SLIP INTO A VELOUR BATHROBE AND DRINK FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF LUXURY IN THIS ULTRA-EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION OF THE WORLD’S MOST LAVISH DIAMOND SUITES

BY AMANDA McCOY

THE MARK HOTEL PENTHOUSE

New York

Of the approximately 120,000 hotels room in the Big Apple, the penthouse of the Mark Hotel takes the crown as the most expensive. For a cool $75,000 per night, guests are treated to a staggering 10,000 square feet of New York opulence, with 2,500 square feet dedicated to outdoor space (that’s more than three times the size of the average NYC apartment). With views of Central Park peeking through the windows, the five-bedroom, six-bedroom mega-suite features finishes by the legendary French interior designer Jacques Grange, the creator-of-choice for several high-powered clients like Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Bergé, Princess Caroline of Monaco, and Francis Ford Coppola.

The living room – which doubles as a grand ballroom – is topped with soaring vaulted ceilings and dressed in a warm, neutral palette of taupe, chocolate, and ivory. A roaring fireplace serves as a central gathering hub, resting in front of several sofas and accent chairs all custom designed by Grange for the Mark. Next door, a full kitchen with a built-in wine fridge and a dedicated dining room with a ten-person table feel more home than hotel, and there are several nooks for curling up with a book and hot tea on a languid winter afternoon. There’s also a fully stocked library lounge, two wet bars, exercise studio, and sun-drenched conservatory, plus a sprawling north-facing rooftop terrace with unbroken views of the park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and beyond.

Northwell A22 SPREAD

The design boasts a certain vintage element, an ode to the city’s longstanding legacy as steward of luxury. Bathrooms, for instance, feature black-and-white striped floors and pastel tinted vanities, while bedrooms boast fabric headboards, thickfiber carpets, and floor-to-ceiling window drapes. There are a total of six fireplaces sprinkled throughout the penthouse to dial up the cozy, and on warmer nights, the rooftop offers enough seating for ten to swap stories as the sun melts over the Big Apple skyline.

Prices begin at $75,000 per night. themarkhotel.com

 

HOTEL DE PARIS, PRINCESS GRACE SUITE

Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Named after the American-born starlet who eventually married Prince Rainier III to become the Princess of Monaco, the Grace Suite stands out in an over-thetop hospitality scene that normalizes $10,000 nightly pricepoints. In the landmark hotel’s signature suite, big money does indeed translate to big space, and the Grace Suite stretches over 10,000 square feet of extravagantly adorned space. Princess Grace’s son, Prince Albert, personally approved the development, and he supplied the hotel with many of his mother’s personal artworks and treasured belongings, from family photos and her favorite books to pressed-flower collages crafted by the princess herself. Even Grace’s favorite flower, pink roses, are on display.

The princess treatment begins upon arriving in Monaco, where a dedicated concierge waits to welcome you at the airport or heliport. After arriving at the city-state’s most famous hotel, guests are escorted to the two-floor residence on the seventh and eighth floors. Views of the Mediterrean immediately hit through floor-to-ceiling windows, and a calming color palette of soft whites, baby blues, and mother-of-pearl inlays complement the sparkling sea. There are two bedrooms, a full kitchen, living room, dining room, study, and two sitting rooms on the property, along with three open-air separate terraces (one with a heated infinity pool and granite-lined Jacuzzi). Watch superyachts and cruise ships saunter by as you sip from the Mediterranean sun on the largest of the three decks, spanning 2,200 square feet. The leafy hillsides lined with Belle Epoque mansions offer a visual treat, as well.

An entire fleet of staff is standing by to bend to your every whim and fantasy, from fetching a rare bottle of vintage champagne to arranging an outing via helicopter. Guests can also indulge in specially curated in-room dining experiences with bespoke menus by the famed Michelin-starred super-chef Alain Ducasse (his threestarred restaurant, Le Louis XV, resides in the hotel, too).

Prices begin at $48,000 per night. montecarlosbm.com

Sea Bright| Shrewsbury

 

JUMEIRAH BURJ AL ARAB ROYAL SUITE

Dubai

A British journalist once famously described this all-suite superstructure as a seven-star hotel, detailing its glitz and grandeur as “more than anything she has ever seen,” and though its leadership has never formally accepted or advertised this claim, the ultra-glamorous resort does offer one of the most extravagant over – night experiences on earth. Whereas many of the world’s most expensive hotels favor a modern-minimalist aesthetic, the Burj Al Arab is a masterclass in excess. More than 30 different types of Statuario marble (the same stone favored by Michelangelo) comprise the floors and walls, while the world’s largest Swarovski crystal ceiling keeps watch over the Junsui restaurant. Dubai is lauded as the City of Gold, and the Burj Al Arab lives up to this nickname with more than 21,000 square feet of 24-carat gold leaf throughout its interiors. Its top accommodation, the Royal Suite, is dripping from headboard to toe in the precious metal, from gold leaf-accented Cleopatra chairs to a curved marble and gold-plated double staircase (there’s even a bespoke Dyson hair dryer fashioned from solid gold).

Spread across two levels, the suite offers sweeping views over the Persian Gulf. A palette of rich, royal hues complement the golden accents, from ceilings draped in deep red fabric to purple carpeting in the bathrooms. Large, canopied beds (the master bed – wait for it – rotates) are covered with eiderdown duvets and Egyptian cotton linens, and guests can choose between 17 pillow styles for a deeply nourishing night’s rest. Bedrooms feature separate walk-in dressing rooms and spacious spa bathrooms with full-size Jacuzzi tubs and five-head rainfall showers. After washing up, wrap yourself in a silk kimono and nibble on macaroons from the tiered Jewelry box.

Prices begin at $25,000 per night. jumeirah.com

 

CROWN SYDNEY TOWER PRESIDENTIAL SUITE

Sydney, Australia

When Taylor Swift broke a record as the first artist to perform four concerts at Sydney’s iconic Accor Stadium in a single tour last February, the world’s biggest pop star chose the Presidential Villa at the Crown Sydney Tower as her temporary home. Set on the 88th and 89th floors overlooking the vast glass and steel cityscape of Australia’s largest city, the 8,600-square-foot palace in the sky boasts two levels of floor-to-ceiling windows to take full advantage of the sweeping panorama (it’s the highest penthouse in the city, after all). On the first floor, deep-pocket denizens will find the primary living areas – kitchen, bar, media/karaoke room, dining room, office, and butler’s quarters – while the upper level houses the bedrooms and wellness lounge.

The experience begins with a dedicated VIP entrance, whisking guests away via private lift to the city’s most expensive hotel room, where a bottle of vintage champagne awaits. Savor a glass as you bask in the warmth of the floating marble fireplace, or challenge your travel companions to a game of billiards with Sydney sparkling in the distance. The curved, floor-to-ceiling glass walls are anchored by a platoon of mirrored columns, and dramatic chandeliers and contemporary lighting fixtures perfectly complement the generous use of black and white marble throughout each room. A grand staircase leads to a spectacular master suite on the higher floor. A great amount of effort went into building the drama: the bed itself is positioned next to a sharp angle in the glass walls, creating the illusion the bed is resting atop the clouds. The bathroom houses a massive marble jetted tub along a double-height window, with a trio of marble stairs ascending to the bath. Additional soaking opportunities lie in the steam shower, infrared sauna, and heated infinity pool on the city’s tallest hotel terrace, where a large dining table allows visitors to enjoy a chef-curated meal al fresco. There’s also a state-of-theart fitness center and massage suite on the second level, bringing the full spa experience straight to your hotel door.

Prices begin at $38,000 per night. crownhotels.com.au