Top 10: Famous Hotel Rooms

Sure, you’ve partied in plenty of them and left your mark; however, some hotel rooms are known for a lot more than broken lamps and lumpy beds. From personal tragedies, murder, political strategizing, and even inspiration for art and fiction, events have given these hotel rooms a permanent place in the history books. New rooms are immortalized all the time. The latest memorable famous hotel room: room 871 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., where New York Governor Eliot Spitzer asked a call girl “to do things that... you might not think were safe.” Definitely scandalous, but and old hat to Jim Bakker whose own sex scandal in room 538 at the Sheraton Key Resort in Florida was way back in 1980.Want to see these famous hotel rooms for yourself? From the lurid to the inspiring, you can check in to any of the famous hotel rooms on our list. Find your next destination on our top 10 list of famous hotel rooms.
Number 10
The Churchill Suite
Mena House Oberoi Hotel
Cairo, EgyptSir Winston Churchill stayed in this room as an Allied leader during World War II. Mena House Oberoi Hotel hosted the Cairo Conference, a World War II strategy meeting between American President Franklin Roosevelt, Chinese General Chiang Kai-shek and Churchill. It’s said that Churchill would return to his now famous hotel room each night and sleep with his curtains open so he could see the pyramids of Giza, which lie only a few hundred yards away from the hotel. Obviously, you can expect to pay the price for this luxury view nowadays. Of course, during Churchill’s stay the view helped him settle his mind enough to focus on the outrageously important task of, you know, saving the world. So whatever this famous hotel room's price, it was well worth it.Book this famous room: Spending a night in the Churchill Suite will set you back approximately $1,180.00 USD a night.
Number 9
Monet Suite
Savoy
London, EnglandIn this famous hotel room, French Impressionist Claude Monet painted over 70 canvases of downtown London, and the Thames. However you’ll have to wait until 2009 to check in to this famous hotel room; the Savoy is currently under renovations and will reopen to the public only then. Before it closed, the Savoy offered the Monet Experience: a two night stay in this famous hotel room with canvases, paint easels and an art teacher to instruct you four hours a day. Plus, you were given a guided tour of Monet’s work at the National Gallery. If you were religious about Monet, this was your mecca. Hang in until 2009 to see what becomes of this place of artistic worship and Monet's famous hotel room.Book this famous room: You'll have to check back closer to '09 for pricing. After a $4.9 million renovation, the prices are sure to change.
Number 8
Presidential Suite Brandenburg Gate
Kempinski Hotel Adlon
Berlin, GermanyMichael Jackson brought his circus to town here in 2002, and played ringmaster to a cheering crowd below when he dangled his baby over this famous hotel room's balcony railing. Jackson claimed it was a “terrible mistake” and got “caught up in the excitement of the moment.” For everyone else it was just another bizarre chapter in his increasingly bizarre life. In fact, it’s strange he went on the balcony at all, considering what’s inside this Presidential Suite: You get a living room with a fireplace, two bedrooms, an office, dining room, kitchenette, private sauna, and a personal butler. Of course, with all these trimmings the hotel is groomed for the rich and powerful -- past guests like Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth and the Saudi King have felt right at home. However, no matter how hard Hotel Adlon tries to remind people of its historical pedigree, it’s still popularly known as the place where Wacko Jacko danced a “balcony waltz” with his baby in our No.8 famous hotel room.Book this famous room: If you didn't think he was Wacko before, maybe you will now after you see the price of this luxurious suite: $15,500 USD a night.You'll want to check into one of these famous hotel rooms as soon as you can...
Number 7
Room 203
Mark Twain Hotel
San Francisco, California On January 22, 1949, federal narcotics agents raided jazz singer Billie Holiday’s room. Holiday had recently served 10 months in jail for a drug bust and was arrested again, this time for possession of opium. The case went to trial but she was acquitted. Mark Twain Hotel is a mid-level boutique hotel in downtown San Francisco, and has photos and artwork of the singer in the lobby -- perhaps an odd way to commemorate her jazz talent considering she was busted for drugs there. The famous hotel room, room 203, has nevertheless been renamed the Billie Holiday Room. You’re welcome to test history, but we recommend you leave the drugs at home, just in case.Book this famous hotel room: You can be a real jazz cat like Billie Holiday for approximately $200/night.
Number 6
Room 524
Stamford Plaza (formerly The Ritz-Carlton)
Sydney, AustraliaThe devil inside INXS leader singer Michael Hutchence got the better of him in this room on November 22, 1997. He hung himself to death with his belt in this famous hotel room. However, there is a popular suggestion that his death was actually accidental. Since he was found nude, some believe he died while engaged in autoerotic asphyxiation. What may sound like a German techno band is really the act of intentionally choking yourself during sexual stimulation to heighten your pleasure. Who knew simple masturbation was passé? Formerly The Ritz-Carlton, The Stamford Plaza has a reputation as a celebrity hotel, with stays from Bill Clinton, Madonna and Tom Cruise. However, you'll want to visit soon if you want to check out this famous hotel room. Reports suggest luxury apartments will be added to the hotel and it’s unclear how this will affect the famous hotel room.Book this famous hotel room: It'll only set you back about $250 to experience this fab famous hotel room.
