8 U.S. Hotels That Will Remind You of Europe

Close-to-home escapes with Old Continent spirit. With Americans currently banned from traveling to the European Union – and many choosing to stay close-to-home in light of the coronavirus pandemic anyway – we rounded up a few U.S. hotels inspired by destinations across the pond. Until we’re able to safely visit Europe again, these domestic escapes will satisfy some wanderlust.If you’re dreaming of England, head to Middleburg, Virginia.In the heart of Virginia’s horse and wine country, the 168-room Salamander Resort & Spa – owned by Virtuoso Travel Week keynote speaker Sheila C. Johnson – channels the English countryside with its 25 acres of rolling hills, stone buildings, and equestrian-chic decor. Basing the design on her nearby farm, Johnson chose a soothing brown and ivory palette to complement views of the countryside from guest room balconies and terraces, the hotel’s main restaurant and bar, and the spa courtyard. Horseback riding is a must, and every guest will fall for Cupcake, Salamander’s resident miniature pony, who hosts a weekly happy hour in the lobby. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 resort credit.  

If you’re dreaming of Rome, head to Palm Beach, Florida.Modeled after Villa Medici – a sixteenth-century Renaissance estate in Rome’s Borghese Gardens – The Breakers feels like Rome … if the Italian capital city also fronted a palm-fringed beach. Seventy-five artisans traveled from Italy to hand paint the Renaissance-style frescoes and murals that adorn the lobby’s 200-foot vaulted ceiling and the 538-room resort’s ballrooms. Guest rooms feel quietly elegant, repeat guests return again and again for the beach, the golf, the four pools, and the indoor-outdoor spa. You’ll find us digging into a plate of pappardelle while watching the sunset over the Atlantic. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 resort credit.

If you’re dreaming of Tuscany, head to Carmel Valley, California.Editor’s Note: Our hearts are with our friends and travel partners in Northern California who have been affected by the wildfires currently burning in the state. Please check with your Virtuoso travel advisor for the latest information on hotel openings and closures.

The welcome glass of Bernardus sauvignon blanc guests receive during check-in at the Bernardus Lodge & Spa is sure to raise any longing-for-Italy spirits. Inspired by the colors of the Tuscan landscape, the resort’s terra-cotta, ochre, dark brown, and celadon palette evokes rolling fields of grapevines in autumn. The 73 guest rooms, all with fireplaces, patios, soaking tubs, and Italian linens, overlook 28 acres of vineyards, orchards, and gardens. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.  

If you’re dreaming of Paris, head to Chicago.There’s a slice of Paris in the heart of the Windy City, and it’s at the 215-room Waldorf Astoria Chicago. (Architect Lucien LaGrange took inspiration from the Beaux-Arts classicism of his native Paris while designing the hotel.) The lobby’s stunning crystal sunburst chandelier was inspired by a Coco Chanel brooch, and the marble floor evokes the design house’s logo. The hotel’s heated courtyard – with its purple awnings, flower-lined fountains, and Evian-bearing doorman – keeps the French vibes flowing. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.

If you’re dreaming of Norway, head to Deer Valley, Utah.Named for the legendary skier, Park City’s 180-room Stein Eriksen Lodge channels Norway (Eriksen’s birthplace) with hand-painted rosemaling (flower art) details in common areas and a lobby brimming with Norwegian sled, ski, and elf decor. Wintertime revelers love the lodge’s slopeside location, the guest rooms with fireplaces and hot tubs, and the spa’s Arctic-style plunge pool. Find Scandinavian influence on the plate at Glitretend Restaurant, where chef Zane Holmquist serves his grandmother’s Swedish meatballs. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 spa credit.  

If you’re dreaming of Spain, head to Phoenix, Arizona.Sure, you’re in the desert, but you’ll feel more like you’re in Andalusia at the 119-room Royal Palms Resort and Spa, where Spanish-style casitas, fragrant orange groves, and colorfully tiled fountains encompass this former 1930s estate at the base of Camelback Mountain. Alfresco treatments at the Alvadora Spa incorporate Spanish ingredients and traditions. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 spa credit.

If you’re dreaming of Austria, head to Vail, Colorado.Inspired by Austria’s pedestrian villages, the chalet-style, 74-room Arrabelle at Vail Square would feel at home in Salzburg with its Biedermeier architecture, medieval-style clocktower, and winter skating rink. Rooms feel oh-so European too, with red velvet canopy beds, fireplaces, and balconies that overlook Vail Mountain. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily, a $100 spa credit, and a $50 dining credit.If you’re dreaming of Scotland, head to Lenox, Massachusetts.Turrets, gargoyles, and classic Tudor style. Set on 110 acres in the Berkshires, the 24-room Blantyre is a replica of the ancestral home of founder Robert Paterson’s mother in Blantyre, Scotland. Rooms in the manor house feature original tile work, hand-carved crown molding, and antique light fixtures, while the hotel’s carriage house and cottage accommodations skew more contemporary. A Café Boulud pop-up until October showcases French classics using ingredients from local farms, but, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of Glenfiddich waiting in the bar for a proper Scottish nightcap. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.