Dublin

Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland, located on the mouth of the river Liffey, on the east coast of the country. The city is popular as the city brimming and breathing in history, as most of its structures and buildings are remnants from the 12th and 13th centuries. Some of the popular landmarks  there are the Dublin Castle and the St Patrick’s Cathedral, the latter of which was made back in 1191. When staying in this historically lively city,  a luxury five star hotel is necessary that is equidistant to all of the popular landmarks, while also embodying the spirit of the city it lives in.

With a mean annual temperature of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the Atlantic Gulf Stream provides Ireland with a mild climate, given its latitude. Ireland does, however, receive a great deal of moisture, with some areas receiving more than 270 days of rain a year. But, this is what gives Ireland its notorious blanket of every shade of green.

The benefit of visiting Ireland in November is you are between fall and winter seasons, so are more likely to have it to yourself, with the summer-fall visitors long gone and the few winter visitors not yet arrived.

The Emerald Isle is famous for its cuisine, pubs, literary figures, picturesque villages and golf heritage, all of which can be part of a November visit. Fully enjoying Ireland’s attractions in November just means packing according to the expected weather, dressing in layers, and bringing appropriate head and footwear to stay comfortable, warm, and dry.

Dublin  is the capital and largest city of Ireland.  It is located  in the province of Leinster on Ireland’s east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and bordered to the South by the Wicklow Mountains.

Founded as a Viking settlement, the Kingdom of Dublin became Ireland’s principal city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire before the Acts of Union in 1800. Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State, later renamed Ireland.

Trinity College

Where to stay :

InterContinental Dublin

The InterContinental is a boutique luxury hotel known for its flawless and effortlessly efficient service. Located further down south at Ballsbridge, this hotel isn’t particularly well connected to the rest of the city and all the prime attractions of the city.

As such, this is ideal for those who favor a quieter and more leisurely lifestyle. The hotel itself has enough amenities in it so that you never really need to leave the hotel as you have access to the restaurants, reading rooms, spas, and swimming pools.

However, because it’s located within the embassy belt of the city, you can walk over to some chic restaurants, parks, and even bars, and rest assured that you won’t find yourself in a really crowded location. If you love the sea, you can walk over to it within 15 minutes.

The interiors of this luxury hotel are appropriately grand with luxurious intricate carpets, twinkling chandelier, charming floral displays, and some modern artwork and sculptures as well. The hotel features around 200 rooms over all, and these accommodations are available in a lot of different sizes.

The bathrooms are all marble clad, and all the rooms have their own Nespresso machines. If you take a room higher up you can also wake up every morning to a stunning sweeping view of the city and its sea and mountainous neighbors. The suites also feature their very own balconies.

The Westbury Hotel

Perhaps the greatest advantage of staying at this five star luxury hotel is how well connected it is to all the important sights and locations of Dublin. It’s located in the very heart of the city, Central Dublin, and is very close to prime attractions such as Westbury Mall, the Trinity College campus, and Grafton Street’s Pubs.

You can take a lovely stroll in the morning over to the lush sights offered by St Stephen’s Green. The hotel seems quite like a business hotel with its sleek and efficient layout with white marbles and wood panels, however it is made a little more cosy and personable with the presence of some locally made Irish carpets and linen.

The rooms and suites of the hotel feature neutral shades and hues, along with heated marbled bathroom floors, and complementary WiFi connections. The best suite in the hotel, the Presidential Hotel, is a true luxury with private concierge services, private spa, and swimming pool. The rooms also feature plenty of natural light streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

And in case you want to sleep in for the day, there are large black silk curtains that can completely block out the sun for you. Some guests have complained about the fact that the lower rooms can be a little noisy, which is perhaps a by-product of the hotel being so well-connected.

Westin Dublin

The Westin is yet another superbly connected and located luxury hotel. It stretches out along a complete block of Central Dublin, and is within walking distance of such attractions as Trinity College, the Parliament house, and Dublin’s primary lounge and entertainment area — the Temple Bar.

