Travel guidebooks are undoubtedly useful for planning the specifics of a trip, but sometimes the greatest inspiration for travel can come from classic works of literature. Many of the most renowned writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, and Bill Bryson, were avid travellers themselves, and their writings reflect their love of exploration. Most of the time, those who are passionate readers often make for the most inspired travellers as well.
If you're a literary lover looking for hotels that celebrate the alliance of the written word and travel, then look no further than these seven hotels. With amenities like book butlers, literary-themed decor, and in-hotel libraries, these hotels are sure to delight any bookworm on their travels.
When you stay at The Library on Koh Samui, you don't need to worry about packing a beach read. The hotel is located on Chaweng Beach and boasts a modern and extensive library of over 1,300 carefully selected books. During your stay, you can rent or purchase any book from the library. The hotel offers 26 suites, a gorgeous ruby-red pool, a bar and a restaurant lounge. All of these amenities are perfect for relaxing with a good book on one of Thailand's most picturesque islands.
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Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad is a luxury palace hotel that stands 609 metres above sea level. It was built in 1894 as the former residence of the Nizam, who was once considered the richest man in the world. The palace has numerous notable features, including a library with a carved walnut ceiling modelled after that at Windsor Castle. This library has a large collection of rare books, including English, Urdu, and Persian writings, copies of the Quran, and rare first editions.
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The Library Hotel in New York City has an interesting theme that runs from the lobby to each of the ten floors and 60 rooms. As soon as you check-in, you'll notice the motif. The reception desk is situated in front of a large card catalogue and is flanked by bookshelves. The hotel is home to over 6,000 books and is inspired by the Dewey Decimal System.
Each floor is named after a different category in the system, and rooms are decorated and stocked with books to match. If you want to sneak away for some quiet reading, you can pop into the 24-hour Reading Room. You can also enjoy complimentary tea, coffee or espresso drinks and stunning views of Madison Avenue and the New York Public Library's quote-filled sidewalk along Library Way.
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The NoMad Hotel in New York City features a bar with a book theme. The ambience is dimly lit and filled with floor-to-ceiling volumes for you to browse through while enjoying drinks or a light meal. This spot is perfect for getting lost in a book and losing track of time. The hotel is situated in a fully renovated Beaux-Arts building from the turn of the century. Spending time at the Library will make you feel like you’re tucked away in a private residential study.
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Gladstone's Library is a unique place that is entirely dedicated to reading and writing. It's not just a hotel with a library theme, but a library where you can even spend the night. The shelves of this library are filled with almost 250,000 printed works, and there are 26 rooms available for guests to stay in. The rooms are designed in a boutique-style, with furniture that looks like it was taken straight from a traditional library.
To top it off, the hotel has a bistro called "Food for Thought" that serves locally sourced dishes, coffee, and tea. The bistro offers a peaceful setting with a view of the library's grounds.
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The rooms at the Apostrophe Hotel are decorated with different literary icons that will delight anyone who has respect for the written word. One of the rooms has a huge book that hangs from the ceiling over the bed, while others feature art with colourful letters of the alphabet, printing press blocks and typewriter keys.
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If you are a true book lover, you will definitely appreciate the library-themed foyer at the Hotel Milano Scala that is located in a 19th-century palace in Milan. This foyer is equipped with a library and has a view of the old court of the grand property. The towering bookshelves and glass ceiling make it an ideal spot to relax and read a classic Italian book such as Italo Calvino's "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" or Carlo Collodi's "The Adventures of Pinocchio".
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Il Salviatino, a 15th-century Tuscan villa-turned-hotel with an astonishing collection of 4,000 volumes, previously served as a gathering place for poets and painters, including Salvador Dalí. More recently, the Dalai Lama was here in 2017 and, naturally, visited the library. After you've finished reading, head to the terrace overlooking Florence for pasta dishes made with food from the onsite garden; if the weather doesn't cooperate, supper is served in the library instead.
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