Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

In a place like Egypt, 1896 hardly counts as history. But the Winter Palace is a relic of a bygone era nonetheless. It was built for a new wave of upscale British tourists, and it comes by its colonial style in the most honest way possible. At the time it was simply devoted to importing a bit of European style to wild North Africa — but a hundred years on it’s a classic unto itself.

Today it’s managed by Sofitel, and the French group brings an efficient hospitality machine to bear on this characterful old haunt. The rooms, thankfully, are oversized — this was an era of traveling with steamer trunks and valets — and they’re meticulously restored, and wired with all the modern conveniences. And it’s no skyscraper, but three floors up is high enough to get a pretty breathtaking view of the Nile.

Four restaurants serve Egyptian and European fare, and an army of staff is on hand to see to every need. It’s the perfect atmosphere for something like this. Fully modern luxury hotels just make you feel rich, but the romance of a place like the Winter Palace is about making guests feel important. For some travelers there’s little distinction, but for others it’s all the difference in the world.