When you step off the bustling Maximilianstraße and enter the Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten, you enter a time capsule, one that places you inside one of the grand old hotels of Europe.
Once in the salon-style lobby, which features a mosaic glass roof portraying the four seasons (the hotel’s name, Vier Jahreszeiten, means Four Seasons), you could bump into royalty: former guests include Empress Elisabeth of Austria (known to her subjects as “Sissi”), the King of Siam, and Winston Churchill.  Today, the Vier Jahrezeiten is the temporary home for heads of state, …

The Biergarten (literally, beer garden) dates back to Munich in the first half of the nineteenth century and the reign of Ludwig I of Bavaria. Thanks to a royal decree specifying brewing temperature (fermentation had to take place at temperatures between 4° and 8° Celsius), beer was brewed in colder months and breweries would dig beer cellars (Bierkeller) along the banks of the Isar River to keep the beer cool in warmer months.
To keep temperatures down, the banks were covered in gravel and the brewers planted chestnut trees, whose …

It’s always interesting to be among the first guests at a hotel, especially during a “soft” opening.  The last pieces of equipment are being delivered to the fitness center, the shrubs are still being planted, and the staff is getting acquainted with the hotel and with each other.
When you enter the Novotel München Airport hotel, you immediately understand why this is the brand’s flagship property.  Guests are greeted by an ultra modern lobby and reception area, attractive and comfortable Ligne Roset furniture, and an experienced and accommodating staff.
There’s a …

[Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles about Munich and covers museums and music. Virtual tours of both Munich and the BMW Museum are at the bottom of the page.]
The letter “B” is not found in “Munich” but it might as well be.  The letter B is everywhere in the city, whether it’s on the street (BMW), in a restaurant (Bier), or in a political discussion (Bayern, or Bavaria).  It’s probably the most important letter in the city as a result.
Munich is one of four …

Admittedly, I arrived at London Heathrow’s Terminal One a bit late for my flight, 26 hours late to be exact.  I did have a good excuse, however: the 35 cm of snow at JFK that delayed my initial outbound flight.   London had snow as well, all flights were delayed, and my scheduled flight was not until 8 p.m. (I arrived in London around noon).  Despite the long lines everywhere, I only had to wait ten minutes on the business class line.  The friendly and helpful agent put me on a …

The Charles Hotel is different.  Unlike the typical luxury hotels of Europe, it is new construction (opened in 2007). Its cool white stone exterior nonetheless blends in with its surroundings, such as the 19th-century Justizpalast and the almost secret Alter Botanischer Gärten (Old Botanical Garden).
This neo-classical hotel was built as a monument to Italian-born Charles Forte, who became one of England’s greatest hoteliers.  I arrived at the Charles after a delay-laden 48 hour trip from New York and the hotel’s muted elegance was both calming and reassuring.
WHERE IS IT?
The …

In good weather, the flight from New York (JFK) to Munich via London can take as little as 12 hours. In bad weather, the trip can stretch to perhaps 15 or 20 hours. But the storm that last week buried much of the East Coast of the United States in a blanket of snow shut down major airports, closed thousands of businesses, and left tens of thousands of people stranded at places other where they wanted to be.
In my particular case, the storm, which set new records in …

Most people think of an airport hotel as someplace one has to stay in between flights or for a specific meeting.  The Kempinski Airport Hotel München, on the other hand, is a luxury hotel that just happens to be at an airport (Flughafen München/ Munich Airport Franz Josef Strauß).  In addition, its modern, soaring design that blurs the barriers between indoors and outdoor is intended to connect with the traveler’s feelings about the adventure of travel.
Glass and color are everywhere.  Enter the hotel and you are greetings by an airy …

Walking into the Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten from the bustling Maximilianstraße is like stepping into a time capsule, but one that places you inside one of the grand old hotels of Europe.
Whether royalty [former guests include Empress Elisabeth of Austria (“Sissi”), the King of Siam, and Winston Churchill] or business traveler, the salon-style lobby of the 1858-built hotel, which features a mosaic glass roof portraying the four seasons, beckons.
WHERE IS IT?
Built at the behest of King Maximilian II., The Vier Jahreszeiten is, appropriately enough, near the Residenz, the former royal palace …

The Mandarin Oriental Munich is found on a quiet and unassuming side street near the Maximilianstraße, one of Munich’s main shopping streets.  The unpretentious entrance is quite a contrast from the elegance one finds once inside its portals.  The hotel’s 53 rooms and 20 suites are perhaps the most luxurious in the city.  Guests are always addressed by name and cosseted.
When I arrived, my room wasn’t ready yet so I was invited to enjoy a glass of Sekt in the lobby lounge.  The club sandwich I ordered in the lounge …