Elite Traveler Winter 2023/24

CITY

The Plaza Hotel New York, Grand Penthouse Two-bedroom Terrace Suite NEWYORK The Plaza has become part of nearly every traveler’s cultural consciousness since it opened in 1907. Whether it’s the sweetly adventurous Eloise at the Plaza ; the domain of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2 ; the place where Gatsby, Daisy and company escape the heat in a suite (this suite?) in The Great Gatsby ;or just every young child’s dream of afternoon tea in fancy dress as a rite of passage, this National Historic Landmark on the border of Central Park epitomizes society’s concept of the quintessential grande dame hotel. Beaux-Arts and beloved, the hotel ups its already exemplary ante with the 2,100-sq-ft Grand Penthouse Two-bedroom Terrace Suite. Velvet upholstery, dripping chandeliers, marble- fl anked fi replaces and a ritzy staircase set a mood. Bi-level and revealing jaw-dropping views, this20th- fl oor penthouse feels heaven sent. White glove butler service? That’s part of the deal too. From $15,000 per night. Contact theplaza@fairmont.com, +1 212 759 3000, theplazany.com

Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Haute Couture Ei ff elSuite PARIS

InterContinental Genève, The Residence GENEVA

Ascend by private elevator to The Residence, an aerie overlooking glimmering Lake Geneva on the 18th fl oor of the thoroughly refurbished, 1960s-era InterContinental Genève, which is nestled in the United Nations district. The lair of umpteen dignitaries and celebutantes, the discerning hotel serves as a tranquil hub and the consummate backdrop for making deals. Its serene, Zen-inspired, feng shui-aware design by Tony Chi emanates positivity throughout the hotel but no place more than in the two-wing Residence. Encompassing almost 7,000 sq ft, the suite divides into a duet of pied-a-terre like sections, each with grand bedrooms, personal living areas, separate dining rooms and fl oor-to-ceiling windows. Entered via immense bronze doors, The Residence also features common areas, such as a library and a Grand Salon with fi replace. Book the entire fl oor to include nine additional rooms for ultimate privacy. From $27,000 per night. Contact Marianna Balika Weisrock, luxury sales manager, marianna.balikaweisrock@ihg.com, +33 153 676 665, ihg.com

Some things never get old, like seeing the Ei ff el Tower, that recognizable icon that embodies the spirit of Paris. But gazing at the monument from your sumptuous suite as if it were close enough to touch, as if it were a view framed just for you, well, that’s the stu ff of legends. Ensconced on French couture’s most storied boulevard, Avenue Montaigne, Hôtel Plaza Athénée easily captivates from its exterior, where 1,900 red geraniums and ornate wrought-iron balconies enliven the cut-stone facade. Palatial and pampering within, interiors exude extravagant pomp. The hotel’s regal perfection reaches a zenith in the Haute Couture Ei ff el Suite, a crème de la crème fashionista’s dreamscape. As elegant as Dior runway fi nery, the suite’s couture fabrics in silky grays and pops of lipstick pink summon modern times in the living room and bedroom, while ornate moldings, silver-leaf detail and the mesmerizing tower view celebrate classic chic. From $20,000 per night, Contact suites.hpa@dorchestercollection.com, +33 153 676 665, dorchestercollection.com

Shangri-La Vancouver,

Orchid Balcony Suite VANCOUVER Subtly Asian as behooves Vancouver’s location facing west, not to mention the brand’s Hong Kong roots, the distinguished Shangri-La Vancouver draws gravitas from its placement between mountain and sea. Lording over the city’s top shopping streets, it was designed by Vancouver-based architect James Cheng to soar 646 ft toward the sky with arresting results. You’ll feel its power in the Orchid Balcony Suite, the hotel’s 1,395-sq-ft premier hideaway. The only unit at the hotel with an enclosed kitchen awash in amenities (full-size fridge, Nespresso machine, stove, dishwasher and more), the elegant sanctuary has room for three, but it could also be a romantic bolthole a deux or solo nook for one writer tryingto fi nish that elusive next novel. From $3,700 per night. Contact Yaus Salehomoum, acting assistant manager, yaus.salehomoum@shangri-la.com, +1 604 689 1120, shangri-la.com

Photos Richard Mandelkorn, VRX Studios