Scotland & Norway Private Tour

Though we have never been big fans of large 150-room hotels, we certainly make an exception with the 5-star, 188-room Balmoral. The best hotel location in all of Edinburgh (in the heart of the city at the east end of Princess Street), the property was completely renovated in 2012. Originally opened in 1902, the architecture is quintessentially Victorian. The rooms here are large, with the Deluxe Castle View Rooms being our favorite! Amenities include a five-room treatment spa, nice gym with weights, 50-foot indoor pool, and two restaurants.

Though we have never been big fans of large 150-room hotels, we certainly make an exception with the 5-star, 188-room Balmoral. The best hotel location in all of Edinburgh (in the heart of the city at the east end of Princess Street), the property was completely renovated in 2012. Originally opened in 1902, the architecture is quintessentially Victorian. The rooms here are large, with the Deluxe Castle View Rooms being our favorite! Amenities include a five-room treatment spa, nice gym with weights, 50-foot indoor pool, and two restaurants.

Located in the picturesque Fort William and built in 1863, this luxury 17-room castle/country house is set among the most beautiful grounds and scenery in all of Scotland. The lavishly designed Victorian rooms are spacious, though perhaps a bit too colorful for many of our Mies-loving friends. In addition to amazing views of the grounds and surrounding mountains, all rooms are individually designed with elaborate furnishings, many preserved as gifts from the king of Norway (plus updated amenities and 40-inch TVs for your BBC fix!). Among our favorite areas at Inverlochy are the colorful walled gardens and lovely paths for walking. Please note a jacket is required for dining at the castle’s renowned Albert and Michel Roux Jr. restaurant. We enjoyed reading Queen Victoria’s quote from her 1873 visit to Inverlochy: “I never saw a lovelier and more romantic spot”.

Located in the picturesque Fort William and built in 1863, this luxury 17-room castle/country house is set among the most beautiful grounds and scenery in all of Scotland. The lavishly designed Victorian rooms are spacious, though perhaps a bit too colorful for many of our Mies-loving friends. In addition to amazing views of the grounds and surrounding mountains, all rooms are individually designed with elaborate furnishings, many preserved as gifts from the king of Norway (plus updated amenities and 40-inch TVs for your BBC fix!). Among our favorite areas at Inverlochy are the colorful walled gardens and lovely paths for walking. Please note a jacket is required for dining at the castle’s renowned Albert and Michel Roux Jr. restaurant. We enjoyed reading Queen Victoria’s quote from her 1873 visit to Inverlochy: “I never saw a lovelier and more romantic spot”.

Only a 30-minute drive east of Edinburgh, this 1901 stone manor house was designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The structure was later converted to a 23-room luxury inn overlooking the ninth and 18th greens of the championship Muirfield Golf Course. Most of the notably Edwardian-style decorated rooms offer uninterrupted views over the golf course or the lush four-acre Gertrude Jekyll-designed gardens and rolling farmland. Amenities include fine dining, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, and a nice spa with massage services.

Only a 30-minute drive east of Edinburgh, this 1901 stone manor house was designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The structure was later converted to a 23-room luxury inn overlooking the ninth and 18th greens of the championship Muirfield Golf Course. Most of the notably Edwardian-style decorated rooms offer uninterrupted views over the golf course or the lush four-acre Gertrude Jekyll-designed gardens and rolling farmland. Amenities include fine dining, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, and a nice spa with massage services.

Just an hour from Edinburgh Airport, we feel the 5-star, luxury Gleneagles Estate is a fitting end to your London & Scotland private tour. Despite its 232-room size, the Gleneagle’s service and attention to detail are truly remarkable. While staying here, past clients have given special praise to the resort’s Estate Rooms. Just below the Suite level, Estate Rooms are spacious with updated amenities and offer spectacular views of the gardens, grounds, and the Perth countryside. In addition to several restaurant choices, amenities include a 2014 renovated ESPA spa, two indoor pools, and a well-equipped gym. The wellness areas offer several fitness classes including pilates, yoga, and cardio. Outside activities include falconry, cycling, hiking, horseback riding, tennis, and more.

Just an hour from Edinburgh Airport, we feel the 5-star, luxury Gleneagles Estate is a fitting end to your London & Scotland private tour. Despite its 232-room size, the Gleneagle’s service and attention to detail are truly remarkable. While staying here, past clients have given special praise to the resort’s Estate Rooms. Just below the Suite level, Estate Rooms are spacious with updated amenities and offer spectacular views of the gardens, grounds, and the Perth countryside. In addition to several restaurant choices, amenities include a 2014 renovated ESPA spa, two indoor pools, and a well-equipped gym. The wellness areas offer several fitness classes including pilates, yoga, and cardio. Outside activities include falconry, cycling, hiking, horseback riding, tennis, and more.

