HONG KONG, Aug. 14, 2009 - Hotels.com(R), the global hotel specialist,
highlights some record-breaking hotels around the world, whether they are
the biggest, tallest, oldest, greenest or most expensive.
The hotels featured on the Hotels.com ( http://www.hotels.com ) list
of 'est' factor hotels offer extraordinary accommodation which defies the
norm and offers travellers a truly memorable experience. Hotels include
the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, currently the world's tallest hotel, Icehotel
in Sweden, the world's coldest, and Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa in Queensland,
which is regarded as the world's 'greenest' hotel.
Hotels with the 'est' factor - as named by Hotels.com
World's Tallest Hotel: Burj Al Arab - Dubai
Currently the tallest hotel in the world is the Burj Al Arab in Dubai
(however, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, will surpass it once opened in
late 2009). Standing at 321 metres in height, the hotel is a self-rated
7 star hotel built on a man-made island 280 metres from shore. Burj Al
Arab is arguably one of the most luxurious hotels in the world with its
own Rolls Royce fleet, private shopper and helicopter landing platform.
All of the hotel's 202 duplex suites, ranging from 170 to 780 square metres,
are fitted with Versace bedspreads, full size Hermes products and come
with a private butler. Naturally the hotel isn't cheap, with the Burj Al
Arab also having some of the most expensive rooms costing up to US$15,000
per night. To book, please visit
or call 800 930 373.
World's Largest Hotel (number of rooms): The Palazzo Resort Hotel
& Casino - Las Vegas, USA
Where else other than in Las Vegas would you find the world's largest
hotel? The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino, which operates under the
same license as The Venetian hotel next door, has 8,108 rooms combined.
The hotel is like a mini city, with a large selection of restaurants, fashion
stores (including its own version of Barneys New York) and, of course,
its own casino with over 139 gaming tables and 1,400 gambling machines.
The hotel also has its own Lamborghini dealership, which houses the only
Koenigsegg dealer in the United States. The Palazzo is home to the Broadway
smash musical Jersey Boys, while the widely acclaimed Blue Man Group is
permanently on show at the Venetian. If you want to relax, there is the
choice of seven pools and four hot tubs. To book, please visit
or call 800 930 373.
World's Oldest Hotel: Hoshi Ryokan - Komatsu, Japan
The Hoshi Ryokan hotel in Komatsu, Japan is the oldest hotel in the
world. It has been in operation for over 1,300 years dating back to its
opening in 718; this hotel has been run by the same family for 46 generations.
The hotel has only 100 rooms, with a focus on ensuring comfort and satisfaction.
Guests are welcomed with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. For relaxation,
guests can walk through the traditional Japanese gardens or slip into their
'yukata', a cotton kimono, provided for their use after soaking in either
the indoor or outdoor hot springs.
.
Hoshi Ryokan
Ryokan: Japanese traditional inn
Awazu Onsen
Komatsu 923-03
Japan
.
World's Most Expensive Hotel Room: Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi
- Athens, Greece
Featuring a dedicated butler, chef and pianist, the Royal Villa at
Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens is the world's most expensive hotel, with
rooms attracting a hefty $50,000 per night. The room overlooks the Aegean
Sea, which you can view from a private pool with a hydro massage device.
The room has all the luxuries you would expect for the price tag such as
a marble-lined bathroom, oversized walk-in wardrobe and a private wooden
terrace. If you find a reason for leaving the room, the hotel offers a
spa that uses the Chenot massage method, which incorporates traditional
Chinese medicine with modern technology. The hotel has ten restaurants,
many of which have been awarded the five star diamond award. The resort
also has a private Lear jet available to fly guests around the Greek Islands.
World's Most Expensive Hotel to Build: Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2005, cost over three
billion dollars to build. Silver, gold and marble are used throughout the
hotel as well as in the guest rooms; the 1002 chandeliers are made from
Swarovski crystals. The hotel also includes 70 football pitches, a 1.3
kilometre private beach and its own marina offering a number of different
water activities, as well as a helicopter pad. All of the 394 rooms are
decorated with acres of gold leaf and marble and come complete with a private
butler service. The hotel has two large pools, one on the east wing and
one on the west. The west wing pool is in fact an adventure pool equipped
with a waterslide, waterfalls and a lazy river. To book, please visit
or call 800 930 373.
