Several astute readers, observing that I rarely recommend European hotels that are less than a century old, have asked if I have anything against the modern world. To tell the truth, I have nothing against modernity but, like 18th century British poet and playwright Oliver Goldsmith "I love everything that is old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine".

This month, in keeping with that belief, I am devoting this column to those North American hotels that I consider "the very best". As I looked over the list of my favorites, I smiled contentedly realizing that even in the New World, finding truly excellent hotels that are a hundred or more years old is not all that difficult.

The United States

The Saint Regis, 2 East 55th Street, New York City.
Tel 212 753 4500. Fax 212 787 3447.

The Pierre, 2 East 61 Street, New York City. Tel 212 838 8000.
Fax 212 940 8109.

Salish Lodge at Snoqualamie Falls 6501 Railroad Avenue,
Snoqualamie Falls, Washington. Tel 206 888 2556. Fax 206 888 9634.
(This is the hotel at which the series "Twin Peaks" was filmed).

The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco,
California. Tel 415 392 8600. Fax 415 543 0671.

The Sherman House 2160 Green Street, San Francisco, California.
Tel 415 563 3600. Fax 415 563 1882.

The Lodge at Pebble Beach, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach,
California. Tel 408 624 3811. Fax 408 652 8592.

The Carlton, 923 16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
Tel 202 638 2626. Fax 202 638 4231.

Hay-Adams Hotel, 800 11th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
Tel 202 6386600. Fax 202 940 8109.

Mayflower Inn 118, Woodbury Road, Route 47, Washington,
Connecticut: Tel 860 868 9466. Fax 860 868 1497.

The Bostonian Hotel, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston,
Massachusetts. Tel 617 523 3600. Fax 617 523 2593.

Charlotte Inn, South Summer Street, Edgartown, Massachusetts
(on Martha's Vinyard). Tel 508 627 4151 Fax 508 627 8617

Jekyll Island Club Hotel, 371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island,
Georgia.Tel 912 635 2600. Fax 912 635 2818.

The Cloisters, Sea Island, Georgia.
Tel 912 638 3611. Fax 912 638 5159.

Canada, Mexico and The Caribbean

Pan Pacific Hotel, 300-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, Canada.
Tel 604 662 8111. Fax 604 685 8690.

Hotel Marquis Reforma, Paseo de la Reforma 465, Mexico City,
Mexico. Tel 525 211 3600. Fax 525 211 5561.

Southhampton Princess, Hamilton, Bermuda. Tel 441 238 8000.
Fax 441 228 8968.

Cap Juluca, Maundey's Bay, Anguilla, British West Indies.
Tel 809 497 6666. Fax 809 497 6617.

© Daniel Rogov