World’s Most Exclusive Hotels by Forbes
Travel can be wearisome. Check-in lines and security screenings, uncomfortable beds and those scratchy hotel quilts made of who-knows-what. But what if your hotel included all the comforts of home and then some? Italian linens, culinary decadence, daily spa treatments, even butlers are all in a day’s stay at the most luxurious and exclusive hotels in the world.
11. Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa
Cape Town, South Africa
Location, location, location. You’ve heard it before, and number 11 on this list earns its spot thanks to Cape Town’s gorgeous Table Mountain National Reserve and breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views. Guests of the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa can lounge at the beach or go for an invigorating hike before retreating to the beautiful rooms — all adorned in airy white and silver.
The hotel’s Presidential Suite can be tailored to meet your needs. One of the rooms can be transformed into a second bedroom, an office or a gym. The suite also has a 180-degree view of the Atlantic Ocean towards Kemp Bay and Table Mountain National Park.
The hotel’s Sanctuary Spa is one of the three accredited leading spas in South Africa, and its unique geologic interior will have you feeling at one with nature — the spa is cut directly out of the rock surrounding the Twelve Apostles Hotel.
10. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Tofino, British Columbia
From the perfect pampering of the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, we move to luxury with a dash of wilderness. The remote eco-safari Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is open annually from mid-May to the end of September and offers all-inclusive adventures for 3, 4 or 7 nights.
Named for its location on the Bedwell River in Clayoquot Sound, this resort will redefine your idea of camping. Their signature white tents feature fireplaces, 4-poster beds, antiques and private baths. In addition to the private guest tents, there are massage, lounge and dining tents. At night, the entire resort is aglow with soft candlelight – including your own tent, which will be filled with up to 50 glowing candles.
Activities at this grand hideaway are all eco-friendly: horseback riding, hiking, whale-watching, rock-climbing and cooking will fill your days while tranquil hot springs, hot tubs and spa treatments ease you into night.
Luxury of this magnitude doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a stay at Clayoquot is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed.
9. Casa Palmero
Pebble Beach, California
Located between the first and second fairways of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links sits Casa Palmero, a Four Diamond Inn and the crown jewel of the Pebble Beach Resort. A private Mediterranean-style villa, the Casa Palmero has only a handful of rooms featuring estate rooms and studios, spa rooms and suites.
The size of Casa Palmero delivers a rare kind of service and intimacy. Customized amenities for guests are mapped out prior to arrival so that every second spent at the resort is exactly how you like it.
The spa at Casa Palmero offers over 26 different massages, including their targeted massage using indigenous smooth clamshells and a heated tide pool. More traditional services can be provided either at the spa or privately in guests’ rooms.
And, of course, there’s the golf. Eighty percent of guests at the Casa Palmero arrive with golf bags in tow. The Links at Pebble Beach is an iconic green in the golf world, and you can’t play there unless you’re a guest at one of the facilities. By booking a room at Casa Palmero, you’ll have accommodation at one of the best hotels in the world as well as a tee time on one of the world’s greatest golf courses.
8. Curtain Bluff
Antigua, West Indies
A British Caribbean hideaway, Curtain Bluff is the ideal place to stay when visiting Antigua. Famous for its seclusion and low-key luxury, the hotel has perfected the combination of relaxation and activity. An all-inclusive resort, guests can sign up for waterskiing, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and charter sailing by simply writing their names on a chalkboard that morning.
The 5,000-square-foot spa is the perfect place to relax after a day of sporting. A family-friendly resort, the spa also offers certain services for those under the age of 18. The spa features open walkways, waterfalls, Jacuzzis and a café.
Christopher Blatz, formerly the chef at Le Crillion in Paris, designs the food at Curtain Bluff. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the package and guests can even sharpen their culinary skills by taking cooking classes with Chef Blatz.
7. Oberoi Udaivilas
Udaipur, India
Oberoi Udaivilas stands out on this list of luxury. An architecturally stunning hotel that sits on the banks of Lake Pichola, the Udaivilas exudes royalty and opulence. The luxury suites in the hotel feature private heated swimming pools, tented dining pavilions and personal staffs. The exclusive 2,650-square-foot Kohinoor Suite boasts courtyards, fountains, private pools, fireplaces and a master suite complete with a wooden sauna.
There is a pontoon in the middle of the lake where guests dine on freshly prepared local delicacies while serenaded by musicians. After dinner they travel by boat across the sunlit lake back to the hotel.
