Travel Weekly Blog

A nice press release from TripAdvisor lists the 'best converted hotels in the world' - I'm waiting for confirmation, but I assume it's based on TA user ratings (UPDATE: it is, with a bit of editorial input from TA editors).

Oddly, they're all in Europe. European communications manager Ian Rumgay says, "it would appear that Europe is leading the world in this sector," which by this list is a bit of an understatement.

Does anyone have a recommendation from outside Europe?

1. Hotel Im Wasserturm
Where: Cologne, Germany
Formerly: the largest water tower in Europe

2. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace
Where: Budapest, Hungary
Formerly: an Art Nouveau palace

3. K+K Hotel Central
Where: Prague, Czech Republic
Formerly: an Art Nouveau building and cabaret theatre

4. Chateau de Trigance
Where: Trigance, France
Formerly: a medieval fortress

5. The Lighthouse
Where: Llandudno, North Wales
Formerly: er... a lighthouse

6. Old Bank Hotel
Where: Oxford, England
Formerly: Oxford’s first bank

7. Hotel Pulitzer
Where: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Formerly: 25 adjoining 17th and 18th century canal houses

8. Krolewski Hotel
Where: Gdansk, Poland
Formerly: a granary

9. Langholmen Hotel and Hostel
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
Formerly: Sweden’s biggest prison

10. Mandarin Oriental
Where: Prague, Czech Republic
Formerly: a 14th century Dominican monastery

Winning property Hotel Im Wasserturm is endorsed by no less than OMG BRAD PITT, who according to its website says, "Rapunzel would have been proud to let her hair down here."