The bulk of the vacation planning process goes into activities, in other words, "what are we going to do when we get there?" This is especially true of the bigger tourist cities like New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., New Orleans, and others where even the should-be-simple task of navigation requires some forethought. With so much to do in a place like New York, it's really no wonder.

The unfortunate casualty of this attraction-bound tunnel vision is accommodations chosen for any reason other than the lowest possible rate. The financial times being what they are, skimping on the stay seems an obvious sacrifice, but this is actually a rather short-sighted approach that denies a wealth of enjoyment from such hastily-assembled getaways. In fact, if the average vacationer spent just a little more time browsing the local hotels, he or she would quickly find that not only can a good hotel offer so much more than a place to rest one's feet, some of them are attractions in and of themselves.

That's why when the opportunity presents itself, holistic travelers should consider staying in an historic hotel. Beyond the cozy rooms, the typically upscale amenities, and the old-fashioned hospitality, guests can discover the intangible "feel" of a place. These buildings, some of them nearing one, two, even three hundred years old, have a profound gravity about them that simply can't be built in. Like cheese and fine wine, it takes time. It's more than a history lesson, it's a step into another era.

Here we'll look into the pasts of five historic hotels from New York to New Orleans, and you will learn that real luxury is choosing experiences that last a lifetime.

Phoenix Park Hotel – A Washington D.C. Hotel

The namesake of the Phoenix Park Hotel goes back nearly 400 years when the First Duke of Ormond, James Butler, converted a 2,000 acre plot of land in Dublin, Ireland into a royal hunting park. The park went on to house the world's second public zoo and today is the site of the home of the Irish President and the residence of the American Ambassador. An historic lodging dedicated to the rich tradition of Irish hospitality, the hotel is proud to bear the name of such an historic facet of Irish history.

The Phoenix Park Hotel, one of the oldest surviving hotels on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., has the guest list you would expect from such a magnanimous institution. Since opening in 1922, at which time it was known as The Commodore, the Phoenix Park has been awash in the undeniable fervor of America's capital city. Recent name guests include former President Bill Clinton and wife Senator Hillary Clinton, the Irish Deputy Prime Minister Dick Spring, actress Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock", "Mystic River"), and even current presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama.

The Phoenix Park has survived amongst a throng of modern luxury Washington D.C. hotels on the distinct personality of its proven halls. The Phoenix Park reflects the aura and elegance of an 18th century Irish country estate. The walls of the gleaming lobby are dotted with original oil paintings and a gliding marble staircase that is unmistakably European in its ambience. Celebrating over 85 years of refined, white-glove service, this is an historic hotel to do Ireland proud.

Click here for more information about the Phoenix Park Washington D.C. hotel.

The Silversmith Hotel & Suites – A Luxury Chicago Hotel

The story of the Silversmith Building, a member of the National Register of Historic Places, begins in 1896 when celebrated contemporary architect Peter J. Weber designed the building to ride the rising crest of the Arts and Crafts movement of modern architecture. A watermark in modern Chicago design at the time, the Silversmith married its impacting visual style with a functional purpose – the height, the flat façade, the copious offering of windows, and the unusual central light court were all attractive features for the building's original tenants: smiths and jewelers. In fact, the street of what is now called the Loop District where you'll find the Silversmith is still known as "Jeweler's Row".

Other features of this Chicago hotel immediately evoke romantic daydreams of Chicago's bustling past. The red brick and unglazed terracotta along the upper floors recalls a Romanesque Revival look while the lower floors are lined with highly-glazed dark green terracotta reminiscent of the fireplaces of Arts and Crafts-style homes.

With the turn of the new century, the Silversmith Building became one of the most celebrated Chicago Loop hotels with the opening of The Silversmith Hotel & Suites. In the process of the opening, the hotel spared no expense in revitalizing the past glory of the building. The luxurious lobby features a fully-restored marble mosaic and staircase with cast iron railing that exhibit modern hospitality while unmistakably recalling the rich stories of this historic building.

Click here for more information about The Silversmith luxury Chicago hotel.

