If luxe could kill! The world’s grandest and most extravagant hotels
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It’s been announced that a luxury hotel is to be built on the grounds of France’s Palace of Versailles. Sadly, the first guests will only be welcomed into Louis XIV’s former home in 2018 – although considering that £10 million is being spent on the project, we think it might be worth the wait.
In the meantime, those in need of a similarly extravagant getaway can always check in to one of these opulent hotels, writes Tamara Hinson.
The Shangri-La Hotel, London, UK
Price tag per night: From £450 per room on a bed and breakfast basis
The Shangri-La screams luxury from the start – you can choose to be welcomed off the train by a member of staff, and you’ll doze under the finest linens – 300-thread-count Frette linen in standard rooms and 1,000 in the suites.
There are Acqua di Parma toiletries in bathrooms (which also have heated marble floors and mirrors with built-in televisions) and the bedrooms don’t just look amazing, but smell pretty good, too, because they all receive a regular spritzing of Shangri-La Essence, the hotel’s signature scent.
More: shangri-la.com
The Penthouse, The Mark Hotel, New York, USA
Price tag per night: £56,345 per suite on a bed and breakfast basis
Even the name of this super-luxurious suite sounds expensive – and it is, with a price tag of £56,345 per night. So, what exactly do you get for all that cash? To start with, there are five bedrooms, six bathrooms (one of which has a steam room), two powder rooms, a kitchen, dining room and living room.
No detail has been overlooked – the master bedroom has its own private living room and a freestanding gas fireplace, and the main living room has a grand piano.
A sculpture-like staircase leads to the private conservatory and roof terrace, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Big Apple’s skyline.
More: themarkhotel.com
Armani Hotel Dubai, UAE
Price tag per night: From £377 per room on a bed and breakfast basis
Every item in this Dubai hotel was chosen by Georgio Armani himself, from the taps in the bathrooms to the furniture in the palatial lobby. The 160 rooms and suites occupy 11 floors of the Burj Khalifa, otherwise known as the world’s tallest building, and the hotel is also home to a very special boutique: the Armani store. This is the only place in Dubai where Giorgio Armani’s Privé collection can be perused.
There’s also an enormous spa offering bespoke Armani treatments designed specifically to improve various aspects of your life, and with rooms starting at just short of £400 a night, we’re hoping for something prosperity-inducing.
More: dubai.armanihotels.com
Royal Towers Bridge Suite, Atlantis, Bahamas
Price tag per night: £18,776 per suite on a bed and breakfast basis
Can’t quite stretch to the Mark Hotel’s Penthouse? This suite, which spans the entire 17th floor of the resort’s Royal Towers building, is a bargain in comparison, with a nightly rate of just £18,776.
You’ll find a 1,250-square-foot living room, two entertainment centres and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows – perfect for looking down on the riff-raff below.
And, if you’re a fan of swinging from the chandeliers, this is the perfect place to do it – the living room’s beautiful light fitting is crafted from 22-karat gold.
More: atlantisbahamas.com
Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Venice, Italy
Price tag per night: From £684 per room on a bed and breakfast basis
This Venetian hotel can be found on Giudecca Island – well away from the selfie-stick wielding tourists of Piazza San Marco. The rooms all have balconies, and if you score a room in the Palazzo Vendramin annexe you’ll get your own personal butler, too.
You’ll arrive at the hotel via a private speedboat transfer, and once checked in, you’ll discover an Olympic-sized swimming pool, uninterrupted views of the city’s lagoon and a flower-filled courtyard. Who knew Venice had so much space?
More: belmond.com
Song Saa, Cambodia
Price tag per night: From £1,230 per room on a bed and breakfast basis
Keen to avoid the crowds? Head to this luxurious private island, where there are just 27 villas.
Perched on the remote Koh Rong archipelago, Song Saa even has its very own time zone, one hour ahead of mainland Cambodia. The concept, known as “island time,” was created to allow guests to enjoy the breathtaking sunrises.
The Royal Villa is the most opulent accommodation – this gorgeous suite has a private pool, sunken bathtub and a private jetty for that celeb-style speedboat arrival.
More: songsaa.com
The Brando, French Polynesia
Price tag per night: From £2,301 per room on a bed and breakfast basis
Another private island resort can be found in French Polynesia, and Leonardo DiCaprio is just one repeat visitor. It’s actually not just one island but 12, and they encircle a shallow lagoon.
Marlon Brando created this luxurious idyll after falling in love with the area when filming Mutiny on the Bounty.
The 35 villas each have their own private beach areas, along with private pools if you can’t quite summon up the energy to waddle to the water’s edge. There’s a youth club for younger guests, and a library, pearl shop and organic garden.
When it’s time for dinner, head to the restaurant, where the menu’s been designed by Guy Martin, chef propriétaire of Paris’s three-star Michelin-rated Le Grand Véfour Restaurant.
More: thebrando.com
Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore National Park, India
Price tag per night: From £608 per room on a bed and breakfast basis
There are 25 tents at this Indian safari camp, although the canvas palaces are worlds away from the sagging tents you slept in as a kid.
Each one has a private terrace and you’ll also be able relax in your own private garden. Inside, there are four-poster beds, claw-footed bath tubs and silver tea sets.
The “library bar” is where to head for a sundowner or a drink before dinner. On the menu? Everything from Norwegian smoked salmon and herbed feta to local breads and thalis, all served on hand-painted crockery, of course.
More: oberoihotels.com
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Price tag per night: From £846 per room on a bed and breakfast basis
Known as the world’s first seven-star hotel (despite the fact that such a rating doesn’t officially exist), the Burj Al Arab’s offerings include personal butlers and private reception desks on every floor.
If you’ve got cash to splash, book the Royal Suite, which has its own cinema and is accessed via a private lift, just to ensure minimal exposure to the riff-raff.
Other suite features include Jacuzzis in the bathrooms, showers with five heads and full-size his and hers Hermes toiletries. The hotel also boasts the world’s most exclusive rental car service – you’ll be able to choose from Aston Martins, Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
More: jumeirah.com
Four Seasons Florence, Italy
Price tag per night: From £311 per room on a bed and breakfast basis, the Royal Suite costs £11,500
This historic hotel can be found in Florence’s oldest private park. And it feels more like a museum than a hotel – the 116 rooms are filled with original frescoes, friezes and priceless sculptures.
The spa isn’t just one of Florence’s largest but the only one in Florence inside a hotel, and we love the fact that in addition to a Michelin-starred restaurant, there’s a pizzeria, too.
Splurge on the Royal Suite (a snip at just £11,500 per night) and you’ll find marble floors, vaulted ceilings and a ceramic floor designed by the artist Ignazio Chiaiese.
More: fourseasons.com
Please note: All prices were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change
Would you pay a high price tag for some true luxury? Have we missed an opulent hotel off our list? Leave a comment below to let us know.