Exclusive hotels offer more than accommodation. They are steeped in history, charm, and a sense of presence that has seen the world’s elite enter through their doors. From Heads of State to politicians and Hollywood stars, these prestigious establishments are adored by those who understand what luxury really means.

Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri, Italy

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Located in the heart of jewel-like Capri, the iconic Grand Hotel Quisisana is synonymous with the glamour of the island. It has attracted an exclusive crowd since opening in 1860, hosting the brightest stars of the time, from Ernest Hemingway to Tom Cruise. The hotel is also a draw for yacht-loving European aristocrats.

Located in the heart of Anacapri, towards the west of the island, the hotel overlooks the glittering Gulf of Naples. Here you can sit back with a cocktail and soak up dramatic views of Mount Vesuvius and Sorrento. One of Italy’s most exclusive hotels, the interiors exude old-world charm with marble floors, ornate chandeliers and richly colored walls. Elegant and spacious rooms, fine dining and a sumptuous spa complete the celebrity lifestyle.

Discover this on: Ultimate Italy

Related content: 5 of the best Passport Moments you’ll enjoy with Luxury Gold

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec, Canada

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Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec is an iconic landmark that has been standing for over a century. Renowned as one of the best luxury hotels in the world, guests can enjoy stunning architecture, impeccable service and unparalleled views of the city.

A symbol of opulence and sophistication, the hotel has been visited by many prominent figures over the years. Hollywood stars and Heads of state have graced the hotel’s rooms, including Franklin Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth II and Alfred Hitchcock.

Dining at Le Chateau Frontenac is to experience a masterpiece of French-inspired cuisine. Local ingredients elevate dishes and experts pair each with an extensive wine list. The opulent ambiance of the restaurant, with its grand chandeliers and rich decor, is matched only by the flawless service. It makes for a truly indulgent dining experience.

Discover this on: Indulgence in Eastern Canada

 Read more: The revered Quebec City hotel with an iconic movie star reputation

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Iguazzu Falls, Brazil

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Stretching across the border of Brazil and Argentina, the mighty falls of the Iguazzu River make up the largest waterfall system in the world. And guests of the 5-star Belmond Hotel Las Cateras, can enjoy sublime views of the mighty cascades.

A pastel-pink jungle hideaway, the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas has played host to countless notable figures. Princess Diana, Prince Albert of Monaco, David Rockefeller, Eleonor Roosevelt, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Anthony Hopkins, Jackie Chan and Paul Simon are among the famous faces that have stayed there.

Relax in the pool and soak up the sounds of the jungle, stroll orchid gardens and sip caipirinhas as the sun goes down. And, as one of the best spa hotels you will find in Brazil, local, responsibly harvested ingredients form the base for sumptuous treatments, delivering the finest in Amazonian healing.

Discover this on: Classic South America

 Related content: Our top 10 hand-picked luxury hotel stays for 2023

Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan

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From Charlie Chaplin to Marilyn Monroe to Keanu Reeves, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo is the A-listers hotel of choice in the city. A luxurious five-star hotel establishment, this legendary Tokyo landmark it is one of the city’s oldest hotels and has welcomed royalty, heads of state, celebrities and international business leaders for over 115 years.

Opened in 1890 at the request of the Japanese aristocracy, the Imperial Hotel has been rebuilt several times over the decades. The Imperial, one of Tokyo’s most exclusive hotels, is renowned for providing discreet and exceptional service to discerning guests. Located in the heart of the city its, 13 selected gourmet restaurants offer delicious national and international cuisine. This highly sought after establishment combines all its amenities with impeccable Japanese hospitality, for a truly luxurious stay.

Discover this on: Majestic Japan

 Related content: A journey of a lifetime: Unearthing Majestic Japan with Luxury Gold

Hotel Schweizerhof, Luzern, Switzerland

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The moment you step inside the Hotel Schweizerhof in Luzern you’ll be struck by the hotel’s impressive grandeur. A true gem of Swiss hospitality, its crafted floors and marble columns exude elegance from every angle. Offering the highest standards of luxury accommodation, the rooms and suites are impressive. Enjoy plush furnishings, sumptuous bedding and stunning views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Luzern.

