A five-star hotel offers an outrageous level of luxury, from a vast range of amenities and highly personalized service to high-end accommodations. To get and maintain that rating, the hotel must meet or exceed even the highest expectations, which means when you book a room at any one of them, odds are, it will be an outstanding experience that allows you to make the most of your trip, whether it’s for business, pleasure, or a little of both. While there are many five-star hotels across the globe, these properties stand out as some of the very best.
Conrad Maldives - Rangali Island, Maldives
While a trip to the Maldives is a bucket-list experience on its own, at the five-star Conrad Maldives, you can tick another one off that list by staying in its two-level Muraka Suite, which sits 16 feet below sea level and includes floor-to-ceiling windows for watching the marine life. It includes jet skis, an outdoor deck with your own private hot tub and infinity pool, and other perks like a private chef, butler, and an on-call fitness trainer. There are a dozen dining options, including a famous underwater dining room and an overwater spa.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park - New York City, New York
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is one of the best hotels near Central Park and just blocks from Fifth Avenue shopping. It’s a classic, home to the glamorous Star Lounge for afternoon tea or cocktails and the Auden Bistro with pre- and post-theater menus. There’s an extravagant spa with treatments like the caviar facial while the rooms and suites are spacious, many offering views of the park, and all have large marble bathrooms with sumptuous tubs.
Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas - Anse Louis, Seychelles
Book Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas and you’ll be staying on your own private peninsula that overlooks postcard-perfect Anse Louis beach on the southwest coast of Mahe. The opulence is over-the-top at this Seychelles resort, with a fantasy-like paradise right out your door. Step onto the soft chalk-white sands that beautifully contrast against the translucent aquamarine water and enjoy blissful spa treatments in thatched-roof open-air pavilions. Meals and drinks, all included, can be enjoyed at the on-site restaurant or in your villa with luxe features like ocean views, infinity pools, outdoor baths, and butler service.
Le Bristol Paris - Paris, France
Le Bristol Paris is an authentically Parisian hotel and one of the most luxurious hotels in Paris that opened nearly a century ago. It sits on one of the most high-end shopping streets in Paris and offers the best hotel amenities in the city, including a rare indoor pool, a three-floor spa, and a three-Michelin-star restaurant. It’s family-friendly and even includes a playroom for the kids, while sparkling chandeliers, antique furniture, works of art, and exquisite marble can be found throughout. The elegant rooms feature original art, minibars, flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms with robes and slippers. Romance-seeking couples might want to book the honeymoon suite on the top floor with panoramic views over the city.
The Cotton House - Mustique Island, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
The private island of Mustique is one of the world’s most exclusive, and The Cotton House is its only full-service hotel and one of the most alluring West Indies resorts. It’s so impressive that it’s become a haven for royalty and celebrities, providing plenty of privacy and seclusion, with even the Prince and Princess of Wales spending time here. It sits at the edge of the dazzling turquoise Caribbean, and nearly all of its rooms and suites come with private plunge pools and a wealth of luxuries. If you book The Residence on the hilltop, you’ll get two bedrooms, your own private pool, views of the Caribbean and the Atlantic, a personal butler, and many other perks. The property has a gorgeous common pool made for lounging while gazing out across the lush gardens to the sea, a lavish spa, a gym, and tennis courts.
Ashford Castle - Cong, County Mayo, Ireland
If you’ve always wanted to live like a king or queen, Ashford Castle is your opportunity to experience that luxe lifestyle in one of Ireland’s most unforgettable castle stays. Set across a 350-acre estate that includes the sparkling waters of Lough Corrib, it was originally built in the 13th Century, but it boasts many modern luxuries, including a fabulous spa and a wide range of activities. Enjoy cruises on the lake, horseback riding, golfing, fishing, archery, and more. The opulent rooms and suites are all individually designed with fabulous features like four-poster beds, open fireplaces, and clawfoot tubs, along with the usual high tech, such as interactive TVs and Wi-Fi.
Sonora Resort - Sonora Island, British Columbia, Canada
For a luxurious experience in the wilderness, it’s hard to beat the Sonora Resort, one of the world’s best relaxaing all-inclusive resorts that can only be reached by air or sea, with most taking the 75-minute water taxi from Campbell River or flying in by helicopter from Vancouver. Once there, you’ll be surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Many activities are included, such as kayaking among orca whales, grizzly bear-watching, and fly-fishing. Dining is exceptional, with all meals and most drinks included, while the spacious suites boast breathtaking water views.
