Travel Hobby: Old Hotels

[theurbanfiles]

https://www.historichotels.org/hotel...search=top-nav

As far as the US, people might find this link (this map) helpful and interesting for getting ideas.

In Tampa, the Hotel Floridan (or Floridan Palace), I have stayed a couple times at and it is pretty nice and comparatively reasonable rate overall. Of course, the place could do with certain updates. But, in general I really enjoyed it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=flor...w=1366&bih=625

Cleveland has a few impressive old hotels also. Most notably, the Hyatt Regency at the Arcade, where my wife and I got engaged. The rooms themselves I think are kind of modern with nothing particularly unique, but the building itself is an absolute treasure (like, on a national or even global scale), and has a great location right across from the most bustling section of Downtown Cleveland:
https://www.google.com/search?safe=s...24.q_xSefxKcp4

Mexico City is absolutely chock full with stunning hotel spaces. We stayed at the Hampton Inn right there which had a beautiful stained glass ceiling and certain portions of the building which dated to 1700s. Right nearby though (we didn't stay, but did take advantage of the rooftop bar there), is the Grand Hotel, right on the Zocalo. It has so much chops that it was featured in a James Bond movie. An absolute masterpiece, here are some pictures:
https://www.google.com/search?safe=s...30.Aus_PKB7qJA

As far as certain bucket list hotels. So, the AIA came up with an "America's Favorite Architecture" list a few years back. While I don't completely agree with it's validity, it definitely honors some of America's most iconic and inspiring buildings. These are the 10 hotels ranked highest, along with their overall rank among buildings in the country (various building types were rated).
1. St. Regis (New York City) (16th)
2. Hotel Del Coronado (San Diego) (18th)
3. Bellagio Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas) (22nd)*
4. Ahwahnee Hotel (Yosemite Valley) (26th)
5. Old Faithful Inn (Yellowstone) (36th)
6. Delano Hotel (Miami Beach) (39th)
7. Waldorf Astoria (New York City) (46th)
8. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Kohala Coast) (55th)*
9. Disney World Swan and Dolphin (Lake Buena Vista) (70th)*
10. Willard Hotel (Washington DC) (76th)
11. Broadmoor Hotel (Colorado Springs) (78th)
12. The Plaza Hotel (New York City) (81st)
13. Sofitel Water Tower (Chicago) (82nd)*
14. Fairmont Hotel (San Francisco) (89th)

The reason of course I did more than 10 other than that I found the list fascinating, was that some modern structures were ranked highly too (at least in the case of Swan/Dolphin which I stayed at-I felt it deserving). The reality is that there are so many hotels out there that perhaps many could argue for others being ranked higher. But generally speaking, these are some of America's most iconic hotels.

[SunGrins]

Originally Posted by Dd714

Those may be historical American landmarks but most aren't really old hotels. If that's your hobby, you should start traveling international. Stay at a few 800 year old abbey's, keeps, and old lodges.

I don’t count the European hotels I have stayed at because that isn’t all that remarkable. Some are nice and some have been rehabbed 6 or 7 times. Many go back 400 years. I’m more impressed with the American historical hotels because we have a throw away culture and most are torn down.

[cebuan]

My favorite "old world" hotel is the Sovet-era Kirovanan in Vanadzor, Armenia. User raves are unanimous, guests are still treated like "guests" by motherly staff, I loved resting in my room and hearing guests playing the grand piano in the high-chandeliered lobby. Wait -- $15 a night.

[prospectheightsresident]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zero

That looks like an amazing hotel. How was your room? How was the service? Did you eat there as well?

We’ll stay at old hotels every now and then for a change of pace to experience the atmosphere and because the service and food are usually pretty good, but overall I’d rather stay in more modern hotels with updated fixtures and (usually) more space.

The two older hotels that we’ve stayed at multiple times are the Waldorf Astoria & Towers in New York (main hotel rooms were really worn, but the Tower rooms were definitely nicer and better kept), and the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego (rooms are also pretty worn, but the food and the beautiful architecture/beach setting keep us coming back).

It does! I'd stay there in a heartbeat.

[SunGrins]

I'm writing this from the St. James Hotel in Cimarron NM tonight as I wrap up an almost 3000 mile road trip. The St. James was opened in 1872 by Henri Lambert, Abraham Lincoln's personal chef. Buffalo Bill, General Sheridan, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and a dozen other famous characters stayed here. I'm in Mr. Howard's usual room (AKA Jesse James). Bob Ford, the dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard, stayed here too. Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur and one-time governor of New Mexico stayed here. Of course it's haunted... aren't they all? The hotel has a bloody history of over a dozen killings in or around the hotel and its saloon. The historic rooms have been restored but a more modern annex with TVs and some modern features was added across the courtyard.

[maineguy8888]

I've actually become more and more turned off by the modern, cookie-cutter hotels as time goes by. They will do in a pinch. But I find myself drawn to the older ones these days.........even the ones from the 1960s, 70s and 80s are great (as long as they've been well-maintained). We recently stayed at the Lake Powell Resort in Arizona, which dates to the 1960s, and really enjoyed what many reviewers would call its "dated" appearance.

We are going to the White Mountains of New Hampshire this summer for the first time, and I had booked at the Hampton Inn, which is a nice facility. But I came across the Eagle Mountain House.........the first version was built in 1879; the current building in 1913. It's a member of Historic Hotels of America---a great organization (https://www.historichotels.org/). And it's on the National Register of Historic Places. I had to cancel the Hampton and book at the Eagle Mountain House. Can't wait. Here's a short video: https://www.eaglemt.com/?gclid=Cj0KC...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Hefe]

I remember, though just barely, staying in a rather ordinary B&B in London winter of 1971. I think it was very old school small working class affair with the sink & mirror in the room & the "loo" shared in the hallway. The reason I bring it up in this thread is because it's the only time I've stayed in a room that had the classic old British heating scheme of having to put a shilling coin into a heater in order to get a metered time's worth of heat. Occasionally I see this referenced in some old Brit film or story.

(On this same very short visit I just happened to see a hippie style busker who performed a flamboyant circus-geek style act in a local pub for the price of a couple of pints & a donation into his passed around hat. A few years ago I got curious & did some internet digging & it turns out he became a Dr Who & has had a successful TV/film career including a prominent role in one of the movie blockbusters of recent years.)

[cebuan]

Originally Posted by Hefe

I remember, though just barely, staying in a rather ordinary B&B in London winter of 1971.

Probabliy in Edgeware Road, 15 shillings a night ($2.10).

[Frihed89]

Originally Posted by cebuan

Probabliy in Edgeware Road, 15 shillings a night ($2.10).

Those days are over.