Spend a night at the Hotel Schweizerhof and  follow in the footsteps of kings, emperors, writers, politicians, musicians and actors. Each of its 101 rooms and suites tell a story about former guests. These include Leo Tolstoy, Karl Frey, Richard Wagner and Queen Elizabeth II.

The hotel’s gourmet restaurants, Gallerie and Pavillion, offer authentic Lucerne specialties  alongside exotic dishes from the rest of the world. Savor dishes such as Lobster Bisque with vanilla, kaffir lime and mango, Scottish smoked salmon, and honey parfait with black walnuts and pear.

Hotel Bristol, Warsaw, Poland

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The Hotel Bristol in Warsaw is a true masterpiece of luxury and elegance, in the heart of Poland’s capital city. A landmark on the city skyline, its majestic neo-renaissance façade is surrounded by the UNESCO listed Old Town and the Royal Castle. Elegant Art Nouveau interiors house 206 rooms, described as the most luxurious in Poland.

The hotel has long played an integral role in Warsaw life, welcoming guests since 1901 and hosting leading figures from the worlds of politics, music and royalty. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II, the Emperor of Japan, Sofia Loren, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Woody Allen and Placido Domingo have all stayed here.

 Following an extensive renovation, the hotel offers Warsaw’s ‘Belle Époque’ charm combined with contemporary 5-star comforts and service. If you are a lover of exclusive hotels, then the Hotel Bristol will not disappoint. The perfect location from which to explore the city, or relax and enjoy the amenities, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable stay.

Discover this on: Harmony of Central Europe

Hotel Metropole, Venice, Italy

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Superbly located just a few steps from St. Mark’s square, Venice’s Hotel Metropole sits on the edge of the lagoon, with superb views out over the water. One of the city’s most exclusive hotels, this stunning showcase of Italian luxury and history dates back to the 16th century.

Once an orphanage and church, the hotel now has an acclaimed restaurant AND a series of art collections. It also features a historic chapel-turned-Oriental-tearoom. Here Antonio Vivaldi once gave music lessons to orphans in the 1700s.

The hotel offers an ‘intense and theatrical atmosphere’, packed with intricate tapestries, frescoes and Murano glass chandeliers. Music is the heart and soul of this hotel, with Lou Reed, Patty Smith Lenny Kravitz and Grace Jones all staying here over the years. Other amenities at the Hotel Metropole include a luxurious spa and private water taxi service, allowing you to explore Venice’s canals in style.

Discover this on: Ultimate Italy           

 Related content: This little gelateria in San Gimignano may just serve the best gelato in all of Italy

Magnificent stays are at the heart of every Luxury Gold journey. To enjoy these exclusive hotels, and more as you travel, take a look at our exclusive collection of limited-edition luxury guided tours.

For the best Australian food make a reservation at Sydney’s iconic Opera House where Bennelong offers a unique fine dining experience described as ‘Australia on a plate.’ Here a culturally significant and seasonal menu showcases the magnificence of Australian produce and celebrates the country’s bounty of top-quality wines.

The award-winning restaurant is renowned for constantly pushing the boundaries of Australian food and cuisine, while still staying true to the terroir. A visit to Bennelong will serve to tantalize both the taste buds and the inquisitive mind.

Discover this on: Inspiring Australia

The endless possibilities of Australian cuisine

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To define Australian food is not a simple task. Stereotypical views of ‘shrimps on the barbie’ fall short of the mark, although the country’s barbeque talent is legendary. A multicultural country, modern Australian cuisine reflects the people with an eclectic offering. Prepare to taste Greek, Chinese, English, Japanese, Lebanese, Indian, Indigenous and French influences amongst others, both in technique and taste. Australian dishes are often presented as thoughtful yet unpretentious plates that let produce and flavors do the talking.