Overlooking the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse and the 17th fairway of the iconic Old Course at St Andrew’s, your stay here may be your trip highlight. The 144-room Old Course Hotel is decorated in a contemporary style, with room options featuring modern interior design or classic elegance. There are several bars and restaurants, with the Road Hole Restaurant being the favorite among clients who have stayed here (great views!). We are excited to mention that the hotel’s Kohler Waters Spa has been relaunched, following an expansive renovation. The 25,000 sq. foot spa includes 13 treatment rooms, a 65-foot indoor swimming pool, steam room, ice fountain, and a cold plunge pool. Enjoy this special place!

Overlooking the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse and the 17th fairway of the iconic Old Course at St Andrew’s, your stay here may be your trip highlight. The 144-room Old Course Hotel is decorated in a contemporary style, with room options featuring modern interior design or classic elegance. There are several bars and restaurants, with the Road Hole Restaurant being the favorite among clients who have stayed here (great views!). We are excited to mention that the hotel’s Kohler Waters Spa has been relaunched, following an expansive renovation. The 25,000 sq. foot spa includes 13 treatment rooms, a 65-foot indoor swimming pool, steam room, ice fountain, and a cold plunge pool. Enjoy this special place!

Once home to the Norwegian America Line, established in 1919, Nordic Choice Hotels has refurbished and repurposed this historic building exactly 100 years later in 2019. We were lucky enough to see the beautiful Amerikalinjen on our Norway and Denmark scouting trip the day after it opened! The Amerikalinjen hotel perfectly balances the old with new, with the impeccable care one would expect from the same owners as Oslo’s other premier hotel, The Thief. In contrast to The Thief (which we found extremely luxurious but rather quiet and secluded), the Amerikalinjen is located in the center of the city, just a short walk to the central train station. The decor is a blend of early 20th-century, in keeping with the building’s history, and modern amenities. Spaces are large and open, as the hotel encourages guests to mingle and move freely from one space to the next. We loved the large terrace area with its glass ceiling, the basement jazz club, and the attached café featuring a daily jazz band! Though the spa isn’t as nice as the one at The Thief, we found the Amerikalinjen to be bright, beautiful, and lively — much more suited to our client’s who travel in with young people and in large groups!

Once home to the Norwegian America Line, established in 1919, Nordic Choice Hotels has refurbished and repurposed this historic building exactly 100 years later in 2019. We were lucky enough to see the beautiful Amerikalinjen on our Norway and Denmark scouting trip the day after it opened! The Amerikalinjen hotel perfectly balances the old with new, with the impeccable care one would expect from the same owners as Oslo’s other premier hotel, The Thief. In contrast to The Thief (which we found extremely luxurious but rather quiet and secluded), the Amerikalinjen is located in the center of the city, just a short walk to the central train station. The decor is a blend of early 20th-century, in keeping with the building’s history, and modern amenities. Spaces are large and open, as the hotel encourages guests to mingle and move freely from one space to the next. We loved the large terrace area with its glass ceiling, the basement jazz club, and the attached café featuring a daily jazz band! Though the spa isn’t as nice as the one at The Thief, we found the Amerikalinjen to be bright, beautiful, and lively — much more suited to our client’s who travel in with young people and in large groups!

The Thief sits in the hideaway of Tjuvholmen (Thief Islet), once a haven for smugglers and other bandits. Filled with international art pieces and designer furniture collected by the hotel’s owner, Peter Stordalen, it is perhaps the most sophisticated and chic luxury hotel in Norway. Here, you can see local and international musicians performing live music or visit The Thief Art Space, showcasing the works of emerging, contemporary artists. Each of the 118-rooms feature rainfall showers, floor-to-ceiling windows, and private balconies looking out across the surrounding fjords. Each of the suites are interesting and unique, built around separate concepts, such as the Broom Suite, named and furnished after Lee Broom, an award-winning British designer; and the Apparatjik Suite, featuring video art, music, and art installations signed by the members of the international supergroup from which the suite gets its name. The amenities here include a rooftop terrace, lounge-library, a 40-foot swimming pool, and a gym. When visiting, we especially loved the very nice spa with sauna, steam room, and invigorating cold showers!

