Elite Traveler July-August 2018

City These sumptuous suites offer welcome respite from the bustling metropolises in which they reside. After busy days spent shopping and soaking up the sights, return to these veritable cocoons of luxury by Kristen Shirley

ROYAL WING HOTEL CAFÉ ROYAL, LONDON

SHANGRI - LA SUITE SHANGRI-LA BOSPHORUS, ISTANBUL Handmade silk carpets, aged mirrors, sculptures and paintings personally selected by the owners set the scene in the two-bedroom suite overlooking the Bosphorus Strait; it resembles a medieval palace in the Ottoman Empire. Fine furnishings and luxurious fabrics fill the space. With discreet service and a hidden entrance to the suite, you will feel like a sultan during your stay. The view is undoubtedly the highlight. Three private terraces showcase Istanbul’s fascinating cityscape and iconic buildings such as the Topkapi Palace can be seen. Shangri-La’s location on the bank of the strait is a great base for exploring the city — it’s close to Dolmabahçe Palace and the city’s bazaars too. From$23,100 per night. Contact Murat Unal, director of sales andmarketing, murat.unal@ shangri-la.com, +90 212 275 8888, shangri-la.com

When a suite just won’t do, check into a wing of your own. In the Royal Wing at Hotel Café Royal, you can create a 13-bedroom compound, all centered around the incredible Royal Suite. Through its oversized windows on the thoroughly soundproofed first floor, the wing overlooks Regent Street in central London, just down the street from Piccadilly Circus. Soaring ceilings, architectural features from the 19th century and golden details create a sense of grandeur, while modern furnishings and slabs of Carrara marble keep you firmly planted in the 21st century. Allow your butler to attend to your every need, from greeting you at your aircraft and escorting you to VIP immigration services to personalizing your bar with your favorite wines and spirits. From$12,900 per night. Contact Marie Kelly,

director of reservations, marie.kelly@ hotelcaferoyal.com, +44 207 406 3322, hotelcaferoyal.com

ROYAL SUITE HÔTEL PLAZA ATHÉNÉE, PARIS

It doesn’t get more classically Parisian than the lavish Royal Suite at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, one of the city’s original grande dame hotels. The suite features antique furnishings, French artwork and gilded architectural details. The design fromMarie-José Pommereau honors its history and subtly incorporates technology (there are nine flat-screen televisions). With two drawing rooms, four bedrooms, office, kitchen, dining room, steam room and Jacuzzi, it’s the largest suite in Paris. Each room has a different style, from the purple-and- gold master bedroom to the pink-and-silver drawing room. Spanning the width of the fifth floor, it has views of the Eiffel Tower from underneath the hotel’s iconic red awnings. For the security conscious, it has a separate entrance and two security lobbies. From$26,000 per night. Contact Beatrice David, director of sales andmarketing, beatrice.david@dorchester.com, +33 153 676 667, dorchester.com

Photos Guillaume de Laubier, Donna Dotan Photography, George Apostolidis