Nostagic Factor

Pera Palas , Istanbul

With its glory days in the past, a stay at the Pera Palas is more of a trip in a time machine than an attempt at making history. Built in 1892 as lodging befitting the exclusive passengers of the Orient Express, the hotel has an appropriately star-studded guest list: Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express in room 411; Atatürk made room 101 (now a museum) his home in the days preceding the Gallipoli campaign; and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Greta Garbo, Edward VIII, Josephine Baker, and Mata Hari all made stops here -- their names adorn the rooms in which they stayed.
The Pera Palas reflects the Francophilia that had taken hold over the Ottoman Empire in the latter half of the 18th century, and in spite of some musty odors, retains much of the charm of a Parisian salon. Accordingly, the rooms are more authentic than deluxe, and only one-third of them come furnished with air-conditioning. But if character is more important to you than glitz, stay here. As a bonus, you can buy your very own replica of Agatha Christie's room key for $2.