The Thief sits in the hideaway of Tjuvholmen (Thief Islet), once a haven for smugglers and other bandits. Filled with international art pieces and designer furniture collected by the hotel’s owner, Peter Stordalen, it is perhaps the most sophisticated and chic luxury hotel in Norway. Here, you can see local and international musicians performing live music or visit The Thief Art Space, showcasing the works of emerging, contemporary artists. Each of the 118-rooms feature rainfall showers, floor-to-ceiling windows, and private balconies looking out across the surrounding fjords. Each of the suites are interesting and unique, built around separate concepts, such as the Broom Suite, named and furnished after Lee Broom, an award-winning British designer; and the Apparatjik Suite, featuring video art, music, and art installations signed by the members of the international supergroup from which the suite gets its name. The amenities here include a rooftop terrace, lounge-library, a 40-foot swimming pool, and a gym. When visiting, we especially loved the very nice spa with sauna, steam room, and invigorating cold showers!

Conceived in 2012 by the engaging owners, Tone (pronounced “Tone-a”) and Bjørn Ronning Vike and their young children, we consider the boutique, nine-room 29ǀ2 Aurland Lodge to be among the most beautiful eco-lodge settings anywhere in the world. Being just a short, 15-minute transfer from the historic village of Flåm, the 29ǀ2 is set in the innermost reaches of the world’s longest and deepest open fjord. Though the 29ǀ2 may not have the outward luxury amenities of two of our favorite up-scale outdoor lodges (Deplar Farm in Iceland and Explora Patagonia in Chile) the lodge more than makes up for it in terms of its extraordinary location overlooking the fjord and nearby Aurlandselvi River (hence its huge demand during the peak summer season). The buildings on the farm have been restored one by one, to ensure guests will have an authentic feeling of Norwegian rural life and the local community through the walls that surround them. Please note, the stairs and some doorways are quite small and may be difficult to maneuver for some. They are careful to book room assignments based on clients’ needs for space and easy access.

In decorating the various rooms, Tone and Bjørn have experimented with traditional colors and used both second-hand and new furnishings, with great support from interior architect, Gunvor Røkholt. The uniquely designed rooms are spread out in three adjacent buildings: the Riverside Farm Lodge, the Goat Barn, and the Fisherman’s Cabin.

Conceived in 2012 by the engaging owners, Tone (pronounced “Tone-a”) and Bjørn Ronning Vike and their young children, we consider the boutique, nine-room 29ǀ2 Aurland Lodge to be among the most beautiful eco-lodge settings anywhere in the world. Being just a short, 15-minute transfer from the historic village of Flåm, the 29ǀ2 is set in the innermost reaches of the world’s longest and deepest open fjord. Though the 29ǀ2 may not have the outward luxury amenities of two of our favorite up-scale outdoor lodges (Deplar Farm in Iceland and Explora Patagonia in Chile) the lodge more than makes up for it in terms of its extraordinary location overlooking the fjord and nearby Aurlandselvi River (hence its huge demand during the peak summer season). The buildings on the farm have been restored one by one, to ensure guests will have an authentic feeling of Norwegian rural life and the local community through the walls that surround them. Please note, the stairs and some doorways are quite small and may be difficult to maneuver for some. They are careful to book room assignments based on clients’ needs for space and easy access.

In decorating the various rooms, Tone and Bjørn have experimented with traditional colors and used both second-hand and new furnishings, with great support from interior architect, Gunvor Røkholt. The uniquely designed rooms are spread out in three adjacent buildings: the Riverside Farm Lodge, the Goat Barn, and the Fisherman’s Cabin.

Following our scouting visit, it was clear that the best, luxury hotel in Bergen hands-down is the boutique Opus XVI. As relatives of the late, world-renowned Norwegian composer (and Bergen’s most famous citizen), Edvard Grieg, managing directors Britt Marie Grieg and Alexander Grieg sought to create a boutique experience for guests full of culture and never lacking in luxury. A timeline of Grieg’s life can be found in a mini-exhibition on the lower-level of the hotel. Located in a historic building originally built in 1876 for Bergen’s largest bank, the Opus is just steps away from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen. With only 65 rooms and suites, each one has been individually decorated with a blend of classic and modern styles. Enjoy the library, the beautifully decorated dining and lobby areas for afternoon tea, a small gym, and the high-touch Nordic hospitality at this boutique property!

Following our scouting visit, it was clear that the best, luxury hotel in Bergen hands-down is the boutique Opus XVI. As relatives of the late, world-renowned Norwegian composer (and Bergen’s most famous citizen), Edvard Grieg, managing directors Britt Marie Grieg and Alexander Grieg sought to create a boutique experience for guests full of culture and never lacking in luxury. A timeline of Grieg’s life can be found in a mini-exhibition on the lower-level of the hotel. Located in a historic building originally built in 1876 for Bergen’s largest bank, the Opus is just steps away from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen. With only 65 rooms and suites, each one has been individually decorated with a blend of classic and modern styles. Enjoy the library, the beautifully decorated dining and lobby areas for afternoon tea, a small gym, and the high-touch Nordic hospitality at this boutique property!