The neighborhood is replete with a lot of great cultural hotspots, such as art galleries, museums, and even charming cafes and restaurants. The general decor of the hotel is tastefully opulent with intricate markings on the walls and ceilings, and the lobby ceilings are decked with Waterford chandeliers.

Prague 

Prague  is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, the 14th largest city in the European Union and also the historical capital of Bohemia. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.4 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of 2.2 million.  The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and chilly winters.

“Prague: The City of a Thousand Spires”

The city of Prague in Czech Republic was perceived as a mysterious place by the European tourists for some years till recently but overnight it became the hot and happening spot for summer vacations due to its architectural gems and historical buildings.

Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe.

Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square with the Prague astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, Petřín hill and Vyšehrad. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The old statues on the Charles Bridge have many superstitions associated with it but still the tourists go there to partake in the view of the sunsets from there. The national library and the Clementium is famous for the collection of Jesuit books and the Astronomical Clock in the old town square is the perfect place to start when trying to explore the city.

Where to stay :

Four Seasons Hotel Prague

Located in the Old Town in Prague, the 5-star Four Seasons Hotel offers views of the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.

The Cotto Crudo Restaurant serves fine Italian cuisine with fresh ingredients and homemade pasta. A raw bar, a cheese cave and a wine cellar, as well as a salami and prosciutto tower are all inviting to relax after a busy day in the historic city.

Guests can enjoy AVA Spa which is set in a historic neo-classical building overlooking Prague Castle. Based on water and mineral rich products, exclusive facial and body treatments with moor mud are enhanced with state-of-the-art traditional Czech inspired thermal baths menu.

Historical sites including the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and the Mala Strana can be reached within a 5-minute walk. The Prague castle is 1.5 km away and the Staromestska Tube Stop is 300 m from the hotel.

 

Guests praise Four Seasons Hotel Prague for its exceptional service, which includes a concierge.

Prague  is a great choice for travellers interested in history, architecture and culture.

Venice

When you think of Venice, you probably think of riding in romantic gondolas down the canals of the city. That is a fair impression, and it accounts for the primary reason why this capital city from Italy’s Veneto region draws tourists from across the globe. It is quite possibly one of the most romantic getaways in the world, with a culture and architectural aesthetic that seems untouched by the prodding fingers of modernity. Most of the city features Renaissance and Gothic architectural influences, which accounts for the rustic and otherworldly aura of the city.

Venice ,  Italian: Venezia,  Venesia,  is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is situated across a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by bridges, of which there are 400. The islands are located in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Parts of Venice are renowned for the beauty of their settings, their architecture, and artwork. The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a World Heritage Site.

The name is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC.  The city was historically the capital of the Republic of Venice. Venice has been known as the “La Dominante,” “Serenissima,” “Queen of the Adriatic,” “City of Water,” “City of Masks,” “City of Bridges,” “The Floating City,” and “City of Canals.”

The Republic of Venice was a major financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain, and spice) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century.

The City State of Venice is considered to have been the first real international financial center which gradually emerged from the 9th century to its peak in the 14th century.  This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history.

Ιt is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the Renaissance period. After the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna, the Republic was annexed by the Austrian Empire, until it became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866, following a referendum held as a result of the Third Italian War of Independence. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.

Venice has been ranked the most beautiful city in the world as of 2016. The city is facing some major challenges, however, including financial difficulties, erosion, pollution, subsidence and an excessive number of tourists in peak periods.

Every other year, in odd-numbered years, Venice hosts the Biennale for Art. This international arts showcase is a world-renowned event and takes place from June to November. The Biennale is a very popular event, so be prepared to find Venice more booked up than usual when it is on.

The fall is a lovely time to visit Venice, but it is also when the acqua alta (flooding, or literally “high water”) is more likely to occur. October through January is the typical high water season, though flooding can occur at any time during the year. While high water can definitely hamper your sightseeing, know that it has been a way of life for Venetians for hundreds of years and is a unique experience to have as a tourist.

