1 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris, France

In a storied building where 19th-century inventors first presented cinematography, this polished hotel is a 3-minute walk from the Palais Garnier opera house and 14 minutes' walk from the Musée du Louvre. Warmly decorated rooms come with minibars, flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi, plus designer toiletries, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add living rooms; apartments are bi-level. Club-level quarters add free soft drinks and snacks. Room service is offered. There’s an elegant glass-roofed restaurant, plus a tearoom featuring honey harvested on-site. Breakfast is available for a fee. Other amenities include a cocktail bar, a spa and a gym.

11 Rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris, France

In a Haussmann-inspired belle epoque building on a tree-lined street, this classic hotel is 280 m from Gare de Lyon train station, 650 m from the banks of the Seine river, and 3 km from the Pompidou Center. Modest rooms come with minibars, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms offer coffeemakers and complimentary drinks, while suites add city views, and living rooms with pull-out sofas. Room service is available. There's a laid-back cocktail bar, along with 6 meeting rooms. A breakfast buffet is available for a fee.

20 Rue du Sommerard, 75005 Paris, France

A 2-minute walk from Cluny-La Sorbonne metro station, this contemporary hotel in the 5th arr. is 7 minutes' walk from Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, and 9 minutes' stroll from Le Jardin du Luxembourg gardens. Polished rooms mix modern furnishings with rustic accents like exposed beams. All feature Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, as well as minibars, and tea and coffeemakers. Upgraded rooms add iPhone docks and Nespresso machines. Room service is offered. There's a casual 24/7 lounge bar and a business center. Parking is available for a fee.

Bd James-Fazy 23, 1201 Genève, Switzerland

A 4-minute walk from eateries, this modern hotel with a stone and glass facade is a 2-minute walk from Genève train station and 2 km from Palais des Nations, a United Nations office complex. Featuring free Wi-Fi, the streamlined rooms also have TVs, minibars, and tea and coffeemakers. Room service is available. A public transport pass is complimentary. Breakfast is offered in a contemporary dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic city views. Additional amenities include a fitness room and a sauna, plus 2 meeting rooms.

Quai du Mont-Blanc 11, 1201 Genève, Switzerland

Overlooking Lake Geneva and the Square du Mont-Blanc, this luxe hotel dating from 1865 is a 14-minute walk from the Grand Théâtre de Genève and 2.6 km from the Palace of Nations. The plush, colorful rooms are individually designed by a renowned interior decorator, and feature lake or square views. All come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars and Nespresso machines. Suites add separate lounges. Room service is offered 24/7. Dining options include an acclaimed fine-dining restaurant with lake views, as well as a cozy baroque-style bar with a fireplace. There's also a fitness room. Valet parking is extra. Breakfast is available.

7, Chem. du Petit-Saconnex 9, 1209 Genève, Switzerland

A 5-minute walk from a tram stop, this downtown, upscale block tower hotel is also an 11-minute walk from Palais des Nations and 3 km from Cathedral St. Pierre. The relaxed rooms and suites come with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Suites offer city, mountain and/or lake views. The hotel offers a sophisticated restaurant, an upscale bar/cigar lounge, a classic bar, and a cafe by the outdoor pool. Other amenities include a fitness room, a spa, conference space and a business center. Breakfast is extra.

Hotel Riffelberg, Riffelberg 2500 m, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland

Set at an altitude of 2500 m, this upmarket ski-in/ski-out hotel dating from 1853 has views of the Matterhorn and is a 2-minute walk from Riffelberg railway station. The rustic-chic rooms have sitting areas and wood-panel walls. All are equipped with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, as well as tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add sitting areas. Room service is available. Complimentary breakfast and dinner are served in a polished restaurant that has mountain views, and there's a cozy lounge with a fireplace. A spa area offers a sauna, a steam room and an outdoor hot tub offering Matterhorn views.

3100 Gornergrat, Gornergrat 3100 m, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland

A 3-minute walk from Gornergrat train station, this laid-back alpine hotel is a 4-minute walk from the nearest ski slope and 19 km from the Matterhorn mountain. Relaxed, warm rooms feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screens and mountain views, plus sitting areas and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add living areas. A breakfast buffet and dinner are complimentary. There's also a terrace and an airy restaurant with mountain views.

Brunnmattgasse 9, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland

Via Maistra 17, 7500 St Moritz, Switzerland

In a mountain valley, this polished hotel is within a 5-minute walk from the ski lifts, a 14-minute walk from St. Moritz train station and 1 km from Lake St Moritz. The stylish, understated rooms with modern artwork feature flat-screen TVs and minibars. Suites add living areas. There’s a chic restaurant serving Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as 2 bars (1 rooftop). Other amenities include a spa with a hot tub, saunas and massages, plus an indoor pool and a fitness room. Parking is available (fee).

