its sophisticated amenities that include Bulgari toiletries and Egyptian cotton sheets. Even the hotel employees are dressed to impress with uniforms by Armani. Guests traveling with children can take advantage of the convenience of the hotel’s childcare services and enjoy adult activities, including dining on spectacular Thai cuisine in the hotel’s world famous restaurant, Nham. The price for a double room is 460€, with higher rates for suites and studio rooms.

Germany: Berlin’s Arte Luise Kunsthotel

A paradise for art enthusiasts, the Arte Luise Kunsthotel is a gloriously unique gallery with beds. This beautifully designed luxury hotel is located in the very heart of Berlin, within sight of the Reichstag building and near the Brandenburg Gate. Every room in the hotel is in itself an original work of art created by a different artist with its own style and theme. Fifty artists conspired to create the hotel’s fifty rooms under a profit sharing agreement, and have achieved a marvelous museum of paintings, comics, photographs, sculpture and literary quotations where one can enjoy the finest hotel accommodations in an art gallery setting. Each room features its own unique theme, such as the futuristic designs of Jochen Schmiddem, which inspired the set designs for Spielburg’s movie, Minority Report. The Stairway of the Philosopher is an iconic feature of the hotel that offers inspirational life-affecting quotations painted on the walls as one climbs the staircase.

Because of its location so close to Berlin’s city center, the Arte Luise is at the center of many political and cultural current events. The fabulous hotel provides the perfect setting to rub shoulders with important politicians and dignitaries who may join you in dining at the fantastic Habel restaurant with its incredible wine cellar and delightful combination of Mediterranean and German cuisine. Rates begin at 128€ for a double room.

France: The Melia Vendome and The Ritz

These two luxury hotels in Paris are equally resplendent, leading us to offer them both under the auspices of Europe’s finest hotels. The legendary Ritz on Vendome Place is perhaps one of the finest hotels in the entire world, and is known for its superior qualities of sophisticated elegance and exemplary service. Its luxurious accommodations are designed for the wealthiest of patrons by the famous Cesar Ritz, providing the standard for the most elite hotels. Every detail is a study in perfection that welcomes the privileged and the pampered of the world, including such noted guests as Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel.

The cocktail “Bloody Mary” was created at the Paris Ritz, and Fred Astair sang about “Putting on the Ritz” in reference to dressing in the most stylish and luxurious apparel. Nearly every European capital city now has its own Ritz hotel, but the Paris Ritz remains the original icon of luxury in hotel accommodations. The least expensive room rate is approximately 650€.

The Melia Vendome is in a different realm from the Ritz, yet still one of Paris’ most desirable accommodations. This lovely boutique hotel has been beautifully reformed with spacious rooms in a classical design. Four star luxury amenities include amazing service and elegant surroundings, but the location of the hotel is perfect for touring the iconic attractions of Paris. The Melia Vendome is quite close to Champs Elysees, Concorde Place, the Madeleine, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, and also provides convenient access to incredible shopping in Paris’ famous fashion boutiques along the Rue Saint Honore. Prices for a double room begin at 335€.

Article author: Cathy Jones