Where to stay :

Belmond Hotel Cipriani

Located on the easternmost point of the Giudecca island, this luxury hotel is truly Venetian in taste and design. This hotel isn”t right in the midst of the waterways of Venice, however it’s a short ride away.

It offers stunning vistas of the City of Water, and offers you access and solitude together, thus being a perfect retreat for the more introspective travelers.

Suite life in Belmond Hotel Cipriani Venice

The boutique hotel is designed in a very elegant fashion with lush manicured lawns, a luxurious spa, and a large swimming pool.

Every single room in this hotel has large spacious bathrooms, and private balconies from which to look out into the city. In addition to that, the hotel is known to have played host to a number of different celebrated personalities, though their identities are handled with all due discretion

The Gritti Palace A Luxury Collection Hotel

This boutique hotel is located along the Grand Canal, and as such is in the very heart and soul of the city. You can go up to the Gritti terrace and simply watch as the gondolas and water taxis pass by, carrying lovers and tourists down the canals of the City of Water.

You also get a nice view of one of Venice’s foremost churches named Santa Maria della Salute. While the hotel is quite close to prime attractions and spots such as the Calle Largo XXII Marzo, it is also sequestered enough to be peaceful and quiet.

This hotel also comes with a lot of history attached, considering the structure on which the hotel has been established used to be a palace back in 1475.

The entire hotel has only recently undergone restoration, in which all the paintings and sculptures of the hotel were restored and rejuvenated. They also installed a lovely spa called Acqua di Parma spa in case you need a little rejuvenation.

The interiors of the hotel are grand, to say the least. They feature Murano chandeliers, and all the walls of the hotel are adorned with beautiful classical pieces of art.

Even though the bathrooms are relatively small in size, they’re still well designed and marble clad. There’s not a touch of contemporary here. It’s all a paean to a romanticized past.

Hotel Danieli a Luxury Collection Hotel

This is a luxurious five star hotel on the waterfront of Venice. It is located on the Riva degli Schiavoni, from which you can also go to St Mark’s Square via a short and brief gondola ride. Because this is such a prime tourist location, it’s often quite heavy on traffic and noise, however if you want a little more peace, you can set off into the side streets of Castello.

The hotel comprises three buildings — the Palazzo Dandolo, the Excelsior, and Casa Nuovo. While Palazzo Dandolo is a 14th century structure, and thus quite ancient in quality, the other buildings are considerably modern.

The reception area is always crowded, however the lounge area is well decorated with a truly lovely ceiling. Overall there are 210 rooms in the hotel, of 13 different types, and many of them look out at the lagoon.

Doge Dandolo Royal Suite.

The rooms of the hotel are regally decked up with thick intricate lacquered furnitures, Murano chandeliers on the ceilings, and damask curtains.

It features a rooftop restaurant by the name of Terrazza Danieli which offers one of the most gorgeous and unhindered sights of the city around.

If you stay at the Casa Nuova part of the hotel then you’ll be met with a contrasting and more minimalist aesthetic of creamy wallpapers and pastel shades all around. As such, you can decide for yourself the kind of vibe you’d prefer.

The Westin Hotel Europa & Regina Venice

The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice  Grand Canal 

The Westin Hotel Europa & Regina is one of the best located luxury hotels in all of Venice. It’s located on the Grand Canal itself. A short gondola ride can also take you to other prime attractions of the city such as Piazza San Marco or Santa Maria della Salute, a revered church. The hotel is a combination of about 5 different buildings, all built between the 17th and 19th centuries. As such the architectural design and stylistic motifs of the hotel are distinctly authentic, with elegant furnitures, ornate mirrors, and even a piano bar near the lobby. The rooms all bear distinct personalities as they weren’t all originally intended to be hotel rooms.