Chateau LeMoyne – A New Orleans Downtown Hotel

Like many famous French Quarter hotels, the Chateau LeMoyne exudes the elegance and effortless quality of a villa in France. Unusually, however, this wide complex of historic French buildings was actually designed by an Irishman, James Gallier. Born James Gallagher, Gallier adopted the French spelling with his move to the United States and in 1834 visited New Orleans for the first time. Though not without his concerns (yellow fever was rumored to run rampant about town), Gallier was nevertheless inspired by New Orleans' passion and zest for life, not to mention the French roots that he himself fancied.

Gallier quickly became one of the most prominent architects in New Orleans, building among other things the City Hall, several churches, and by 1847 several of the structures that would later become the Chateau LeMoyne. By 1857, Gallier's son, himself an esteemed architect, completed the Chateau with a final building located around the corner in the 900 block of Bienville. It was a stunning palace fit for the wealthy, politicians, even kings, and it wasn't until many years later that the Chateau LeMoyne would open its doors as a resplendent facet of history fit for anyone who needed a roof for the night.

The Chateau LeMoyne became one of the premier New Orleans boutique hotels in 1971 to a fanfare celebration like only The Big Easy can deliver. At the heart of event was a classic New Orleans parade featuring a Dixieland jazz band, horse-drawn carriages and, just in case, a police motorcade. The party kept going late into the night in the Chateau's main patio and swimming pool, where the festivities became a special invite-only affair.

Click here for more information on the Chateau LeMoyne New Orleans downtown hotel.

The Stonewall Jackson – An Historic Shenandoah Valley Lodging

Unlike some of these other historic buildings that were repurposed into boutique lodgings, The Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference center was conceived and built to be a hotel from brick one. Located in Staunton, Virginia, itself an historic attraction, the Stonewall Jackson obviously takes its name from the highly-successful Confederate general who led the troops of the South to an incredible four victories during the 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign.

However, when it was preparing to open in 1924, the massive Staunton, VA hotel did not have any obvious ties to the general. In fact, even the name was not a guarantee, as the naming of the building was actually subject to a write-in vote by the citizens of Augusta County. In a storm of entries with suggestions as diverse as "The Woodrow Wilson Hotel" (the former president was born in Staunton) and "The Appalachian", Stonewall Jackson rose to the top of the stack with only three votes.

Later advertisements further confused the matter with neither pictures nor written descriptions of the hotel mentioning the beloved General or the hotel's relationship, if any, to the Civil War. It wasn't until 1940 that the Stonewall Jackson slowly began to embrace the history of Staunton, and a large portrait of Jackson was added to the lobby.

When it opened, the Stonewall Jackson immediately outclassed all other Shenandoah Valley hotels and became the "place to be" for Staunton and Virginia high-society. While today it has also grown into a popular vacation choice, the charming history and unrivaled location still attract famous visitors year-round, including many politicians who fly and even drive down from Washington D.C.

Click here for more information on the Stonewall Jackson Shenandoah Valley lodging.

Essex House – A Central Park, NY Hotel

With an unrivaled location overlooking the south end of Central Park and ever-updating amenities that are just as luxurious today as they were 75 years ago, the Essex House is a veritable New York institution. Conveniently located near the famous shops of Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and the Upper West Side, The Essex House captures the romantic New York experience as you best imagine it better than all other luxury hotels in Manhattan.

The Essex House is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Art Deco style and ambiance, and even though the property has undergone considerable renovation, most recently in 2006 and 2007, it has always balanced the desire to be modern with the historic feel of its time and place. This is in part because Art Deco is a style created above all else to appear modern. Arching ornamentations of geometric shapes paired with sharp lines melds beautifully with the towering skyline of Manhattan and continues to this day to give the Essex House a striking and clean façade. The Art Deco style reaches into every facet of the interior, most notably the guestrooms which were renovated to only further exemplify this lauded style.

At forty-four floors from street level to the top of the tower, the New York City hotel was the tallest hotel tower in the city when it was completed in 1931. The immediate prestige of the property attracted politicians, movie stars, and other celebrities back in the 1930s, and it continues to do so today. Controversial composer Igor Stravinsky lived in the Essex House for awhile, as did celebrated jazz and R&B musician Donny Hathaway. An historic hotel from the moment it opened, the Essex House is the quintessential New York City hotel.

Click here for more information about the Essex House.

Don't just visit – discover! When you plan ahead and stay in an historic hotel, you'll learn how that choice can mean so much more than a room and a bed.