Palacio Nazarenas, Peru – This former palace is fit for a (pop) queen! After several years of restoration, the Palacio Nazarenas has emerged as one of Cuzco’s most lush hotels. Located near the Plaza de Armas, the intimate urban retreat has 55 suites, enriched with oxygen to fight altitude sickness and its own private bar (you know, in case your personal butler wants to make you a drank). Over the booze? There’s also a secluded spa, the city’s first outdoor pool and a bunch of stylish restaurants serving cutting-edge cuisine within walking distance.
Katikies Hotel, Santorini – Perched on the Caldera cliffs, just above the clear, azure waters of the Aegean, The Katikies Hotel in Santorini provides an unparalleled experience of romance and prestige (perfect for T-Swiz and her beau, Calvin Harris). A place of utter opulence, kick back and enjoy Mother Nature’s monumental natural setting whilst bathing in the deep blue of the infinity bath.
Mardan Palace, Turkey – Anything that costs $1.65 billion to build has got to be sinfully sumptuous, right? Built by Russian billionaire Telman Ismailov in 2009, the Mardan Palace boasts the largest swimming pool in the Mediterranean (fits 1,000 guests) and is touted as one of the most elite luxury hotels in Europe. Highlights of the hotel include gold leaf, crystal and Italian marble interiors, 17 bars on-site, a lavish spa, a sunken aquarium filled with exotic fish and 9,000 tonnes of white sand flown from Egypt for your own private beach.
Ubud Hanging Gardens, Bali – Set in the lush, Balinese rainforest, this Feng Shui-style resort boasts 44 astonishing private villas to choose from, complete with thatched-roofs, private terraces and granite-lined infinity pools. The epicentre of the hotel however is the large, cascading swimming pool suspended over the dense rainforest, giving swimmers the sensation of floating above the treetops.
The Westin Excelsior, Rome – Although most rooms are affordable at The Westin Excelsior, the hotel’s piece de resistance is the Villa La Cupola Suite that was most recently given a $7 million “refresh”. Best described as a “luxury cocoon”, the suite spans across two full floors which include high-tech gadgets, hand-frescoed cathedral style domes, a private fitness room, sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi.