The views are unparalleled, the service unsurpassable. In short, all guests of the Oberoi Udaivilas enjoy its majesty and are treated like royalty.
6. Four Seasons
Punta Mita, Mexico
Four Seasons is synonymous with luxury, service and reliability. At the Four Seasons Punta Mita, this credited hotel chain has created one of the best resort hotels in the world, surrounded by pristine white beaches.
The hotel includes 173 guest rooms, 30 of which are suites. However, the most high-end traveler will demand the Coral Suite. The private 5-bedroom suite boasts over 13,000 square feet of living space, and guests are just steps from the water. Other features include a private pool and an exclusive movie theater.
If guests can tear themselves away from the luxury of their rooms, they’ll enjoy the spa, numerous water sports, golf and tennis, not to mention the mouthwatering menus offered at the hotel’s four restaurants.
5. Old Course Hotel
St. Andrews, Scotland
Leaving the white beaches of Mexico behind, we travel across the pond to regal Scotland. The Old Course Hotel is located on the 17th hole of the Old Course, arguably one of the most famous holes in all of golf. The hotel perfectly mixes today’s luxuries with the charm and sophistication of historic Scotland.
There are 35 suites in the hotel and each of them has a view over the course, the North Sea and the town of St. Andrews. The cream of the crop is the Royal and Ancient Suite featuring an open fireplace, a balcony with views of the sea, huge Jacuzzis, private butler service and champagne every evening.
The oldest part of the hotel is the infamous Jigger Inn. Located on the 19th hole, it’s where many champion golfers have celebrated big wins. Suffice it to say that number five on the list is nothing short of a golfer’s paradise.
4. Jade Mountains
St. Lucia, West Indies
Jade Mountain is an eco-luxury resort with some of the most beautiful views imaginable. The resort faces the Twin Piton Mountains in St. Lucia and during their stays here, guests get to know these mountains very well — because there are only 3 walls to every room at the resort. At Jade, you actually room with nature. It’s the most organic architecture there is.
The 24 sanctuaries at Jade Mountain each have an infinity pool, further blurring the line between indoor and outdoor. Additionally, there are no phones, televisions or radios in any of the rooms. It truly is a sanctuary rather than a hotel.
Guests can enjoy world-class cooking featuring fresh local produce. The resort sits on over 400 acres full of biking and hiking trails not to mention the scuba-diving available at the marine park.
For those not wanting to completely abandon civilization, Jade’s sister resort, Anse Chastenet, is open to all the guests and features a more traditional Caribbean resort feel.
3. The Ritz
Paris, France
The Ritz Paris has been a landmark luxury hotel since opening its doors in 1898. Guests at the Ritz have 3 personal staff members assigned to them at all times — a level of service unmatched in the hotel business.
Over the years, the Ritz has become a favorite destination for many of the world’s wealthiest families and well-known names. The hotel’s suites are named for some of its most notable patrons: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway, for whom the bar is named.
The Coco Chanel Suite is the most sought-after accommodation, due to the fact that the legendary designer called the Ritz home for over 30 years. The Ritz Paris is every bit as renowned, timeless, classic and sophisticated as one of Coco Chanel’s iconic suits.
2. Auberge du Soleil
Napa, California
Located in the mountains of California’s beautiful Napa Valley, Auberge du Soleil sits above the Silverado Trail. The hotel is spread over 33 acres of the Tuscan-like hillside, creating an oasis filled with spa treatments, rich local cuisine and, of course, fine Napa wine.
Auberge du Soleil is also widely known for its “responsible” luxury. The spa is constructed from recycled materials and the hotel uses biodegradable cleaning products and provides sustainably produced, local and organic guest-room amenities.
Personal touches are taken to a new level here. Guests will see their names on the doors to their rooms, can request personal wine-tastings or submit requests for local delicacies.
1. The One Hotel Angkor
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Number 1 on the list is the aptly named The One Hotel in Cambodia. At The One Hotel, you will, of course, find beautiful accommodations, lavish linens and personal service — what you will not find are other guests.
A completely unique hotel experience, The One Hotel has only one luxurious suite. Guests are picked up at the airport and transported to the hotel, which has been customized ahead of time to meet your specific needs. The hotel offers you your own stylist, photographer or videographer. The spa comes to your room and meals are served at your whim.
The hotel’s location offers access to the ruins at Angkor Wat, said to be the world’s largest single religious monument.
All of this comes at a bargain price compared to other luxury hotel accommodations. It’s not only the most exclusive hotel on this list, but the most affordable, as well.
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