Night 1 & 2: Grand Hotel Eden Lugano, Switzerland The Grand Hotel Eden enjoys an enviable location on the waterfront of Lugano Paradiso, one of the sunniest spots of the Canton Ticino, just a few minutes from the city center. Indulge yourself in the new Eden Spa, take a dip in the indoor pool or just relax on lakeside sun deck and enjoy the spectacular views.
Night 1 & 2: Splendide Royal Lugano* Lugano, Switzerland The most fashionable hotel in Lugano, the grand Splendide Royal Lugano is a historic landmark set in a lovely location on the lakeside promenade along the shores of Lake Lugano and surrounded by lush gardens. Each spacious guest room offers individual air conditioning, cable color TV, mini bar, hair dryer, bathrobes and slippers and Internet access. During leisure time, take advantage of the indoor swimming pool and its terrace, the sauna or the solarium. Its classic restaurant, La Veranda, features cuisine with French and Italian influences. Splendide Royal Lugano is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and Swiss Deluxe Hotels. * Tours departing on September 17 and 24 will stay at the Splendide Royal Lugano rather than the Hotel Eden on nights 1 and 2.
Night 3 & 4: Hotel Danieli, Venice Venice, Italy To enter the Hotel Danieli Venice is to step back in time to the days when Venetian nobles lived a regal lifestyle surrounded by opulence and grandeur. Originally the palace of Doge Dandolo in the 14th century, Murano glass chandeliers, pink marble columns and stained glass still frame the hotel’s majestic staircase. Piazza San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and the Ponte dei Sospiri are just steps away. The stylish décor and comfortable furnishings in guest rooms reflect the rich cultural heritage of Venice. Each guest room provides bathrobe and slippers, deluxe bath amenities, in-room safe, mini bar, hairdryer, in-room movies, color cable TV and air conditioning. The elegant rooftop Restaurant Terrazza Danieli delivers captivating views of the Grand Canal, the Lido and the Venice Lagoon along with delectable regional and Mediterranean cuisine. During the warmer months, enjoy those same views along with your favorite libation at the Bar Terrazza. The Hotel Danieli Venice was named to the Condé Nast Traveler’s 2007 Gold List Reserve and received the “2007 Partner of the Year” award from American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts.
Night 5 & 6: The Westin Excelsior, Florence Florence, Italy Voted one of the 500 best hotels in the world by the readers of Travel + Leisure and named to the prestigious Gold List by Condé Nast Traveler, the 5-star Westin Excelsior, Florence richly deserves those accolades. Located in the very heart of fabulous Florence, close to the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace and the Ponte Vecchio, this deluxe hotel offers both luxurious ambience and top-notch service. The richly decorated, air-conditioned guest rooms feature Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed®.
Nights 7, 8 & 9: The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome Rome, Italy The St. Regis Grand, Rome, is most conveniently located in the center of the city, within walking distance of the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and Via Veneto. The readers of Travel + Leisure have deemed The St. Regis Grand to be one of the best 500 hotels in the world for very good reasons. This palace of a hotel was opened by the legendary Cesar Ritz in as the first deluxe hotel in Rome in 1894, and it has steadfastly maintained his high standard of service and his insistence upon elegantly opulent surroundings for his guests.