If you’ve ever dreamed of travel, you’ve probably kept your fantasies fairly reasonable and realistic. And for that, we commend you. But if we’re already dreaming about travel, why not dream big and think about some of the most luxurious and extravagant hotels in the world? Airport hotels are not what dreams are made of. Join us in some daydreaming (or planning for when you finally get that big break) and join us in a trip through some of the most awe-inspiring locales in the world.
Lap Of Luxury: Vacation Destinations That Can't Possibly Exist (But Do)
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
Where does one even start with this hotel? It sits on 100 hectares of manicured grounds, comes with its own private beach, and features a spa, tennis courts, and two swimming pools.
That’s just the outside. If you want to splurge, the rooms (394 of them) are split across two extravagant wings of the palace. If you’re a footie fan, you might catch Manchester City practicing. That’s right; this hotel is the winter training ground for Manchester City FC.
The Westin Excelsior, Rome
If you’re going to stay here, you want to stay in the Villa la Cupola, billed as the largest suite in Italy. The living room is almost 12 metres high and has a hand-painted fresco. And that’s just the living room. The two-storey suite also has its own fitness room, sauna, steam bath, and (for those who take their lounging very seriously) a jacuzzi pool with mosaic floors. Let’s not forget the private rooftop deck with stunning views.
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai
In this hotel (shaped like the sails of a yacht, so it’s hard to miss), every room is two storeys tall. The hotel itself plays up its nautical inspiration by surrounding itself with blue, from the blue skies surrounding its peak (the building has 60 floors in total) to the blue ocean near its entrance. This is a building that knows how to make an impression.
In the Burj Al Arab, there are personal butlers, nine world-class restaurants and bars, four swimming pools, and if you want to go somewhere — there are Rolls-Royces, Mercedes and helicopters at your service.
Ciragan Palace, Kempinski, Istanbul
The hotel was once the home of Ottoman sultans, and that rich, luxurious feeling remains to this day — especially if you stay in the Palace suites. The Sultan Palace two-bedroom suite comes with a panoramic view of the Bosphorus, a dining table that can seat 12, exquisite crystal chandeliers, and nearly 5,000 square feet of space. Yes, you read that right, this suite is twice the size of the average Canadian home.
It also comes with private butler service, a pool, and private boat and helicopter service. So at the very least, you’ll have somewhere convenient to park your helicopter.
The Peninsula, Hong Kong
How extravagant is this hotel? Well, the Hotel enlists a personal fleet of 14 custom Rolls-Royce Phantoms to shuttle its guests around, because sometimes a limo isn’t good enough. That’s just the start of your experience at this hotel. The suites range in size and prize, and the biggest suite of all, the Peninsula Suite, is an amazing 4,111 square feet. And before you ask, the Peninsula Suite has no listed price. If you even need to ask, well… you know how the saying goes.
In the suite there is a dedicated TV room, a 10-seat dining room with kitchen, a private living room, several “palatial” bedrooms, and a personal gym. All of this overlooks the stunning Victoria Bay.