Ever since my travels began, quite a long time ago, observing hotels under the slogan Grand Hotel intrigued me. These hotels looked so remote and upper class that my imagination constantly turned. Apparently the word ‘grand’ in the Grand Hotel is derived from the expression 'grandeur' (greatness) rather than from grand in size.
Grand Hotels are my favorite. Go back in time to the 19th century and their story will definitely make your heart tick as well. Those types of hotels were opened before the arrival of the railway. Train travel commenced and a need for a different type of hotel was needed. A lodge that provides a collection of services - accommodation, a restaurant, personal service, laundry, cleaning, a telegraph option and even a place to stable horses.
As of 1850 Grand Hotels opened in the hearts of European cities, offering their services to the rising number of railway travellers became necessary. Customers needed a place to stay in the style to which they’d grown accustomed at home. Grand Hotels were housed in a building with traditional architectural style, with a significant refinement of modern sanitation, lifts, electricity and of course splendour. Architecturally, most grand hotels consequently resembled impressive palaces – majestic presence of chandeliers , red carpets, impressionists paintings, marble sculptures and even monarch style swimming pools. At night, the light from countless windows of the Grand Hotels is to be seen from a distance. As for service - those hotels guaranteed a bespoke approach that caters to the guests’ every whim. Over the years, Grand Hotels are known for their iconic properties. Some of them offered dinner while enjoying music by the Grand Hotel Orchestra and diners even caught a glimpse of the bellmen taking down the flags for the day — a sunset tradition in numerous locations.
Over the years those hotels became hard to find. Certainly at an affordable rate. However I never gave up and whenever I had the opportunity I made sure I would stay in one of them. Planning a visit to Slovakia High Tatra mountains and the Grand Hotel opportunity arose again in the resort town of Tatranská Lomnica. The Grandhotel Praha that has been making the history of luxury in the Tatras from 1905 was to be my home away from home. The moment we saw the hotel, located in the thick forest, my adventure of entering the imaginary passageway enabling time travel began.
The hotel is built in a beautiful Art Nouveau style. Visitors are literally beamed back in a time tunnel to magical moments of the past. With 108 rooms and 15 suites this Grand Hotel was opened as the Palace Hotel and was renamed Grandhotel Praha in 1919.
In the early 20th century, Tatranská Lomnica was developing as a healing-recreational centre where European aristocracy met. Spa facilities became a need for those wealthy customers. They were built along with luxurious hotels. Apparently the long spa and luxury tradition of Tatranská Lomnica is represented by the Grandhotel Praha. Nowadays aristocratic guests are scarce. It became an ideal destination for family holidays and romantic breaks.
Stepping into the hotel however makes you feel like a true dignified customer. Walking on dark red soft carpets surrounded by marble railings with old style wallpapers made the first appropriate impression. With replicas of famous 19th century French oil painters and hanging old style chandeliers, this hotel indeed takes the visitor to previous centuries life. The guest rooms resemble the aristocratic decor of pre first world war. It was great to enjoy sleeping there, as the beddings were the best quality. For a romantic couple it will feel like participating in a periodical netflix drama. The dining room offers a similar experience at breakfast and the buffet dinner. The scene of the blooming flowers and the beautiful gardens from the windows were a joy to our eyes.
If one might believe that the orchestrator of this relaxing time tunnel experience is a veteran middle aged person, a surprise is waiting. 25 years old Slovakian Dominika Biľová is the hotel Director. “Although more than 100 years old, our hotel was renovated 5 years ago”, she says. “The hotel is naturally great for romantic couples, but we do host groups and we even cater to conferences and meetings up to 300 participants. The historic atmosphere makes our hotel a popular venue, also for representative balls and fairytale weddings. Our biggest asset is the beautiful Spa. We are one of the only hotels with a pool that is used also in summer and in winter outside. Therefore, we are unique in the High Tatras”, she concludes.
