Hoteliers love to tout their technology, so it's no big surprise that many are adding e-readers to their lists of amenities. But a handful of chic properties are offering an even more extraordinary perk: real books.
Here are 8 hotels with incredibly cool literary amenities.
(01 of08)
Paris(02 of08)
Literature is the unifying theme at The Pavillon des Letters, the 8th arrondissement's newest boutique hotel. Each of its 26 rooms (think letters of the alphabet) is dedicated to a classic author from Anderson to Flaubert to Ovid to Zola. Handwritten quotes grace the walls, books can be found on the nightstand, and an honesty bar encourages you to while away some time in the on-site library. But the hotel's approach to entertainment is not entirely old fashioned--each room also includes an iPad stocked with current bestsellers, daily newspapers and a selection of jazz and classical music.
New York(03 of08)
Two hotels overlooking the New York Public Library are making books their brand. At The Library Hotel (pictured), rooms are organized according to the Dewey Decimal System. Each floor corresponds to a major category--Social Sciences, Literature, Technology etc.--while rooms are designed according to more distinct themes, from erotic literature to paranormal. In addition to a bookshelf in each room, the hotel offers a 6,000-book library, a writer's den and a poetry garden. Nearby, the newly opened Andaz 5th Avenue houses a satellite outpost of the New York Public Library with a rotating selection of books available for checkout. Every space in the hotel, from the bar to the boardroom, includes reading material, usually with a New York bent, and guests can also get complimentary tickets for "cognitive theater" events at LIVE from the NYPL. Apparently the scholarly theme has been a hit, as Andaz plans to open a hotel in the former Amsterdam Public Library in 2012.
Mexico(04 of08)
Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico adds a twist to the hotel library with their Hot Type program. They won't just loan you any old dog-eared novel to read with your toes in the sand, they'll provide some the year's hottest titles as early as six months before they're publicly released. The latest batch of books includes new work from a wide array of authors, including Pulitzer-prize winner Oscar Hijuelos, historian Robert Remini and women's lit legend Sue Miller.
Portland, OR(05 of08)
The Heathman Hotel's lending library takes their selections seriously--more than half of the 4,000 volumes are fist editions signed by their authors, who were also former guests. Current guests who opt for the Books by Your Bedside package will get a hard cover edition of the most recent visiting author's work, overnight lending privileges, have part of their room rate donated to a local literacy program, and take home a few goodies like a travel reading light and literary bookmark.
Abu Dhabi(06 of08)
Ninety minutes from Abu Dhabi's capital and in the center of the world's largest uninterrupted sand desert, the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is as ethereal as it is remote. Though small, its library is similarly chocked with atmosphere. Its studious decor includes the daily periodicals and comfy leather seating you'd expect, but it's also filled with enriching surprises like inlayed bookshelves stacked with rare historic texts and maps, ancient Bedouin artifacts, and--strangely enough--the world's largest collection of camel saddlebags. Those hoping to flip through a contemporary poolside page-turner, however, will have to pack accordingly.
Miami(07 of08)
With their virtual nightstand, the Epic Hotel in Miami offers a creative mix of digital and traditional media. In addition to one complimentary book left in their room, guests are presented with excerpts of several new releases from Crown Books. If they want more, the full book will be sent up to their room at 10% off the cover price.
Thailand(08 of08)
At The Library, a Design Hotels property in Koh Samui, books are more than a diversion--they're practically objects of worship. The grounds are adorned with white statues, which are shown not riding horses or meditating, but reading. Floor-to-ceiling books break up the otherwise minimalist white decor in the ocean-view library, called Content. (The restaurant is called The Page, and the rooms are named for page numbers, 26 of them of course.) Guests are encouraged to curl up with a book by the pool or even while enjoying breakfast in bed, literally served on a mattress in the sand. Far from a gimmick, this is all part of the staff's deep belief that travel and reading are inextricably linked. The property's motto? "Life is like a book, and those who do not travel only read one page."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.