When – and if – the 72-storey Rose Rotana finally opens in Dubai later this year it will claim the title of World’s Tallest Hotel. But surprisingly perhaps, it won’t be the world’s largest hotel or even, technically, it’s highest. Here are six of the current record breakers:
Tallest Hotel
Burj Al Arab, Dubai (doubles from £518 per night).
The 1,053ft (321m) high Burj Al Arab is taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 197ft (60m) shorter than the Empire State Building.
The self-rated seven-star hotel, built on a man-made island, is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world with its own Rolls-Royce fleet, private shopper and helicopter landing platform. The hotel’s 202 duplex suites range from 1,830sq ft to 8,395sq ft and come with a private butler. But the hotel will lose its crown when the Rose Rotana opens: it will be 39ft (11.8m) taller.
Highest Hotel
Park Hyatt, Shanghai, China (doubles from £156 per room per night).
The Park Hyatt Shanghai doesn’t qualify as the Tallest Hotel because it merely occupies floors 79 to 93 of the 101-storey Shanghai World Financial Centre. It has magnificent views over the Huangpu River and the city skyline and, located in the heart of Lujiazui business district in Pudong, it is a short walk from some of the city’s best restaurants. The renowned Water’s Edge spa at the hotel offers daily tai chi classes and an infinity swimming pool, creating the optical illusion of continually cascading water.
Largest Hotel
The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas (www.palazzolasvegas.com; doubles from £120 per night)
Where else would you expect to find the world’s largest hotel? The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino operates under the same licence as The Venetian hotel next door and has 8,108 rooms combined. The hotel is like a mini city, with a large selection of restaurants, fashion stores (including its own version of Barneys New York) and, of course, its own casino with more than 139 gaming tables and 1,400 gambling machines. The hotel is home to the Broadway smash musical Jersey Boys, while the widely acclaimed Blue Man Group is also permanently on show. If you want to relax, there is the choice of seven pools and four hot tubs.
Most Expensive Hotel Room
Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens (www.lagonissi resort.gr; doubles from £30,500 per night)
Featuring a dedicated butler, chef and pianist, the Royal Villa overlooks the Aegean Sea, which you can view from a private pool with a hydro massage device. The room has all the luxuries you would expect for the price tag such as a marble-lined bathroom, oversized walk-in wardrobe and a private terrace. If you find a reason for leaving the room, the hotel offers a state-of-the-art spa and 10 restaurants, many of which have been awarded the five-star diamond award. The resort also has a private Lear jet to fly guests around the Greek Islands. Can’t run to £30,5000? Beachfront bungalow rooms at the resort start at a mere £558 per night.
Most Expensive Hotel to Build
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi (www.emiratespalace.com; doubles from £189 per room per night
The Emirates Palace, which opened in 2005, cost more than £1.8 billion to build. Silver, gold and marble are used throughout the hotel as well as in the guest rooms and the 1,002 chandeliers are made from Swarovski crystals. The hotel also has a private beach, its own marina offering water activities and a helicopter pad.
All of the 394 rooms are decorated with acres of gold leaf and marble and come complete with a private butler service. The hotel has two large pools, one of which is equipped with a waterslide, waterfalls and a lazy river.
Coldest Hotel
Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden (www.icehotel.com; doubles from £195 per room per night).
In rooms built entirely from ice and snow, guests at the Icehotel can chill out in temperatures between 23F (-5C) and 17F (-8C). The hotel also houses an ice chapel, which is licensed for marriages and baptisms.
There are two restaurants and the Absolut Icebar offers designer cocktails served, naturally, from ice glasses. Activities include snowmobile excursions, northern lights tours, snowshoe and cross-country ski excursions and dogsled and reindeer tours.
