The American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem

The American Colony Hotel is a five star hotel adorned with unique gardens and buildings paired with a rich history. The original building was inhabited by Horatio and Anna Spafford and their Christian church group from Chicago in 1881, following a series of tragic events leading them to find peace within the holy city of Jerusalem. Then in 1902, Baron Ustinov housed his European and American visitors here as he found Turkish inns of the time unacceptable, spurring the idea to open a hotel here. The hotel has endured countless wars. In fact, it was here that the white flag made from a bed sheet was taken in 1917 to initiate the truce that ended Ottoman rule in Jerusalem. There are four separate buildings housing a total of ninety-four rooms and suites, some complete with a balcony or terrace overlooking the adjacent gardens. The new pool is constructed from Jerusalem stone, lined with Italian glass tiles and landscaped with cascading water features .Overlooking the pool is the fitness centre, massage centre and sauna. There are six dining options in total from an outdoor barbeque in the gardens to an intimate bar area within a wine cellar. There is also a large selection of shops selling local handicrafts and souvenirs.