The beauty of Grace Kelly stepping out of the ‘Hotel Carlton’ and turning her 1953 Sunbeam Alpine Mk I into a sapphire crystal shines through: a shimmering reflection of the romance many people experience on a sunny European getaway. More than running down the Riviera with movie star hair and swagger, this Hollywood vignette encourages you to live in the moment – and you can.
Check out these European hotels that throw you the keys to spiffy hotel cars (think MINI Coopers, BMWs, and vintage Beetles) for free, or offer their own fleet of self-driving cars for a fee (like vintage Ferraris and Alfa Romeos). You’re ready to step out of your hotel and get behind those wheels, just promise to drive better than Grace.
Cars Without Hotels
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, Munich
Every guest at the hotel can reserve the BMW iX and BMW i7 (Elektro), BMW M8 850i xDrive (Cabrio), and MW X7 M50D (SUV)–through the concierge for half a day. , taking the beloved Bavarian car on its home roads. The hotel offers a stop at legendary attractions such as Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and Schloss Neuschwanstein; The beautiful town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, known as the gateway to Germany’s highest mountains, and the Eibsee Lake. Website
The Dolder Grand, ZurichMatthias Buchfelder
The Dolder Grand, Zurich
Dolder Grand prioritizes a wide range of off-road options, from their classic Ford Transit Mascot fleet to their chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce limos. However they also offer self-driving electric cars like the BMW i3, which gives you a 250km range to play with, as well as the MW X4 and BMW 4 series convertibles. A day trip to Lake Lucerne, about 55 kilometers from the hotel, makes for a scenic one-hour drive each way. Website
Hotel Art, Barcelona
Book any of Hotel Arts’ 28 apartments and you get more than just a well-groomed man and a great view of the city – all guests are treated to a MINI Cooper. Although the car is good for getting around town, there are excellent trips of one hour from Barcelona, ). Website
Hotel Poseidon, Positano
This hotel on the Amalfi Coast is run by luxury car enthusiasts with the most beautiful rides. His passion is so great that he keeps his old convertible VW Beetle on site for guests to use for free. With beaches like Spiaggia di Tordigliano and Arienzo Beach Club just a few minutes away on Amalfi Drive, the stunning coastal road, going downhill feels like an adventure. Website