Number 5
Room 217
The Stanley Hotel
Estes Park, ColoradoAll work and no play make Stephen a dull boy. And, ironically, that’s exactly why Stephen King and his wife checked into this room in Colorado -- they wanted a weekend away to relax. Instead, King came up with the idea for The Shining. As the story goes, he said he had a feeling of dread in this famous hotel room, and later woke from a nightmare. Afterward King lit a cigarette and by its end had the book figured out in his head. Many believe the hotel is haunted -- apparently room 418 has the most “activity.” Either way, this famous hotel room has definitely attracted attention. The Shining TV miniseries was shot here as well as parts of Dumb and Dumber. Oh, and if you can’t get this room, you can get your Shining fix from the Hotel’s TV, which plays both the movie and miniseries on a loop. REDRUM.Book this famous hotel room: With an average room rate of $110 per night, this famous hotel room might be scary, but at least your wallet won't be trembling.
Number 4
Room 776
The Mayflower
Washington, D.C.Franklin Roosevelt stayed here in the months leading up to his 1933 presidential inauguration. America was in the Great Depression, and Roosevelt wanted to address it in his inaugural speech. He drafted the speech in this famous hotel room, including his now famous line, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Even before his stay, the Mayflower was a political hot spot in Washington, D.C. It opened in 1925 for President Calvin Coolidge’s inaugural charity ball, and was later home to Harry Truman for a time. Also, former FBI director and alleged cross-dresser, J.Edgar Hoover ate lunch there every day for 20 years. Of course, now the hotel is best known as the site of Client 9’s (aka former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer) secret “meetings.” Book this famous hotel room: We're guessing old Roosevelt opted for the more luxurious suite, which will set you back $450 a night, but won't you feel manly and presidential after a night's sleep in there?Stay where an artist tragically OD'd and where they asked to give peace a chance...
Number 7
Room 203
Mark Twain Hotel
San Francisco, California On January 22, 1949, federal narcotics agents raided jazz singer Billie Holiday’s room. Holiday had recently served 10 months in jail for a drug bust and was arrested again, this time for possession of opium. The case went to trial but she was acquitted. Mark Twain Hotel is a mid-level boutique hotel in downtown San Francisco, and has photos and artwork of the singer in the lobby -- perhaps an odd way to commemorate her jazz talent considering she was busted for drugs there. The famous hotel room, room 203, has nevertheless been renamed the Billie Holiday Room. You’re welcome to test history, but we recommend you leave the drugs at home, just in case.Book this famous hotel room: You can be a real jazz cat like Billie Holiday for approximately $200/night.
Number 6
Room 524
Stamford Plaza (formerly The Ritz-Carlton)
Sydney, AustraliaThe devil inside INXS leader singer Michael Hutchence got the better of him in this room on November 22, 1997. He hung himself to death with his belt in this famous hotel room. However, there is a popular suggestion that his death was actually accidental. Since he was found nude, some believe he died while engaged in autoerotic asphyxiation. What may sound like a German techno band is really the act of intentionally choking yourself during sexual stimulation to heighten your pleasure. Who knew simple masturbation was passé? Formerly The Ritz-Carlton, The Stamford Plaza has a reputation as a celebrity hotel, with stays from Bill Clinton, Madonna and Tom Cruise. However, you'll want to visit soon if you want to check out this famous hotel room. Reports suggest luxury apartments will be added to the hotel and it’s unclear how this will affect the famous hotel room.Book this famous hotel room: It'll only set you back about $250 to experience this fab famous hotel room.
Number 5
Room 217
The Stanley Hotel
Estes Park, ColoradoAll work and no play make Stephen a dull boy. And, ironically, that’s exactly why Stephen King and his wife checked into this room in Colorado -- they wanted a weekend away to relax. Instead, King came up with the idea for The Shining. As the story goes, he said he had a feeling of dread in this famous hotel room, and later woke from a nightmare. Afterward King lit a cigarette and by its end had the book figured out in his head. Many believe the hotel is haunted -- apparently room 418 has the most “activity.” Either way, this famous hotel room has definitely attracted attention. The Shining TV miniseries was shot here as well as parts of Dumb and Dumber. Oh, and if you can’t get this room, you can get your Shining fix from the Hotel’s TV, which plays both the movie and miniseries on a loop. REDRUM.Book this famous hotel room: With an average room rate of $110 per night, this famous hotel room might be scary, but at least your wallet won't be trembling.
Number 4
Room 776
The Mayflower
Washington, D.C.Franklin Roosevelt stayed here in the months leading up to his 1933 presidential inauguration. America was in the Great Depression, and Roosevelt wanted to address it in his inaugural speech. He drafted the speech in this famous hotel room, including his now famous line, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Even before his stay, the Mayflower was a political hot spot in Washington, D.C. It opened in 1925 for President Calvin Coolidge’s inaugural charity ball, and was later home to Harry Truman for a time. Also, former FBI director and alleged cross-dresser, J.Edgar Hoover ate lunch there every day for 20 years. Of course, now the hotel is best known as the site of Client 9’s (aka former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer) secret “meetings.” Book this famous hotel room: We're guessing old Roosevelt opted for the more luxurious suite, which will set you back $450 a night, but won't you feel manly and presidential after a night's sleep in there?Stay where an artist tragically OD'd and where they asked to give peace a chance...