As a luxury travel blogger, I’ve been a guest in many of the top hotels around the world, and have created a list of the 10 most visually stunning hotels, based on my experience. So, in no particular order, here they are:
1) AMANGIRI, USA
Located within a 243 hectare (600 acres) area in Canyon Point in Southern Utah. Amangiri is a 25-minute drive from the closest town, located close to national parks and Lake Powell. Making it a great location for hiking, climbing, wellness, learning about the Navajo culture, and being close to nature. Close to the hotel is the Native American reservation and the hotel works closely with the Navajo people to live in harmony and work with them.
Amangiri is a complete resort with a large spa boasting desert-views and restoring hozho (beauty, harmony, balance, and health in Navajo), a restaurant which serves locally sourced produce and beautiful views. The suites are all spacious and full of natural material, which blends perfectly with the surrounding views. The suites feature white stone floors, concert walls, natural timbers, and blackened steel fitting. All the suites are complete with an outdoor lounge area, fireplace, and uninterrupted views over the desert, some suites also have private swimming pools. This hotel is perfect for a quiet relaxing retreat or wellness break or to spend time exploring the national parks which surround it. Either way, it is a stunning hotel within a landscape filled with canyons, mesas, mountains, gorges, rapids, and deserts.
2) LE SIRENUSE ITALY
Located in Positano, Italy on the Amalfi Coast, Le Sirenuse is located high on the cliffs 70 meters above the ocean, giving it a breathtaking view over Positano and the Amalfi Coast. First opened in 1951, the family run and owned hotel which has 58 rooms, giving it the intimate feel of a private home, while being one of Italy’s leading luxury hotels.
A large number of the 58 rooms in Le Sirenuse offer and overlook Positano, with terraces or balconies. The rooms boast white-washed walls, vaulted ceilings, hand-made tiles on the floor, and intricate decorations, making the rooms feel like home. The hotel has a pool surrounded by lemon trees, in a peaceful atmosphere, there is also a gym and the Le Sirenuse Spa offering an array of treatments. Le Sirenuse has a Michelin-starred restaurant called La Sponda, which serves Mediterranean cuisine, using locally sourced ingredients and the traditional culinary techniques of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. There is also a Champagne & Oyster Bar (which offers beautiful views over the mountains), the Pool Bar & Restaurant and Franco’s Bar (offer great views and delicious dishes and homemade unique cocktails within a unique atmosphere).
3) AMAN SVETI STEFAN, MONTENEGRO
Aman Sveti Stefan is a beautiful hotel located on Montenegro’s coastline, within an 80-acre estate. The hotel is divided between Sveti Stefan Island and Villa Milocer on the mainland. Sveti Stefan Island is a fortified village dating back to the 15th century with cobbled lanes, courtyards, ocean views, 50 suites & cottages, and 600-year-old red-tiled roofs with restored buildings. Villa Milocer was previously the residence of Queen Marija Karadjordjevic and is a 19th-century villa with ancient pine and cedar forest, surrounded by over 800 olive trees.
Aman Sveti Stefan has a number of dining venues on the island and in the villa, including a Piazza and intimate dining venue. All the restaurants use locally sourced produce, organically grown vegetables, with locally caught seafood, local cheeses, honey, and jams. Aman Sveti Stefan has a 1,600 square meter spa with a variety of treatment options, a gym, and pilates studio for guest to enjoy. The resort also has a pool with a cliff view offering great views of the sea and Budva bay with a restaurant. Aman Sveti Stefan has access to a private beach called Queen’s Beach. The 50 rooms within the hotel are a mix of suites, cottages, two-story suites, two bedroom cottages, village rooms, all with unique details and superb finishes.
