If money was no object and you could choose any destination in the world to head to for a luxury holiday, chances are you would opt for one of the amazingly luxurious hotels that command rates of thousands of pounds a night and regularly attract some of the biggest celebrities on the planet.
Despite the economic downturn, demand for high-end getaways continues to soar, especially in locations where guests can stay in accommodation that goes above and beyond the usual remit of the average five-star hotel.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
The spectacular sail-shaped Burj Al Arab in Dubai measures over 1,050 ft high and is comprised entirely of 202 lavish duplex suites equipped with everything you’ll need to make your holidays special.
Jacuzzis and rain showers can be found in every room, while 24-hour butler service and private shopping come as standard. Accommodation ranges in price from around £600 a night for a basic set of rooms to somewhere in the region of £12,000 per night for a stay in the ultra-extravagant Royal Suite on the 25th floor.
Select the most expensive suite and you will be able to take advantage of two bedrooms – one of which is home to a rotating four-poster bed – and a private cinema and lift, as well as lounge, library and dining areas, all decorated to the highest standard.
High-profile figures who have stayed at the seven-star hotel since its opening in 1999 include supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell, the latter of whom famously hosted a £1 million birthday party there in 2006 that involved the hire of 18 floors and attracted guests such as the Beckhams, Linda Evangelista and Eva Herzigova.
President Wilson Hotel, Geneva
The most expensive room in the world is the eighth-floor Royal Penthouse Suite at Geneva’s President Wilson Hotel.
This establishment regularly draws global leaders preparing for meetings at the nearby UN headquarters and caters for this elite clientele with some impressive features behind its relatively understated exterior.
The 18,000 sq ft Royal Penthouse Suite commands a nightly rate that can be as high as £40,000 and occupies the whole of the hotel’s top floor with 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, along with a Steinway grand piano, a private lift, a terrace, a fitness centre and understandably high security levels.
Combine these amenities with superb views across the scenic Lake Geneva, and you will quickly see just why the hotel is able to charge what it does.
Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Las Vegas
For a more outwardly glamorous holiday in the lap of luxury, the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas is the place to be.
This is likely to be the closest you will get to experiencing life in the Playboy Mansion with more than 9,000 sq ft of space encompassing a huge round rotating bed, a poker table, a gym with a spa treatment room and sauna, a full-sized bar and pop-up TVs, as well as enough room to invite 250 of your friends over for an unforgettable party.
Designed by Hefner himself, the accommodation also includes use of a private lift, an outdoor terrace and a cantilevered Playboy Jacuzzi pool from where you can enjoy amazing views of the Strip thanks to a glass wall.
Compared with the President Wilson Hotel, a one-night stay here is a snip at just over £24,000. Of course, it’s still very much a haven for the extremely rich and famous – celebrities reported to have splashed out on a break at the Sky Villa in the past include George Clooney and Britney Spears.
If you can’t quite manage the cost of a night or two here, there are other so-called Fantasy Suites to choose from at the Palms Resort that are unlikely to make quite as large a dent in your bank balance, including the very pink Barbie Suite and the Kingpin Suite, which has its own bowling alley for the ultimate laidback night in.
Four Seasons Hotel, New York
New York has many hotels available to choose from, however if you’re looking for the most luxurious hotel to stay in, then the Four Seasons Hotel is for you.
The classy five-star accommodation here includes the breathtaking Ty Warner Penthouse, which takes up the whole of the top floor of the tallest hotel in Manhattan and costs just over £21,000 a night.
Guests can enjoy nine rooms, a private lift and cathedral-style ceilings suspended 25 feet above the floor.
Magnificent 360-degree views of Manhattan can be taken in through floor-to-ceiling bay windows, while entertainment comes in the form of TVs capable of receiving every channel in the world and a Bosendorfer grand piano.
Other features include a private spa room and expensively embellished surfaces and furnishings – the walls of the living and dining area are covered with mother of pearl, while the Thai canopy bed has been threaded with gold.
It cost billionaire Ty Warner an astonishing £30 million to build the penthouse suite, so it is perhaps little surprise that the Four Seasons Hotel describes it as the most exclusive accommodation in the country.
Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens
Finally, for wealthy travellers whose idea of the ultimate luxury holiday consists of a glamorous hotel combined with sun, sea and sand, the Royal Villa at the Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens, Greece could be the perfect option.
This seafront accommodation comprises 4,413 sq ft of interior room and 7,211 sq ft of outdoor space. Guests can take advantage of two master bedrooms and two stunning marble-lined bathrooms, along with butler’s quarters, a separate bar, poolside barbecue facilities, a full gym, a massage area and a private path to the beach, where you can enjoy your very own ocean-level deck.
Of course, all of this extravagance comes at a hefty price. At around £31,000 a night, holidaymakers will certainly expect their money’s worth. Bearing in mind the sheer size and prime location of the villa, plus the fact that it has both indoor and outdoor pools, guests are likely to feel that it is cash well spent.
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