From palatial lakeside lounges in India to bulletproof bedrooms in Switzerland, here’s how to frolic frivolously in the playgrounds of the rich and famous by checking into the world’s most extravagant hotel suites. Book one of these rooms for a loved one this Christmas and you’re sure to be cashing in those brownie points for decades to come.
Heavenly Fiji has no shortage of lust-worthy accommodation, but the Hilltop Estate at Laucala Island Resort may be its most exclusive lodgings. Only available via application or through personal referral, the suite comes with its own private chef and nanny, access to a horse-riding school, a 72-hole golf course and a beach for your pals only.
If you’re planning a weekender in NYC next year then the legendary Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons Hotel will only set you back around US$50k a night. And you may not even need to leave the room to enjoy The Big Apple: as well as your own personal butler, chauffeur and personal trainer, you’ll be treated to 360-degree panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline from 52 stories up.
For the ultimate in Eastern opulence there are few better destinations than India. Frequented by James Bond in Octopussy, its world-famous Taj Lake Palace has been housing royals, dignitaries and the Hollywood elite since its establishment. And if candlelight dinners and spa treatments on a floating barge isn’t quite enough, India’s most expensive suite, The Shahi Mahal Suite at Raj Palace, Jaipur, has six bedrooms, a dining room, a private theatre, your own kitchen staff and an extensive historical library.
Keeping things a little more local, if you book a stay at The Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens, the hotel will fly you into the city on a private jet before introducing you to your private chefs, trainers and even a personal pianist. There’s also indoor and outdoor pools, a grand fireplace, a walk-in closet, heated floors and remote-controlled everything.
Finally, if you really want to blow your inheritance making an impression, then The Royal Penthouse Suite at Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, takes the prize for the world’s priciest suite. Taking up an entire floor of the hotel, the 12-bedroom, 12-bathroom space sprawls 18,000 square feet and features armoured doors, a vast safe, bulletproof windows, a private elevator and a helipad.
Written by Thea Carley
