Travel is already an endless well of inspiration, but we’ve rounded up a bevy of literary festivals, bookish hotels and writers’ retreats that will have you diving deeper than ever before.
By Fiona Brutscher
0/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Literaturhotel Friedenau, Berlin:
Literaturhotel Friedenau, Berlin: Berlin has been home to a number of Germany’s most famous writers – and many of them lived and worked in the Friedenau district. The boutique vintage Literaturhotel collects the works of literati like Uwe Johnson, Günter Grass, Hans-Magnus Enzensberger and Max Frisch, aiming to launch a local “literary dialogue”. literaturhotel-berlin.de
1/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
The Westin, Dublin:
The Westin, Dublin: Wander in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom, visit the Writers’ Museum and marvel at the stunning old Trinity College library… then snuggle up in your literary-themed room at the Westin, with a good read delivered to your door by the hotel’s dedicated book butler. thewestindublin.com
2/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
The Commons, Minneapolis:
The Commons, Minneapolis: A haven of hipster literacy, this urban hotel makes geek look very chic. The on-campus location, in-house library and book butler stimulate the mind, but mixology lessons and a wellness centre provide more material distractions, if needed. commonshotel.com
3/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
The Heathman Hotel, Portland, Oregon:
The Heathman Hotel, Portland, Oregon: This hotel doesn’t have just any old library, but one that holds over 2,700 signed volumes, many gifted by authors on the occasion of a stay. Guests can borrow books to read in the comfort of their rooms. portlandlibrary.heathmanhotel.com
4/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
The Sylvia Beach Hotel, Nye Beach, Oregon:
The Sylvia Beach Hotel, Nye Beach, Oregon: This hotel doesn’t just suggest you pick up one of the countless books lining its many shelves – it leaves you no choice. There’s no wi-fi, televisions, radios, phones or alarms. There is, however, a library, reading room, rooms named after authors… and books upon books. sylviabeachhotel.com
5/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Library Hotel, New York:
Library Hotel, New York: New York is spoiled for literary haunts, but this one is most like, well, a library. Every floor represents a theme (like literature, languages and the vonts), and the rooms a more detailed category (like fashion, music and photography), each decorated and stocked with books according to that category. libraryhotel.com
6/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Algonquin Hotel, New York:
Algonquin Hotel, New York: This legendary literary meeting place is all about the stories. Stories of those who have stayed in its rooms, who have written under its roof and those who have sat at its round table. Every room comes with a writing desk, so guests can work on joining the ranks of the hotel’s famous alumni. algonquinhotel.com
7/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad:
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad: As if this historic palace hotel weren’t grand enough, its imperial library is a replica of the one at Windsor Castle and boasts a collection of 5,900 books, including many first editions. Needless to say, the price tag on a stay is equally regal. tajhotels.com
8/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Hotel Monte Leone, New Orleans:
Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans: This New Orleans establishment hasn’t just hosted a roll-call of American literati, many of them also wrote about it… and Truman Capote even claimed to have been born there. Today there’s a suite named after him. hotelmonteleone.com
9/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Waldhotel, Davos, Switzerland:
Waldhotel, Davos, Switzerland: History, heritage and literary pedigree, all under one roof. This former sanatorium inspired Thomas Mann’s Zauberberg and the surrounding mountains are as magical now as they were then. The hotel has been thoroughly modernised, but retains its old-world charm. waldhotel-davos.ch
10/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
The Continental Hotel Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City:
The Continental Hotel Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City: The place where Graham Greene wrote The Quiet American was the first hotel in Vietnam. It’s no longer the finest address in town, but it retains its colonial grandeur to this day – and the heritage-listed sheen of history. continentalsaigon.com
11/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
La Concha, Key West, Florida:
La Concha, Key West, Florida: You can visit Ernest Hemingway’s former home, now a museum, during the day, wind down with a drink at his favourite bar… and then stay at the hotel where he was a regular. The heritage hotel is a far cry from the depression-era Key West described in To Have and Have Not. laconchakeywest.com
12/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Pavillon des Lettres, Paris:
Pavillon des Lettres, Paris: This house of letters has 26 rooms, each one representing a letter of the alphabet – and named for an author beginning with that letter. The comfortable rooms feature quote-inscribed wallpaper and come decked out with a selection of books. pavillondeslettres.com
13/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Writer's Studio, Pacific Grove, California:
Writer’s Studio, Pacific Grove, California: A lot of hotels have hosted famous authors, but how many private homes formerly owned by writers can you spend a night in? Quite a few, according to Airbnb. This one, which served as John Steinbeck’s studio in the 1940s, is sure to inspire guests. airbnb.de
14/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Monk's House Garden Studio, Lewes, East Sussex:
Monk’s House Garden Studio, Lewes, East Sussex: Much more than just a room, this garden studio offers an entire cottage of one’s own, situated within the grounds of Monk’s House, Virginia Woolf’s 17th-century country retreat. Budding writers and ardent bookworms can book the holiday home through the British National Trust. nationaltrustholidays.org.uk
15/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Arvon writer retreats, UK:
Arvon Writer Retreats, UK: Arvon Foundation’s creative writing courses, hosted in writing houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire, don’t just teach guests how to write – and give them the space to do so – they also get them a step closer to literary greats. Two of the venues were the former homes of John Osborne and Ted Hughes. arvon.org
16/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Moniack Mhor, Inverness-shire:
Moniack Mhor, Inverness-shire: North of the border, a remote Scottish creative retreat seeks to inspire writers with its scenic setting and strong local storytelling tradition. Courses range from poetry and fiction to comic- and playwriting. moniackmhor.org.uk
17/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Hotel Bergs, Riga, Latvia:
Hotel Bergs, Riga, Latvia: To be in with a chance of participating in the Baltic Writing Residency, receiving a free one-month stay at the beautiful Hotel Bergs in Riga, you have to apply. To stay there as a guest, you simply book a room. hotelbergs.lv
18/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
The Betsy Writers Room, Miami, Florida:
The Betsy Writers Room, Miami, Florida: The same goes for The Betsy, a historic property in Miami. All guests can enjoy the varied arts and culture programme, while a select few get to participate in the Writer’s Room programme, which gives visiting writers access to a working studio space adjacent to the hotel. betsywritersroom.com
19/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Editing in Paradise, Bali and Australia:
Editing in Paradise, Bali and Australia: Fancy retreating somewhere that feels more like a holiday? Then a writing retreat “in paradise” might be just the ticket. Australian company Editing in Paradise offer workshops in New South Wales or Victoria, as well as retreats in Bali. editinginparadise.com
20/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Hay Festival, Global:
Hay Festival, Global: Once described by Bill Clinton as “the Woodstock of the mind”, the original festival in Hay-on-Wye has grown to add musical performances and film screenings to its lineup of think tanks and lectures by famous authors. It’s also grown beyond its borders, now held everywhere from Spain to Bangladesh and Peru throughout the year. The next iteration takes place in Ciudad de Mexico from 23-25 October. hayfestival.com
21/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Vancouver Writers Fest:
Vancouver Writers Fest, 20-25 October: Every genre known to man is represented at this 6-day event that draws more than 100 wordsmiths from around the globe, from poets to graphic novelists and spoken word artists, for workshops, storytelling sessions, panel discussions and more. writersfest.bc.ca
22/24
Culture
Bookworm Bliss: 23 Getaways For Bibliophiles.
Cheltenham Literature Festival:
Cheltenham Literature Festival, 2-11 October: Ben Fogle, Bill Bryson and Nigella Lawson are just some of the luminaries who will be in attendance at one of the world’s longest running literary events (founded in 1949). The programme is bursting at the seams with foodie demonstrations, quiz nights, kids’ events, debates and interviews along with book readings, signings, workshops and everything in between. cheltenhamfestivals.com
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