Whether we’re willing to admit it or not, we all love a cliche.
Movies and books have dug romanticism so deep into us that even the most devout travel snobs get a little giddy at the prospect of a Paris love affair, a Vespa adventure across Rome, or the chance to holler “taxi!” in NYC (yelling “Uber!” just doesn’t hit the same).
Some cities just draw us in more than others, and it’s a waste to stay somewhere that doesn’t embody what they mean to you. So, to offer you the chance to live your dream, here are some of the best stays in the world’s most iconic cities.
Audrey Hepburn not included.
Our top picks: Iconic City Stays
The Plaza
New York, NY
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Few cities on the planet command a reputation like the Big Apple. Its energy, dramatic cityscape, and ridiculous variety of things to do make it a dream destination for millions across the globe — especially at Christmas.
Where better to embrace every cliche than the iconic Plaza Hotel? Whether you’ve read about it in the pages of the Great Gatsby or seen it on the screen in films like Home Alone or Sex and the City, it’s an NYC stalwart.
At over a hundred years old, it’s luxurious to a fault, enjoys stunning views over Central Park, and if you pass through its lobby in December, you’ll turn to mush.
Paris View Loft
Paris, France
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Drastically different from New York. Equally iconic. France is the most visited country in the world, and Paris is the reason why. Endlessly romantic with a world-class attraction on what feels like every corner, there are few people who haven’t dreamt of wasting a year sipping coffee in a street side bistro or wandering down the Seine with a bottle of wine.
If you need to know you’re in Paris from the second you wake up, look no further. Frankly, we barely looked at the photos of the inside of the loft. The balcony view is simply astonishing and worth the price tag alone. We’re sure it’s got some furniture or something.
Claridge’s London
London, UK
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The Old Smoke is a special city. Every street, neighborhood, and borough holds its own secrets, and a life is needed to discover them all. Historic, beautiful, and stupendously international, London is far more than Hugh Grant films (no disrespect to Notting Hill, it’s a classic) and the Royal Family.
If you’re not there for long, step into some history and stay at Claridge’s. Churchill’s favorite hotel, the fabled luxury rooms have hosted Kings, Queens, celebrities, and heads of state for well over a century. Splash on an afternoon tea for the full experience.
Our Other Top Picks
Step out onto your colosseum view balcony on your own Roman Holiday
You’ll be hard pressed to find a slicker Tokyo hotel than this
Spectacular doesn’t cut this high-end hotel on the Bund in Shanghai
You’ll never want to leave this Rio de Janeiro sunset view villa
Berlin has never looked as good as it does in this penthouse apartment
by travelers, for travelers.
