PRICE:
Frommer's Exceptional

Nixon slept here. So did Pierce Brosnan, Elizabeth Taylor, and a host of other notables. The elegant Esplanade has attracted well-heeled guests since its opening in 1925, and now a painstaking renovation has seamlessly added New World creature comforts to the historic hotel's old-world opulence. Add to that service that is second to none, and the result is one of the most beautiful and best-run hotels in Croatia. Guests are checked in over a glass of bubbly in the black-and-white marble lobby before being whisked to their richly appointed rooms where fresh berries, chocolates, and complimentary wireless connections are waiting for them. Amenities are first-class and augmented with little luxuries such as fresh flowers, twice-a-day housekeeping, and cushy slippers ideal for padding around on the bathroom's heated marble floor. Liberal use of wood and brass in both private and public areas, a chic Croatian fusion restaurant called Zinfandel's, a selection of spa services, and a staff ready to fulfill every need have brought back the landmark hotel's glory days as an indulgent interlude for well-heeled travelers on the Orient Express. This is how it feels to sit in the lap of luxury. Tip: The Esplanade has a menu of scented baths, ranging from a tub full of herbs and oils to a chocolate bath for kids. Staff members draw the bath upon request.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's USA, 11th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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