Discover the world’s best 7 stars hotels

Once reigning as the first and the only 7-star hotel in the world, the Burj Al Arab today maintains its influencer status. Standing on a man-made island just off the shores of Jumeirah Beach in the shape of an Arabian ship, the Burj Al Arab is one of the most iconic builds on Dubai’s skyline, with showstopping views all of its own, best seen from its Sky View Bar. Other facilities at the Burj include a cinema room, Rolls Royce or helicopter chauffeur service and its Talise Spa, plus exclusive access to Summersalt Beach Club and private beach area for certain guests. Also thrown in to every package are panoramic floor-to-ceiling views of the Arabian Gulf, gold-plated iPad and iMac entertainments as well as free unlimited entry to Wild Wadi Waterpark.

Besides material incentives, the Burj comes gilded in sophistication across the 21,000 foot property, allowing for the finest European-style dining within its Al Muntaha and Villa Beach restaurants. All this can be yours for as little as $19,000 per night, though the Royal Suite can also cost significantly more in peak months.

Paris can be said to have mastered the art of sophisticated stays, but it’s Hôtel Plaza Athénée that really stands out among the rest, for its provision of tip-top Parisian glamour, all in eyeline of the Eiffel Tower. Plaza Athénée’s prestigious location on Avenue Montaigne has more advantages, as the place where you’ll find some of the city’s best boutique shopping, just 5 minutes’ walk from Avenue Champs Elysées. Within the hotel, take advantage of the Dior Institute spa, seasonal ice-skating rink and as many as five restaurants, offering up a choice of gastronomic French cuisine, Japanese specialities and American breakfast food, overseen by Michelin-star chef, Alain Ducasse.

The décor of the hotel comes reminiscent of Louis XVI styles, dripping with architectural heritage and polished up with contemporary suites and facilities. Book in to the Royal Suite for $27,000 per night, soothing your financial nerves with a choice of over 80 beverages from your personalised minibar and a soak in your very own marbled bathtub. Also to keep you entertained, the hotel organises jazz nights at Le Relais Plaza brasserie or chauffeur-driven tours through the city to see The Louvre lit up by night.

Jetting over to East Asia, it’s the South Korean capital that lures high-flying visitors to the suites of Signiel Seoul, the most expensive hotel in the country for good reason. Based way up in Lotte World Tower (Seoul’s tallest building), Signiel Seoul has more than just Han River cityscapes to keep guests happy. Transfer in by helicopter to enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine and a vast choice of bubbles from the largest champagne bar in Asia, bedding down for the night in your $1,000USD-a-night suite, kitted out for utmost comfort, and that all-important Japanese-style bidet toilet. The 86^th floor is the perfect way to while away an afternoon after a morning in the fully equipped gym, relaxing in the Evian Spa for Korean sauna facilities and panoramic views from the swimming pool.

Upstaging Dubai ever so slightly is Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace, taking the title of the world’s most expensive hotel, with construction costing a wild three billion US dollars. Luckily, however, room prices come relatively affordable at $350 per night (maxing out at $11,000 for the princeliest suites), all adorned with Swarovski crystal chandeliers and gold-encrusted furniture. Also just for guests is the 1.3-kilometre private bay, overlooked by The Pavillion restaurant, one of the hotel’s 14 lavish restaurants serving Emirati, Middle Eastern and international specials dusted in gold. For classy pre-dinner drinks, try the Caviar Bar for champagne and nibbles, first working up an appetite around the two huge swimming pools and spa. Just 25 minutes from the National Exhibition Centre, and moments from a series of high-end shopping malls (including Marina Mall) and cultural sites like Heritage Village, Emirates Palace is perfectly located for those who like the easy life.

India with its attention to detail and unrivalled hospitality has its second 7-star hotel in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Oberoi Udaivilas Hotel is grandly inspired by the palaces of Rajasthan and built on the centuries-old hunting grounds of the Maharana of Mewar next to Lake Pichola, as Udaipur’s most beautiful building. Its 50-acre grounds feature courtyards, fountains and gardens all overlooking the lake, best seen from within perched on one of the hotel’s window seating areas. The décor is also easy on the eye, with rugs and artwork in each room. But the majesty of Oberoi is the activities it offers, from yoga and cooking classes to Rajasthani folk dance and skikara rides on the lake. After a day of spa pampering and poolside lounging, enjoy an evening chowing down on North Indian, Thai or Mediterranean cuisine to the tunes of traditional music and live performance at Chadni.