Hotels

The Most Expensive Hotels in the World

The world’s most expensive hotels boast ultra-luxury suites with impressive interiors, amenities, and services. Here’s an inside look at the top rooms money can buy.

By 

Meyme Nakash

 |  March 29, 2024

When it comes to luxury indulgences, nothing tops staying in an extravagant hotel. But for some, staying at one of the most expensive hotels in the world isn’t enough; they also need to book the most expensive rooms. These room options are more spacious than standard suites, and sometimes, they even have their own pools, state-of-the-art gyms, and elaborate rooftops. Above all, they come with luxury amenities, personalized service, and gorgeously designed interiors. Staying in one of these premium rooms can cost tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars per night.  That means only a select few can afford this five-star-plus experience. Even the Presidential Suite at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, which costs $32,700 per night, doesn’t make the cut for our list of the most expensive hotels and suites in the world. This will come as a surprise to some people, considering the Dubai hotel is widely acclaimed for its ultra-luxury amenities, such as its chauffeured Rolls-Royce service. 

Of course, not all lavish vacations take place at an urban hotel. If you’re looking for a tropical destination, like the Bahamas, you can rent an entire private island for your stay. This is a great option for large groups or those who prefer more privacy on vacations. To give you a holistic view of the priciest places to stay in the world, we included two island buyout properties on our list of the most expensive hotels. We also narrowed down our selection to highlight the most exclusive suites at these luxurious hotels because you deserve the best of the best. Expensive rooms at non-five-star hotels, such as the $100,000-a-night Empathy Suite at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, are omitted from this list. 

The Most Expensive Hotels in the World

Velaa Private Island

Velaa Private Island is located north of Male among the islands that form Noonu Atoll in the Maldives. The island comprises 47 private villas, houses, and residences that accommodate up to 134 guests. A minimum four-night stay is required to buy out the entire private island. Its price tag is a staggering $1 million per night. 

Some of these villas are built over the water, whereas others are on the beach. Each space is elegantly furnished and features a contemporary design. Some of the beach villas and houses have private pools. The island boasts three world-class restaurants, two bars, and one wine cellar, so you’ll have plenty of variety during your stay. Aragu offers European-style cuisine with an Asian twist, whereas Athiri is Velaa’s main restaurant, offering fresh takes on international dishes. At Tavaru, you can watch chefs prepare exquisite teppanyaki cuisine and choose from over 1,000 labels of wine to sip on. 

Velaa offers a wide range of land and water sports, from tennis and wall climbing to Jet Skiing and windsurfing. If you prefer staying active with an instructor, Velaa Spa offers private fitness classes led by personal trainers. It also provides a wide range of treatments, such as Asian-inspired massages, Ayurveda therapy, and customized facials. Be sure to pack your travel golf gear since the island also features a course designed by professional golfer José María Olazábal. 

The island is a 45-minute seaplane ride away from Velana International Airport. If you’re traveling by private jet, you can access Maafaru International Airport and take a quick seven-minute seaplane ride to Velaa. 

Nukutepipi

The second buyout property in our selection, Nukutepipi, is a private island in French Polynesia. It is only available for a full-island buyout, making it a great option for an ultra-secluded retreat. The island comprises a master villa, two junior villas, and 13 bungalows, accommodating a total of 52 guests. You can rent the entire island for $982,200 a week.

Perched on the beach, the primary residence is a two-bedroom villa with an outdoor lounge, Jacuzzi, and infinity pool. All rooms have a warm color palette with wooden accents. During your stay, you’ll enjoy alfresco lunches at the Kaipoa beach bar. At night, head to Fare Kai Tuatako for group dinners nestled within the beautifully landscaped environs. The island also has a fully equipped movie theater and state-of-the-art gym. It is also a trove for water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and even swimming with humpback whales (depending on the season). 

Harbour House, Rosewood Hong Kong

Rosewood Hong Kong is located in the center of the Victoria Dockside Arts and Design district, on the beautiful waterfront of Tsim Sha Tsui. The five-star hotel boasts elegant rooms and ultra-luxury residences for short- and long-term rentals. The real showstopper, however, is the Harbour House suite. It encompasses the entire 57th floor and overlooks the Victoria Harbour. The exclusive suite includes luxury amenities such as an outdoor lap pool, a private gym, and wraparound gardens, all for $100,000 a night. 

The Harbour House is currently unavailable for booking because it’s under renovation. However, we’ll be waiting with bated breath to learn all about its opulent interiors and new ultra-luxury amenities. 

Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection, is located in Geneva, Switzerland. It faces Lake Geneva and is minutes away from Rue du Rhône, a street lined with luxury boutiques. The Royal Penthouse, the world’s second-most expensive hotel suite, spans the entire eighth floor of Hotel President Wilson, totaling more than 18,000 square feet. The price per night is $81,000. 

The Royal Penthouse has 12 bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a beautifully designed living and dining room. The main bathroom has a Jacuzzi and steam shower, and all bathrooms are complete with Hermès bath products. The interiors feature stunning wood accents and shades of beige and red furniture. Throughout the space, floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of the lake from every angle. These windows are bulletproof to protect high-profile guests. A grand piano is near one of these views, and there’s an entertainment area with a billiards table. There’s also a private terrace that is equipped with a telescope so you can take in all of the surrounding environs. 

Heads of state often stay at the Royal Penthouse because of its close proximity to the United Nations. It offers a meeting room that seats up to 16 people, perfect for conferences. Reportedly, it has hosted notable guests such as Bill Clinton, the King of Saudi Arabia, and Tony Blair. 

