How Much 5-Star Hotels Cost: Top 100 Destinations (2020)

How Much 5-Star Hotels Cost: Top 100 Destinations (2020)
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After having several nightmare experiences with Airbnb, my wife and I thought it would be good to know what it costs for a 5-star luxury hotel as a more reliable alternative to vacation rentals.

By doing this research we’d know our options and whether or not we could afford to stay at the best accommodation in any given destination to which we might be going.

We’ve created this resource to help you plan your next vacation and to show that it is possible to find affordable opulence if you go to the right place!

Asher and Lyric
Our family on a 2-week trip through France.


how much 5-star hotels cost around the world

 
Please note: If you’d like to be the first to know when we update this study or when we publish new research, subscribe HERE ➜

Our Methodology

To calculate the yearly and high season average price of 5-star hotels in each destination we used TripAdvisor as our primary data source. However, certain hotels and resorts didn’t have prices displayed, so in that case, we went directly to the hotel website.

We selected one weeknight in December, March, June, and September in 2018 and checked prices for the five best “Traveler Ranked” hotels in each destination and then averaged those prices to get the numbers you see in our dataset. By using this approach we were able to get a highly accurate representation of average hotel prices across the globe.

5-star hotel definition used by TripAdvisor – (Click to expand)
“Amenities typically include gourmet dining, luxury spas, and full-service health clubs with lavish locker rooms. Staff members are generally polished, anticipate guest needs, and consistently address guests by name. Features may include upgraded check-in, a welcome amenity, and butler service on all or select floors. Guestroom decor is often elegant and may include coordinated fabrics on drapes, chairs, headboards, and duvets. Electronic features sometimes include bedside controls for drapes, lighting, and surround-sound. Oversized bathrooms are often clad in marble, with premium, custom-built features, dual-sink vanities, enclosed toilets, premium spa-brand toiletries, and fresh flowers or live plants. Five-star resorts typically offer signature golf courses, tennis centers with choice of playing surfaces, health clubs with personal trainers, luxurious spas, cultural activities, and children’s day camps. In Asia, both hotels and resorts often feature some of these amenities.”

We had to expand the area of several destinations in order to have enough hotels in our dataset. These were mainly islands and small countries regions for example: Bali and Costa Rica. All research for each season was performed at least three months in advance to avoid prices being inflated due to last minute bookings. We ended up with 234 destinations around the world that you can browse in the below table.

 

Use our interactive tool
to find your next 5-star vacation

Instructions: Simply click on the column titles to sort by that filter. For example, click on the “Price” title and the list will show the prices low to high. Click the same title again and it will show it high to low. Then try clicking “Beach,” and it will show places without a beach. If you click it again it will only show beach destinations. If you’re going to Europe, use the search box for the keyword “Europe,” and then you will only see European destinations which you can then filter further by price and destination type, etc.

Key Definitions

  • Beach: Has gorgeous, swimmable beaches.
  • City: Has over 100,000 population in the city proper.
  • Ski: Has a ski mountain nearby 5-star hotels.
  • Foodie: Has at least 10 Michelin rated restaurants.
  • Wine: Has amazing wineries and wine tasting tours.

Please note: If you’re on a mobile device you can scroll horizontally to see all the data.