4) THE OBEROI AMARVILAS, INDIA
Located 600 meters from the world famous Taj Mahal, The Oberoi Amarvilas is a luxury hotel inspired by Mughal palace, with fountains, lawns, pools, and pavilions, along with exquisite views for the Taj Mahal from all over the hotel. All the rooms are elegantly decorated, with marble bathrooms, Mughal inspired features all set with modern technology. The Oberoi Amarvilas has four restaurants – Esphahan (authentic ambience with Mughal cuisine, live music, and candlelit tables), Roshanara (elegant outdoor dining serving a lavish buffet), The Bar (a bar with views of the Taj Mahal with silk sofas and signature cocktails), and The Lounge (an indoor restaurant with an outdoor terrace, offering breathtaking views of the Taj Mahal, with crystal chandeliers and Mughal artwork.
The Oberoi Amarvilas not only offers beautiful views and excellent cuisine, but there is also The Oberoi Spa with signature massages and other treatments, a temperature controlled pool, fitness center. The hotel is filled with luxury and is surrounded by not only the Taj Mahal but three other UNESCO World Heritage sites and wonders to explore, including Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, and Itmad-Ud-Daulah or “The Baby Taj”.
5) GILI LANKANFUSHI, MALDIVES
Gili Lankanfushi is a luxury hotel located in the Maldives, which boast endless luxury within an eco-friendly environment giving guests the freedom to relax how they wish. The Gili Lankanfushi hotel provides a luxury world-class hotel within an area rich with marine biodiversity and has created an ecological balance between the hotel and the environment. Sustainability is one of the areas Gili Lankanfushi strives to achieve, protecting the natural environment, and ecosystems which call the Maldives home.
The hotel has 45 villas which are spread out around the area, some with connected wooden docks and others along in the waters. All the material used to create these villas were sustainably-sourced and all rooms are filled with reusable products, organic toiletries, and strive to minimize plastic waste. Each of the villas is complete with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, an infinity pool, guest rooms, 24 hour Mr. Friday guest services, gyms, cinema, water slides and more. The villas range from one bedroom villas to family suites covering 1,700sqm complete with everything required in a hidden corner of the resort. The resort has contacts with companies for a large number of different activities including, watersports, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, snorkeling, diving, tennis, cooking classes, as well as excursions and much more.
6) POST RANCH INN, USA
Opened in 1992, Post Ranch Inn has become a foundation and spectacle of the Big Sur coastline. The Post Ranch Inn is located across an area of 1,500 acres owned by the Post family on the site of their old family ranch, preserving the families history.
The buildings of the hotel curve around the old trees, some buildings are set up high to preserve the land below. The buildings are made from reclaimed wood, steel, and stone, creating a harmony with nature. The ranch is committed to respect the land and protect the environment, with solar panels, a Lexus hybrid, biodegradable cleaning products, as well as landscaping and providing habitats for wildlife to thrive. The hotel is a marvel of architectural wonder, with unique structures and rooms offering panoramic views of the ocean and mountains, along with blending into the cliff edges and countryside. All rooms are set to a very high luxury standard with all the amenities required for the perfect stay and more. The hotel also features activities such as yoga, nature walks, meditation, garden tours, star gazing, as well as two heated infinity spas, a heated swimming pool, and fitness center. The ranch also has an award-winning restaurant the Sierra Mar which offers incredible views over the ocean.
7) SIX SENSES YAO NOI, THAILAND
The Six Senses Yan Not sets the benchmark for luxury in Asia, with the iconic views of Phang Nga Bay as a backdrop the resort boasts a sense of adventure and privacy. Set high above the bay, the hotel sits perfectly within the cliffs offering an unreal view as a backdrop. The hotel puts sustainability high on their agenda, with practices in place to minimize negative impacts on the surrounding environment. The Six Senses Yao Now has environmental and social sustainability police which controls waste management, working with the local government, social commitment, protecting the surrounding area, locally grown produce, water conservation, noise control, and the quality of the air.
The Six Senses Yao Noi has a selection of villas and suites for guests to choose from single rooms to multiple bedrooms and specialty villas. All villas and suites are fully equipped along with private pools, separate bedrooms, seating areas, technology equipment, and incredible views of the ocean or surrounding plantations. Six Senses Yao Noi doesn’t just have a spa area it has a spa village, modeled on a typical northern Thailand village, only using ethically produced products and incorporates all four elements, earth, water, fire, and air. The hotel has an abundance of dining options which all serve farm-to-table cuisine with a European influence.
8) FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP, THAILAND
The Four Seasons Tented Camp, Golden Triangle luxury camp is set in the natural surrounding of northern Thailand, with mountain trails and bamboo jungles, before relaxing in luxury tents at this all-inclusive resort. The resort has 15 tents and an Explorer’s lodge, with all the luxury you would expect from a Four Seasons resort and more. Each tent features unique and wonderful decorations, in a private wonderland, each tent is unique and features a different theme that reflects the culture of northern Thailand.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp also features a trading post boutique, with hand made textiles, created by the hill tribes, a riverside pool, jungle spa, and wine cellar. The hotel has access to a number of actives including walks, all-inclusive adventures, river cruises, riverside picnics, trekking, temple excursions, and much more. This hotel is a great way to experience the natural wonders of the area while staying in high-class luxury.
9) AMANYARA, TURKS AND CAICOS
Located close to a nature preserve leading to white sandy beaches and turquoise waters is the Resor of Amanyara Turks and Caicos. On the western shore of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos are the private and preserved villas surrounded by tropical vegetation which make up the resort. The hotel is located on half a mile of private beach and blue waters which are home to the 27-kilometer barrier reef of the Northwest Point Marine National Park.
The hotel rooms are made up of Pavilions which are predominantly open air, many with beach access, and pools, offer beautiful views out of the floor to ceiling doors, with a combination of bedrooms and living space. The hotel also offers villas ranging from two to six bedrooms with ample space overlooking the ocean, infinity pools, gardens, and have personal cooks and housekeepers. Amanyara Turks and Caicos features a large number of activities such as watersports (kayaking, paddle boards, catamarans, kiteboarding, and water skiing), a nature discovery centre, a wellness spa, pilates studio, yoga studio, fitness centre, four tennis courts, multi-sports field, volleyball court, and Caribbean dining experiences.
10) THE OBEROI UDAIVILAS, INDIA
The Oberoi Udaivilas is located on the shore of Lake Pichola, covering an area of over 30 acres of luxurious gardens, interconnecting domes, and seven lakes. The Oberoi Udaivilas has a mixture of rooms and suites, some with pool views, garden views, private terraces, and even private pools. All the rooms are decorated with thoughtful Mewar inspired furnishing, modern technologies, and traditional Indian patterns.
The Oberoi Udaivilas has three restaurants Suryamahal and Chandni (all day fine dining, al fresco serving Western and Indian cuisine), Udaimahal (a fine dining experience, setting for a special occasion, with views across Lake Pichola and the lights of City Palace) and The Bar (a bar with traditional archways, domes). The hotel has a spa which offers a variety of treatments, signature ranges, and massage treatments. The Oberoi Udaivilas offers world-class service, fountains, artwork, gardens, and is built on a 200-year old hunting ground. The hotel places great emphasis on wellbeing, yoga, personalized spa treatments, and reflects the layout of Udaipur. The hotel offers a wide variety of activities like sunrise boat rides, city tours by boat, private dining experiences, promenade dinner, cooking class with the chef, painting school, yoga, sunset boat ride, Thekri workshop, Astrology, Heritage walks, and Henna painting.
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit one of these luxury destinations. If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.
To receive our articles and reviews straight to your inbox Subscribe Here.
Read More About Luxury Travel
- Top Luxury Places To Visit In 2018
- Luxury Cruise In Halong Bay, Vietnam
- Nihi Sumba Island Resort Review
- Tahiti & Bora Bora: The Most Amazing Islands In the Pacific Ocean
We Are Travel Girls Contributor Misha Gillingham of WildLuxe.com
CONNECT with Misha Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Pin For Later
This website is a free resource and to keep it free for our readers we may use affiliate links in our articles. Please see our Disclosures for more information.
voyage maldives de luxe says
beautifule pictures !
Ray says
Amangiri looks absolutely stunning! Where in the United States is that luxury resort located?