Best Western Premier Moor Hall Hotel & Spa

A heritage of regal hospitality lives on today...

The feeling of regal comfort that permeates Best Western Premier Moor Hall Hotel today has its roots in the estate's colourful history. In the 16th century, local resident John Harman (later and best known as Vesey) attained high office during the reign of King Henry VIII, and was named Bishop of Exeter. As a token of his gratitude for Vesey's services, the King gave him Moor Hall and the surrounding lands. For Vesey it was a return to his roots as he was born in a farmhouse located on the Hall's grounds. He very much contributed to the welfare of the city, paving the town, building two stone bridges, founding and endowing a Free Grammar School and building 51 stone houses. Moreover, Vesey had the Hall rebuilt in 1527 and frequently entertained Henry VIII, surrounded by a retinue of 140 servants dressed in red and gold livery.

The current Best Western Premier Moor Hall Hotel was built in 1905 by Colonel Edward Ansell, the patriarch of a rich family of brewery owners in the English Midlands. It was built in faux Tudor style, complete with high chimneys and red brick construction. The choice of architectural style was perhaps Ansell's homage to Vesey, who lived during the original Tudor period. All the wood carvings and stone work were crafted on site by artisans. It was a slow and painstaking labour. The fireplace in the lounge bar bears the date of its construction (1905) carved in roman numerals, while the stained glass window above it is dated 1906.

The delightful Best Western Premier Moor Hall Hotel was developed by Michael Webb, who bought the property in the 1960s. Over time he built Moor Hall into a 4-star hotel that combines stylish living with a relaxing country house setting. The public spaces still feature the sumptuous wood panelling and ornate carvings of Colonel Ansell's construction. The bar with its spectacular chimney and purple fabrics has a British charm of its own. The verdant grounds and majestic trees reflect the grandeur of the original layout.

The guest rooms offer home-away-from-home comfort and convenience. Spacious, bright and tastefully decorated, the rooms are entirely non-smoking, as is the whole hotel. The peaceful setting makes the hotel the ideal destination for a relaxing getaway. It is within easy reach of Birmingham, Manchester and London, yet is sufficiently secluded to allow you to relax, enjoying the rich landscapes.

You will appreciate the peace and tranquillity of the grounds. Go for a swim in the stunning indoor swimming pool. Pamper yourself at the Spa, which offers a range of Thalgo facial and body treatments. The hotel is also home to two restaurants, the more formal Oak Room and the more relaxed Country Kitchen. Both use the finest seasonal produce from local suppliers. The Oak Room is located in the original dining room of Sir Edward Ansell, which was well known for its sumptuous meals. During the day it offers a sweeping view across the hotel's golf course.

From entertaining King Henry VIII to being the country home of one of the English Midland's most prosperous brewing families, the Best Western Premier Moor Hall Hotel is steeped in a tradition of hospitality that can be felt today in the warm welcome that the staff extends to all visitors.

Best Western Premier Moor Hall Hotel & Spa

Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England, GB, Birmingham, England - B75 6LN

Phone: +44 (0) 1 213083751 Fax: +44 (0) 1 21 3088974

Best Western Premier Hotel Royal Palace

The mysterious charm of Prague, both solid and light at the same time

Kafka said of Prague, "both dark and lyrical", that it "never relinquishes whosoever discovers it". To describe one of its most mysterious charms, one is tempted to paraphrase Milan Kundera's famous novel and speak of "unbearable lightness". It is difficult to explain but Prague is a city of stone that is nonetheless imbued with an amazing impression of lightness. This is no doubt due to the myriad of slender bell towers that transform the city's skylines into fine lacework. The light golden colours that adorn all the period constructions, among which the Best Western Premier Royal Palace, and the ubiquitous wooded parks also contribute to this wonderful sensation. Stone whose strength has nonetheless enabled the city to withstand painful historic events and nature's anger, in particular the spates of the Vtlava. Indeed, the bridges that formerly stood on the site of the famous Charles Bridge were destroyed several times. It is said that the inhabitants of Prague mixed egg yolk with the mortar to reinforce the bridge's pointing, and it is true that since then, it has withstood all the vagaries of time…

