Elite Traveler July-August 2017

INSPIRE TOP 100 SUITES

BudapestRoyal Suite FOUR SEASONS GRESHAM PALACE, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY On the banks of the Danube, this restored art nouveau– style hotel looks out across the Chain Bridge to Buda Castle and has splendor and character in abundance. The glass ceilings, stained glass windows and intricate floor mosaics illuminated by enchanting chandeliers set the scene and the Royal Suite follows suit, reflecting the grandeur of the hotel. The little touches make all the difference here, and no request is too much for the attentive staff or your personal butler. From $6,780 per night, contact Yves Giacometti, general manager, +36 268 6000, fourseasons.com/budapest

Grand Presidential Suite TAJ LAKE PALACE, UDAIPUR, INDIA Floating in the middle of Lake Pichola, Taj Lake Palace enjoys 360-degree views of the waters and the nearby city, and despite the tranquillity of being away from the mainland, a short boat ride will take you to the busy streets in minutes. Built in 1743 by the royal dynasty of Mewar, the Taj exudes the kind of opulence you’d expect from such regal beginnings. The Grand Presidential Suite (or Shambhu Prakash suite) was named after Maharana Shambhu Singh and has sumptuous Indian interiors and fine intricate detail. Take in the panoramic views of the lake, nearby monuments and cityscape. Previous guests include Nicole Kidman and Sir Mick Jagger, and the James Bond movie Octopussy was filmed here. From$13,000 per night, contact reservations@ tajhotels.com+91 294 242 8800, taj.tajhotels.com

Picasso Suite HOTEL DE RUSSIE, ROME, ITALY

An art-lover's dream, the Picasso Suite is named after the Spanish artist who stayed here for three months in 1917 to work on a ballet with celebrated French writer Jean Cocteau. Cocteau himself once described how he and Picasso leant out of the bedroomwindow to pick oranges directly from the garden’s trees during their stay. The interiors are, as you would expect, inspired by Pablo Picasso’s signature style, with hand-crafted furnishings depicting the great artist's popular works. The suite overlooks an enchanting secret garden, although we don’t recommend leaning out to pick any fruit as Picasso did—no matter how tempting. Guests of the suite can choose from an extensive menu of ‘backstage passes’ ranging from private shopping tours and culture visits to wine-tasting sessions and art tours. From $4,753 per night, contact Cristina Coletta, reservations manager, reservations.derussie@ roccofortehotels.com, +390 632 8881, roccofortehotels.com

Photos www.axioo.com