World's Largest Hotel Room: Royal Suite in the Grand Hills Hotel
& Spa - Broummana, Lebanon
The Royal Suite in the Grand Hills Hotel & Spa in Broummana in
Lebanon is the largest hotel room in the world. The suite is set over six
floors at a combined staggering size of 8,000m2, while over 4,000m2 is
used with living space. The rest is made up of two swimming pools, a private
garden, terrace and three pavilions. The hotel's other 117 suites are also
spacious and luxuriously fitted. The hotel has 12 restaurants and bars,
its own nightclub and three swimming pools within the hotel; the main outdoor
pool has a giant jacuzzi and a fountain. The hotel also has its own shopping
arcade with a number of designer boutiques.
World's Coldest Hotel: Icehotel - Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
Icehotel represents an exciting winter experience, with rooms built
entirely from ice and snow, uniquely decorated with handcrafted ice art
and sculptures and with temperatures between -5 degrees and -8 degrees
Centigrade. The Icehotel also houses an ice chapel, which is licensed for
marriages and baptisms. There are two restaurants serving a range of Lappish
and Swedish dishes and the Absolut Icebar offers designer cocktails served
from ice glasses. Activities include snowmobile excursions, northern lights
tours, snow-shoe and cross-country ski excursions, and dogsled and reindeer
tours. To book, please visit
or call 800 930 373.
.
World's Highest Hotel (floor height): Park Hyatt - Shanghai, China
The Park Hyatt in Shanghai is currently the highest hotel in the world,
occupying floors 79 to 93 of the 101 story Shanghai World Finance Centre;
the hotel has magnificent views over the Huangpu River and the city skyline.
Located in the heart of Lujiazui business district in Pudong, the hotel
is within walking distance to some of the city's best eateries. The hotel's
renowned Water's Edge spa offers daily tai chi classes and an infinity
swimming pool, which creates the optical illusion of continuing cascading
water. To book, please visit
or call 800 930 373.
World's Highest Hotel (altitude above sea level): Hotel Everest View,
Nepal
It's of no coincidence that the world highest hotel above sea level
is set on the highest mountain in the world, Mt Everest. The Hotel Everest
View is 3,880 metres above sea level and is set in the Sagarmatha National
Park. Fortunately for guests, all rooms have views of the iconic Mt Everest
standing at 8,848 metres and the most awe inspiring and beautiful mountain
peaks. Mountaineers can embark on a number of different treks that the
hotel can arrange including an eight-day Mt Everest trek. Naturally there
is no direct access to the hotel other than by chartered helicopter; guests
must remember to bring walking boots as it's a 45 minute hike from the
airstrip to the hotel.
World's Most Eco-Friendly Hotel: Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, Queensland,
Australia |
Park Hyatt Shanghai
100 Century Avenue
Pudong, Shanghai
|
Set in the world's oldest rainforest, Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa has
15 villas nestled inside the Daintree Rainforest, allowing guests to be
one with nature whilst offering all the creature comforts of a five star
hotel. The hotel has received various awards for being eco friendly, including
being named the Leading Eco Lodge of the World in 2007 due to its commitment
to complying with sustainable tourism standards set by the United Nations,
the World Tourism Organisation, World Conservation Union, the International
Ecotourism Association, and the World Trade Organisation. Some of the practices
in place include using solar power, low energy lights, having an organic
farm to grow its own produce, having no electrical appliances, as well
as composting and recycling whatever it can. To book, please visit
or call 800 930 373.
About Hotels.com
As part of the Expedia, Inc. group, which operates in all major markets
with dedicated staff, Hotels.com offers over 100,000 quality hotels worldwide
to search and book. Hotels.com is the global hotel specialist and operates
over 50 websites globally, with 13 local websites in 8 different languages
across Asia Pacific alone. If a customer can find the same deal for less
on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com will match it. Hotels.com benefits from
one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, negotiating
the best rates for its users, plus user-contributed reviews of its properties.
Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multi-lingual call
centres on 800 930 373.
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