The Best Luxury Resort Vacations Based On Bestselling Books

Reading and travel: This Father’s Day, why not combine the two passions into the ultimate luxury vacation?

Some of the planet’s finest vacation spots have also served as the inspiration — often literally — for the best books ever written. Here are 11 destination ideas for dads who love a good luxury vacation as much as a good book.

Jamaica — Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

The year is 1952. An aspiring British novelist, Ian Fleming, needs to name the titular character of his first book, Casino Royale. As he sits in the corner of a room at the present-day GoldenEye Villa on Jamaica’s northern coast, Fleming spots a field guide to the Birds of the West Indies and borrows the name of its author: Bond. James Bond. Today, the GoldenEye’s main villa sleeps up to 10 people in its three bedrooms, each with tropical garden baths. Two standalone guest cottages, Sweet Spot and Pool House, sleep two adults comfortably. The famed property advertises a private beach, personal butler and housekeeper — perfect for the dad who lives (or aspires to live) a confidential lifestyle.

Scottish Highlands — Outlander by Diana Gabalon

Through 10 novels, multiple generations of family members, and lots of time travel, Diana Gabalon’s Outlander series spins a romantic image of the Scottish Highlands. To relish its present form, send dad to The Fife Arms in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Opened in 2018, the hotel features 46 one-of-a-kind rooms and suites, two restaurants, and two bars: a whisky bar with more than 500 bottles and a cocktail bar inspired by Elsa Schiaparelli.

The Fife Arms also brings the Outlander world to life with its extraordinary art collection (more than 16,000 antiques and artworks adorn the property), roaring fireplaces, and richly layered sense of place. No time travel required.

London — The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

NoMad London, a luxurious 91-room boutique hotel, now home to tourists around the globe, was once the Bow Street Police Station that detained Oscar Wilde. Step back in time and appreciate the adaptive reuse — One wing of the original holding cells has been preserved and converted into guest rooms. The hotel weaves Wilde’s legacy throughout: portraits by Napoleon Sarony hang in the Twenty8 NoMad restaurant, and subtle nods to his work can be found in the hotel’s library. Guests can also visit the adjoining Bow Street Police Museum, which offers deeper insight into the building’s storied past and its famous former occupants.

One of London’s most celebrated luxury hotels, the Shangri-La The Shard, London, is offering the Bees in Bloom Tea at TĪNG Restaurant and Lounge on Level 35. Served on a stand adorned with dried florals, the afternoon tea includes nature-inspired pastries such as The Bee, The Ladybug and The Marguerite Daisy followed by delicious savouries and finger sandwiches. The tea will be finished with the hotel’s signature miniature chocolate Shard pastry, decorated with a honeycomb pattern, filled with berry mousse and served over clouds of dry ice.

San Diego — The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Between 1904 and 1917, L. Frank Baum made frequent winter pilgrimages to Coronado Island, often taking up residence at the Hotel del Coronado. It was here, off the coast of San Diego, that Baum found both refuge and inspiration. He completed three books in the Oz series during this period: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908), The Road to Oz (1909), and The Emerald City of Oz (1910). Beyond writing, Baum left a literal imprint on the hotel itself, designing the crown-shaped chandeliers that still hang in the Crown Room today — an idea he pitched to the hotel’s manager, insisting the space needed something more regal. In a 1905 poem, Baum captured the island’s enduring appeal: “And every day her loveliness shines pure, without a flaw; new charms entrance our every glance, and fill our souls with awe!”

The Hotel del Coronado, opened in 1888 and now a National Historic Landmark, remains a favorite for travelers chasing both the ocean breeze and echoes of the past. For a splurge, send dad to an exclusive Beach Village cottage with ocean views, and dinner at 1500 Ocean, where the menu matches the setting: elevated, coastal, and unhurried.

Wales — Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Send Dad through the looking glass and explore Wales through the eyes of Lewis Carroll. The British author and poet was inspired to write Alice in Wonderland by the real-life Alice Liddell, whose family vacationed in the beach town of Llandudno. The Liddells’ summer home was located in Penmorfa, about three hours south, and the rugged coastal landscapes spanning the region will inspire even the most veteran globetrotter.

Active England’s immersive Wonderland Trail ($4,999 per person) takes travelers through Wales in Carroll’s footsteps: the myth-rich peaks of the Brecon Beacons, walking behind a waterfall, indulging in a private whiskey tasting, exploring centuries-old cathedrals, and experiencing a private seaside choir performance. The seven-day tour takes guests by foot and by train to some of Carroll’s favorite locales, with stays at the best boutique hotels along the way. For this itinerary, enquire through the website.

Active England also offers the Jane Austen 250th Anniversary Tour ($3,600 per person), which celebrates the novelist with a 6-day curated guided tour across London to Winchester and Southampton, to New Forest and Bath. Walk right up to Jane Austen’s house in Chawton, where she lived and wrote her novels, and visit her final resting place, the Winchester Cathedral. The tour ends in Bath, which is mentioned in each of Austen’s six novels. Charming accommodations like the Wykeham Arms and The Bird in Bath offer dad a local retreat off the beaten tourist path.

Key West — Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West, Florida from 1928-39, and wrote or completed some of his most famous works here — A Farewell to Arms, Death in the Afternoon, and To Have and Have Not, which was set in Key West. For the 125th anniversary of Hemingway’s birth, hotels and restaurants across the city have turned up the literary love. Visit the Hemingway Home and Museum or, for a more comprehensive tour of his Key West experience, visit some of Papa’s favorite haunts via the Hemingway Experience.

