FourSeasonsNewYork

Top Five City Hotels in the World

The top five city hotels in the world have several qualities in common, including exceptional service, luxurious accommodations, gorgeous facilities and locations that are hard to beat.

The best city hotels in the world, nominated by Luxist's readers are:

Claridge's, London: Considered to be the most glamorous in all of London, Claridge's has been the destination of choice by Kings and Queens alike, not to mention a smattering of Hollywood stars.

Four Seasons, New York: Designed by world-renowned architect, I.M. Pei, the Four Seasons, New York rises high above Manhattan and offers stunning views.

Four Seasons George V, Paris: A historic hotel, the Four Seasons George V, Paris is only a few short steps away from the Champs-Elysées.

Hotel Cipriani, Venice: A tranquil, lush getaway amid gorgeous manicured gardens in Venice, the Hotel Cipriani is accessible only by boat.

Hôtel de Crillon, Paris: A breathtakingly beautiful property, the Hôtel de Crillon was originally a palace commissioned by Louis XV.

Vote now for the city hotel that you believe is the best in the world. The Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice winners for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

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Four Seasons, New York: Luxury in the Center of the Big Apple

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Rising over Manhattan's premier shopping and business district is the Four Seasons Hotel, a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best City Hotel.

Designed by I.M. Pei, the hotel features stunning views and gracious style. It is a remarkable luxury experience in one of the busiest cities of the world.

The hotel offers 368 generously-sized guest rooms, including 63 suites. Some accomodations have furnished terraces with views of Central Park or the downtown skyline. The décor is contemporary and understated, featuring the finest handcrafted furniture and English sycamore panelling. Signature facilities include Florentine marble bathrooms with a glass-enclosed shower stall, a deep soaking tub that fills in 60 seconds and a private changing area.

On the 52nd floor, the 4,300 square feet Ty Warner Penthouse, named for the owner of the hotel, was a collaboration between Ty Warner, renowned designer Peter Marino and I.M. Pei. With cantilevered glass balconies and floor-to-ceiling bay windows, the suite is set beneath 25-foot cathedral ceilings. The nine-room penthouse offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of all Manhattan, a private spa room, library, breakfast room, indoor-outdoor Zen garden and library. The suite was custom-commissioned in every detail, from semi-precious stone surfaces to fabrics woven with platinum and gold and comes equipped with a private chauffeur for unlimited travel during the guests' stay with a choice of a Rolls Royce Phantom or a Mercedes Maybach.

The hotel features a full-service spa with Shiatsu, hot stone, Thai ceremony and reflexology treatments (massage, facial and hand and foot treatments) in addition to whirlpool, sauna and steam facilities. There is also a 5,000 square foot fitness facility with cardiovascular equipment; fitness and yoga trainesr are also available for hire.

Nightly rates (not including taxes and service charges) start at $655 for a moderate room; suites start at $1,950 per night.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Tags: awards-main, four seasons, four seasons new york, FourSeasons, FourSeasonsNewYork, luxist-awards, new york, new york city, new york hotel, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NewYorkHotel, winter-travel-awards, winter-travel-main

Hotel President Wilson Bags 'Most Expensive' Title

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Travel is always a great excuse to blow some cash for a fabulous experience and these elite suites help you do just that. Ever wondered how much the most expensive hotel room in the world would cost you? $52,000...a night! (Does that qualify for the Guinness Book?) The gold-medalist in this category (yes, I have been watching too much of the Olympics) is the Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland. Curious as to the winner of "budget-breaker" in the U.S. -- it's none other than the Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons New York. I'm not sure exactly what that big price tag includes but I would hope that means free champagne and strawberries, a cozy robe to take home and plenty of room service.

Gallery: Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland