From The Daily Herald

NEW YORK, United States–For most of us, the notion of a night at one of the world’s top 10 most expensive hotel suites is no more than a flight of fancy, the more so given that the cost of a week at one of these billionaire’s playgrounds adds up to roughly the price of the average house.

The high fliers who can afford to pick up the tab without so much as a wince are, however, rewarded with the ultimate in luxury, set against the backdrop of stunning décor and sweeping views.

The president of Ovation Vacations in New York nevertheless indicated that it’s not all about the room.

“It’s not so much about the suite; it’s about the lifestyle it offers,” Jack Ezon told Yahoo Travel.

“It’s about the service and staff and what they can get you at a moment’s notice. You want to go to the Chanel show in Paris? It’s that kind of access you get.”

It’s also about the special extras that put new meaning into the term “value added,” which is one of the reasons why the Caribbean’s only listing on the posh top 10 continues to command an eye-watering £20,000 (US$34,000) per night.

Taking ninth place, the Villa Rockstar at Eden Rock in St Barths offers the ultimate in island luxury with the added bonus of a cutting-edge recording studio for celebs out to combine work with pleasure in an idyllic setting.

Coming in at number one, the most expensive hotel suite in the world can be found in Geneva, Switzerland, and sets patrons back an astounding £40,000 a night.

The Royal Penthouse Suite at Hotel President Wilson is a favourite of Barbados’ pop princess Rihanna and has been frequented by VIPs from Microsoft founder Bill Gates to US President Bill Clinton.

The 19,376 square-foot suite, which boasts four bedrooms and 12 marble bathrooms is also ideal for world leaders and comes with bulletproof windows and a private security team.

Tied for second place is the Maharajah’s Pavilion at the Raj Palace Hotel in Jaipur, India, for which patrons fork out a staggering £27,000 (US$35,000) per night.

Once the home of the maharajah, the four-floor, 16,000 square-foot apartment is the largest suite in Asia and is replete with gold leaf décor and mirror walls, as well as gold and silver furniture, a Jacuzzi and a swimming pool.

In joint second place is the Ty Warner Penthouse Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, in New York City, which also rings in at £27,000 (US$35,000) per night.

The hotel describes the penthouse, which comes with a private butler and a Rolls-Royce, as “a multi-layered work of art.”

At 4,300 square-feet, the suite, with nine rooms and 360-degree views of New York, is bigger than the average city apartment.

Fourth placed Hilltop Estate at Laucala Island Resort in Fiji sees clients forking out £24,000 (US$40,000) a night.

Admission to this ultra-exclusive property, owned by Red Bull billionaire Dietrick Mateschitz, is by referral or invitation only. It comes with private chef and nanny, and includes the use of a riding stable and golf course.

The largest hotel room in Paris, the Royal Suite at Hotel Plaza Athenee, is tied in joint fourth place at £24,000 (US$40,000) a night. This palatial suite features three bedrooms, mirrors that conceal TVs, a steam room and décor from the 18th century Regence period.

Taking sixth place, the Penthouse Suite at Cannes Hotel Martinez in France is the only hotel to have a penthouse on the Cot d’Azur, and offers breathtaking views, silk furniture – and a £22,000 (US$37,000) a night price tag.

Ranked seventh is The Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens, Greece, which rings in at £21,000 (US$35,000) a night and attracts stellar occupants like actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Mel Gibson. Special touches include a personal butler, a private chef and a pianist on-call.

Taking eighth place is the Presidential Suite at the St Regis hotel in New York, which was once the home of artist Salvador Dali. For £21,000 (US$35,000) a night, guests at the 3,430sqft, two-bedroom suite enjoy a state-of-the-art kitchen, stunning views of Central Park, and use of the hotel’s Bentley.

Champagne on tap and a private butler are just two of the reasons why The Apartment at the Cannaught in London, England, takes tenth place and commands a £14,000 (US$23,500) per night rate.

For more on this story go to: https://www.thedailyherald.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49622:caribbean-villa-places-in-the-worlds-top-10-most-expensive-hotel-suites&catid=2:news&Itemid=5

IMAGE: topspottravel.com