5 Cozy Hotel Libraries in Exotic Places

Royal Livingstone, Livingstone, Zambia

With lovely views of the Zambezi River, the posh Royal Livingstone in Zambia is a relaxing place to kick off a safari trek or a walk to the nearby Victoria Falls. Visitors say you can see and hear hippos from the property's sundecks, but the real place to be is the lounge, where you can view Sir David Livingstone's hand-drawn African maps and artifacts.

Rates start at 3,082 Zambian Kwacha (about $497) per night.

Casa Palopo, San Antonio Palopo, Guatemala

About 90 miles from Guatemala City on the shores of glittering Lake Atitlan is Casa Palopo and its seven luxurious suites. The resort is equal parts elegant and remote, with fireplaces, infinity pools, and luxe L'Occitane bath amenities. Take a break in the open-air lounge library with its fantastic volcano views and low, plush stools; good luck concentrating on your book for long.

Rates start at just $140 per night.

JW Marriott El Convent Cusco, Cuzco, Peru

In Cuzco's historical city center, the JW Marriott is known as a top property for its luxury touches. The hotel boasts a colonial courtyard and well-decorated rooms with parquet floors, but if you need a space to chill out, the on-site library, candlelit and decorated with stone and dark wood, is a cool hideaway. It's a good place to convene and study maps for your imminent hike to Machu Picchu.

Rates start at $245 per night.

Kura Hulanda Lodge & Beach Club, Curacao

A thatched-roof treehouse-style library is the perfect place to relax tired bones, weary from swimming, snorkeling, and diving Curacao's famously blue waters. Kura Hulanda Lodge has just the place. Sink into a cozy wicker chair and crack open a book; once rejuvenated, there are plenty of other on-site amenities to enjoy, including two pools and a stretch of pristine beachfront.

Regular rates start at $212 per night, but a current fall special has a three-night rate from $330 total, valid through December 20.

Il Salviatino, Fiesole Firenze, Italy

This stunningly restored 15th-century villa has everything you need for a proper Italian getaway, from a garden pool to a relaxing spa to rooms decorated in warm, romantic tones of chocolate, camel, and cream. Views of the Tuscan countryside can be found from most windows. But for a change of pace, turn to the hidden-away library, with its wood-paneled walls, antique leather-bound books, and the soft, flickering glow of silver candelabras.

Right now, rates are 15 percent off with a two-night minimum, beginning at $410 per night. Book on the property's special offers page.

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