Officially, the hotel rating system is limited to five stars, but there are several hotels in the world that are usually referred to as “seven-star”. Often this is either a marketing ploy by the hotel itself, or a beautiful description made by journalists, but when looking at the rooms, it’s hard not to agree that the level of luxury in such places is off the charts. We decided to find out where these hotels are located and why they are rated so highly.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE
Photo: jumeirah.com
Cost per night for 1 person: from 111,447 rubles
The first hotel in the world, the description of which included the phrase about seven-star rating. “Burj Al Arab” (translated as “Arab Tower”) began to be built in 1994, and opened on December 1, 1999 – and even then each room had its own butler.
The building itself stands in the sea on an artificial island connected to land by a bridge. The hotel has its own helipad. On one of the upper floors there is also a restaurant “El Muntaha” (“The Highest”).
In the hall you can find all the signs of luxury: a unique mosaic on the floor, huge aquariums in the walls, a stepped fountain with lighting. The hotel’s atrium lobby is the highest in the world: the ceiling is at a height of 180 meters. About 8,000 square meters of 22-karat gold leaf were used in the interiors.
There are no regular rooms in the Burj Al Arab. Each consists of two floors, the smallest occupies an area of 170 m2, and the largest 780 m2. All rooms are equipped with the latest technology and design. A distinctive feature is the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer views of the sea.
According to the official website, the Burj Al Arab is a five-star deluxe hotel. But you and I understand why they unofficially give him seven stars.
Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Photo: kempinski.com
Cost per night for 1 person: from 34,935 rubles
This “palace, not a hotel,” as it bills itself, opened in 2005 to showcase the luxury of Arab culture to the world. Emirates Palace sits on a private beach surrounded by 85 hectares of gardens and lawns. The large patterned dome of the main building is lined with real gold on the inside.
The hotel has 394 rooms, of which 302 are ordinary (although this word is not very suitable here, the level of comfort is still very different even from the usual five stars),
and the rest are suites. Most suites are decorated in gold and marble. Six penthouse suites are reserved for VIPs such as royalty.
The hotel has everything you need for a sports holiday: a beach club with a six-kilometer cycling and jogging track, tennis courts, many swimming pools, rugby and football fields.
TownHouse Galleria, Milan, Italy
Photo: townhousehotels.com
Cost per night for 1 person: from 27,660 rubles
The hotel is located in the very center of the city, in the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II opposite the main cathedral. TownHouse Gallery opened its doors in 2007, and already in 2008 announced that it had received a seven-star rating from SGS Italy 2008. However, it is worth noting that SGC Italy is not an official tourism organization, and their rating is limited to five stars. But every hotel guest will agree – the service here is at the highest level.
The hotel has 46 rooms, from standard to presidential suites. The website admits that only three presidential suites can be considered seven-star. Their windows overlook the Gallery. Two rooms are studios with an area of about 70 m2, and two more have a separate living room. And needless to say about huge beds, large marble bathrooms, high-class interiors and soundproofing so that nothing disturbs guests’ rest.
Pangu 7 Star Hotel (Morgan Plaza),
Beijing, China
Photo: panguhotel.com
Cost per night for 1 person: from 20,254 rubles
This dragon hotel is located in the Olympic Village in Beijing. “Pangu” is the most luxurious hotel in China, and seven stars are already mentioned in the name, so that no one has any doubts about the high class. They don’t even appear – just go into the luxurious hall, decorated with marble and wood carvings.
All 234 rooms combine Chinese culture and European comfort. The walls are covered with silk wallpaper, the furniture is arranged according to Feng Shui, and paintings in traditional Chinese style hang above the beds. However, each room has a digital fireplace, two flat-screen TVs and a DVD player. All rooms are bright and spacious, with beautiful views of the city and stadium.
Standard rooms are relatively inexpensive, but to experience seven stars, you should stay in the so-called “Sky Courtyard” – a huge (770 m2!) room on the 23rd floor, with a private elevator, a private pool and a garden on roof. True, the price for a night in such a room is exorbitant, it is even impossible to book it online.
The Mark Hotel, New York, USA
Photo: themarkhotel.com
Cost per night for 1 person: from 31,114 rubles
This hotel also officially has only 5 stars with the deluxe prefix, but it also has a lot of regalia. Thus, in 2017, Bilanz Magazine ranked it first among city hotels in the world. It is also repeatedly included in Conde Nast and Elite Traveler Magazine’s Best Hotels lists.
The hotel is located on the Upper East Side in a 1927 building. The interiors were completely renovated in 2009 with the participation of French designer Jacques Grange.
The Mark Hotel has 100 regular rooms, 56 suites, and in 2015 a luxurious two-story penthouse suite was opened on the 16th and 17th floors. Here the luxury is even off the charts: 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a large living room, a library, a dining room, as well as four fireplaces and a private terrace overlooking the city and Central Park. And recently, the hotel added two large suites (five and three bedrooms) with terraces on the 14th floor. In general, if you have a large family and an unlimited budget, we recommend taking a closer look at “Mark”.
Signiel Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
Photo: lottehotel.com
Cost per night for 1 person: from 25,304 rubles
The newest 7-star hotel opened only in April 2017 in the 123-story Lotte World Tower skyscraper. Signiel Seoul is the first hotel of the new brand, under which top-class hotels will operate.
Signiel is located on floors 76-101 and includes 235 luxury rooms. In addition to regular rooms, there are suites, including a Royal Suite – the most expensive room in South Korea. The Royal Suite occupies an area of 353 m2 on the 100th floor, and one night in it will cost about a million rubles. If you decide to stay in this room, you will be greeted at the airport by a Rolls Royce, and at the hotel by your own butler.
The hotel also features four award-winning restaurants, Asia’s largest bar and an Evian spa.
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad, India
Photo: taj.tajhotels.com
Cost per night for 1 person: from 42,959 rubles
The building of the only 7-star hotel in India was built back in 1884 and once belonged to the Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad, the ruler of the princely state of Hyderabad and the richest man in the world at that time – that is, the word “palace” ” in the name is justified, and not a marketing ploy.
In the 50s of the last century, the palace was abandoned, but in the 2000s it was bought by Taj Group Hotels. In 2010, restoration began, led by Princess Ezra, the first wife of the VIII Nizam of Hyderabad, thanks to which the palace was recreated in all its splendor.
In addition to regular rooms, Falaknuma has historical rooms, royal suites and even the Nizam’s Suite – a luxurious room with a private pool, a huge marble bathroom and exclusive access to the spa.
If you are looking for a place to stay in a new city, we recommend paying attention to the hotel vertical OneTwoTrip – set the minimum distance to the center in the filters and you will quickly find the nearest hotels near the most interesting locations.
Preview photo: kempinski.com