Amangiri - Canyon Point, Utah
Amangiri is known for catering to VIPs, including many A-list celebrities. It provides an exotic getaway without having to fly to a far-flung destination. One of the most magnificent luxury desert resorts in the world, it’s nestled in the desert in southern Utah’s Canyon Country. Guests can look forward to watching glorious sunrises over 400-year-old limestone formations and then head out for a hike with a personal guide, perhaps followed up with an excursion on horseback through the red rock canyons. The spa is the perfect place to be afterward, and dining is impressive, too, featuring organic meals. Suites are modern chic and have amenities like private plunge pools and terraces that can open up to a brilliant starry night sky.
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah - Dubai, UAE
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is often described as a “seven-star” hotel. Built on an artificial island, it frequently tops the list of the world’s most luxurious hotels, standing out in many ways, including its architecture, with the building noticeable from miles away. It is one of the world’s tallest hotels, after all. It offers nearly an endless list of high-end perks, from six world-class restaurants to Rolls Royce shuttle service to and from the airport, gorgeous pools, and a private beach. Guests are treated to 24-karat gold iPads programmed to provide access to hotel information and all guest services at check-in, while suites range from over 1,800 to nearly 8,400 square feet. They include many upscale features, including a butler who can explain the many different options available on the bath and pillow menus.
Royal Malewane - Kruger National Park, South Africa
Royal Malewane is a renowned all-inclusive safari lodge that offers an intimate stay with just six suites, all of which include terraces with private infinity pools, mahogany four-poster beds, open fireplaces, and free-standing tubs. It’s located in Thornybush Private Game Reserve on the western border of Greater Kruger National Park, a top national park in Africa for wildlife watching, as it’s home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo). The grounds include a spa with its own pool, a gym, a library, and a gift shop. Meals, game drives, and spa treatments are all included in the rates.
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club - Surfside, Florida
Enjoy a prime oceanfront location with a stay at Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, a legendary venue known for its glamour and sophistication and one of Florida’s most luxurious beach hotels. It’s located just a few blocks south of the luxurious Bal Harbour Shops. There are three pools with cabanas, a huge and exquisite spa and wellness center, and multiple upscale dining and drinking options. Accommodation is in rooms, suites, and bungalows with plush white beds and floor-to-ceiling windows with jaw-dropping views in the ocean-facing units that feel like you’re floating on the sea.
Daios Cove - Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece
Daios Cove sits along Vathi beach on the northern coast of Crete, east of the island’s capital of Heraklion. One of the most magnificent resorts in the Greek Islands, it hosts a watersports center and offers private yachting excursions, water-skiing, and scuba diving trips, while the grounds include a magnificent saltwater infinity pool, a state-of-the-art spa, and a half-dozen high-end restaurants and bars. The rooms have balconies with sea views, minibars, and satellite TV. If you’re looking for something larger and even more luxe, suites and villas are available too, some with private pools.
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo soars above the historic merchant district of Nihonbashi, providing spectacular views and an oasis of tranquility. Even the lobby is impressive, located on the 38th floor with a sweeping vista of what seems like the entire city. It’s no wonder it’s often considered one of the world’s most stunning hotel lobbies. There’s an award-winning spa offering pools, a steam room, a sauna, and unique rituals like Japanese Kiatsu, which involves energy work and acupressure and is enjoyed in treatment rooms with more fabulous views. Dining is exceptional and diverse, with ten restaurants serving everything from Cantonese to French. Rooms are understated, all featuring city views and the latest and greatest tech amenities, including huge flat-screen TVs.
Hotel Bel-Air - Los Angeles, California
Nestled on 12 acres in the swanky Bel Air Estates neighborhood, the Hotel Bel-Air is a Spanish mission-style urban oasis and one of the world’s most exclusive hotels and Los Angeles’ most luxurious. Think 20th Century glam with rooms and suites that include beds with fine Egyptian cotton linens, tech-savvy amenities like in-room iPads and flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs. Guests enjoy a complimentary luxury car shuttle, beautifully manicured gardens across the grounds, an outdoor heated pool, poolside service, afternoon tea, and pampering treatments at the spa. There’s also a chic bar with a grand piano and an upscale restaurant with a menu of Mediterranean-inspired American fusion fare.