DestinationCountryContinentPriceBeachCitySkiFoodieWine
GstaadSwitzerlandEurope$2396
St. MoritzSwitzerlandEurope$2107
Aspen, COUnited StatesN. America$2021
Cayman IslandsUnited KingdomN. America$1767
St. BartsSt. BartsN. America$1714
SicilyItalyEurope$1398
Amalfi CoastItalyEurope$1381
LechAustriaEurope$1374
SardiniaItalyEurope$1364
Bora BoraFrench PolynesiaOceania$1364
Park City, UTUSAN. America$1356
Napa Valley, CAUSAN. America$1355
NisekoJapanAsia$1310
Turks and CaicosUKN. America$1248
TokyoJapanAsia$1238
CourchevelFranceEurope$1229
TuscanyItalyEurope$1200
Jackson Hole, WYUSAN. America$1193
AntiguaAntiguaN. America$1139
New York CityUSAN. America$1118
MauiHawaiiN. America$1086
VeniceItalyEurope$1072
FijiFijiOceania$1043
MilanItalyEurope$1031
SantoriniGreeceEurope$1029
Playa Del CarmenMexicoN. America$1017
Beaver Creek, COUSAN. America$999
BahamasBahamasN. America$998
ZermattSwitzerlandEurope$979
ParisFranceEurope$945
MaldivesMaldivesAsia$936
FlorenceItalyEurope$919
Saint LuciaSaint LuciaN. America$880
CaboMexicoN. America$876
ZursAustriaEurope$872
MauritiusMauritiusAfrica$862
JamaicaCaribbeanN. America$861
OrlandoUSAN. America$846
MonacoMonacoEurope$832
MunichGermanyEurope$815
Costa RicaCosta RicaN. America$811
Koh SamuiThailandAsia$801
PhuketThailandAsia$793
St. PetersburgRussiaEurope$791
OsakaJapanAsia$779
Riviera MayaMexicoN. America$775
Vail, COUSAN. America$775
JaipurIndiaAsia$755
IbizaIbizaEurope$751
KrabiThailandAsia$750
QueenstownNew ZealandOceania$742
San Francisco, CAUSAN. America$740
OmanOmanAsia$732
Santa Barbara, CAUSAN. America$728
SorrentoItalyEurope$727
UdaipurIndiaAsia$713
Hong KongChinaAsia$711
VerbierSwitzerlandEurope$711
Punta CanaDominican Rep.N. America$709
ManamaBahrainAsia$708
RomeItalyEurope$708
WhistlerCanadaN. America$706
Barossa ValleyAustraliaOceania$704
CancúnMexicoN. America$699
OtagoNew ZealandOceania$691
BostonUSAN. America$681
Cape TownSouth AfricaAfrica$679
Los AngelesUSAN. America$662
AmsterdamNetherlandsEurope$614
ViennaAustriaEurope$613
MegeveFranceEurope$581
LondonUnited KingdomEurope$578
WairarapaNew ZealandOceania$577
MarlboroughNew ZealandOceania$569
FranschhoekSouth AfricaAfrica$567
Cortina d'AmpezzoItalyEurope$557
DublinIrelandEurope$552
San DiegoUSAN. America$544
CannesFranceEurope$540
ZürichSwitzerlandEurope$539
DallasUSAN. America$532
MiamiUSAN. America$521
Washington, DCUSAN. America$520
TorontoCanadaN. America$519
VancouverCanadaN. America$504
Palm SpringsUSAN. America$494
HonoluluUSAN. America$486
MacauChinaAsia$485
NiceFranceEurope$472
JeddahSaudi ArabiaAsia$470
EdinburghScotlandEurope$469
BordeauxFranceEurope$466
DubrovnikCroatiaEurope$461
BarcelonaSpainEurope$453
PiedmontItalyEurope$451
MontrealCanadaN. America$451
ChicagoUSAN. America$451
Buenos AiresArgentinaS. America$451
MykonosGreeceEurope$447
CataloniaSpainEurope$433
Canary IslandsSpainEurope$432
Chiang MaiThailandAsia$428
BangkokThailandAsia$412
MuscatOmanAsia$408
BudapestHungaryEurope$408
AthensGreeceEurope$404
Willamette Valley, ORUSAN. America$397
JerusalemIsraelAsia$391
Rhone ValleyFranceEurope$391
OsloNorwayEurope$384
Las VegasUSAN. America$380
MoscowRussiaEurope$374
CopenhagenDenmarkEurope$373
ColomboSri LankaAsia$370
MadridSpainEurope$370
AntalyaTurkeyAsia$365
CyprusCyprusEurope$365
Douro ValleyPortugalEurope$363
Dominican RepublicDominican Rep.N. America$358
PragueCzech RepublicEurope$357
AtlantaUSAN. America$357
Mornington PeninsulaAustraliaOceania$354
DusseldorfGermanyEurope$349
HoustonUSAN. America$344
San Carlos de BarilocheArgentinaS. America$339
MaltaMaltaEurope$337
StockholmSwedenEurope$334
BurgundyFranceEurope$333
São PauloBrazilS. America$332
AgraIndiaAsia$329
AlentejoPortugalEurope$327
TaipeiTaiwanAsia$324
Hunter ValleyAustraliaOceania$323
LisbonPortugalEurope$322
IstriaCroatiaEurope$321
Baqueira BeretSpainEurope$319
Tel AvivIsraelAsia$318
Hawke's BayNew ZealandOceania$311
SplitCroatiaEurope$309
CreteGreeceEurope$307
RiyadhSaudi ArabiaAsia$304
MeccaSaudi ArabiaAsia$300
KigaliRwandaAfrica$299
MarrakechMoroccoAfrica$299
MelbourneAustraliaOceania$299
ShanghaiChinaAsia$298
Kuwait CityKuwaitAsia$288
BerlinGermanyEurope$286
Abu DhabiUAEAsia$284
IstanbulTurkeyEurope$278
PaarlSouth AfricaAfrica$275
StellenboschSouth AfricaAfrica$275
SingaporeSingaporeAsia$275
AucklandNew ZealandOceania$274
SydneyAustraliaOceania$273
Maipo ValleyChileS. America$269
SantiagoChileS. America$269
AccraGhanaAfrica$267
Hua HinThailandAsia$267
Andorra la VellaAndorraEurope$264
LimaPeruS. America$264
GoaIndiaAsia$262
Mexico CityMexicoN. America$262
Loire ValleyFranceEurope$259
Rio de JaneiroBrazilS. America$253
BogotaColombiaS. America$253
NaplesItalyEurope$252
Yarra ValleyAustraliaOceania$252
CanterburyNew ZealandOceania$250
ShenzhenChinaAsia$248
TallinnEstoniaEurope$248
NairobiKenyaAfrica$244
SeoulSouth KoreaAsia$242
KampalaUgandaAfrica$239
BeirutLebanonAsia$239
FrankfurtGermanyEurope$235
BeijingChinaAsia$234
TehranIranAsia$233
GuangzhouChinaAsia$231
KrakowPolandEurope$231
QuitoEcuadorS. America$227
PattayaThailandAsia$224
HyderabadIndiaAsia$223
KievUkraineEurope$223
AstanaKazakhstanAsia$219
MumbaiIndiaAsia$213
KathmanduNepalAsia$213
Ho Chi Minh CityVietnamAsia$211
JohannesburgSouth AfricaAfrica$207
Addis AbabaEthiopiaAfrica$206
JakartaIndonesiaAsia$202
RigaLatviaEurope$202
DakarSenegalAfrica$199
Dhaka CityBangladeshAsia$193
DushanbeTajikistanAsia$193
AmmanJordanAsia$192
Rhineland PfalzGermanyEurope$192
HanoiVietnamAsia$191
VilniusLithuaniaEurope$191
BakuAzerbaijanAsia$186
KolkataIndiaAsia$186
BishkekKyrgyzstanAsia$184
New DelhiIndiaAsia$184
LuxembourgLuxembourgEurope$183
Kuala LumpurMalaysiaAsia$181
BaliIndonesiaAsia$180
HarareZimbabweAfrica$178
WarsawPolandEurope$176
BrusselsBelgiumEurope$175
PanamaPanamaN. America$174
TashkentUzbekistanAsia$171
BucharestRomaniaEurope$167
Siem ReapCambodiaAsia$166
CairoEgyptAfrica$161
BrisbaneAustraliaOceania$158
NelsonNew ZealandOceania$157
BangaloreIndiaAsia$155
BelgradeSerbiaEurope$154
ChişinăuMoldovaEurope$151
YerevanArmeniaAsia$147
DubaiUAEAsia$146
BratislavaSlovakiaEurope$146
SkopjeMacedoniaEurope$142
MoraviaCzech Rep.Europe$140
ChennaiIndiaAsia$137
ZagrebCroatiaEurope$135
DohaQatarAsia$123
ManilaPhilippinesAsia$120
PuneIndiaAsia$114
SofiaBulgariaEurope$114
MinskBelarusEurope$110
TiranaAlbaniaEurope$93
VientianeLaosAsia$89
YantaiChinaAsia$86

 

The most affordable & most expensive destinations for a luxury getaway

Below you will find the 10 most affordable destinations and the 10 most expensive destinations based on high season prices. I have linked them to TripAdvisor so you can check out the hotels (be sure to click the “5 stars” and “Traveler Ranked” filters).

Affordable five-star luxury:

  1. Yantai, China = $86
  2. Vientiane, Laos = $89
  3. Tirana, Albania = $93
  4. Minsk, Belarus = $110
  5. Pune, India = $114
  6. Sofia, Bulgaria = $114
  7. Manila, Philippines = $120
  8. Doha, Qatar = $123
  9. Zagreb, Croatia = $135
  10. Chennai, India = $137
Expensive five-star luxury:

  1. Gstaad, Switzerland = $2,396
  2. St. Moritz, Switzerland = $2,107
  3. Aspen, USA = $2,021
  4. Cayman Islands = $1,767
  5. St. Barts = $1,714
  6. Sicily, Italy = $1,398
  7. Amalfi Coast, Italy = $1,381
  8. Lech, Austria = $1,374
  9. Sardinia, Italy = $1,364
  10. Bora Bora, French Polynesia = $1,364
 

What a 5-star costs in
North America vs Europe vs Asia

Below you will find a map of North America, Europe, and Asia showing the 5-star hotel pricing for major cities in each region. We excluded South America, Africa, and Oceania because there weren’t enough hotels to fill the maps.
5 star hotel prices in North America

Although the average nightly price in North America is $884, the most common nightly price is between $500 and $750 as shown in the above histogram. As a rule of thumb you will see that generally islands and ski mountains are much more expensive than normal cities.

The real outlier in the USA is New York City which is far more expensive than any other major city. While Las Vegas, Houston and Atlanta offer some of the cheapest luxury accommodations in the USA. If you’re wanting a 5-star Caribbean beach experience on a budget then Cancun is your best bet.

Note: Houston has some of the best and most affordable 5-star hotels in America and many of these hotels are also pet-friendly. If you’re on a budget but want to experience true luxury accommodation while traveling with your dog or cat, the Lone Star State of Texas is an ideal choice based on our extensive research. If your road-tripping companion has four legs we also suggest having insurance. Check out our article on the best Texas pet insurance.

5 star hotel prices in Europe

Even though the average nightly price in Europe is $716, the most common nightly price is between $250 and $500 as shown in the above histogram. There is an interesting diagonal line that runs from Santorini through Italy and Switzerland to Paris where the luxury hotels are commanding much higher prices than almost anywhere else in Europe. This no doubt stems from their huge popularity among foreign tourists who clearly have money to burn.

The outliers that really caught our eye were Brussels and Berlin – two very fun cities with surprisingly affordable fancy accommodation. When you compare the Europe histogram to the North America histogram it is clear that overall the prices in Europe are significantly cheaper than North America.

Note: If you’re looking for more budget accommodation in Paris I recommend this resource: 15 best hostels in Paris ➜

5 star hotel prices in Asia

Although the average nightly price in Asia is $416, the vast majority of nightly prices are under $250 as shown above. It is very clear that Asia is the place to go for a true luxury experience while maintaining a healthy budget that shouldn’t max out your credit cards. We have personally loved staying in over eight different 5-star hotels across India (including on our 2015 honeymoon).

Japan and the Maldives are clear outliers with some astronomical prices in comparison to the rest of Asia. When you compare the Asia histogram to Europe and North America, it is obviously the most affordable luxury destination in the world. So if you’re craving some serious pampering, why not consider Asia where you’ll be able to afford to stay longer and experience the cultural delights and exquisite gastronomy to boot!

 
Fun Fact! In addition to researching hotels we love writing about what to pack for a vacation to destinations around the world. Here are around forty of our most popular packing lists (shown alphabetically):

Africa | Amsterdam | Australia | Bali | Barcelona | Beach | Belize | Camping Checklist | Cambodia | Cancun | China | Costa Rica | Cozumel | Croatia | Cruise | Disney | Europe | Germany | Greece | Hawaii | Iceland | India | International | Ireland | Israel | Italy | Japan | Kauai | Kenya | London | Machu Picchu | Maui | Mexico | Morocco | Nepal | New Zealand | Paris | Patagonia | Peru | Philippines | Portugal | Puerto Rico | Scotland | SE Asia | Spain | Tanzania | Thailand | Vietnam |

7 Insanely expensive hotel suites only the uber rich could afford

The Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco

The Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco

At almost all the hotels we looked at there is usually a penthouse suite available (sometimes only if you ask) that is far more expensive than any other room and these rooms are typically reserved for millionaires or billionaires who have bottomless pockets.

Here are some of the most expensive hotel rooms in the world:

  1. $100,000 per night – The Sky Villa at the Palms Hotel, Las Vegas
  2. $80,000 per night – Royal Penthouse Suite at Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland
  3. $75,000 per night – Mark Penthouse Suite, The Mark Hotel, New York City
  4. $53,000 per night –The Penthouse Suite, Hôtel Martinez, Cannes, France
  5. $50,000 per night – Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons, New York City
  6. $45,000 per night – The Hilltop Villa, Laucala Island, Fiji
  7. $43,000 per night – The Grand Riad, The Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco

Source: HighSnobiety.com
 

Asher & Lyric’s bucket list hotels

After reviewing over 1,000 hotels and resorts around the world, we’ve come across some real gems. Below you find our three bucket list hotels that we can’t wait to stay at in each category: beach, city, ski mountain, foodie and wine country. Here are the 15 destinations we’ve selected.

Beach Destinations

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

Jade Mountain

  • High season nightly price: $1,775
  • Yearly average nightly price: $1,415

Official description: “Jade Mountain Resort on St. Lucia’s south-western Caribbean coastline is a cornucopia of organic architecture celebrating St. Lucia’s stunning scenic beauty.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: Their rooms are designed with an open fourth wall which makes you feel at one with the breathtaking surroundings. They have fifteen-foot ceilings and over a thousand square feet of space. Twenty-four of the suites also come with a private infinity pool and an unparalleled view of the Caribbean Sea and the Pinton Mountains. I can’t think of a more romantic vacation spot for me and my hubby!
 

Four Seasons, Bora Bora

Four Seasons Bora Bora

  • High season nightly price: $2,144
  • Yearly average nightly price: $1,635

Official description: “Toast sunsets from your private plunge pool, marvel at the Tahitian night sky, or simply lose yourself in our lagoon, where the waters teem with exotic reef fish and colourful corals.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: Overwater bungalows anyone? White sand and turquoise water paired with the luxury and elegance of the Four Seasons and being located out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is what makes this Bora Bora resort so off the charts. It’s the ultimate place to unplug from the world… The rooms are stunning and if you’ve ever wanted a massage while looking through a glass floor into the ocean, this is your place!
 

Ayodya Resort, Bali

Ayodya Bali

  • High season nightly price: $109
  • Yearly average nightly price: $103

Official description: “At Ayodya Resort Bali, we painstakingly blend the hospitality and grace of Bali’s engaging people with Ayodya standards of excellence.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: This idyllic luxury hotel is surprisingly affordable. Each room in the Ayodya Resort has gorgeous Balinese woodwork and meticulous attention to detail. The bathrooms are huge with big soaking tubs and stone floors. It has seven in-resort restaurants, a private beach, and for a little more per night you can add in your own private butler service.

City Destinations

San Clemente Palace Kempinski, Venice

Kempinski Venice

  • High season nightly price: $518
  • Yearly average nightly price: $409

Official description: “Enjoy the classic decor of 190 rooms and suites overlooking the lagoon or the centuries-old park. Indulge in our three restaurants… while tantalising your senses with exceptional interpretations of iconic Italian and Venetian specialities.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: I never thought I could travel to Venice and stay on a private island in the Venetian Lagoon for around $300 a night. This hotel is on my bucket list, not only because of its affordability but because it has all of the stunning Venetian decor without feeling gaudy or over-the-top. The rooms are beautifully designed, and the grounds are stunning, offering breathtaking outdoor dining options.
 

Belmond Mount Nelson, Cape Town

Belmond Cape Town

  • High season nightly price: $541
  • Yearly average nightly price: $366

Official description: “An oasis of calm within Cape Town’s beating heart. Uncover the soul of South Africa at this vibrant hideaway with a star-studded history…Within, the magic of a bygone era awaits. Delight in exquisitely restored interiors with quirky modern touches.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: Designed in a colonial style with a modern twist, The Belmond Mount Nelson feels a bit like being magically transported to the 1920s. The hotel also has a lot of amazing history (John Lennon meditated on the grounds!) and because it is set against the beautiful Table Mountains, you get a true sense of serenity in the heart of busy Cape Town.
 

The Langham, Sydney

Langham Sydney

  • High season nightly price: $398
  • Yearly average nightly price: $317

Official description: “From stunning Western Harbour facing views to our Historic Rocks district location, The Langham, Sydney is truly Sydney’s most exclusive address.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: Sydney real estate is some of the most expensive in the world, with a studio apartment easily costing over a million bucks, and yet somehow you can stay at the beautiful apartment-like Langham Hotel for around $200 a night. I love the elegantly-designed rooms, the beautiful views of the harbor, and the delicious dining options that make this affordable luxury a no-brainer.

Mountain Destinations

Montage Deer Valley, Park City, Utah

Deer Vallery Montage

  • High season nightly price: $1,415
  • Yearly average nightly price: $925

Official description: “Montage Deer Valley offers unrivaled ski‐in / ski‐out access to one of America’s best ski resorts, the largest spa in Utah, five inspired dining options including a pub with its own bowling alley.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: I lived in Park City for a couple years while growing up and I love it there. This particular place is nestled in the mountains with ski-in ski-out access to epic Deer Valley Resort. The stately rooms are made cozy with a fireplace and heated bathroom floors in each, with some offering additional amenities like a private ensuite massage room.
 

Grand Hotel Kronenhof, St. Moritz

Kronenhof St Moritz

  • High season nightly price: $439
  • Yearly average nightly price: $381

Official description: “Elegant light-filled rooms and suites, one of the finest spa facilities in the world and a superb location in the heart of the Swiss Alps – this unique mix of the magic of times long past, modern comfort, and the beautiful natural world all around is what makes the Grand Hotel Kronenhof so special and unique.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: This is hands down one of my favorite hotels. For around $350 in the summer you can stay in the heart of the Swiss Alps in an exquisitely designed hotel that will make you feel like royalty. The views of the mountains are breathtaking, and the rooms have a warm, inviting feel to them which is just what I look for after a day on the slopes.
 

The Rees Hotel & Lakeside Residences, Queenstown

The Rees Queenstown

  • High season nightly price: $262
  • Yearly average nightly price: $199

Official description: “The Rees Hotel Queenstown is a sophisticated five-star hotel situated right on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Lakeside Residences, all with terraces, showcasing spectacular views across Lake Wakatipu to the alpine panorama of the Remarkable Mountain range.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: At the Rees, it’s like you have your own apartment in Queenstown. It’s really beautifully furnished, the views of the mountains are gorgeous, and it has windows as big as walls. It really makes you feel like you are in luxury while being in the middle of the mountains, all at an affordable $200.

Foodie Destinations

Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris

Plaza Athenee

  • High season nightly price: $1,637
  • Yearly average nightly price: $1,183

Official description: “True to its extraordinary city, Hôtel Plaza Athénée is no ordinary hotel. Here, on the prestigious avenue Montaigne, the tree-lined boulevard of French fashion, our hotel proudly offers guests the very best of Paris.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: This hotel is a must for the bucket list – the restaurant inside has 3 Michelin stars! The stunning rooms are palatial and ensure you get the real French experience here with the silk, the beautiful furniture, and the many other luxurious touches throughout.
 