Peter Gilmore, Executive Chef at Bennelong, once described Australian cuisine as “Reflecting our unique land where you can grow just about any product. It’s a modern society drawing on multicultural influences. We’re able to interpret with freedom and an open mind.”

For travel inspiration: Australia destination guide

Hearts close to the terroir

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Executive Chef Peter Gilmore leads the team in the Bennelong kitchen. One of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, Peter describes his cuisine as ‘food inspired by nature’. A passionate gardener, he is hailed as one of the first chefs in Australia to embrace heirloom varieties of vegetables.

Together with Head Chef Rob Cockerill, Peter works closely to build invaluable relationships with producers as the centrepiece of the cuisine. These include Australian farmers, fishermen and growers many of whom cultivate produce exclusively for Bennelong and its sister restaurant Quay. Both are among Australia’s most awarded fine dining restaurants.

Related content: The ‘world’s best restaurant’ is closing its doors – 4 contenders to steal its crown

A love for all seasons

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The crux of modern Australian food is using the right produce at the right time.

“We will look at what produce is in its prime, and not just vegetables and fruits. We ask ourselves; What fish and seafood are swimming off the coast at the moment? What meat are at the peak of their seasons?,” says Head Chef Rob Cockerill.

“This is something that traditionally the Indigenous people, have been doing forever. Following the seasons and maintaining the environment, so that the next season will be just as plentiful as the last.”

While the change of the seasons in Australia might be subtle in comparison to Europe or the United States, throughout the years the chefs at Bennelong have gained a deeper understanding of the country’s seasons. This also includes how seasonal changes affect the produce that lives and grows locally.

Related content: 5 Michelin Star chefs celebrating local culture through food

A delectable menu

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Sophisticated, relaxed and rooted in the local terroir, the dishes at Bennelong celebrate the complex mix of cultures that form modern Australia and Australian food. The menu celebrates seasonal and local produce that promotes Australian flavors.

Depending on the season, try smoked mackerel with a preserved lemon puree, green wheat and a swordfish bone marrow consommé. Or savor mud crab congee with chawanmushi and palm heart. Maremma pasture-raised duck with hunter sausage, cherries and Kampot pepper, and a smoked eggplant salad with young pistachios, roasted pine nuts, labneh, and crisp falafel on top of baba ghanoush could also tempt your tastes.

Dishes served at this Australian luxury restaurant are built on complex flavors that that you on a journey. At the ground roots of the menu is a desire to showcase quality, predominantly Australian ingredients in pure yet creative form.

Related content: The perfect Australian grape by wine expert Nick Williams of Hungerford Hill

A site of historical significance

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Bennelong is set in arguably one of the most spectacular buildings in one of the world’s most beautiful city locations. The Sydney Opera House, the most famous piece of architecture on Sydney’s Circular Quay, holds an important place in history. And the Bennelong Restaurant is built on a site enriched with history of communal eating and telling stories.

The site is named after an Aboriginal man named Bennelong who had his hut on this historic spot around 200 years ago. Bennelong became a figurehead for relations between Aborigines and the colonists at Government House, which was once located at this point.

Related content: The ‘world’s best restaurant’ is closing its doors – 4 contenders to steal its crown

You can enjoy fine Australian food at Bennelong on our Inspiring Australia luxury guided tour. With each day bookended by exquisite cuisine and magnificent hotels, this is the ultimate way to discover the delights of Australia.

A stunning Quebec City hotel with a worldwide reputation, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac has hosted the likes of Grace Kelly and Sir Winton Churchill. Winner of 2022 Global Hotel of the Year Award, from the prestigious World Luxury Awards, its fairy-tale silhouette presides majestically over the city. If you are thinking of visiting Canada, make it a journey of a lifetime with an iconic movie star stay at this magnificent chateau.

Discover this on: Indulgence in Eastern Canada

A Place in History

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Québec City’s most famous landmark, the impressive Château Frontenac sits perched atop Cape Diamond. Of great historical significance, Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City on the very rock that the hotel is located on. Built more than a century ago in the style of a Renaissance French château, the hotel offers 610 rooms and was designed to convey prestige in keeping with its Old Québec surroundings.