Via Traunter plazzas 7, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland

Offering mountain views, this relaxed hotel is a 4-minute walk from the St. Moritz (Standseilbahn) funicular station, a 10-minute walk from the Segantini Museum and 2 km from Lake St. Moritz. Featuring wood furnishings and carpeted floors, the no-frills rooms offer Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and safes, as well as en suite bathrooms. Some have sitting areas. Room service is available. Amenities include a confectionery, a restaurant and a terrace with a bar, plus ski and bike storage. Parking and breakfast are available.

Via dal Bagn 54, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland

Dating from 1897, this upscale art nouveau style hotel and annex overlooking the Engadine mountains is a 5-minute walk from both the nearest ski lift and a 12-minute walk from Lake St. Moritz. The modern rooms have Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minifridges. Most offer balconies or terraces, some with lake or mountain views. Suites add sitting areas. Room service is available. Breakfast is served in the grand dining room, which features a ceiling painted by a local 19th-century artist. There are 3 other restaurants, a cigar lounge and several bars, some offering live music. There's also a rooftop spa.

Campo San Stae, 2070, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy

Adjacent to the San Stae vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal, this elegant 16th-century palace-turned-hotel is a 9-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge. Refined rooms feature traditional terrazzo or parquet floors, and stone or marble bathrooms. All provide Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and safes; some have canal views. Suites add living space, balconies and/or whirlpool tubs. Individual details include sloped wood-beamed ceilings, original 16th-century furniture and ornate chandeliers. Room service is available. Breakfast is available. Amenities consist of a polished bar and lounge areas.

Riva degli Schiavoni, 4149, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

Offering Venetian Lagoon views, this premium hotel is an 8-minute walk from Saint Mark's Basilica, a 9-minute walk from Piazza San Marco and 2 km from the Grand Canal. Ornate rooms and suites with plush decor and antique furniture come with seating areas. Some include murals, 4-poster beds, fireplaces and/or lagoon views. There's a suite with a rooftop terrace; another features a hammam. Wi-Fi is available. Breakfast is available. There's a renowned restaurant, a garden terrace, and a refined cocktail bar that hosts seasonal tea ceremonies. A gallery has a collection of antiques.

Santa Croce 245, Giardini Papadopoli, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy

Set beside a canal, this upscale, chic hotel is a 2-minute walk from the nearest vaporetto stop and 1.8 km from the iconic, 12th-century Piazza San Marco. Elegant rooms styled in luxe, 18th-century Venetian decor include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars and work desks. Suites are available, and room service is also offered. Amenities include an elegant restaurant with exposed stone walls and a glass-enclosed dining room, plus a refined bar and a winter garden.

Via Solferino, 6, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Via Ventisette Aprile, 52/R, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy

A 6-minute walk from Galleria dell'Accademia, this elegant hotel in a classic stone building is 11 minutes' walk from Florence Cathedral and 17 minutes' walk from Ponte Vecchio bridge. Featuring Wi-Fi, the warm, individually designed rooms with vintage Florentine decor offer flat-screen TVs, minifridges and desks. Some have canopy beds, sofabeds, and/or tea and coffeemakers. A breakfast buffet is served in a relaxed dining room or in-room. There's also a lounge with a wood-beamed ceiling.

Via de' Cerretani, 68, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

A 4-minute walk from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, this polished hotel in a 17th-century building is 1 km both from Renaissance art in the Uffizi Gallery and from medieval Ponte Vecchio. Refined rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars, plus tea and coffeemaking equipment. They also include marble bathrooms and designer toiletries. Suites add separate living areas. Room service is available 24/7. Amenities include a business center and a sophisticated bar offering traditional Tuscan cuisine. A breakfast buffet is available for a fee.

Via di S. Teodoro, 48, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Nestled amid gardens, this refined hotel in a converted, long-standing convent is a 12-minute walk from the nearest subway stop, and 1 km from the Roman Forum, a collection of ancient Roman remains. Modern rooms with wood accents and high ceilings feature Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars. Upgraded room and suites add whirlpool tubs. Suites, some bi-level, have separate living areas. Room service is available. A breakfast buffet is served in a polished restaurant with vaulted ceilings and garden terrace seating; there's also a lobby bar. Other amenities include conference facilities.

Via Vittorio Veneto, 62, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

V. Giulia, 62, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Set in a traditional building with stone foundations, this sleek hotel is 15 minutes' walk from the Pantheon and 1.8 km from the Sistine Chapel. Contemporary rooms with wood floors and marble bathrooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and iPod docks, as well as minibars, and tea and coffeemakers. Some offer retro or reproduction artwork. Upgraded rooms include complimentary minibars, and suites add living areas with pull-out sofas. A free breakfast buffet is served in a bright bistro. Other amenities include a wine bar and a restaurant with a seasonal rooftop terrace. There's also a spa with a hot tub, a sauna and a fitness room.