Palazzina G

The Palazzina G definitely sticks out against the background of Venice and amongst all the other hotels because it favors style and class over all else.

If you’re in Venice but don’t necessarily want to be staying in a classical or traditional hotel, you can opt for this ultra chic and modernist luxury hotel, featuring rooms that are completely and perfectly pristine white!

The luxury hotel lies alongside the grand canal and several rooms and suites offer a view of the canal. If you care for art then the Palazzo Grassi contemporary art gallery is just opposite to this grand hotel.

Located near St Mark’s square, the neighborhood is generally peaceful and calm, and accessible to all the prime locations of the city

Paris

Paris, the city of Love, doesn’t really need much of an introduction. It’s universally acknowledged to be the most romantic place on Earth, and it’s the world’s cultural center, replete with brilliant roadside cafes, art shows, fashion shows, and other cultural activities that never cease.

As the leaves change and people swap their decorative gourds for twinkle lights, many travelers around the world are looking for a place to visit for the end of fall.

Autumn in Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris. The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Garden, located in the arrondissement of Paris.

Paris has its charms with each season, a series of new initiatives, coupled with autumnal traditions and smaller crowds, make November the perfect time to visit the City of Light.

Each year November tends to be one of the calmer moments for Paris, as it sits between the throngs of August arrivals and the crush of Christmas tourists.

Visitors won’t have to spend an hour to get into the Musée Rodin or the Louvre, and the lull can give travelers the chance to experience Paris as the Parisians do. With the heat lamps turned on, café-goers can enjoy a “vin chaud” (mulled wine) or “grog” (hot lemon rum tea) on terraces across the city.

Paris’s Champs-Élysées could well be the most famous street in the world. Beautifully manicured trees line the 1.2-mile-long avenue, which stretches from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc d Triomphe (shown).

One of the most Beautiful bridges of the world is located also in Paris. The Pont Alexandre III is a deck arch bridge that spans the Seine in Paris. It connects the Champs-Élysées quarter with those of the Invalides and Eiffel Tower. The bridge is widely regarded as the most ornate, extravagant bridge in the city.  It is classified as a French Monument historique.

The construction of the bridge is a marvel of 19th century engineering, consisting of a 6 metres (20 ft) high single span steel arch. The design, by the architects Joseph Cassien-Bernard  and Gaston Cousin, was constrained by the need to keep the bridge from obscuring the view of the Champs-Élysées or the Invalides.

Where to stay :

Four Seasons George V Paris

The Paris Four Seasons hotel was originally established in 1928 to honor George V. Originally, the hotel bore a distinctly Art Deco aesthetic, though recent renovations favored a more modernist look.

It is perhaps the most extravagant and opulent hotel in all of Paris, with the appearance and visage of a Palace, vast sprawled out hallways and rooms, and gastronomic food that simply doesn’t cease to delight the senses.

It also features some of the most charming flower displays and arrangements made by the hotel’s Florist.

It’s located amidst the golden triangle of Paris, snug between the Champs-Elysées and Alma-Marceau. This entire neighborhood is always buzzing with high art, culture, and life. The hotel is also much revered in the city because of its rich history and heritage.

As already mentioned, it was created in an Art Deco style, however over the years they’ve been auctioned off to go for a a pared down look. Now one can only see echoes of its past, though sometimes that is enough.

Even the simplest of the rooms are all luxurious. Some of the rooms feature heavy patterned wallpapers with densely patterned bedspreads, however most of the rooms are minimalist in aesthetic.

Hotel Ritz Paris

Perhaps one of the most convenient aspects of staying at the Hotel Ritz is the fact that it’s located close to eight different metro stations that can take you wherever you want in Paris.

As such, you couldn’t find a hotel better connected than this. The only slight hiccup is that it comes with a pretty expensive price tag. The hotel has been designed in a luxurious 18th-century Parisian style, and is just walking distance from attractions such as Place Vendôme and the Palais Garnier.