But Prague's incomparable lightness is also due to its quite unique elegance, renewed from century to century by the city's architects and artists who reinvented each new trend, adding their own very distinctive and inimitable hallmark from baroque and Renaissance Prague to romantic Prague. The Best Western Premier Royal Palace, a splendid example of 19^th century Neo-Renaissance architecture (built in 1892), in no way detracts from its albeit spectacular environment. The hotel lies in the heart of the perimeter classed by Unesco as a world heritage site of inestimable value. Its street façade commands exceptional views of the Waldstein gardens and the castle of Prague while the garden side enjoys breathtaking vistas of the river, bridges and the city's right bank. The symmetry, refined ornamentation and noble volumes of the façade are worthy of special note in their own right. Once past the door flanked by two columns and crowned by a characteristic triangular pediment, the hotel lives up to the promise of its name, environment and architecture. Sumptuous is the word that springs to mind as the eye is greeted by the generous dimensions of the guestrooms, marble bathrooms, "royal" details such as the curtain tiebacks, the restaurant's wall hangings, scintillating crystal chandeliers and the leather furnishings and wooden parquet floor in the bar, etc. With only 36 incomparably distinguished guestrooms, this hotel is greatly appreciated by a discerning "happy few".

As Prague is not as spread out as London or Paris, a central location of the likes of the Best Western Premier Royal Palace really does make it possible to discover the city on foot as you stroll along its delightfully romantic cobbled streets. The first vision of the city begins from the hotel's windows. This discovery continues in the Amadeus restaurant of the Best Western Premier Royal Palace whose menu pays tribute to the country's culinary traditions. A discovery that acquires a distinctive flavour as soon as one ventures outdoors into the city's apparent disorder, intrigued by the geometric patterns of the cobbled pavements, amazed by the divine surprise of a street corner or a house's façade and enchanted by the cornices of the houses and their intricately carved doorways. And as you venture further into the city, gradually captivated by its soul, one realises how it has suffered over time but one is nonetheless light-hearted and amazed to discover how beautiful and refined it remains, like one of Mozart's compositions. Nowhere else did the composer feel so much at home and loved as in Prague where he composed Don Giovanni, one of the rare triumphs he enjoyed during his lifetime.

Best Western Premier Hotel Royal Palace

Letenska 11, Prague, Czech Republic - 118 19

Phone: 0042 0 224811281 Fax: 0042 0 224811287

England Luxury Vacations

Experience England
From royal families and politics, to literature, pop culture and academia, a vacation in England is a fascinating journey through world history. England is a beautiful country of extensive variety in landscape, culture, activities, and attractions ranging from the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace to Oxford University and the British Museum. England is divided into nine regions, each offering visitors distinct experiences.

England Attractions
From the verdant countryside of Northeast England, to the rugged coast of Cornwall, to the bustling cities of London and Birmingham, you'll find plenty to do when you vacation in England. View an impressive collection of pre-Raphaelite art at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Birmingham, England is also home to the deliciously sweet Cadbury World chocolate empire. Watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace in London and tour St. Paul's Cathedral where the late Princess Diana married Charles, Prince of Wales.

Premier England Hotels
Planning your vacation to England is easy with the help of Best Western Premier hotels, each centrally located near tourist attractions and services. Find beautiful accommodations in London; Birmingham; Blunsdon, Swindon; and Kegworth, Derby. In addition to the superior comfort and service of Best Western Premier hotels, you'll enjoy charming details that distinguish our hotels throughout England.

Best Western Premier Kinsky Garden

Quiet 19th century splendour at the edge of the Malá Strana...

Close your eyes and imagine the slow clatter of stately carriages rolling down tree-lined, cobblestone avenues. The flutter of ladies' laughter and the rustle of rich fabrics. The hushed murmur of gentlemen's conversations. The naughty giggling of children and the gentle scolding of nannies. These are the sounds that you would have heard while standing on the front steps of the Best Western Premier Hotel Kinsky Garden in the last years of the 19th century.

