An increasing number of people have asked me to recommend what I consider the very best hotels in the world. Being a self-declared hedonist, I am not the least bit embarrassed to offer a list of my own favorite hotels in Europe and North America. Keep in mind that each of these palaces of luxury is outrageously expensive. Despite that, each is a landmark in its own city and each offers services, rooms furnishings and dining so lavish and luxurious that they are worth every hard earned dollar, pound, franc or shekel that they will cost you.

Lutetia: 45 bd Raspail, Paris 6.
Tel: 49 54 46 466. Fax: 49 54 46 00.

Ritz, 15 place Vendome, Paris 1.
Tel: 42 60 38 30. Fax: 42 86 00 91.

Hotel Negresco, 37 Promenade des Anglais, Nice.
Tel: 93 88 39 51. Fax: 93 88 35 68.

Hotel Hermitage, square Beaumarchais. Monte Carlo.
Tel: 92 16 40 00. Fax: 93 50 47 12.

Hotel de Paris: place Casino, Monte Carlo.
Tel: 92 16 30 00. Fax: 93 15 90 03.

Hotel Beau-Rivage, 13 quai du Mont-Blanc, Geneva.
Tel: 731-02-21. Fax: 738-98-47.

Grand Hotel, Piazza Ognissanti 1, Florence.
Tel: 39 55 288781. Fax: 39 55 217400

Gritti Palace Hotel, campo Santa Maria del Giglio, Venice.
Tel: 041 794611. Fax: 041 5200942

Hotel Danieli, Rivi degli Schiavani 4196, Venice.
Tel: 041 522 6480. Fax: 041 520 0208.

Hotel Excelsior, Via Vittoria Veneto 125, Rome.
Tel: 39 6 4708. Fax: 39 6 482-6205.

Hotel Imperial, Kaertner Ring 16, Vienna.
Tel: 43 1 501100. Fax: 43 1 50110-410.

Badrutt's Palace Hotel: via Serlas 27, St. Moritz.
Tel: 082 21101. Fax: 082 37739

Palace Hotel, Plaza de las Cortes 7, Madrid.
Tel: 34 1 429 7551. Fax: 34 1 429 8266.

Brenner's Park Hotel, Schillerstrasse 6, Baden Baden.
Tel: 07221 3530. Fax: 07221 3555.

Ritz, place de la Lealtad 5, Madrid.
Tel: 521 28 57. Fax: 532 87 76.

Dorchester, Park Lane W1A 2HJ, London.
Tel: 629 8888. Fax: 409 0114.

Ritz, Picadilly W1V 9DG, London.
Tel: 493 8181. Fax: 493 2687.

© Daniel Rogov