The rooms in this hotel are actually called apartments, which is just one of many efforts the hotel takes to make them feel more homely to the visitors. These rooms come in neutral tones and shades, though they have a spattering of gold embellishments.

The Prestige Suites of the hotel all bear a distinct personality, as they overlook specific landmarks of Paris. You can even check yourself into the Suite Coco Chanel, which has been named after their most famous guest and is designed in the visage of her most popular designs.

If you’re in the mood for a drink, you can go over to the Bar Hemingway, or you can grab a meal at L’Espadon. In fact, the hotel also offers a complementary cooking class in case you’re interested!

The Peninsula Paris

This is a typically extravagant and luxurious boutique five star hotel, made in a Parisian style but with modern amenities such as complementary WiFi, large screen LED TVs, etc. The suites are a pleasantly strange hybrid of traditional details rendered in a modernist style. The bathrooms feature marble flooring, with dark wooden cabinets and fixtures.

If you’re into a bit of history, this is the hotel where the Paris Peace Accords were signed, thus putting an end to the Vietnam War. It is also quite well connected with a metro station close by, and sites such as Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe just walking distance away.

To top it off, all guests can avail of up to three hours of complementary chauffeur service to take them around Paris. After a long and tedious day exploring the city, you can return to their charming restaurants — LiLi, or L’Oiseau Blanc.

The former of these gives you a taste of lovely Cantonese dishes, whereas the other features traditional Parisian dishes along with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower.

Hotel Plaza Athenee

Hotel Plaza Athenee is legitimately what Parisian dreams are made of. It is a luxurious and charming hotel with ornate chandeliers hanging over dining halls, tinkling ever so gently against the wind, and courtyards covered in a variety of foliage and flora.

The lobby of the hotel features some ornate flower decorations atop silver conical surfaces. The hotel also features a lovely courtyard that is converted into a winter rollerskating wonderland.

As for the rooms, some of them are designed completely in neutral beige and yellow shades,

whereas others feature a heavy palette with a lot of purples and chromatic shades.

Other than the classy and charming aesthetic, the hotel also features 5 brilliant restaurants, the most popular one being Le Relais Plaza,

which has been inspired and fashioned along the lines of Paris circa 1920s. The hotel also offers concierge and chauffeur service, but because of the hotel’s prime location transportation is hardly necessary.

It is merely a few minutes walk from Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées and the Louvre. In addition to being a location perfect for tourists, the hotel is also located in a place that’s full of stores by big names like Armani, Dior, Chanel, and Vuitton.

Hotel Le Bristol

This hotel was established back in 1925, and it thankfully prioritizes heritage and aesthetic over contemporary designs. It is also famous for having hosted such celebrities as Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe.

It’s also the home to a rooftop swimming pool from which you can look over the entire city lit up at night.

You can also go and get yourself a nice spa therapy if you’re stressed, and if you have children you can drop them off to play at the kid’s club. The five star hotel is built with a grand and luxurious limestone facade which overlooks the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

The interiors of the hotel and the rooms feature a light pink aesthetic which imbues the boutique hotel with a vibrant aura. As such the general aura of the hotel is definitely feminine, and they even use upholstery in some rooms that is a blend of deep green and pink.

In fact, Le Bristol is one of six hotels in all of Paris which has been afforded the status of ‘Palace’ which is a step above five star status. The crowning glory of this hotel is its 3 Michelin starred restaurant named Epicure, which mostly features french and Parisian dishes.

Shangri-La Hotel Paris

This luxury five star hotel is located so close to the bank of the river Seine that you feel like you can almost reach out and touch it. When you look out the window, you can see the Eiffel Tower standing tall in all its glory.

A true pleasure for a sybarite, this hotel gives you a glimpse into the aristocratic and elitist past of France with its over-indulgence in luxury and sensory overload.

The hotel features a wedding-cake shaped facade, and several salons that have been recreated into what they looked like in the days gone by. The work and effort clearly shows as the minutest of details have been taken care of.