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Thursday, 29 July 2010



Turkey and Greece Boast Some of Europe’s and the World’s Best Hotels



BalkanTravellers.com   

7 August 2008 | Istanbul and Athens boast several of the best hotels in Europe and the world, according to the recently released survey results by the prestigious American magazine Time + Leisure.

Two hotels in Istanbul were present in the world’s Top 100 Hotels list – the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, in 41st place, and the Çiragan Palace Kempinski, in 61st place.

The two hotels were also present in the Top 50 Hotels in Europe category, at 7th and 14th places respectively. There, they were joined by the Swissôtel The Bosphorus, also in Istanbul, which was ranked 26th among the continent’s best.

Two hotels in Greece’s capital also made it among the top 50 in Europe - Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel in 29th position, and King George Palace, in 46th place.

In addition, the survey also ranked Istanbul as the world’s eight best city in its Top 10 Cities category.

“Many travellers don’t venture far beyond the ancient neighbourhood of Sultanahmet—home to the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque—which would be a mistake,” according to Travel + Leisure’s destination guide, which added that “Istanbul is made up of a vast network of neighbourhoods that are worth a visit, from the centuries-old Genovese colony–turned–shopping enclave of Galata and neighbouring Beyoglu, to Kadiköy, a happening district on the Asian side.”

Travel + Leisure’s 13th annual survey was based on responses by the magazine’s readers who selected their favourite hotels, spas, airlines, cruise lines, outfitters, cities, and islands around the globe.

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