Fodor's Expert Review Pera Palace Hotel

Extensive restoration has brought this Istanbul landmark—founded in 1892 to provide upscale accommodations for travelers arriving on the Orient Express—back to its former glory, with beautifully outfitted rooms and plenty of period decorations and antique furniture. Bathrooms are done in Carrera marble, and some feature deep, old-fashioned claw-foot tubs; there's also a small underground spa, sauna, and indoor pool. Some rooms and suites are inspired by prestigious former guests, including Agatha Christie, Greta Garbo, and Ernest Hemingway, while the "deluxe Golden Horn" rooms, many with tiny private balconies, are some of the coziest.