Elite Traveler Summer 2023

This image, below Tivoli Palácio de Seteais; Agatha Christie Signature Premium room

TIVOLI PALÁCIO DE SETEAIS One of several designated palaces within the Unesco Cultural Landscape of Sintra World Heritage Site, Tivoli Palácio de Seteais forms an integral part of the town’s architectural landscape. The grand hotel, which sits on the fringes of the picturesque Portuguese Riviera, began its life in the late 18th century as a residential palace for the Dutch Consul in Portugal. Following his death, the building was expanded under the lead of its new owner, the 5th Marquis of Marialva. This remodeling saw the original structure become one of two symmetrical wings, with the new palace taking on an even grander U shape. By the early 19th century, a new neoclassical central arch had been built in honor of Prince Regent John VI and Princess Carlota Joaquina, who are said to have visited. Seemingly plucked straight from the set of Bridgerton , the palace remains as lavish as they come, having been run as a hotel since 1954. Many of the original features have been carefully preserved, and interiors are every inch Romantic-era glamour: Tall, draped windows invite in fl oods of sunlight; intricately restored frescoes adorn the walls and ceilings; ornate gilded fi xtures shine at every turn. Outside, the preened beauty continues. Immaculately tended gardens with soaring and impossibly angular hedges are punctuated by cooling water fountains and blooming fl owers, with free-roaming peacocks making the place their own. Guests will be surprised to fi nd that, despite the hotel’s grandeur, Palácio de Seteais o ff ers just 30 bedrooms. The top key is to the Royal Suite — which features a separate lounge area and a private balcony with views across the gardens — but for a real dose of history, look no further than the Signature Rooms, which previously served as home-away from-home accommodations for the likes of Portuguese author Eça de Queiroz and English writer Agatha Christie. Genius creations aren’t guaranteed, but you might just feel some literary inspiration after a night or two here. When not penning their next novel, guests can indulge in Palácio de Seteais’s many amenities — there’s an elegant restaurant, a designated wine tasting room, a serene outdoor pool and a contemporary Anantara spa. Signature Premium rooms from $930 per night. Contact gr.palacioseteais@tivoli-hotels.com, +351 219 233 200, tivolihotels.com

AIRELLES CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES

The one and only hotel at the famed Palace of Versailles, the history of Airelles Château de Versailles is closely entwined with the Palace itself. Found just outside Paris, the chateau is at the heart of the Palace and was originally built in the 17th century as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII. It was later expanded and transformed into a grand palace by the Sun King himself (a man known for his extravagance), King Louis XIV. During the French Revolution in the late 18th century, the Palace of Versailles was abandoned and fell into dilapidation. In the 19th century, the chateau was used as a military hospital and later as a storage facility for the French government. In the 19th century, the Palace of Versailles was restored and opened to the public as a museum and, in the 2000s, the chateau was acquired by a group of investors. And thus the meticulous restoration project to turn it into a hotel began. O ffi cially opening in 2020, Le Grand Contrôle, a former private home built by Louis XIV’s favorite architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, is now a resplendent hotel that has just 11 guest rooms and two signature suites. Each is unique and utterly gorgeous, and named for previous guests: Rose Bertin, named for the French milliner, known as the dressmaker to Queen Marie Antoinette and championed for bringing fashion and haute couture into the spotlight; Turgot, named for Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, Baron de l’Aulne, a French economist and statesman; and Madame de Staël, an homage to the novelist and philosopher. All have been gorgeously out fi tted in true palatial style — dripping chandeliers, royal four-poster beds, claw-foot bathtubs, period furniture and, in some, Versailles parquet fl ooring and grandiose fi replaces. If you can’t choose just one of the sumptuous abodes, opt for Le Grand Appartement. Comprising the Turgot Junior Suite, the Madame de Fouquet Suite (and its 320-sq-ft terrace), the Necker Suite and the Grand Library, the apartment can host up to six guests and spans 3,230 sq ft. All guests of Le Grand Contrôle have rather special privileges — an after-hours tour of the Palace, a morning guided tour of Domaine de Trianon before it is open for the public, use of electric golf carts and electric boats, complimentary minibar and daily afternoon tea, and the services of a butler. Breakfast comes courtesy of Alain Ducasse at the Michelin-starred restaurant, but guests of Le Grand Appartement can host a dinner party with up to 10 friends in the apartment’s library with a menu crafted by the revered chef. From $3,600 per night. Contact reservation.legrandcontrole@airelles.com, +33 185 360 550, airelles.com

Photos Jaideep Oberoi, Renee Kemps-Lov Hôtel Collection