Elite Traveler Summer 2023

AMAN AT SUMMER PALACE Originally built in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty as a royal retreat for the imperial family, The Summer Palace is an enormous garden complex found in Beijing’s northwestern suburbs. Within its 715 acres, there are impeccable gardens, rolling hills (Longevity Hill is around 200-ft high), tranquil lakes (including Kunming Lake, which takes up about 75% of the palace grounds), temples (the Tower of Buddhist Incense is a three-story pagoda-style that sits on a hilltop) and palaces. A Unesco World Heritage Site, it’s understandably a huge draw for tourists and attracts millions of visitors — but guests of Aman at Summer Palace have their own private entrance. Aman at Summer Palace lies just a few steps from the East Gate of the Summer Palace, which has three openings — the central opening was used exclusively by the emperors and empresses, while the two side entrances were for princes and courto ffi cials. The accommodations are set in a series of handsome pavilions that were once used to accommodate Empress Dowager Cixi’s guests. But for total serenity, opt for the Imperial Suite — although ‘suite’ does not accurately describe this glorious abode, as it is actually three pavilions that you can commandeer all for yourself. The pavilions surround a pretty private courtyard; inside, you’ll fi ndan elegant bedroom, expansive living areas and a private dining area for 14. While the Imperial Suite has its own spa room, be sure to head underground to the hotel’s enormous 53,800-sq-ft, two-story spa, where treatments naturally draw on Imperial and Chinese traditions. According to traditional Chinese medicine, there are fi ve seasons; our bodies should work in tandem with these seasons for optimal health and well-being. Aman’s spa honors this philosophy with a 90-minute seasonal journey. If you visit between March and May, the focus is on the liver; June-August deals with the heart; September November looks at the lungs; and from December to February, the spotlight is on the kidneys. The spa also houses a hair salon, a fl ash gym stocked with Technogym, a yoga and Pilates studio, and an 82-ft indoor swimming pool. The Imperial Suite from $17,500 per night. Contact amansummerpalace@aman.com, +800 990 9990, aman.com

Fromtop Aman Summer Palace; the striking entrance to the courtyard

ÇIRAGAN PALACE KEMPINSKI ISTANBUL

The history of Istanbul (formerly known as Constantinople) is lengthy and colorful, and peppered with sieges, invasions and power struggles. Once the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and the center of the Ottoman Empire until its 1922 collapse, Istanbul has long acted as the bridge between Asia and Europe. Today it remains the very de fi nition of a vibrant city, a uniquity where two continents and many more cultures collide; it is the beating heart of modern Turkey. It follows then, that Istanbul’s hotel scene is just as vibrant. The city has enjoyed a recent in fl ux of luxury properties, but its icons endure, including the Ç ı ra ğ an Palace Kempinski. The building’s heritage can be traced back to the early 17th century. The fi rst structure was built as a summer villa, which was demolished in the 1830s and rebuilt as a palace by Sultan Mahmut II. By the 1860s, apparently, another demolition was in order and the fi rst palace made way for a second, this time commissioned by Sultan Abdülaziz. The third iteration of Ç ı ra ğ an Palace was completed in 1871, with Sultan Abdülaziz, who clearly had a taste for the fi ner things in life, reportedly having imported rare fi ne marbles, porphyries and mother-of-pearl from around the world to complete his palatial vision. In January 1910, however, tragedy struck: Following the palace’s designation as a meeting point for the Turkish Parliament, much of the building was left in a state of ruin by a devastating fi re — a state it remained in until the late 1980s. And so, despite the Ç ı ra ğ an Palace’s extended history, it has only existed as the hotel we know today since 1990, following an earlier agreement that the historic building would be renovated, and a more modern hotel wing added. Since then, the site has undergone several further renovations, most notably in 2006, when the original palace was fully restored to its former glamorous glory. Not one to rest on its laurels, Ç ı ra ğ an Palace is this year going through yet another refurbishment of 21 of its suites, the lobby and two restaurants. For a real taste of the long history, check in to the Royal Ottoman Suite. The lavishly appointed accommodation is complete with two bedrooms, marble bathroom, private hammam, living area and three balconies, each with views across the Bosporus. Royal Ottoman Suite from $32,900 per night. Contact reservationo ffi ce.ciraganpalace@kempinski.com, +90 212 326 4646, kempinski.com

Ç ı ra ğ anPalace Kempinski’s history dates back to the 17th century

The Royal Ottoman Suite

Photos AMAN, Villa D’Este, Fani Kurti