In and Out…
Lausanne | Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace

The scale of Swiss cities and their proximity to the mountains have made certain hotels in these locations truly ‘urban resorts’ of the first hour: marked by the distinctive regional flavor of their splendid surroundings – your choice of German, French or Italian – the cities of Zurich, Lausanne and Lugano are home to beautiful historic hotels that appeal to business and leisure travelers in equal ways. While Zurich’s ‘Dolder Grand’ stirred up quite a few emotions after its recent ‘reinvention’ by Sir Norman Foster, Lausanne’s lakeside ‘Beau-Rivage’ has consistently maintained the reputation as one of Europe’s most famous hotels since it opened its doors 1861.

Exterior (lakeside) view

Lobby

Original Dining Room

‘Lobby Lounge’ terrace

Continue reading →

In and Out…
Amsterdam | Amstel Hotel

Of Amsterdam’s historic hotels, several are of inherent interest to the Hotel Investigator:
the ‘De l’Europe’ for its intimate elegance, the ‘Doelen’ for its history, the ‘Krasnapolsky’ for its size, the ‘American’ and the ‘Schiller’ for their Art Nouveau heritage… But as a rightful representative of the category ‘grand hôtel’, nothing in the intricate cityscape of the Dutch capital compares to the ‘Amstel’.

Front door

Exterior view

Lobby

‘Amstel Lounge’

Continue reading →

In and Out…
Venice | Hotel Danieli

At the end of an afternoon in late March, as the ambient dampness of the lagoon was getting more and more palpable, the sight of Hotel Danieli’s landmark facade on Riva degli Schiavoni offered an inviting opportunity to transfer the unique visual experience that is Venice into a warmer, cozier environment over coffee or tea…
The Danieli is without any doubt the most famous and iconic hotel in an equally famous and iconic city: its location mere steps from one of the world’s most fascinating urban ensembles, the main building itself (the historic Palazzo Dandolo dating back to the 15^th century) and finally the profusion of illustrious visitors who have stayed here since 1840, has made the hotel the address of choice for the Who’s Who in real life and in fiction.

Facade (Palazzo Dandolo wing)

Facade (‘Danielino’ wing)

Reception

Lobby lounge and bar

Continue reading →