If your favorite day dream involves luxurious hotels, butler service, and living like royalty, feast your eyes on these unbelievably opulent hotels – with price tags to match.
On the banks of the Huangpu River, right in the heart of the Pudong financial district, The Mandarin Oriental in Shanghai, China is one of the city’s most award-winning hotels and certainly one of its most expensive. The Presidential Suite is $27,000 a night and takes up most of the hotel’s 25th floor, but the amenities are endless. A private kitchen, dining room, wine cellar, and two roof gardens are all yours, and a bathroom complete with private steam room is truly just the cherry on top.
At the Shangri-La Bosphorus in Istanbul, one night in the two-bedroom Shangri-La Suite will cost you $14,000. Your suite boasts two bedrooms, multiple marble bathrooms, and three gorgeous terraces – one off of each bedroom and third off of the palatial living room. Each terrace has its own beautiful vista of Istanbul, ranging from a view of the Bosphorus Straight to one of the Hagia Sophia in the distance.
Private beaches, gorgeous views of the Aegean Sea, seven of Athens’ best restaurants, and a world-class spa? At The Grand Resort Lagonissi, guests truly want for nothing as each desire is anticipated before they have a chance to even ask for it. The Belvedere Suite is $8,000 a night, but a bevy of insane amenities including remote-controlled mattresses and private infinity pools make it all well worth it at this gem on the Athenian Riviera.
A night at the Hotel President Wilson, adjacent to the United Nations building and host to countless dignitaries and world leaders over the years, is for those with discerning tastes. At this 5-star hotel in Geneva, marvel at the sweeping views of Mont-Blanc and Lake Geneva and indulge in 1 Michelin-star dining at Bayview by Michel Roth. For those with deep pockets, the $80,000 per night Royal Penthouse Suite should do the trick – the entire 8th floor is yours, and your views include the Swiss Alps.
Just moments away from the Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow’s Ritz-Carlton is all of the glitz and glamour of 19th century Russian aristocracy thoroughly modernized for the 21st century. Raise a glass of Dom Perignon and say na zdorovie while taking in an incredible view from the hotel’s rooftop O2 Lounge, or enjoy an unforgettable dinner in the Moscow outpost of London’s Novikov restaurant. This hotel is truly old-world opulence at its finest.
New York City and luxury hotels go hand-in-hand, but there are few more exquisite than the Ty Warner Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan. The entire 52nd floor is yours, and floor-to-ceiling windows boast breathtaking views of the skyline, Central Park, and more. With a complimentary chauffeured Rolls-Royce at your beck and call, in-room spa treatments, and bedding woven with real gold among other amazing amenities, the $50,000 per night price tag is well worth it.
Each room at St. Lucia’s Jade Mountain is missing its outer fourth wall, leaving guests with absolutely unparalleled views of the Caribbean Sea. The most breathtaking part of the views here is the sight of both the Piti and Gros Piton mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which are accessible to guests for hiking as a day excursion. The Galaxy Suites, the resort’s most spacious, boast their own private infinity pools with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
26 Sunset Avenue Llandudno is an exclusive villa nestled high among the coastal hills of Cape Town, with just six guest suites ensuring privacy during your vacation. A personal butler and private chef are on hand to ensure your needs are taken care of, and on-demand spa services are available to ensure your relaxation is taken care of as well. Each suite has floor to ceiling glass doors that open onto a private deck, offering guests incredible sunset views.
What was once a gold rush ghost town has found new life as the Dunton Hot Springs, an award-winning retreat hidden amongst 200 acres of Ponderosa pine in the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies. Each 19th century cabin has been painstakingly restored, and the 1895 Saloon even has the signature of Butch Cassidy carved into the bar. The eponymous hot springs can be enjoyed at six different locations around the property, and the chef’s focus on organic farm-to-table encourages guest to have a vacation finely in tune with the nature surrounding them.
Though it’s true you can’t put a price on happiness, these hotels definitely show you can put a hefty price on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. After all, for the opportunity to stay in a penthouse floating above New York City, or an entire floor of the most expensive hotel in the world? Well worth it.