The work of American architect Bruce Price, the Château Frontenac opened in 1893. It was constructed at the request of William Cornelius van Horne, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway who hoped it would become “the most talked about hotel on the continent.”

Americans came to Quebec in their drives during Prohibition and kept coming long after the ban ended. In 1943, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt met here to plan the Allied campaigns.

For travel inspiration: Canada destination guide

Grandiose interiors

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Through many renovations, as comes with a building of this size, the hotel has kept much of its original character. This can be seen in full glory in the public rooms and the gleaming paneled lobby. With its many areas and anti-chambers, some with vaulted ceilings, oil portraits, baronial chandeliers and gold statues, the lobby oozes old-world charm.

The rooms of this Quebec City hotel vary from classic to modern. Enjoy a decadent stay with soft greys, ivories and beige with dark accents, elegant furnishings and all the modern amenities you would expect from a five-star establishment.

Related content: Why New Orleans’ Ritz Carlton Hotel is a cut above the rest

A decadent Spa

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For the ultimate in relaxation, let time stand still at the sixth-floor Moment Spa. Offering a full range of treatments, stunning views over the St. Lawrence River and the city’s fortifications make this a truly unique experience. Large windows illuminate the indoor pool and hot tub, so you can also gaze out as you bathe.

If you are feeling more active there is also a fitness center and gym, bike hire, and in winter months, a direct shuttle to the Mont Sainte-Anne ski resort. In winter you can also enjoy the toboggan slide.

Related content: 6 of the best spas you can visit with Luxury Gold

Exceptional dining

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With a restaurant befitting one of the best hotels in Canada, Quebecoise chef Hugo Coudurier brings some 20 years of experience at world-class establishments, including Michelin-starred restaurants.

At the Champlain Restaurant he offers ambitious nouvelle cuisine québéquoise, using locally sourced products, paired with an impressive wine list. The exciting five-course set menu focuses on local produce and constantly changes to reflect seasonality. Expect to start with dishes such as oysters and Acadian sturgeon caviar. A specialty is Fredo’s Wagyu beef, fed with hemp, organic certified hay and corn and served with Jerusalem artichoke, beets and mushrooms from nearby St-Sauveur. For dessert savor Candied citrus fruits, mandarin sorbet Shiso and clementine sponge cake, depending on the season.

Sip cocktails like Churchill

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If you want to walk in the footsteps of Sir Winston Churchill, then take a seat at the elegant dark-wood 1608 Wine and Cheese Bar. Formerly the Bar Saint-Laurent, it serves a superb range of cocktails along with wines and fragrant local Québec cheeses.

It was at the Bar Saint-Laurent at this Quebec City Hotel that Churchill came to smoke his famous cigars, between two conferences in Quebec, during the Second World War (1943-1944). The hotel also hosted some of the greatest jazz musicians of the time.

Revamped décor combines with traces of ancient history, and the literary atmosphere of old French cafés has been preserved. Take time to enjoy the library with its floor-to-ceiling shelves full of books, encyclopedias and artefacts discovered in the ruins of the Citadel of Québec.

Related content: Top vacation spots for cheese lovers

The ultimate location

Perfectly located in the heart of Old Québec, you have the pleasure of enjoying the city’s magnificent walls just by the hotel. North America’s only walled city, Quebec is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dating back to the 17th Century, the ramparts circle Old Quebec’s upper town and include four gates, three Martello towers and several cannons.

The city sights, including the Citadel and boutique-filled Quartier Petit-Champlain, and the city’s museum, are within a mile’s walk. And, if you came to Quebec for the snow, you have your choice of three ski areas all situated within an hour of the hotel

Related content: 6 of the world’s most beautiful walled cities and towns

If you are inspired to visit Canada and stay at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a luxurious stay at this exquisite Quebec City hotel is a feature on our Indulgence in Eastern Canada limited-edition tour.