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Top 10 Europe Hotels
 1. Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
An elegant address in one of the world’s most romantic cities, Four Seasons’ George V wooed and won CL readers once again. Fans laud the hotel’s attention to detail, from the artful flower arrangements and antique tapestries in the public spaces to the marble bathrooms with saunas and Parisian décor in private suites. The spa celebrates coquettish queen Marie Antoinette with head-to-toe pampering sessions concluding with her favorite macaroons. (800) 332-3442 or 011-33-1-49-52-7000, www.fourseasons.com/paris
2. The Ritz London
The venerable Ritz spent 2006 celebrating its 100th anniversary, commemorated in a plaque unveiled by the Prince of Wales. Modeled on a French chateau with Louis XVI décor including fireplaces and chandeliers, the landmark property ferries guests about town in a 2006 Phantom Rolls-Royce. This year the hotel debuts the adjoining William Kent House, an 18th-century mansion that will host five banquet rooms and three lavish residential suites. 011-44-207-493-8181, www.theritzlondon.com
3. Ritz Paris
French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon created the new cushy beds at the Ritz, and famed barman Colin Field teaches mixology in the Hemingway Bar. Recent check-ins: Hugh Grant, Sharon Stone, and Clint Eastwood. 011-33-1-43-16-30-30, www.ritzparis.com
4. The Dorchester, London
The popular Promenade bar, where Kate Moss is a regular, was recently refurbished by Thierry Despont. Next: Alain Ducasse’s Ducasse at The Dorchester opens in October. 011-44-207-629-8888, www.thedorchester.com
5. St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome
From antique furniture to state-of-the-art technology, some $35 million went into restoring this opulent 1894 address where celebrity A-listers including Madonna and Russell Crowe check in. (888) 625-5144 or 011-39-06-47091, www.stregis.com
 6. Hotel Cipriani, Venice
A newly restored Fortuny Bar and private cabanas beside the Olympic-size pool update this Venetian classic favored by Meryl Streep and Daniel Craig. (800) 237-1236 or 011-39-041-520-7744, www.hotelcipriani.com
7. Rocco Forte’s The Balmoral, Edinburgh
Babies, children, and teens are equally welcome at Scotland’s Balmoral with amenities like customized robes — fitting for a hotel where J.K. Rowling just completed the last Harry Potter installment. 011-44-131-556-2414, www.roccofortehotels.com
8. Palace Luzern, Switzerland
The elegant Palace Luzern unleashes its panache in a new Suite of Arts, filled with the playful mood of Pop Art, exclusive reproductions of carpets found in New York’s Guggenheim Museum, and reproductions of paintings by Kandinsky, Chagall, and Miró. 011-41-41-416-1616, www.palace-luzern.ch
9. Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme
More of this Park Hyatt to love: new spacious Prestige Suites by famed interior designer Ed Tuttle with custom furniture and fine art, a new Presidential Suite overlooking Place Vendôme, and an enlarged spa. (888) 591-1234 or 011-33-1-58-71-1234, www.paris.vendome.hyatt.com
 10. Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire, Scotland
Now in its 101st year, golf’s famed Westin Turnberry Resort recently upgraded its Ailsa Course in preparation for the Open Championship in 2009. 011-44-165-533-1000, www.westin.com/turnberry
Mainland U.S. | Hawaii | Canada | Mexico/Central America/South America | Caribbean | Europe | Asia | Africa | Australia/New Zeland/South Pacific | U.S. Business | International | Business | Family Resorts | Editor's Picks
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The Platinum List
Isn’t
it great to hear firsthand from a friend about a wonderful travel
experience, complete with tips on where to stay and where to play?
Welcome to the ever-popular Celebrated Living
Readers’ Choice Platinum List, which is like having more than 38,000
friends share their travel preferences in one superb best-of-the-best
list. And what a list it is: 130 luxury hotels, 48 legendary golf
courses, 26 sumptuous spas, and 10 top cruise lines.
Two
highlights of the survey, for me, actually take the form of statistics
— we received 10 percent more entries than last year, and a whopping 79
percent more of you reported you read Celebrated Living regularly. As editor, that’s music to my ears.
For your eyes, our Platinum List has a handsome new design, courtesy of CL’s
talented art director Marilyn Calley. The pages are fresh, engaging,
and filled with images that will make you say “I want to go there,” or,
also fun, “We’ve been there and loved it!” As one reader commented,
“These picks are a mix of places already visited and those I dream of
visiting.” See for yourself, beginning with a handy pullout compilation
list on page 49.
 Of
course, we wanted to entice and reward you for taking the time to weigh
in with your outstanding travel knowledge. Grand Prize winner Henry de
Lagarde is glad he participated. He was randomly chosen to win a
two-year lease on a 2007 Lincoln MKX, MKZ, or Navigator (he chose the
MKZ and is pictured with it here), and 500,000 American Airlines
AAdvantage miles. Ten Second Prize winners received 50,000 miles each.
Quite an incentive, I’d say.
We hope you’ll agree that the rest
of this summer issue is as entertaining and enlightening as the
Platinum List. There’s a feature story on Heidi Klum, a look at
chartering fabulous yachts, five great summer motorcycle rides and
several bikes to enjoy them with, a tour of several cool European
castles, and more. Or, for those weekends when you want to just sit
back and enjoy your own backyard, check out our cocktail story, with
recipes perfect for poolside sipping — and for contemplating where
you’d like to go next.
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