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It's summer, and while it may be "hot times" in the city, we think this is a great time for some urban renewal. In fact, we're pretty sure The Lovin' Spoonful would have written an entirely different song if the band had been staying in one of the hideaways we recommend on our list of Top 11 International City-Center Hotels. After all, there's nothing like having access to both a private (and pampering) oasis and all the pleasures of a world-class city.
Here, we reveal our Top 11 favorites, ordered geographically. We also share our recommended room type for your most memorable stay (here's a little secret: the rooms we like the best often are not the most expensive!) as well as been-there/done-that trip notes by staff or members to educate and entice you.
Hotel Grand Bretagne, Athens
The Hideaways Take: A true showpiece of éclat among Athens' already stellar monuments.
Room Recommendation: Book a suite with an Acropolis view and enjoy feels-like-home breathing room and a vista that will absolutely take your breath away, especially at night.
Trip Notes: "Built 130 years ago, the hotel is the unquestioned grande dame of the city. And yet, it's not at all tired-looking as many historic hotels tend to be. Thanks to a complete makeover just prior to the 2004 Olympics, the Grande Bretagne seems new again."—Andrew Thiel, Hideaways Director of Partner Relations, excerpted from The Two Sides of Athens.
 The Athenaeum , London
The Hideaways Take: A delightful staff and the comfort and convenience of a home-away-from-home make this a perfect base from which to explore London.
Room Recommendation: Stay in an apartment (or flat, as the Brits say) for the most authentic, living-like-a-local experience, as well as additional space and flexibility.
Trip Notes: "We loved The Athenaeum. The staff was outstanding! And the food (breakfast) was fabulous."—Susan Elsholz, Hideaways Aficionado Club member
 Hotel Lutetia, Paris
The Hideaways Take: Here is a hotel that celebrates contemporary life along with a host of memories—a place where the spirit of the Left Bank lives on.
Room Recommendation: When you're in a Deluxe Room, you'll enjoy splendid views of the rooftops of Paris, and you might even have a balcony where you can relax under the watchful gaze of the Eiffel Tower.
Trip Notes: "Unfortunately, we only enjoyed Hotel Lutetia's gorgeous views and top-notch service for one night—then it was off to our next hotel."—Andrew Thiel, Hideaways Director of Partner Relations, excerpted from Traveler's Journal: Loving Paris.
 Aldrovandi Palace, Rome
The Hideaways Take: This gem offers up two of the best finds in Rome: an outdoor swimming pool—an absolute treasure during Rome's hottest months—and "baby," the Michelin-starred restaurant featuring the cuisine of Alfonso Iaccarino, one of the major names on the Italian culinary scene.
Room Recommendation: Enjoy a penthouse-like experience when you stay in a Deluxe Room, located on one of the hotel's highest floors, with bella views of the Borghese gardens or the 19th-century villas in the surrounding countryside.
Trip Notes: "The hotel is situated in the Borghese Gardens. There are a number of museums, walking paths, cultural activities, and galleries within the gardens—a lovely setting. The hotel offers free shuttle service to the center of Rome and to restaurants in the area."—Stanley Hinckley Jr., Hideaways Aficionado Club member
 Windsor Arms Hotel, Toronto
The Hideaways Take: Old-world charm and elegance meet modern luxury and technology, with a fantastic staff-to-guest ratio and the most exquisite location near Yorkville, Toronto's most fashionable entertainment and shopping district.
Room Recommendation: You'll be bathed in light and pampered with 1,000 square feet of living space when you reserve one of the hotel's four Corner Suites.
Trip Notes: "Now this is Toronto's version of 5th Avenue,' I thought as I walked down Bloor Street, noticing every tony signature store there is, including Chanel, Prada, and Gucci. And tucked away mere steps from Bloor, hidden on a quiet side street, is the Windsor Arms. Hand your car keys over to the valet, wait as the door is opened, and enter this century's nod to the past."—Kristyn Lak Miller, Hideaways staff writer, excerpted from Hiding Away in Toronto.
 Casablanca Hotel, New York
The Hideaways Take: One-half block from Times Square, this property is reminiscent of Bogart's Morocco, with mosaic-tile flooring, striking North African artwork, potted palms, and conversation areas complete with rattan seating.
Room Recommendation: If you're worried NYC is the city that doesn't sleep because its hotel rooms are too small, then book a Mini Suite and enjoy unexpected elbow room.
Trip Notes: "This boutique hotel is an oasis of tranquility. Once inside, you may feel you've entered another world. As its name suggests, the Casablanca's decor in both the rooms and public areas is Moroccan. Overall, the feel is slightly eclectic but elegant. Guest rooms are decently sized (remember, this is New York) and are extremely quiet."—Abby Maxted, Hideaways ambassador, excerpted from Casablanca Hotel: An Elegant Retreat in New York City.
