Hotels with a Jaw-Dropping View
The conical Arenal Volcano began erupting in 1968, and has been active ever since. This makes it a spectacular sight for visitors to Costa Rica, and those staying at the Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort can get up close and personal with the mountain. Guided hikes on the active side of the volcano highlight its rumblings, glowing lava flows and columns of ash. Of course, after all that it’s nice to come back to a resort that offers R&R in thermal springs, a spa and luxury accommodations in the rain forest.
The iconic steel bridge connecting Sydney's central business district from the Rocks to the North Shore is perhaps even more beautiful because of its surroundings, namely the sailboat-dotted blue water of the harbor and the white waves of the Sydney Opera House. A quintessential postcard image, to be sure, but one you can have out your window at the aptly named North Sydney Harbourview Hotel. It’s also an ideal launching point for city exploration, from the aquarium and Luna Park to the Taronga Zoo. Plan ahead and book a view room for New Year’s Eve and watch the fireworks from the bridge without fighting the crowds
When you’re traveling, sometimes you don’t just want a room with a view – you want a room with a jaw-dropping view. Here are 13 of our picks for places that offer amazing looks at iconic world landmarks and sites.
Face it, many hotels offer lake views, but it would be hard to compete with the lake out the window of the Belvedere Suite at the historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Banff National Park. The glacier-fed lake sparkles a brilliant aquamarine in summer, and the mountains rising behind it make it your own private picture postcard. This top-floor suite is unique in the hotel because it’s on a corner and has a balcony, but any odd-numbered room faces Lake Louise and will give you a fabulous view. Not a bad way to end a day of hiking, canoeing, biking, horseback riding, fishing or rafting.
The Colosseum was built in Rome in the first century A.D., when up to 50,000 people flocked through its gates for gladiator contests and other events. Now in ruins, the Colosseum is one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions. You can stay above it all at the 17th-century Palazzo Manfredi, a hotel that is built on the former site of the gladiator barracks and training grounds. Each of the 14 rooms and two suites has a view of the ancient arena, as does the rooftop dining at Aroma restaurant.
There’s perhaps no more stunning building to have outside your hotel room window than the white-domed Taj Mahal, the mausoleum built in the mid-1600s by a Mughal emperor in memory of his third wife. Located about a half-mile from the monument in Agra, the Oberoi Amarvilas hotel made sure all the rooms and suites, the lobby — even the bar and lounge — have views of the Taj Mahal. One of the best vantage points is from the Kohinoor Suite, shown here, which even has a stunning vista from its marble bathroom.
The rooms at Jade Mountain Resort are not just rooms, they are "sanctuaries," and each opens onto a view of the unforgettable Pitons. These toothlike peaks will be familiar to fans of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, and make a dramatic backdrop to your stay on St. Lucia. All 24 of the sanctuaries have infinity pools of various sizes, but the Galaxy rooms are the largest and have commanding panoramic views of the mountains and the Caribbean. Ask for JD1 or JE1: The 900-square-foot pool is bigger than most regular hotel rooms.
It’s hard to take in the New York City skyline while you’re in the city itself. To get the best view, cross the bridge to Queens and stay in the unique and lavish Ravel Hotel. This is Long Island City’s first luxury boutique property, and if you go, be sure to book a Superior Suite: They have 50-square-foot private balconies with full skyline views. Midtown Manhattan is only a few minutes by car across the bridge, but the hotel also has a complimentary shuttle to take guests to local restaurants or the subway.
Youcan almost hear the fishmongers yelling from your room at the Inn at the Market in Seattle. It’s the only hotel that’s actually inPike Place Market, which means the views of the famous neon sign, the Olympic Mountains and sparkling blue Elliott Bay are yours for the taking. There are 70 rooms in this Northwest-style boutique hotel, but the rooftop deck takes the prize as having the best view in town . A bonus is the restaurant on site, Café Campagne, which is one of the city’s top dining experiences.
All hopeless romantics heading to Paris should consider a stay at the Hotel Plaza Athénée on the Avenue Montaigne — in particular, in one of the Eiffel Suites. Each has stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and the Paris skyline. Depending on the suite, you could find a grand piano, personal gym or a 5,000-song music library and huge TV — if you can tear yourself away from the view. The rooms and suites of the hotel are mostly decorated with a Louis XVI style, making the experience just that much more Parisian. See more attractions in Paris.
The Hotel Missoni on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is a bold and modern contrast to the Gothic architecture seen from its windows. The hotel, the first for Italian fashion family Missoni, is designed with signature black and white patterns splashed with bold, colorful accents throughout. That makes the view of Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles' Cathedral and Holyrood Palace just that much more eye-popping. The best sightseeing is from the Suite d’Argento, which offers sweeping views of the city skyline, even Arthur’s Seat, the city’s extinct volcano.
The fountains in front of the Bellagio Hotel are becoming an iconic part of any Las Vegas travel experience. During the day they “perform” every 30 minutes, and in the evening every 15 minutes, so you can see the waters dance to music as varied as the Hallelujah Chorus and Aaron Copland’s Hoedown. You can get a more private viewing experience from the Lakeview Penthouse Suite, which has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the fountains. Guests can relax in their own private entertainment lounge or enjoy dinner in the spacious dining room for six.
The amazing view of America’s most famous bridge is just one of the many perks of staying at the Cavallo Point Lodge in San Francisco. For one thing, the lodge is in Golden Gate National Park, at the foot of the bridge, and guests can choose to stay in historic buildings that were once the Fort Baker officer’s quarters. The newer, contemporary rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that show off panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and the bridge.
The name Trump pretty much says it all: If you’re staying at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York, you know the experience is going to be one that Trump himself would approve of. For an incomparable view of iconic Central Park, book one of the Park View Suites and look down on New York’s living room through your own palace of glass. If you opt for the two-bedroom suite, you get a full kitchen with Sub-Zero appliances.
