Reading is escapism. As children, the pages of storybooks allow us to leave our bedrooms and voyage to fanciful lands beyond our youthful imagination. As adults, books help us step away from the stress of real life and reconnect to wonder. But reading is more than just an escape—it can also be a beautiful tether. It can connect us more deeply to the places we reside and to the places we visit, celebrating the beauty of our hometown and also the vibrancy of a far-flung city.
Reading retreats are rising in popularity, but what about more casual literary pilgrims? Would you check into a hotel because your favorite author penned a book in one of its suites or drew inspiration for a character from the eccentric owner? Landmarks like Hôtel Belles Rives in Côte d Azur and New York City’s Hotel Chelsea have welcomed luminaries over the ages. In many instances, the properties where authors picked up their ballpoints became backdrops for adventure or even characters themselves.
Travelers who want a base with a bookish atmosphere, where renowned writers crafted masterpieces, and with plenty of cozy corners to dive into a good book, have some page-turning prospects, from London to San Diego’s Coronado Island.
Brown’s Hotel
It’s hard to overstate the historical significance of Brown’s Hotel. Located in London’s upmarket Mayfair neighborhood, the city’s oldest luxury hotel, now under the Rocco Forte banner, has long been a haven for literary giants, including Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, and Joseph Conrad. Rudyard Kipling considered the refined property a second home, spending decades as a frequent guest and working on The Jungle Book during his stays. Guests will notice numerous nods to his literary imprint, from tropical botanical wallpaper at Charlie’s to silk-bound editions of the beloved book to the elegant Kipling Suite.
Hôtel Belles Rives
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A century later, travelers are still chasing the allure of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s French Riviera, a place steeped in sun-dappled Mediterranean glamour, where the American novelist celebrated the publication of The Great Gatsby and began writing Tender Is the Night. The hallowed halls of Hôtel Belles Rives—the next chapter for the house the author rented with his family in the 1920s—is a love letter to its literary legacy, featuring Bar Fitzgerald, the Zelda Suite, and the terrace of Michelin-starred La Passagère for sipping chilled rosé.
Hotel del Coronado
Well-to-do East Coasters have long journeyed to Hotel del Coronado for sea, sunshine, and inspiration. Author L. Frank Baum used to spend his winters at the crown jewel of Coronado, and it’s where he wrote parts of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Present-day travelers looking to walk in the footsteps of historic figures can shack up in the turreted Victorian building, with polished-up original details such as the oak paneling and stained glass windows in the rotunda lobby, contemporary comforts, and plenty of cozy corners to dive into a good book.
Ritz Paris
Ernest Hemingway spent 1921 through 1926 drinking and scribing all around Paris, and the Ritz Paris was one of his favorite establishments for both. So much so that he left pages of notes and manuscripts from that period, which would later become A Moveable Feast, in a trunk at the luxury Belle Époque hotel. The author and prolific partier used to slog martinis with the Fitzgeralds at the intimate bar that pays homage to Hemingway through handwritten letters and artifacts.
GoldenEye
Yes, GoldenEye, on Jamaica’s North coast, has turquoise water, swaying palms, and a laid-back pace that makes it a vacation paradise calling for rum punch and light beach reads. But the cliffside hideaway, dating back to 1950, offers more than just sun-dappled relaxation. The 52-acre estate is where Ian Fleming penned all 14 James Bond novels. Guests can reserve the author’s private villa, where his original, sea-facing writing desk remains, alongside hardwood floors and breezy verandas.
Huka Lodge
Tucked away on 17 acres of blooming gardens along the banks of the Waikato River, on New Zealand’s North Island, Huka Lodge is a well-established refuge for wanderers in search of quietude, adventure, and nature-steeped inspiration. James A Michener wrote part of Return to Paradise, a collection of short stories and the follow-up to Tales of the South Pacific, at the retreat. With quiet corners and cozy, fireplace-warmed lounges, Huka Lodge is as well-suited for crafting masterpieces as flipping through them.
Dearborn Inn
Originally built in 1937, Dearborn Inn, which reopened after an extensive renovation in March 2025, has a long and illustrious history. Arthur Hailey stayed in the Edgar Allen Poe Cottage at Dearborn Inn for most of 1968 and 1969 while writing his book Wheels. The abode dedicated to the heroic figure in American Romanticism is now part of the property’s collection of historic replica homes, which pays homage to scholarly figures—including Walt Whitman and Barbara Fritchie.
Hotel Chelsea
Few places have shaped New York City’s cultural zeitgeist quite like Hotel Chelsea, part of Leading Hotels of the World, which got its start as an artist co-op apartment building. Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey and Arthur Miller penned parts of After the Fall while in residence. Thomas Wolfe and William S. Burroughs also lived there for a time, while Beat Generation writers Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs were regulars. The vintage-studded bar remains a hotspot for conversations and stiff cocktails.