Castles, Villas, One Island One Hotel, and Top-Tier Stays for a Luxurious Night

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported. Source / Moleskine Editorial Department

 

Exploring the world, traveling across nations, while recording scenic spots and delicacies in your travel diary, uniquely styled luxury hotels also bring great anticipation. Whether it's a fairy-tale-like dreamy castle hotel in Canada, an entire island dedicated to one resort in the Maldives, or a villa surrounded by natural landscapes and greenery, accommodation here transcends the ordinary rest and sleep, becoming not inferior to visiting famous sights or savoring gourmet food as the best place to experience exotic scenery.

Opened in 1912, the Fairmont Château Laurier is one of Ottawa’s landmarks. Countless political and business celebrities have stayed here, such as former Beatles member John Lennon, 007 actor Roger Moore, and photography master Yousuf Karsh. The building’s architectural style and bronze-colored roof are a complete replica of late medieval French architecture, which has also influenced the style of most of Canada’s “national buildings.”

 

The construction of the hotel began in 1907, supervised by Charles Melville Hays, the general manager of the Pacific Railway Group. Unexpectedly, on the eve of the opening in April 1912, the new manager Hays and some brand-new furniture that was supposed to be shipped from Britain all sank into the ocean with the Titanic, forcing the opening ceremony to be postponed, making it the most famous little anecdote in the history of the Château Laurier. This hotel was also the headquarters of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1920, 500 guests listened to a human voice transmitted from 100 miles away together in the hotel. This story also opened a new chapter in Ottawa’s broadcasting history.

If you were to vote for the most photogenic luxury hotel in the world, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac would definitely be on the list. After all, its construction was initiated by the wealthy who prospered thanks to the Pacific Railway, aiming to set a new standard for worldly luxury. Although the definition of luxury changes with the times, the charm of the Château Frontenac remains rooted in the 19th century. It is precisely this sense of temporal dislocation that evokes beautiful imaginations of courts and nobility, making the Château Frontenac even more renowned.

 

The bronze French sloping roof, small spires on dormer windows, and surrounding round towers all remind one of 16th-century French castles. In fact, the architectural inspiration for this hotel comes from the Château de Chambord-led castle group along the Loire River in France. The architect in charge was Bruce Price, who had already built the Banff Springs Hotel for the Pacific Railway Company at the time, naturally becoming the top choice for the new project. And he lived up to expectations—the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, completed in 1893, is not only the pinnacle of his career but also an irreplaceable landmark of Quebec City. Whether viewed from Place d’Armes, Dufferin Terrace, or w??ǎ? from various directions, its appearance is always the most memorable view, perhaps even becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But within the city, it remains the best angle.

 

Maldives — Enjoy One Island One Hotel

1. Angsana Ihuru Resort & Spa

2. Banyan Tree Madivaru Resort & Spa