In many cities, there is an interesting old hotel, something to remind you of the days when travel meant long journeys by rail or sea, a place where the rich and the famous of its day would stay. Nearly all of these were built before the Second World War, and many date back to Queen Victoria's reign.

Staying in such places is usually not cheap, though it may be cheaper than a more modern high-end hotel. Nor are they necessarily the most luxurious option; the modern high-end places may be even better. However, the grand old hotels are usually very central and they do have an appeal all their own; the old fashioned fittings, the lack of the latest amenities and a certain graceful agedness are often part of their character.

Of course, you need not stay in such hotels to enjoy some of their services. For example, a visitor to Singapore might just go to Raffles for a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar where Rudyard Kipling and Noel Coward once drank, and check out the Billiard Room where Singapore's last tiger was shot.

Grand old hotels

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East Asia

South Asia

• Kolkata, India - The Great Eastern Hotel. Once known as 'the jewel of the east' the hotel is sadly dilapidated these days.
• Kolkata, India - The Grand Hotel www.oberoikolkata.com
• Delhi, India - The Imperial Hotel www.theimperialindia.com
• Kandy, Sri Lanka - The Queen's Hotel
• Mumbai, India - The Taj Mahal Palace www.tajhotels.com
• Shimla, India - Clarke's Hotel www.clarkesshimla.com
• Bikaner, India - The Laxmi Niwas Palace Hotel www.laxminiwaspalace.com, a 106 year old palace

Southeast Asia

Of course, there are some other very classy options as well:

• Bangkok, Thailand - The Oriental www.mandarinoriental.com
• Hanoi, Vietnam - The Metropole www.sofitel.com
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Continental Hotel www.continental-saigon.com
• Manila, Philippines - The Manila Hotel www.manila-hotel.com.ph
• Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Cambodia - Grand Hotel d'Angkor siemreap.raffles.com
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Le Royal phnompenh.raffles.com
• Singapore - Goodwood Park Hotel www.goodwoodparkhotel.com