What are great hotels worth to you?

When you’re planning a vacation, there’s no easier way to compare your options than by looking at the hotels they include. At Classic Journeys, we win that contest time and again. Some nights, it’s because of our coveted 5-star properties that regularly appear in "World’s Best" and "Top 100" rankings. Other nights, it might be the utterly authentic French farmhouse or a too-scenic-to-believe rainforest lodge. On itinerary after itinerary, they’re the same or superior to accommodations you’ll find on other companies’ tours that cost as much as 20-40% more than ours.

Browse some of our favorite hotels »

How can we offer hotel luxury for less?
The answer is really simple. Classic Journeys doesn’t mark up the cost of hotels as much as other companies do. What’s more, with a hand from our local guides, we spend years cultivating warm personal relationships with hoteliers. So in a lot of cases, we’re able to obtain lower rates than bigger companies that throw their weight around in negotiations. And it doesn’t hurt that smaller inns and lodges particularly appreciate the quality of our guests—genial, experienced travelers who appreciate the unique character of their lodgings.

The traits you value most in a hotel
We choose all accommodations for the way they reflect the style and hospitality of a region. All rooms include private baths. As often as possible, we spend two or more nights in each location so you can settle in a bit. Often, each room is unique. After all, it’s hard to create cookie-cutter rooms in converted abbeys, Mediterranean villas and rain forest lodges. If there’s a hotel in the heart of a nature preserve, within view of the Taj Mahal or clinging to the cliffs in Santorini, we’ll find it.

A few of our favorite hotels
These are just a sampling. On every itinerary page, you’ll find a "Hotels & Reviews" tab. Click it to get details about the properties for the destination you’re considering.


Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri
The Amalfi Coast, 2 nights
The Quisi, as it’s known to a stellar clientele, is THE hotel in Capri. Grand and gracious all at once, its been named one of the World’s Top 100 Hotels by both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. We love how its staid façade on the town square gives way to a huge and hugely glamorous swimming pool overlooking the sea. To coax you from your comfortable room, they lay out the most extravagant al fresco breakfast spread we’ve ever enjoyed.
Grand Hotel Miramare, Santa Margherita
Tuscany & the Cinque Terre, 3 nights
When you’re on the Portofino Coast, you absolutely must live the life. That means the Miramare, a fixture on the Condé Nast Gold List. Kings and queens have loved it for more than a century. And you’ll have no problem imagining Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh by the pool on their honeymoon. Stroll the manicured gardens. Sip an aperitivo on the seaside terrace. You can grow very accustomed to this, very quickly.
Villa Athena, Agrigento
Sicily, 2 nights
That this elegant hotel is an 18th century villa is an excellent start. That it is the only hotel located in the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO world heritage site, is truly tremendous. Picture yourself dining on the terrace as the evening sky darkens behind the illuminated Greek Temple of Concordia. It’s a truly extraordinary sight that only a handful of the visitors to the site are ever privileged to experience.
Le Castellas, Collias
A Week in Provence, 2 nights
Just another 17th century Provençal home, meticulously restored as a luxury hotel with only 20 rooms? Non. Le Castellas also comes with its very own 2-star Michelin restaurant. It’s insulated a bit from the village of Collias by its own estate-like gardens. We recommend the warm croissants and café under the wisteria. It’s only a brief walk from the Pont du Gard. And the pool offers you an elegant loll, after a wine-tasting in the nearby vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Chateau de Sully, Bayeux
Normandy & Brittany, 2 nights
Yes, it’s really you. Yes, that chateau, shimmering at the end of a formal drive amid a 50-acre parc, is really your hotel. The architecture is 18th century, but the amenities are of the 21st century—including a sleek, glass-walled restaurant overlooking the estate. The D-Day beaches are nearby as is the tapestry of Bayeux. But sitting in one of the bar’s deep armchairs, with a flute of sparkling Normandy cider, it all seems very far away.
Hotel Monasterio, Cusco
Peru & Machu Picchu, 1 night
Considerably more comfortable than its 16th century incarnation as a monastery, the Monasterio is a 5-star Leading Hotel of the World. The elegant rooms—a blend of original Spanish Colonial and contemporary verve—overlook the quiet cloister. Situated by Cusco’s central square, you are an easy walk from the city’s markets, galleries and historic sites. We know of no more marvelous way to adjust to high altitude in the highest of style.
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap
Vietnam & Angkor Wat, 1 night
For 75 years a visit to Angkor Wat has been synonymous with a stay at the Raffles Grand. Today, the hotel is one of the world’s best places to stay according to Condé Nast Traveler, and its rating as one of the top 25 hotels in Asia by Travel + Leisure. We love the mix of elegant colonial architecture and Cambodian objets d’art. And all of this comfort and the extraordinary service that comes with it are just 8 kilometers from the ancient site of Angkor Wat.
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
India, 2 nights
The title "#1 hotel in the world" didn’t do justice to the Udaivilas. It’s more a palace, or even a mirage floating at the edge of Lake Pichola. Domed pavilions and handpainted frescoes are all doubled by the mirror smooth reflecting pools. The rooms are decadently luxurious, with décor that’s a sleek modern take on Rajput style. We’ve seen it, and still we can hardly believe it. You will never forget this experience.
Hilton Imperial, Dubrovnik
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, 3 nights
The Adriatic is your front lawn. Dubrovnik’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a minute’s walk away. For its location alone, the Imperial is perfection. But we’re huge fans because the hotel is a wonderful blend of classic and new, like Croatia itself. Built in 1895, its distinctively Adriatic architecture has been carefully preserved and thoughtfully refitted with contemporary design and amenities. A week that begins with such style has to be wonderful!
Palais Jamai, Fès
Morocco, 2 nights
A Moorish masterpiece, this palace-turned-hotel was built in 1879 and is today recognized as one of the World’s Best Hotels by Travel + Leisure. It’s quintessentially Moroccan with fountains burbling in enclosed courtyards and extravagant Arabic tilework. Situated right in the Medina, the property is at the very heart of Fès. We especially love the evenings here, reclining under the date palms by the pool, with the city’s lights undulating over the hills around you.

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