For some reason, we tend to remember the proverbial ‘hotel from hell’ more than we do the 5-star accommodation during holiday. As with anything, not just with hotels, individuals tend to hang on to bad experiences more so that good ones. Because of this, it would seem more important than ever to find the right hotel for a holiday as a bad experience will linger on for far too long. The same seems to hold true for a recent poll conducted of memorable hotels in films and television where three ‘hotels from hell’ topped the list finishing ahead of some fairly posh accommodations.

If you are a British comedy fan, the #1 top screen or television hotel will not surprise you. If you have any to add, feel free to chime it.

Top-ten screen hotels

1. Fawlty Towers (Fawlty Towers)
2. Bates Motel (Psycho)
3. Overlook Hotel (The Shining)
4. Park Hyatt Tokyo (Lost in Translation)
5. Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel (Pretty Woman)
6. Pensione Bertolini (Room with a View)
7. California Suite (California Suite)
8. The Bellagio (Ocean’s Eleven)
9. The Plaza New York (Scent of a Woman)
10. Hotel du Nord (Hotel du Nord)

For my money, how can you create a list like this and not include the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, just across San Diego Bay in California. “The Del” should be included on the list just for the sheer volume of films shot there. The hotel’s list of screen credits includes Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, The Stunt Man with Peter O’Toole and My Blue Heaven with Steve Martin. Also, the Fountainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach was the perfect setting for The Bellboy with Jerry Lewis. Finally, fans of the Richard Curtis hit, Notting Hill will recognize The Ritz Hotel in London’s Green Park and The Savoy, which are both featured prominently.

Anyone else?