Jules Verne, Room 306

Travel around the world in eighty days as Jules Verne did in a balloon ride where your bed is the basket and the balloon is painted above. Not to worry, the basket is complete with sand bags to hold you down when necessary!

Enormously popular French author, the founding father of science fiction with H.G. Wells. Verne’s stories, written for adolescents as well as adults, caught the enterprising spirit of the 19th century, its uncritical fascination about scientific progress and inventions. His works were often written in the form of a travel book, which took the readers on a voyage to the moon in From the Earth to the Moon (1865) or to another direction as in A Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864). Many of Verne’s ideas have been hailed as prophetic. Among his best-known books is the classic adventure story Around the World in Eighty Days (1873).

“Ah – what a journey – what a marvelous and extraordinary journey! Here we had entered the earth by one volcano, and we had come out by another. And this other was situated more than twelve hundred leagues from Sneffels, from that drear country of Iceland cast away on the confines of the earth… We had abandoned the region of eternal snows for that infinite verdure, and had left over our heads the gray fog of the icy regions to come back to the azure sky of Sicily!” (from A Journey to the Center of the Earth, 1864)

Jules Verne was born and raised in the port of Nantes. His father was a prosperous lawyer. To continue the practice, Verne moved to Paris, where he studied law. His uncle introduced him into literary circles and he started to publish plays under the influence of such writers as Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas (fils), whom Verne also knew personally. Verne’s one-act comedy The Broken Straws was performed in Paris when he was 22. In spite of busy writing, Verne managed to pass his law degree. During this period Verne suffered from digestive problems which then recurred at intervals through his life.

ROOM FEATURES:

  •  King bed
  • Private bathroom with neo-angled shower
  • Original sink and faucets
  • Exclusive access to one of 2 private porches
  • Monogrammed bathrobes
  • Warm bathrobes available upon request
  • Gilchrist and Soames bath amenities
  • Hairdryer
  • Complimentary high-speed wireless internet throughout room and common areas
  • Flat Screen TV
  • Roku
  • CD Player
  • Ice bucket with 2 wine glasses
  • Corkscrew opener
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Wake-up service
  • Daily housekeeping service (Year-Round)
  • 24-hour access to complimentary drinks- hot chocolate, hot tea, and coffee
  • Access to our public library for our guests only. Check out each book is necessary at front desk
  • Located on the 3rd floor
  • Free off-street parking (Sept. 1st- June 20th)

The Spencer Hotel & Spa is the #1 rated Chautauqua, NY hotel on TripAdvisor, and the best place to stay for those visiting to enjoy the Chautauqua Institution’s year-round programming. Imagine hearing your favorite speaker or the symphony play while relaxing in comfortable chairs on our porches overlooking the Amphitheater. Our guests enjoy the perfect location and modern conveniences within a whimsical literary-themed setting that encourages relaxation and renewal, including:

  • The only building on campus with a full-service elevator
  • The only hotel on campus with central air conditioning
  • Central location allowing only our guests the ability to hear everything in the Amphitheater from our porches
  • For those who love the lake our location provides a 1 block walk
  • On-site restorative cedar sauna
  • 3 Course hot home cooked breakfast served daily is included in the room
  • Use of parlor with fireplace, easy chairs, loveseats, and projector
  • 4 stories of porches with tables and chairs for all

You may sit on ANY porch at any time! Your place on the porch is waiting!

Occupancy: This room accommodates 2 people

Bed Size: King bed

 *Please note, during Chautauqua Summer Season (last Saturday in June through the last Saturday in August) rooms are rented by the week, from Saturday to Saturday. We are open year-round and welcome 2-nights during the rest of the year.

Full week stays during the 9-week Chautauqua Season includes breakfast every day. The Spencer can also assist guests in arranging travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances that may cause a guest to cancel their reservation.