There’s nothing quite like staying in a grand luxurious hotel during your holiday. After spending the whole day exploring your destination, be it the temples of Kyōto City or the extraordinary marine life of the Seychelles, it is a soothing experience to be able to return to your accommodation and massage the aches and pains away with good food, comfortable beds and wellness therapies. There is no dearth of the most extravagant and luxurious hotels that exist in every corner of the planet, but we have narrowed them down to five top stays you should reserve at least once in your life.
This luxury 5-star resort on the banks of Lake Como has 80 elegantly furnished rooms and suites that include private terraces and villas. Embark on your own private tour of the lake in a vintage speedboat or self-driven motorboat to see the sights, or simply use your legs for a woodland hike that promises scenic views. Those keen on learning the culinary and winemaking traditions of the Lombardy region can learn to prepare tagliolini like a real nonna and throw dough like a vero pizzaiolo. The interiors lean towards an authentic Art Nouveau style that is characterised by richly veined marble and soft velvet furnishings. The hotel is only open from March to October and closes for the winter.
Tariff: A minimum three-night stay in March 2025 starts from INR 79,000.
Curled around the Anse Intendance beach on Mahé Island in the Seychelles, the Cheval Blanc Seychelles has 52 villas that architect Jean-Michel Gathy has imagined as an ode to Creole traditions and a tribute to nature. French artist Prune Nourry, renowned for her immersive sculptures, crafted Cheval Blac Seychelles’ emblematic piece as a poetic reinterpretation of a horse called “La Centauresse,” a heroic warrior figure that rises gracefully among the banyans. The Cheval Blanc Spa’s collection of face and body treatments includes Guerlain rituals specially developed for the property, a beauty studio and a hammam. Whether you choose an intimate starlit beach barbecue or an alfresco meal on the iconic granite boulders overlooking the Indian Ocean, this hotel will tailor every detail to your preferences.
Tariff: A minimum three-night stay in February 2025 starts from INR 242,000.
The highlight of a stay here is undoubtedly The Muraka, a first-of-its-kind, luxury two-level residence with a master bedroom submerged over 16 feet below sea level in the Indian Ocean. Above water, there are two bedrooms and a bathroom with an ocean-facing tub, an outdoor deck with an infinity pool and a private 24-hour butler. Once you make your way down the spiral staircase or elevator to your private underwater aquarium, you will be greeted by floor-to-ceiling windows in the bathroom and walk-in closet and a dedicated tunnel viewing theatre. Besides this, there are plenty of beach villas that come with their own pool and private deck. Make sure you reserve your place at Ithaa, a six-metre underwater restaurant that offers breathtaking 180-degree views of vibrant coral reefs and marine life through its glass dome. With only 14 exclusive seats, every guest is treated to an intimate dining experience that blends world-class cuisine with the serene beauty of the Maldives.
Tariff: A one-night stay in February 2025 starts from INR 114,000.
The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is where luxurious comfort, impeccable service and unique dining experiences come together in a single setting. From a distance, the hotel looks like something out of an Arabian fairytale, with the main building alone stretching over one kilometre from one wing to the other and the gardens spreading across 100 hectares. With a pristine 1.3-kilometre private beach, stunning pools, a private marina and natural bay, a beautiful spa and highly-rated dining venues, you can't go wrong with a holiday here. Each of the resort's rooms and suites is furnished with the highest levels of comfort and offers a 24-hour butler service. At night, the hotel's lighting changes subtly, with an ethereal rainbow effect displayed on the main dome. Featuring 114 domes, the palace's central dome is a striking 72.6 metres above the ground, meticulously crafted with gold, mother of pearl and crystals. The building also boasts 1,002 chandeliers—the largest weighing 2.5 tons—with other photo-worthy features, including two handmade wall displays portraying the palace.
Tariff: A one-night stay in February 2025 starts from INR 48,000.
Set in a secret garden at the heart of a forest, the Aman Kyoto rests a stone’s throw from Kyōto City’s golden Kinkaku-ji Temple and 16 other UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The rooms here are a contemporary homage to the traditional Japanese ryokan that are strikingly minimalist in their geometry and that serve as a window onto their spectacular natural settings. The interiors are spacious and light-filled, allowing each space to exist and breathe with the landscape and historic forested gardens surrounding them. The mineral-rich water here delivers relaxation and healing in its purest forms, while a range of treatments tap into Japan’s plentiful natural apothecary—including Kyōto green tea, tamba kuromame black beans, local saké and cold-pressed camellia oil. At the Taka-An, witness the aesthetic beauty of Japanese cuisine with an omakase (set menu) dining experience. The Living Pavilion restaurant is a convivial dining space with elegant interiors and a bar arranged around a central fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto an expansive terrace, with beautiful views of the surrounding gardens and forest.
Tariff: A one-night stay in February 2025 starts from INR 229,000.