Send dad to the Casa Marina Key West, an oceanfront property originally opened in 1920 and frequented by the author himself. This year, the Casa Marina opened the Canary Room, a new lobby bar and lounge inspired by Hemingway’s short story A Canary for One and lifelong ties to the island. It’s part of a recent $79 million transformation to the 311-room, 63-suite hotel. Browse the lounge library and order a rum-based cocktail flight featuring Papa’s Pilar from the Hemingway Rum Company.

When coming from or going to the westernmost Key, visit Bungalows Key Largo, the Keys’ first and only adults-only, all-inclusive resort. The waterfront oasis offers an exclusive experience: 135 private bungalows, each appointed with opulent amenities and accommodations. The 12-acre property includes multiple restaurants, jacuzzies, pools, water sports and a wellness spa. Hemingway’s influence is felt throughout. Bogie and Bacall’s is a fine dining restaurant inspired by the connection between Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Ernest Hemingway. The Hemingway Bar serves Papa’s favorite drinks within a space adorned with the same Art Deco ambiance and Cuban tiles found in his Key West home. The on-site restaurant Fish Tales, like the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Old Man and The Sea, is inspired by Hemingway’s love for deep-sea fishing.

New York City — The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The sounds of live jazz saturate the lobby every weekday night at the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue, The building has a rich history dating to 1923, including a past life as a college residence for men and fraternities, rising up during the Jazz Age depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Located four blocks from Grand Central Station, the property blends modern and vintage, luxury and functionality. Its 288 rooms are highlighted by five suites, including the 784-square-foot penthouse.

Dad will enjoy a visit to the Morgan Library and Museum next door. Originally the private library of financier J.P. Morgan when it opened in 1924, it’s now one of the world’s greatest collections of illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, and literary manuscripts — and free to the public. Morgan found the American Dream in New York and, more than a century later, is still synonymous with wealth. Gatsby could only dream of it.

Italy, India, Bali — Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Italy

For those who yearn to create a connection with one of Italy’s most historic cities, the Hotel Calimala in Florence rises to the occasion in a literal sense. Its rooftop bar, Angel, feels straight out of a scene where Gilbert roams through Renaissance streets and dines al fresco under a golden sky. In Rome, the NH Collection Roma Fori Imperial is a 42-room boutique hotel centrally located to the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, and the Colisseum. Oro Bistrot by Natale Giunta serves delectable local cuisine in-house, while the rooftop cocktail bar is the perfect place to watch the sun set over some of Rome’s most famous monuments.

Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts recently introduced an “Eat Play Love” campaign inspired by Gilbert’s novel. Two of the 15 participating properties are in India, and each offers its own unique brand of pampering.

India

At the Shangri-La Bengaluru, that includes a trip with an expert chef to a bustling local market to handpick fresh produce. Guests return for a guided cooking session, in which they learn to create two traditional South Indian dishes. For “play,” dive into Bengaluru’s vibrant brew scene with a visit to a local microbrewery. Visit Chi, the property’s on-site spa, and select a signature therapy designed to heal, relax and rejuvenate.

At the Shangri-La Eros, Delhi, the Wellness Club offers a calming 30-minute hand or foot massage for two, a deeply relaxing 45-minute signature massage, and a 60-minute private yoga and meditation session. Sorrento, the in-house restaurant, will serve up a three-course themed menu (aphrodisiac, mystery, or a blind tasting) paired with Italian wine or mocktails. Explore the colorful capital with a local English-speaking expert guide. The four-hour tour passes grand sights such as India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and Raisina Hill.

Bali

Two hours north in Ubud, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, sits where the lush jungle meets the Ayung River. Guests can immerse themselves in the setting of Eat, Pray, Love and explore the best of all worlds. Mandapa’s proximity to the center of town allows guests to enjoy slow mornings wandering the market for local food. Its on-site spa and wellness center focuses on holistic wellness and lifestyle programs based on the six pillars (Balinese Spa, Detox & Nutrition, Alternative Therapy, Body Therapy, and Healing). Try the yoga classes, held in the river-facing pavilion or on the rice paddy-fields platforms.

New Orleans, LA – Hemingway And Tennessee Williams

New Orleans is a writer’s haven. Between its longstanding reputation as a multicultural hub for arts and music, and the quirky and infamous characters who have walked its famous streets, New Orleans always has a story to tell. It’s also a great place to sit and write a book: Anne Rice, Truman Capote, William Faulkner, John Kennedy Toole, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and Eudora Welty are among the many famous authors who have called New Orleans home, if even as a hideaway for writing their literary tomes.

Located in the historic French Quarter is the literary landmark hotel, Hotel Monteleone. Williams, Hemingway and Welty spent time writing their award-winning novels and plays here. Williams was often in the Carousel Bar & Lounge, the setting in his Tony Award-winning play “The Rose Tattoo.” Hemingway mentioned the Carousel Bar & Lounge in his short story “The Night Before Battle,” and Welty drew inspiration from the Monteleone for “The Purple Hat.” Set dad up one of the many literary suites named after his favorite author.

Tennessee Williams also frequented The Pontchartrain Hotel in the city’s Garden District and wrote some of Pulitzer Prize-winning play “A Streetcar Named Desire” while staying at the storied hotel. Original handwritten pieces of the play are written on the hotel’s letterhead.