Now open your eyes. The hotel's myriad details continue to evoke its fascinating history today. Opened in 1997, the hotel was originally an elegant fin de siècle mansion overlooking the KinskyGarden, a peaceful park on the southern side of Prague's Petrín Hill. The Garden was named after Prince Rudolf Kinský, a Czech patriot who built the Garden and the magnificent Empire style Kinsky Summer Palace (Letohrádek Kinských) that faces the hotel. In the 19th century, the district around the Garden was where the city's wealthy families built their summer retreats.

Today the hotel, like the neighbourhood, continues to be a haven of tranquillity for discerning visitors. It regularly plays host to visiting thespians and opera singers from around the world. The original Neo-Renaissance splendour of the mansion was restored in the mid nineteen-nineties by the hotel's Italian architects. The vaulted ceilings and frescos, which were repainted in their original style, can be admired from the glass walkway that leads to the restaurant. Elegant details abound: from the handsome wooden front doors with their wrought iron and glass canopy to the rotunda lobby with its crystal chandelier, from the rich wood trim of the public areas to the marble floors. The atmosphere continues in the spacious rooms with their high ceilings, lush drapes and exquisite wooden floors.

Whether resting in your room, dining in the elegant bistro, or curled up with a hot chocolate in one of the quiet mezzanine alcoves, the wide open spaces of the Garden always beckon. Stoll through its verdant paths to the Prague castle (or take the funicular). Wander down to the Charles Bridge and the Staré Mesto or explore the baroque jewels of the Malá Strana. At the Best Western Premier Hotel Kinsky Garden the splendours of Prague are just a gentle promenade away.

Best Western Premier Kinsky Garden

Holeckova 7, Prague 5, Prague, CZ, Prague, Czech Republic - CZ-15000

Phone: +420 257 311173 Fax: +420 257 311184

Best Western Premier Hotel Majestic Plaza

At the very heart of Mozart, Hasek and Mucha's city...

Prague is the birthplace of three of the world's outstanding writers: Rilke, Kafka and Hasek. The latter, whose masterpiece, The Good Soldier Schweik, is often likened to a 20th century Don Quichote, was born in 1883 in Skolska Street, on the exact spot where one of the two buildings that make up the Best Western Premier Hotel Majestic Plaza now stands. Hasek was a regular patron of Prague's many breweries and in particular of U Kalicha at Number 12 Na Bojisti Street, very close to the hotel. His ingenuous hero, whose sense of humour and mockery won over the Czech people, is a central figure of Prague's soul. The city, which boasts over 550 towers, possesses an extraordinarily rich heritage. The Best Western Premier Hotel Majestic Plaza stands just a few yards from Wenceslas Square, the true heart of Prague and where its inhabitants share their joy (victory in the World Ice Hockey Championships), their anger (against the Communist regime), their sorrows (Jan Palach's immolation), their happiness and their music. Music is a particularly prominent feature of life in Prague. The Marriage of Figaro was acclaimed here so fervently that Mozart signed the contract that enabled him to create and triumphantly stage Don Giovanni at the Stavovske Divadlo, one of the most beautiful theatres of Central Europe and also just a stone's throw from Wenceslas Square and the hotel.

The Best Western Premier Hotel Majestic Plaza is fully in tune with the Czech capital, adding its own inimitable contribution. Its architects opted for a Biedermaier style in one of the two buildings and an Art Deco spirit in the other. The hotel stands out, in a city that is nonetheless incredibly rich architecturally, by its distinctive decorative choices and by the creative use of noble materials, in particular marble and copper. Formerly used only on the most prestigious edifices, such as cathedral roofs, shimmering copper adds a singularly elegant touch to the facades and rooftops of the Best Western Premier Hotel Majestic Plaza. The marble in the communal areas exquisitely mixes two to five different shades, to such an extent, that many of the city's photographers come here for fashion shoots.

Asmera, the hotel's restaurant pays tribute to Czech culture not only by its menu, but also by the murals that depict the Art Nouveau style of which the Prague artist Mucha was one of the most emblematic proponents. After rising to fame in Paris designing the posters for the great actress of the era, Sarah Bernhardt, Mucha returned to Prague to work on his masterpiece, the Slav Epic (as well as on the first postage stamp and bank note of the new state).