The Mark Penthouse, The Mark Hotel

In 2009, French interior designer Jacques Grange redesigned the historic Mark Hotel. He invented the black-and-white striped pattern that is the hotel’s signature, present in each of its boldly decorated spaces. Since renovation, the Mark Hotel has become a go-to spot for celebrities while visiting New York City. What hotel room do they stay in? The Mark Penthouse.

Spanning an impressive 12,000 square feet, the Mark Penthouse is the hotel’s most opulent suite. For the price of $75,000 per night, it includes five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and a private terrace. It boasts four fireplaces, two powder rooms, and two wet bars. The living room is spacious with high ceilings and can transform into a ballroom for events. There’s also a library to lounge in and a formal dining room that seats up to 24 guests. The kitchen comes with a private butler, but you have the option of adding a private chef. Perhaps the biggest draw is the 2,500-square-foot terrace with breathtaking views of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park. 

Penthouse Suite, Faena Miami Beach

Faena Miami Beach is easily one of the most luxurious places to stay in Miami. Founders Alan Faena and Len Blavatnik designed the property with the help of Baz Luhrmann, director of The Great Gatsby, and his wife and Oscar-winning designer Catherine Martin. The result is a unique combination of Art Deco style and old Hollywood glamour. All guests at Faena enjoy luxury amenities such as butler service on every floor. However, one room takes the cake: the Penthouse Suite.

The Penthouse Suite includes two floors of thoughtfully decorated living areas and a main dining room. It has five elegant bedrooms and bathrooms. Each bedroom has a furnished balcony where you can comfortably watch the sunset. You can also enjoy panoramic views of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling windows. The interiors have a color palette of ivory and beige with gold and black accents. It features custom furniture by Frank Pollaro, one of the finest furniture craftsmen in the world. What really sets the suite apart, however, is the gorgeous art displays it boasts in every room — embracing Miami’s artistic fervor. The price to stay in one of Miami’s most exclusive suites starts at $65,000 per night.

The Penthouse, Claridge’s

When it comes to hotels in London that showcase the city’s distinct skyline, Claridge’s is second to none. The best view it offers is from the Penthouse, its most exclusive suite. The Penthouse features dramatic water installations and rotating sofas that follow the sun. These high-tech amenities, along with the suite’s beautiful furnishings, are available for a starting price of $65,000 a night.

The Penthouse boasts modern Art Deco interiors with sleek finishings and décor. It pays homage to famous yacht designer Rémi Tessier with simple lines and fine material elements such as green onyx fireplaces and a burl wood dining table. The Penthouse includes four bedrooms and bathrooms, a grand salon, a wine cellar, and a dining space that seats up to 10 guests. The real jaw-dropper is the exclusive access it provides to a stunning glass rooftop. It features a beautiful garden with water elements and a heated pool that appears to hover over the horizon. There, you can enjoy a cup of tea while soaking in the sun and a panoramic view of the city. 

Diamond Suite – Princess Grace, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo

The Diamond Suite at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is a tribute to the renowned actress and late Princess Grace of Monaco. It displays the late princess’s artwork, family photos, and favorite poetic works. The royal family of Monaco donated these archives from their private collection, which famously includes the House of Grimaldi Jewels. (Sadly, there are no jewels on display.) The Diamond Suite is truly remarkable because it combines historical archives with fresh, modern interiors. The unique experience of staying in this rare suite costs $48,000 a night. 

The Diamond Suite spans two floors with private terraces that offer views of the Mediterranean Sea. It includes two bedrooms, each with a dressing room and bathroom that’s complete with a sauna and steam room. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow beautiful daylight to pour into the space, complementing the interior’s neutral color palette. There are two lounge areas, a kitchen, a dining room, and a study. The interiors are surprisingly contemporary, with clean lines and sophisticated but modern furnishings. On the upper level, there’s a heated infinity pool and Jacuzzi. A curved staircase connects the two levels, decorated with a stunning chandelier, and there’s also a private elevator. 

Les Grands Appartements, Hôtel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel

Hôtel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel, overlooks Place de la Concorde in Paris. It is an 18th-century palace that King Louis XV commissioned and later the counts of Crillon acquired. The opulent hotel retains historic design elements, such as pink marble floors, gold-trimmed stair rails, and painted ceilings. Famous architect Richard Martinet and his team spent four years renovating Hôtel de Crillon, which reopened in July 2017. His work included the three-bedroom Les Grands Appartements, available for an average of $44,000 per night.

Les Grands Apartments is located on the hotel’s second floor. Guests have the option of combining the two suites and adjoining a third bedroom. Karl Lagerfeld, the late creative director of Chanel and Fendi, helped design the suite, leaving his mark with crystal chandeliers and thoughtful bespoke furniture. The primary bedroom has a canopy bed that pulls inspiration from King Louis XVI’s room. The bathrooms are made of gorgeous Carrara marble with gold accents. To top it off, the hotel provides the suite’s guests with a 24-hour butler service. 

The Grand Riad, Royal Mansour Marrakech

In 2016, King Mohammed VI commissioned the Royal Mansour Marrakech. It comprises 53 luxury riads, each three stories high, spread across a medina. Staying at Royal Mansour Marrakech is pretty much like staying in your own private palace. If you really want to feel like royalty, though, you’ll want to book the Grand Riad, which costs $43,500 per night. 

The Grand Riad is the largest and most exclusive riad the establishment has to offer. Spanning 19,375 square feet, it contains four lavish bedrooms with a walk-in dressing room and four-and-a-half bathrooms. There’s a living room with a bar, lounge area, cinema room, gym, and a Moroccan hammam (traditional bathhouse with a soak tub and steam room). The rooftop is gorgeously decorated with terra-cotta and mosaics. The Grand Riad also comes with a plunge pool, a bedouin tent, an open fire area to lounge by on chilly nights, as well as a 24-hour butler service. 

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