What You Get at the Most Expensive Hotels in the World
The most expensive hotels in the world do not just charge for a room. They offer privacy, space, history, and access to experiences most travelers never get to see. A single night can range from around $500 to well over $50,000. What really stands out is how differently luxury shows up in each place. This list breaks down what that actually looks like.
One&Only One Za’abeel
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Luxury in Dubai often shows up through scale, and One&Only One Za’abeel delivers exactly that. The hotel features a 120-meter infinity pool suspended between two towers, making it one of the highest pools in the world. Its top penthouse adds a private cinema and its own infinity lap pool. During peak season, nightly rates can reach around $20,000.
The Lowell
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Rooms at The Lowell start around $1,400 per night, and many high-profile guests book it for one reason: privacy. The atmosphere stays understated, with staff trained to be attentive without drawing attention. Located on a quieter block of the Upper East Side, the hotel offers apartment-style suites that feel more like a refined New York residence than a flashy showpiece.
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
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Jumeirah Burj Al Arab is one of Dubai’s most recognizable landmarks and operates almost exclusively as a suite-only property. Presidential duplexes include full-size Jacuzzis, gold-accented interiors, and curated pillow menus with hypoallergenic options. At the highest level, rates can climb past $30,000 per night, placing it among the most expensive hotel stays in the world.
Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid
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The Mandarin Oriental Ritz is among Madrid’s highest-end hotels that occupy former aristocratic spaces. Guests pay for access to a setting shaped by royal and diplomatic history, with nightly rates starting at about $1,200. It was built in 1910 with the support of King Alfonso XIII and still champions historic interiors and formal public spaces.
Cheval Blanc Paris
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Paris uses an official government-backed palace designation that only a small number of hotels qualify for. Cheval Blanc Paris sits inside the rebuilt La Samaritaine department store overlooking the Seine. Its largest suite measures roughly 7,000 square feet and includes a private pool, with prices climbing past $55,000 per evening.
Claridge’s
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Claridge’s has operated in Mayfair for over a century and famously sheltered members of the royal family during World War II. With nightly rates around $1,000, it reflects how London’s luxury hotels place heavy emphasis on continuity and tradition. Guests who stay here, with its classic interiors, receive formal service and Michelin-level dining.
Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo
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The Bvlgari Hotel, priced at $30,000, occupies the upper floors of a skyscraper and offers a 400-square-meter signature suite filled with custom Italian furnishings. Tokyo’s luxury market splits between modern towers and residence-style retreats. Private balconies are rare in this city, which makes suites here particularly valuable.
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
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In Bangkok, prestige comes from history. Opened in the late 19th century, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok once welcomed writers such as Joseph Conrad and W. Somerset Maugham during the colonial era. Today, that literary legacy blends with riverside pools, private gardens, and an award-winning spa. Rooms typically start around $1,000 per night.
The Langham Chicago
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Cities outside traditional luxury capitals often deliver similar quality at lower prices. The Langham Chicago is housed in a modernist building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Guests receive large rooms, river views, and a full-service spa at rates closer to $600, which is comparatively restrained for this tier.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
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The Peninsula brand began in Hong Kong, and its flagship property remains one of the city’s most expensive stays. The Peninsula Suite includes a private gym, a grand piano, and museum-grade artwork. Even standard rooms reflect the brand’s emphasis on space and service, with top suites priced around $18,000 per night.