The apartment where Mr. Big sighs over Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City, Batman's penthouse suite, the setting for the love triangle featuring Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona... they all have one thing in common: in fact they are all hotels. The travel price comparison site Trivago has produced a list of the top ten movie location hotels where cinema fans can stay in the very settings where their favourite stories were filmed.
Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo, Iron Man II (2010)
Right in the centre of the Monegasque capital, this hotel is the scene of the confrontation between the armoured superhero and the villain during the Monte Carlo Formula 1 Grand Prix in Iron Man II. Now that Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Mickey Rourke have left the building, the hotel's daily comings and goings are a little less dramatic, though there are still plenty of illustrious personalities to be seen in the elegant corridors. The building is palatial, the bedrooms stylish and original, and the restaurant Le Grill, specialising in Mediterranean cuisine, boasts a Michelin star.
Hotel Park Hyatt Tokyo, Tokyo, Lost in Translation (2003)
Sofia Coppola chose this hotel as the setting for Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson to bring to life some of the scenes of their melancholy love story in the Oscar-winning film Lost in Translation. The discrete sophistication of the Park Hyatt Tokyo is located right in the heart of Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's best known business districts. It offers a perfect base from which to spend a day shopping in Omotesando, the city's elegant commercial street, or to visit the ancient Meiji Schrein temple. In addition to a comprehensive spa facility, the hotel's New York Grill, located on the 52nd floor, boasts spectacular views of the Japanese metropolis.
Grand Hotel de Cabourg, Normandy, Coco Before Chanel (2009)
Starring Audrey Tautou, the film Coco Before Chanel is a biographical drama that focuses on the early life and rise from humble origins of one of the key figures of French haute couture. Some of the scenes were filmed in the Grand Hotel, Cabourg, in Normandy, whose magnificent nineteenth-century architecture made it a perfect choice to feature as the luxury Deauville Palace. The fine seafood served in the hotel's spacious apartments is a pleasure not to be foregone, and one that has been enjoyed by a host of famous names including the classic French novelist Marcel Proust.
Hotel Giraffe, New York, Sex and the City (2008)
What we see as Mr Big's fantastic city apartment in the first movie sequel to the popular TV series Sex and the City, is actually the Piano Suite at the Hotel Giraffe, in the heart of Manhattan. Today a place of pilgrimage for the best-informed fans, this elegant building, with its modern but simple style, is located at number 365 on the prestigious Park Avenue. The four-star hotel is perfectly situated for visiting the emblematic sights of the Big Apple, including the Flatiron and the Empire State Building, which are only a short walk away. And where better for a shopping spree than the nearby Macy's or Bloomingdale's?.
Hotel Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, Bruges, In Bruges (2008)
After a botched job in London, two Irish hit men, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, travel to the beautiful medieval town Bruges in Belgium, intending to lay low for a while and await instructions. But even the fairytale city can't guarantee protection from the consequences of their actions. The slightly subdued atmosphere of the film interiors of In Bruges doesn't do justice to the reality of this comfortable boutique hotel which is set alongside one of the canals in the town's historic centre. Behind the building's unusual facade are just 16 rooms, and antiques and flowers are essential elements of the hotel decor.
Budapest Marriott Hotel, Budapest, Munich (2005)
The Marriott Hotel in Budapest is the fictitious London hotel setting for some of the scenes from Steven Spielberg's film Munich, starring Eric Bana and Daniel Craig, which narrates the events in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics. In reality, it's a large hotel, with over 350 rooms and marvellous views out over the River Danube. For lovers of fine food, the hotel restaurant 'Peppers!' serves both Mediterranean dishes and traditional Hungarian cuisine.
Hotel 71, Chicago, The Dark Knight (2008)
In The Dark Knight, the 2008 Batman film starring Christian Bale, Bruce Wayne's penthouse hideaway is in fact the 39th floor of Chicago's Hotel 71. This is where the superhero returns to recoup his strength after each encounter with his arch-enemy the Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger. The film, one of the most successful in the history of the cinema, is directed by Christopher Nolan, who wanted to imbue it with the sophistication of the golden age of Hollywood. This led him to choose settings such as the Hotel 71, which, located in one of the central districts of the 'Windy City', is notable for its casual elegance and style.Hotel de la Reconquista
Hotel de la Reconquista, Oviedo, Spain, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
The inimitable Woody Allen, an ardent admirer of Asturias, Spain and a frequent visitor to Oviedo, chose the northern city's leading hotel as the location for some of the scenes of his romantic drama Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The film tells the love triangle between Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz, and resulted in an Oscar for best supporting actress for Penelope. The Hotel de la Reconquista is one of the most famous in the country and noted for its elegant and spacious facilities, ideal for holding major events such as the prestigious awards ceremony of the annual Principe de Asturias prizes for the arts, sciences, literature and sports.
Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary, Casino Royale (2006)
The Grandhotel Pupp, set in the small spa town of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, has had a long association with the cinema. In the Bond movie Casino Royale, featuring Daniel Craig as the eponymous hero, it portrayed the Montenegrin Hotel Splendide, featuring in a number of scenes, including the one where everyone's favourite secret agent meets the Bond girl of the moment, Eva Green. It was also used for Jackie Chan's Shanghai Knights (2003), and John Malkovich and Antonio Banderas have both been listed among its prestigious guests on a number of occasions. The building dates from 1701 and still preserves the splendour of a bygone era in both its magnificent architecture and its luxury interior.
Hotel Regina, Paris, The Bourne Identity (2002)
The Hotel Regina in Paris is a key location in the action film The Bourne Identity, where the Oscar-winner Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, a secret agent suffering from amnesia. With the help of the German actress Franka Potene he sets out to discover who he really is. The hotel, situated in a historic building right in the heart of the French capital, near to the the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens, boasts a typical Parisian facade and sumptuous interiors decorated with fine furniture and artworks.