The Dolder Grand, Zurich

Dolder Grand Zurich

  • High season nightly price: $547
  • Yearly average nightly price: $536

Official description: “The perfect setting for a stay you will never forget – in beautiful natural surroundings and with a fantastic view out over Zurich. Our City Resort on the edge of the Adlisberg forest, just a few minutes from the city centre, is a real oasis of serenity.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: The restaurant inside this hotel is one of the most highly rated in Zurich, and staying here is like being in a fairy tale castle. It has amazing views that you simply can’t find anywhere else, the rooms are heavenly with the height of luxury…it’s a perfect place to indulge in every comfort.
 

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Mandariin Oriental Hong Kong

  • High season nightly price: $478
  • Yearly average nightly price: $446

Official description: “Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is as legendary as the city itself. With a central location and five-star facilities, we are renowned for our sleek design, impressive service and exquisite blend of luxury, comfort and style.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: Most locations in our “Foodie” category are in Europe, but I wouldn’t miss the incredible food that other continents have to offer. Hong Kong is an exciting city with a culture as unique as its food’s flavors, and it just can’t be missed when looking for an amazing dining experience. In addition to chic rooms with panoramic views, this impeccably decorated hotel has a number of fine-dining restaurants in-house.

Wine Country Destinations

Borgo Santo Pietro, Tuscany

Borgo San Pietro Tuscany

  • High season nightly price: $1,313
  • Yearly average nightly price: $1,211

Official description: “Situated in the heart of Tuscany near Siena, Borgo Santo Pietro is a 5-star luxury boutique hotel with a holistic spa, cooking school, Michelin-starred restaurant, 200-acre organic farm, vineyards and 13-acre beautifully manicured gardens. Experience the ultimate luxury Tuscan vacation at Borgo Santo Pietro, your home away from home in Tuscany.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: Honestly, for me, this is the perfect idea of what Tuscany is like — with the rolling hills and the amazing dining, and the traditional, rustic charm. The rooms are exquisite, and the attention to detail in all the decorations of the hotel is just gorgeous. They offer a ton of activities at the hotel and even have a resident artist who gives drawing and painting lessons.
 

Canaves Oia Suites, Santorini

Canaves Oia Santorini

  • High season nightly price: $1,250
  • Yearly average nightly price: also $1,250

Official description: “Canaves Oia Suites invites guests seeking luxury accommodation in Oia Santorini to relish in the elegance of a most cherished holiday retreat. Freshly renovated luxury suites offering the ultimate in modern facilities and stunning views to the Caldera and the Aegean Sea, with spacious living areas and private plunge pools, ideal to house your memorable days and nights in one of the world’s most stunning sceneries.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: Santorini is known for its white and blue buildings and amazing views of the ocean on the cliffs. This hotel has all of that and at the same time is very luxurious, giving you an unbeatable Santorini experience. The rooms are little suites so you have the space and privacy of a seaside apartment with the amenities of a 5-star hotel. The island is known for its good wine, and offers gourmet dining in the most beautiful settings.
 

Six Senses, Douro Valley

Six Senses Douro Valley

  • High season nightly price: $686
  • Yearly average nightly price: also $555

Official description: “Six Senses Douro Valley presents a superbly renovated 19th-century manor house set high on a hill overlooking the vine covered rolling hills of the Douro Valley and the river below. A spa, a selection of rooms, suites and villas, restaurants, wine library, swimming pools and organic garden are but a few of the many features offered.”

Why it’s on our bucket list: The Douro Valley is a gorgeous area with so much to do for wine enthusiasts. This hotel offers tours through historic wineries where you can meet with the winemakers and even stomp the grapes (which is a bucket list experience in itself!) The stylish, modern rooms have picturesque views of the hills and Douro River, which I could just admire for hours.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed daydreaming about your next 5-star getaway. We definitely had a lot of fun putting this page together and hope that it will become a resource for other travelers seeking the finer things in life. Bon Voyage!