Have you always wondered what it is like to live like you are rich and famous? The most luxurious hotels in the world will allow you to experience the decadent life, if you can afford a single night in their establishment. Here’s our pick of 6 of the best luxury hotels on the planet.
1. The Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Middle East is home to many majestic wonders, including this expensive ($3 billion construction budget) hotel. With nearly 400 rooms and suites, a white sandy beach, numerous fountains and pools, a high-end spa, 40 conference rooms, marble from different parts of the world, and hundreds of crystal chandeliers, it is easy to understand why people who want to live like royalty flock to the EmiratesPalace.
2. The Mardan Palace Hotel, Antalya, Turkey
Built with a budget of $1.65 billion, the Mardan Palace Hotel is one of the top luxury destinations in the Mediterranean. Its ultra-large swimming pool can fit up to a thousand guests, and almost 10,000 tons of fine white sand was imported from Egypt to provide the guests with a beach area. The interiors are fitted with Italian marble, crystals, and gold leaf. There are decadent dining spots and bars, as well as an aquarium housing hundreds of colourful and exotic fish. Plus, the Mardan Palace also provides its guests with 24/7 butler service.
3. The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Located in the fashionable Via Veneto district, the Westin Excelsior has served the rich and the famous for more than a hundred of years. For a truly decadent Roman holiday, make sure to book the Villa La Cupola Suite, which has been recently renovated (with a budget of $7 million) for the modern globe-trotting guest. The suite has two floors (thus making it the largest hotel suite in the country) luxuriously furnished with Old World furniture complemented by modern gadgetry. The cathedral-style ceilings are painted by hand in the traditional fresco technique, and the suite features its own sauna, Jacuzzi, formal dining room, and even its own steam bath and fitness room.
The design inspiration for this hotel is a billowing sail, which is apt for its on-water location. The Burj Al Arab Hotel boasts of luxury suites, each with two floors and dramatic panoramic views. The decadent amenities include helipads, hovering tennis courts, numerous dining and bar options, 24/7 butler service, and a Rolls Royce fleet with chauffeurs. Guests include the richest of the rich, as well as real royalty.
5. Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece
With a guest list that includes more than a century's worth of royals, rock stars, and heads of state, the landmark Grande Bretagne remains the most exclusive hotel in Athens. As you marvel at one of the most eye-knocking views of the Acropolis from the terrace restaurant, or rest on custom-made silk ottomans in the lobby, or call your personal butler 24 hours a day from your room, you may very well think it is the very best. Built in 1842, the hotel still reflects its original grandeur, with restored 19th-century oil paintings, antiques, and hand-carved details as they were more than a century ago. There's also a lovely spa where you can pamper yourself with indulgences such as salt and oil scrubs. As for amenities, there are none better in Athens
6. The Plaza, New York City, USA
Built in the early years of the 1900’s and assigned as a National Historic landmark in the 1960s, The Plaza in Manhattan is just one of the luxury hotels found in this part of New York City. However, very few can beat the Royal Plaza Suite—aside from the dramatic views of Manhattan, this suite (with three bedrooms and three baths) embodies Old World luxury with a library, a gym, a formal dining room, a full
kitchen (in case you bring your personal chef along), a butler’s pantry, its own elevator, and even a grand piano.
