Oh I really love hotels. I always have. Sometimes I think it's the child inside that loves them. When I was a kid, I loved the idea of staying in a hotel because it meant that you were heading somewhere new and wonderful and there was optimism or that you were heading home and you felt great about your trip. Other times I think it's the romantic in me that loves the mystery and the strange yet intriguing thought that you're basically staying in an over sized house with tons of bedrooms among strangers. Either way, hotels have always struck me as fascinating. Maybe it's because I don't travel often and I'm not sick of them yet. They're still a treat.
Hôtel Costes
239 Rue Saint-Honoré 1er, Paris, France
I first came across Hôtel Costes after listening to one of the
compilation albums the hotel puts out. The albums are mainly smooth jazz mixed with deep house, which is right up my alley. The DJ Stéphane Pompougnac puts them together ever so wonderfully. I read somewhere that the tracks are basically what they play in their hotel bar and lounge. Other than a collection of CDs that Hôtel Costes has, their courtyard is world famous. It looks like a bit of the south of France in the middle of Paris. Not to mention their
Twin Peaks - esque bedrooms with a common denominator of red velvet.
Hotel Chelsea
222 W 23rd Street, New York City, USA
The grimiest and the one with the most history, Hotel Chelsea doesn't really fit on this list as far as opulence and luxury go. It is, however, definitely one of those world renowned hotels that everyone seems to know about thanks to its long list of attendants (Jack Kerouac, Stanley Kubrick, Iggy Pop, Simone de Beauvoir, Patti Smith, Vincent Gallo and Edie Sedgwick.) as well as where Sid Vicious' girlfriend Nancy Spungen was found stabbed to death in late 1978. It feels very New York, with its
art pop lobby, classic rooms and picturesque hallways and staircases, those wooden floors and bay windows looking out to Chelsea.
Chateau Marmont
8221 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, USA
Now made famous by Lana del Rey, it seems, Chateau Marmont is perfect California luxury. I'm particularly attracted to the last photo with the dark wood furnishings, the romantic flowers, beige walls and the perfect way the sun is shining on the couch and onto the floor (I do actually miss that California sunshine on occasion). I'm definitely dreaming of Chateau Marmont the most at the moment because of its pool with deep green leaves making one feel incognito and the Spanish inspired lounge. I just want to lounge around in white cotton pants and a bathing suit top with cat eye sunglasses feeling the breeze from the ocean a few miles away.
L'hotel Paris
13 Rue des Beaux-Arts 6e, Paris, France
Talk about opulence. L'hotel Paris is where Oscar Wilde infamously spent his last 16 days with these words to define them, "I am dying beyond all means." I don't think I'd be too macabre while spending my last 16 days at a place like this. L'hotel seems to look like it's for the older crowd. The furnishings and color feel more mature and distinguished compared to Hôtel Costes almost forced opulence drawing in the beatnicks of the current generation. L'hotel doesn't have snazzy bar or sexy courtyard but a wonderful dining area and sensual, grownup bedrooms.
The Ritz London
150 Piccadilly, London, England
The Ritz looks so incredibly English and Parisienne at the same time. It looks like Versailles but then again so does Buckingham Palace and the Ritz looks like Buckingham Palace, for sure. On some occasions hotels with such decadent decor will have "normal" rooms (you know, the ones that don't look like the Queen and/or Marie Antoinette have stayed there) but I don't think the Ritz has any of those. I would at least like to think that every room is as insane as the second picture.
Public Chicago Hotel
1301 N State Parkway, Chicago, USA
I had no idea something so chic and minimal and contemporary was in the middle of the city I know call home. It's magnificent Pump Room decor and extremely stylish lobby are making me want to go up the Gold Coast and stay there for no other reason than to gawk at the decor and architecture. The lack of color is superb, save for the occasional pieces of foliage and coffee table books. Stay away if you're a chronically messy person and don't bring your kids here as it looks like most of the rooms are stark white.