The hotel's basement has been converted into a nightclub of particularly daring design that is greatly appreciated by the city's fun-loving youth. A youth that used to express its quest for freedom by graffiti in homage to the murdered singer on the so-called John Lennon Wall, which the police removed the same day.
The elegant paved courtyard that separates the hotel's two buildings is decked in flowerbeds and lawns and lined by red copper railings that create a quite unique ambience.

The guestrooms are tastefully furnished in echo of the establishment's communal areas. The upstairs' rooms command fine views of some of Prague's most spectacular symbols, the Castle, Saint Vitus Cathedral and Petrin Tower that rises amidst the trees of the castle's parkland. If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear the astronomical clock that rings each hour of the day just a few minutes away from the hotel. It was built in 1410, at a time when the accurate measurement of time was far from commonplace, to the point that, according to legend, the clockmaker was blinded to prevent him from ever reproducing his masterpiece elsewhere!

Best Western Premier Hotel Majestic Plaza

Stepanska 33, Prague, CZ, Prague, Czech Republic - 110 00

Phone: +420 22 14 86 10 0 Fax: +420 22 14 86 48 6

Best Western Premier Hotel International

The characterful witness of a bygone era...

A hotel's name is never insignificant. That of the Best Western Premier Hotel International links it not only to a major 20th century architectural trend, but also to the disproportionate ambition of the regime that built it as a symbol of its success to the rest of the world, a success that history was to contradict. For both these reasons, the Brno hotel occupies its own very special place in the nonetheless well-stocked portfolio of Best Western Premier hotels. The irony of history is indeed the fact that the hotel has since acquired an unquestionable legitimacy beyond that of politics.

Architecturally speaking, the International style, exemplified by the work of Philip Johnson (New York's MoMA) and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (Seagram Building, New York or Villa Tugendhat in Brno) blossomed in total opposition to past references, taking a clear stand in favour of simple, minimalist volumes and the triumph of modern materials such as glass, steel and concrete. "Less is more" is the byword of this style, of which the Best Western Premier Hotel International is an example, built in 1962 and today a listed monument. Its clean, almost severe, outer lines and the simplicity, if not the austerity, of its volumes, cannot leave the onlooker indifferent. The structure gives off an impression of equilibrium and serenity that are entirely in keeping with its majestic central location. Inside, the hotel's distinctive decorative style is visible in the large number of contemporary works of art of great value, such as the steel and glass sculpture in the lobby (which features stylised representations of a wheel and a crocodile, symbols of the city of Brno), the wrought-iron sculpture in the corridor leading to the restaurants that depicts a day from dawn to dusk and the paintings that adorn the conference rooms. Admire above all the hotel's interior design that called upon the country's leading architects and craftsmen, as the curved lines of the lobby ceiling and the splendid light fixtures illustrate.

Given the hotel's importance to the regime, it is understandable that the rooms and communal areas were designed with a rare attention to luxury both in terms of volume and light. The corner balconies of the suites, for example, perfectly illustrate the type of detail that not only makes life more pleasant, but that also enhances the view. When one also knows that the hotel has been treated to state-of-the-art fixtures and fittings, it is easy to imagine the quality of the welcome extended to guests. The sports centre, built around the pool, is emblematic of this outstanding level of quality and justly popular with many top-ranking sports men and women.

After having shed the excesses of the Communist regime that built it, the hotel now proudly asserts its national and city roots. The hotel's two restaurants, possibly the best in Brno, serve excellent local dishes accompanied by a fine selection of wines from Central Europe. The region of Moravia was the birthplace of some of the world's leading minds, among whom Freud, Oskar Schindler, composer Janacek, pianist Alfred Brendel, artist Alfons Mucha, writer Milan Kundera and the exceptional photographer, Josef Koudelka. Indeed this rich cultural and artistic heritage can be felt as soon as one ventures out into the city. Idyllically located, right in the heart of the historic city at the foot of the wooded hillside on top of which stands Spielberg Castle, the hotel's identity and character are entwined with that of the city of Brno and its breathtakingly slender bell towers, delicately cobbled pedestrian streets and smiling passers-by, clearly happy to be living in a country that is free, independent and European. This symbiosis is so authentic that the hotel has for many years now been the setting of one of Brno's most important social events: a ball that magnifies the modernity of this city, nonetheless so anchored in the past.

