A room with a view
Hotels in which you don’t need to leave your bedroom for a spectacular vista
WHETHER you prefer Manhattan’s ever-changing cityscape or the rolling, green mountains of St Lucia, there is a perfect hotel for you. Check out some of the most stunning vistas on the planet through the windows of these super-luxurious hotels.
1. Arts Hotel, Spain
hotelartsbarcelona.com
This spectacular Barcelona hotel features terraced gardens, an outdoor swimming pool, five restaurants and a gym on the 42nd floor. Most of the rooms have sea views and a clear sight of the artwork pictured. It was designed by renowned architect Bruce Graham to coincide with the Olympic Games in 1992. The hotel is close to the city’s historical centre, and 20 minutes by car from Barcelona airport.
Marina 19–21, 08005 Barcelona, +34 93 2211000
2. Hôtel Plaza Athénée, France
dorchestercollection.com
A jewel in the already gleaming crown of the Dorchester Collection, the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris has spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower. The hotel recently celebrated its 100th birthday, and the 148 rooms and 46 suites are decorated in classic French style at its most luxurious. Even if your room doesn’t face Paris’ most famous building, there are also beautiful views of the rooftops of Monmartre and the chestnut trees lining Avenue Montaigne.
25 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 1 5367 6665
3. Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, Peru
sanctuarylodgehotel.com
Live in luxury right next the ruins of Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. Believed to have been built in the mid-15th century, they’re located 2,350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a jungle. Guest at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge have access to the ruins when after the tour buses have departed or admire them from the lodge’s terrace.
Macchu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru Tel: +51 84 21 1038
4. Enchantment Resort, USA
enchantmentresort.com
The stunning red craters of Boynton Canyon were once the home of various Native American tribes. Enchantment Resort lets visitors explore the area via a series of hiking trails and historical walks around its ancient ruins. At night, gather around the fire and admire the blazing boulders surrounding the hotel.
525 Boynton Canyon Rd, Sedona, Arizona, Tel: +1 928-282-2900
5. Jade Mountain, St Lucia
jademountain.com
St Lucia is among the most stunning of the Caribbean islands, with its distinctive twin volcanic mountains and lush, green landscape. The perfect place from which to experience it is the Jade Mountain resort. Its architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy has designed it to blend in with the natural surroundings, choosing local over man-made materials. The rooms – called sanctuaries – have no electronic equipment in them, including telephones.
Jade Mountain resort, St Lucia, West Indies, +758 459 4000
6. Hotel Salto Chico, Chile
explora.com
The Torres del Paine National Park in central Patagonia is one of the most arresting beauty spots in the world. Hotel Salto Chico is right in the middle of it. The 49 rooms each have incredible views of the mountains and offer unrivalled silence and privacy. All are furnished with luxurious local materials and incorporate a hydromassage bath to ease your muscles after a hard day’s exploring.
Domingo Atienza s/n, Ayllu de Larache, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile +56 2 206 6060
7. Mandarin Oriental New York, USA
mandarinoriental.com
Mountain ranges and lakes don’t have a monopoly over great views – man-made vistas can be just as impressive. If illuminated cityscapes with towering skyscrapers float your boat then look no further than New York City. The Mandarin Oriental New York boasts wonderful views of down town Manhattan. Opt for a Mandarin suite and watch the city that doesn’t sleep go about its nocturnal business.
80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street New York, NY 10023 +1 (212) 805 8800
8. The Ritz-Carlton, China
ritzcarlton.com
This hotel occupies the top floors of The International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, the tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong. The rooms are spread over floors 102 to 118 and, at 1,588ft, the Ritz-Carlton is the tallest hotel in the world. Its six restauramts all offer panoramic views over Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour.
1 Austin Rd W, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2263 2263
9. Pimalai Resort, Thailand
pimalai.com
This luxury hotel on the island of Koh Lanta is located amid a dense forest, with a host of wildlife on your doorstep. The rooms feature polished wooden floors, bamboo blinds and dark wood furniture. Whether you want to lie on a white sand beach, swim in the sea, trek through the forest or relax in the infinity pool, this resort has something for you.
99 Moo 5, Ba Kan Tiang Beach Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150, Thailand, +66 (0) 2320 5500
10. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Canada
fairmont.com
This stunning hotel is situated in the heart of Banff National Park, which was originally a mountaineering centre. To make the most of the scenery, guests can canoe, hike, horse-back ride, fish and mountain bike, and in the winter there’s skiing and ice-skating. Or you can just stand and gawp at the rugged, icy scenery, which is second to none.
111 Lake Louise Drive, Lake Louise Alberta, Canada + 403 522 3511