The Imperial Suite at the Ritz Paris
Staying or getting upgraded into a hotel suite is always a win but the experience takes on a one-of-a-kind quality when you stay in a themed suite. These hotel properties have taken the theme to the extreme with offerings such as the timeless Suite Impériale at the Ritz Paris—a replica of Queen Marie-Antoinette’s bed chamber in the Palace of Versailles, or the florally festooned Flower Collector’s Suite at the Pulitzer Amsterdam hotel. The theme is the dream, below are some destinations to add to your list of themed stays:
The Suite Impériale (Imperial Suite) at the Ritz Paris is a masterpiece of authentic design with period furniture and antique paintings that evoke the court of Versailles and French Luxury in all its magnificence. Best of all, one of the suite’s bedrooms is a replica of Queen Marie-Antoinette’s bed chamber in the Palace of Versailles.
The Flower Collector’s Suite in the Pulitzer Amsterdam Hotel was designed by Creative Director Jacu Strauss, who took inspiration from the city’s rich botanical culture with details such as ornate glass paneling of vintage greenhouses, lush floral tones of Amsterdam’s famous flower market and nods to the iconic Dutch tulip. The Flower Collector’s Suite is the latest addition to the Collector’s Suites at Pulitzer Amsterdam—a collection of unique suites that pay homage to the collectors of all stripes: book, porcelain, antiques…etc. Says Strauss, “I find with the unique suites that the guest becomes a key part of the interior; in the case of the Flower Collector’s Suite, the guest becomes the flower within the living space.”
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in the Swiss Alps is home to a Hitchcock Suite in honor of Sir Alfred Hitchcock, who was a regular guest for decades. The unique accommodation is the actual suite that Hitchcock stayed in and features original furniture, and a separate bedroom and living room area. The hotel’s lobby is rumored to be where the director first came up with his idea for The Birds.
Old Walls room at Thyme
Thyme in England’s charming Cotswolds is a collection of fetching houses and cottages spread across several acres of quintessentially English gardens. Indeed, every single room celebrates its own theme as no two are alike. Each stay presents an opportunity to explore a different part of this bijou botanical hamlet. For the classic “I’m in the English countryside theme” try a stay in one of the Old Walls accommodations, a self-described “typical Cotswold cottage spread over three higgledy-piggledy floors.” Birding, walking, visiting the spa, and dining on freshly harvested provender are team sports here, so come prepared to stay on theme and indulge all of you senses.
Garden Room at Thyme
Golfing fans might look into a stay at Marine Troon is a seaside hotel with sweeping views of the Ayrshire coast and fairways of the legendary Royal Troon Golf Club. The Arnold Palmer suite was occupied by Arnold himself during a visit to the hotel – those who stay there get an Arnold Palmer kit to create a special version of the drink recipe.
Drift Nashville boasts a seventh-floor penthouse suite that features a golden toilet, a playful nod to Elvis’ stays in the building throughout the 70s. The 1,800-square-foot space includes three king beds, a full kitchen and dining room, a private balcony, and three bathrooms.
At Country House Oliveto sul Lago in the charming Bologna countryside you can book a stay in a former chapel – the Chiesina Suite. The marvelous space is anchored by a hand-painted ceiling fresco and features a large bathroom and a private garden with a view of the surrounding olive grove. If a villa that was once a Medieval church is more your style, consider booking a stay at the nearby Palazzo di Varignana. The resort’s Santa Maria Maddalena Villa is a private accommodation housed within a harmoniously restored church that dates back to 1366.