Best Western Premier Hotel International

Husova 16, Brno, CZ, Brno, Czech Republic - CZ-65921

Phone: +420 54 212 2111 Fax: +420 54 221 0843

Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria

A talented hotel for discerning travellers...

Zagreb is emblematic of Croatia's flag, both young and old at the same time. The Croatian flag, in its present form since 1990, shows the country's shield topped by a crown, composed of the arms of the country's five historic provinces: Illyria, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia. In this way one of the most recent flags of our modern world features medieval symbols such as a marten, leopards' heads, a golden goat and a crescent moon. Modern-day Zagreb is home to over 100 000 students, but is also the site of some of the oldest vestiges in Central Europe and fervently defends and upholds superstitions several centuries old, such as that which claims that the portrait of the Virgin Mary and Jesus on the "Stone Door" emerged intact and unharmed after a fire that destroyed the door itself several centuries earlier…

The Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria stands in the heart of the historic city, whose cobbled streets are still lit by gas lamps. The Petrinjska Street facing the hotel provides a wide perspective so that the windows of some of the rooms command views of the famous towers of Zagreb Cathedral. It was in this street that a Roman skull was unearthed in the early 20th century, bearing witness to the presence of a Roman camp on the site. The hotel's guests can hear the Cathedral bells ringing the hours and the resounding boom of the cannon fire from Lotrscak Tower (part of the city's medieval wall), shot each day at midday since 1887. In springtime however, the city resounds above all to the All Women Jazz Festival, many of whose performing artists stay at the Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria.

The hotel's particularly renowned restaurant offers a fine selection of authentic Croatian fare, characteristic of the art de vivre of this unique region and whose names can rather defy even the most daring linguist, but whose flavours are second to none: Sir i vrhnje (fresh cottage cheese with cream), Kukuruzni kruh (corn bread), Palacinka (special pancake filled with marmalade, chocolate or walnuts), Paški (sharp sheep's cheese from Pag Island).

The Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria is, above all, an outstanding example of a dedication to understated elegance and flawless good taste, sadly so rare these days, which only makes every reassuring and relaxing detail of the hotel all the more appreciable. The antithesis of gaudy and brash, the hotel's real quality and generous hospitality can rather be felt in a host of unspectacular, restrained details, in particular the ceilings, floors and light fixtures. At the Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria, all are irreproachable and their design, materials and flawless finish contribute to the picture of harmony set by this hotel, among which the parquet floors in many of the rooms, the splendid marble in the lobby and bathrooms and the discreet wall lighting in the corridors that draws the eye to the works of Mersad Berber and Oton Gliha, two contemporary Croatian artists some of whose paintings have been reproduced on postal stamps. Similarly, one doesn't often have the chance to stay at an establishment whose desks in the guestrooms are genuine period writing tables, whose armchairs are thoughtfully fitted with footstools or whose guestrooms are adorned with genuine works of art or vases of freshly cut flowers. This impression of genuine class grips the discerning visitor, right from the magnificent wood and glass double entrance door and continues on in the scent of leather armchairs, the gleam of marble and varnished wood and the hushed aura of silence, all of which bear witness to the talent still possessed by some hotel managers and appreciated by discriminating travellers, less avid for superficial, ostentatious recognition than for discreet personalised service.

These same travellers never tire of recounting their tales, after strolling through Maksimir Park or beneath the leafy branches of the trees of the Medvednica. Their heads are full of the amazing roof of Saint Mark's church, the view of the city from the funicular cabin as it climbs the city's steep hillside or The Well of Life by Ivan Mestrovic, one of the greatest 20th century sculptors. Such visitors perhaps feel both more curious and more mature after exploring this city that is both young and old at the same time, but without doubt far richer than they were before arriving at the Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria.

Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria

Petrinjska 71, Zagreb, HR, Zagreb, Croatia - 10 000

Phone: +385 (0)1 480 89 00 Fax: +385 (0)1 480 89 08