PRIOR TO A RECENT TRIP to London to celebrate my birthday, I was lucky enough to score an assignment to write a story about the city for a luxury travel magazine. As a result, I ended up staying at three different hotels over the nine-day trip instead of just one. Initially, the idea of having to pack and unpack my junk all over again and haul it to a new hotel sounded like an inconvenience, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise. Because I discovered that staying at different hotels is a great way to get a feel for a new city.
Granted, because of my assignment, I was staying at three of London’s swankiest hotels. But even if they hadn't been, staying at three different hotels in three different neighborhoods would still have been a great way to help experience all that London has to offer.
For instance, the first hotel I stayed in, the InterContinental Park Lane, is in a large office-looking building not far from Buckingham Palace. It is modern and trendy and has a fancy spa, a dining room overseen by an acclaimed chef, and a sophisticated clientele that includes wealthy businessmen from Saudia Arabia who fly their cars over with them for use during their stay.
My second hotel, the Milestone, was more of what you’d envision a traditional London hotel would look like. It is housed in a narrow Kensington townhouse with rooms with names like the English Rose and the Princess Suite that feature huge canopy beds, brass clawfoot tubs, and the expected chintz touches. Most impressive to me was a level of service and hospitality I’ve not encountered in any other hotel before or since.
My third and final hotel was the Egerton House, which, given its location along a treelined street in a primarily residential area of Knightsbridge, has more of a cozy, neighborhood feel. It has only 28 rooms, and sports a popular bar where both locals and visitors alike pop in for bartender Antonio Pizzuto’s world famous martinis.
I wouldn't have experienced those three different London neighborhoods or had those three totally unique London experiences had it not been for staying at those different hotels. Obviously, staying at multiple hotels isn’t practical for shorter trips or weekend getaways, but rest assured on longer vacations I will be spreading out my lodgings from here on out.
If you want to do the same and experience a sampling of accommodations here in Atlanta, here are a few suggestions.
Downtown, consider the lovely Ellis Hotel, whose chic, up-to-date decor belies the fact it’s housed in a historic building dating back to 1913. The Ellis ranks well with business travelers thanks to amenities like free loaner neckties and a women’s only floor boasting rooms stocked with everything from curling irons to Spanx.
Over at the St. Regis in fashionable Buckhead, the vibe is that of an elegant Southern estate, complete with French art deco furnishings, handcrafted chandeliers, and marble bathrooms. The daily afternoon tea service adds to the air of sophistication.
Things are much more familial in Decatur over at the quaint University Inn, whose welcoming staff and proximity to shady residences and the beautiful Emory University campus make it ideal for travelers seeking more intimate accommodations.
There are all types of great stays to be had in Atlanta, London, or wherever you may roam. So consider playing a little hotel roulette next time you hit the road and discover the city in a whole new way.
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