 The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston
The Hideaways Take: Stepping through the red-carpeted entryway of The Fairmont Copley Plaza is somewhat akin to being transported into the pages of a French fairytale.
Room Recommendation: For a truly memorable stay, book a room on the Gold Level; you'll enjoy daily breakfast, a private lounge, and an evening cocktail reception.
Trip Notes: "The Copley Plaza has long been THE place to stay in Beantown. Built in 1912, it offers a rich history, authentic location, and palatial living at its best."—Darcy Allen, Hideaways Travel Services Manager, excerpted from A Beantown Landmark.
 The Peninsula, Hong Kong
The Hideaways Take: Built in 1928, The Peninsula is one of the most historic and legendary hotels in a city that regularly tears down old buildings to replace them with the ultra-tall and modern.
Room Recommendation: Definitely book a room on the harbor side, and if you can afford it, spring for one of the tower's luxurious corner suites, where you'll enjoy unusual space and luxury with panoramic views from on high.
Trip Notes: "When The Peninsula needed to modernize and expand (1994), it very neatly built a tower into its original colonial-era building. Its opulent lobby and public areas still retain the grace and polish of a bygone era, and its service is of a caliber seldom found in this day and age. I was astounded that, on my second day there and after only one brief encounter, the concierge already knew me by name; when I asked for directions to Hong Kong's efficient and clean metro, he actually left his post and led me down the street to the nearest station."—Mike Thiel, Hideaways Founder/President, excerpted from Hong Kong's Hideaways.
 The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
The Hideaways Take: The Fullerton has a central location that is second to none; not only is it convenient to just about everything you'd want to see in Singapore, it also offers some fantastic views.
Room Recommendation: We all know the view from the top is the best, and that's just what you'll get—along with oodles of space—with an Esplanade Room, located on the top floor of the hotel and with panoramic views of Marina Bay or the Singapore River.
Trip Notes: "My stay in Singapore was at the relatively new Fullerton Hotel, repurposed in what was once a government building and unveiled to much fanfare in 2001. Since it opened, The Fullerton has fast developed a reputation for its beauty."—Andrew Thiel, Hideaways Director of Partner Relations, excerpted from Hideaways' Ambassador's Report: The Fullerton.
 The Conrad, Tokyo
The Hideaways Take: Only one thing is traditional about this hotel, which opened in mid-2005: its superb, very polite Japanese service. Everything else, from its spectacular architecture to the clean and efficient room design, is as modern as could be, but with an Asian flair.
Room Recommendation: Stay on one of two Executive Club Floors and enjoy a view of boats plying the harbor and people strolling the gardens below from your luxurious glass-walled room. The extensive amenities of the Club Floors—a fabulous breakfast spread, drinks and snacks whenever you want, and wine, cocktails, and delectable hors d'oeuvres in the evening—are well worth the extra cost.
Trip Notes: "The Conrad receives you high up, on the 24th floor, its 290 spacious and luxurious rooms and public areas extending from there to the 37th floor. It's set in the convenient Shindome area of town with views that couldn't be better. To one side I viewed the lush Hamarikyu Gardens, a former royal palace, and Tokyo Bay, and to the other a canyon of modern high-rises."—Mike Thiel, Hideaways Founder/President, excerpted from Tokyo: Lost & Found in Translation.
 Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires
The Hideaways Take:This elegant hotel is run with a sense of pride as well as a team of butlers on each floor to attend to guests' needs, starting with complimentary ironing of two garments on arrival.
Room Recommendation: Enjoy just-right space and sophisticated European style in an elegant Junior Suite.
Trip Notes: "One of the best parts of our stay was the champagne breakfast buffet, served in a high-ceilinged, lattice-surrounded dining room that made us feel as if we were sitting outdoors. We were served by waiters dressed in formal attire who poured coffee from nice silver service and attended our every need. The food selection was extensive and delicious. What a nice way to start the day! Then we'd head outside to explore, following suggestions made by the concierge on everything from places to eat and shop to insider tips, like how to catch a taxi late at night."—Don Campion, Hideaways Aficionado Club member
Make Your Reservation Without Hesitation
Book your stay in a city-center hideaway, or any other type of accommodation anywhere in the world, with Hideaways Travel Services (800-843-4433). You'll get in-the-know travel planning with an expert agent who will pass on all the best details, from dates to deals—saving you time, saving you money, and possibly even saving your vacation! And just imagine the stress-free joy of making your reservation without hesitation.
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