Elite Traveler Winter 2020

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The Presidential Suite at Grantley Hall

A 17th-century stately home in the Yorkshire Dales, Grantley Hall has taken on countless guises: from family mansion to a convalescent home during the SecondWorldWar, to a college and now a Relais & Châteaux hotel, served up on the world’s shiniest silver spoon. Those in the know flock to the North Yorkshire estate to play in the spa’s fabulous marble-clad pool, train in the elite gym, go wannabe royal in the classically chic boudoirs, or simply spend their days eating themselves silly in one of chef Shaun Rankin’s swathe of swanky dining hangouts —but get this: A new hot Grantley ticket has come to play, and this time bling reigns seriously supreme. A diamond getaway

surrounded loveseat and you’ve got all the hallmarks for a romantic yarn of yore. A stay in the resplendent Presidential Suite is part of the deal. Secluded and oh-so over the top, it is hidden away in the Fountain Wing, and is accessed only from the rooftop atrium via a discreet hallway. Inside, there’s an imposing lounge with baby grand piano, an eccentric sitting room and a stately dining salon. Views of the gardens and the River Skell are perks, as is the huge bedroom. Major highlight? The Italian marble-clad bathroom. Expect a four-piece affair with double vanity, roomy tub and a walk-in shower that is also a Klafs steam room.

The hotel’s new special occasion jewelry experience brings all the perks of bespoke sparkle straight to your regal chamber, in a partnership with prestigious Yorkshire-based jeweler NJ Geddes (think Belle Époque meets Art Deco chic). Guests will sit down with the bijouterie expert and craft their very own personalized set of jewels, from engagement rings to bracelets, gifts and commemorative pieces (diamonds, sapphires and all shades of rose gold included). There are three levels of experience to choose from based on spend, but we recommend the full-blown £30,000 (approx. $39,000) two-night Grantley Hall extravaganza. Pair the sparkle with the moat-

Photos Sacha Ferrier, Roth Read Photography