Joelle Mentis, Writer
Sometimes, life is about 1,000 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. And big fluffy bathrobes. Extra bonus points when they’re in a plush hotel room with a view. Because some days you’re feeling the Pacific Ocean vibe, and others, you’re in an Eiffel Tower frame of mind. No matter your mood, there’s a view for that. And these are eight hotels with the most beautiful views in the world.
The Mandarin Oriental New York
Location: New York, NY
View: Central Park, Columbus Circle, Midtown Manhattan
You can blow your whole month’s paycheck on a room at the Mandarin Oriental to get this spectacular view, but you don’t even have to. Sitting in the hotel lounge, you’re at eye level with the tops of the famous New York City skyscrapers and you overlook Central Park. Nowhere else will you be able to get a view from the East Side all the way to the West, and everywhere in between. Year round, it’s a view to behold but especially in the fall, when the leaves make the park glow. The best part is that the MO New York is set to reopen this early April, right in time for the Park to come into full bloom.
Le Sirenuse
Location: Positano, Italy
View: Amalfi Coast
Everyone can picture the pebble beach, blue coastline and colorful hillside homes in every Instagram from Positano. That social media-worthy view is iconic and always gets likes, but social media can’t do it justice. In real life, it’s absolutely breathtaking. The owners at Le Sirenuse stand by the quote from John Steinbeck who said, “Positano … isn’t quite real when you get there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” That is certainly true for the view and experience at Le Sirenuse. Most rooms have private balconies where you can enjoy a meal or relax overlooking the bay and coastline. Whitewashed walls and handmade tiles only add to the ambiance, and each distinct room is inspired by styles from locales in Europe and the East. When you want to kick back and barely leave your hotel room, Le Sirenuse is it.
Belmond Hotel Splendido
Location: Portofino, Italy
View: Portofino Coastline
The view from the rooms at Belmond Hotel Splendido is of course unbeatable, but better yet is the view from infinity pool where not only does the water feel like it goes on forever but so does the horizon line. The incredible lagoon is a paradise, where ships sailing by and locals on the street make for a completely picturesque Italian experience. As you relax with a drink in your hand, you’ll understand that this is what you’ve worked so hard your whole life for. At Portofino, there is absolutely nothing you have to do except soak up the sun from a lounger by the pool. And when you’re tired of spending the day on land, you can see the view from a different perspective on a complementary motorboat ride.
Post Ranch Inn
Location: Big Sur, California
View: California Coastline
Post Ranch Inn might be the main reason people from all over California make the trip to Big Sur. The hotel isn’t one giant building but rather a collection of freestanding structures and tree houses nestled into the mountainside. Houses feature cozy fireplaces and complimentary breakfasts, but the most inviting aspects are the outdoor hot tubs, where you can sit and soak up the warm water and the picture perfect Santa Lucia Mountains. If you’re looking for the perfect place to honeymoon, Post Ranch Inn is it. The over-18 age requirement and decidedly unfussy dress codes make it easy to forget all your problems and to truly relax. And of course, with views of the distant white caps and green forests, how could you not fall in love?
Four Seasons Hotel George V
Location: Paris, France
View: Eiffel Tower
Here you have to request the rooms with the views, but we highly recommend that you do. No other hotel has private terraces like these where you can sit and look out onto the Eiffel Tower. Four Seasons hotels do a great job everywhere, but at the George V they go above and beyond, from giant flower arrangements in the entryway to multiple gardens to art deco decor and architecture. No morning is complete without a pain au chocolat and an espresso while you sit on your balcony overlooking the café-lined streets. But though Paris is perhaps the best city to explore, you don’t have to go anywhere but the George V to have a unique and complete French experience.
Amangani
Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
View: Grand Teton Mountains, Snake River Valley
Anywhere you go, Aman is the top of the line, but you’ll get the best views at Amangani. As far as mountains go, the Grand Tetons are no doubt some of the most majestic, and at Amangani you have not only the distant views of snow-covered peaks but also the immersive natural surroundings. Amangani means “peaceful home” and it’s definitely that. Logs and stone walls evoke the pioneering days, and the residences take stylistic inspiration from that. Of course skiing, hiking, and exploring Yellowstone are what you’re there for, but when you get to Amangani, you won’t be able to stop yourself from spending time just relaxing and taking in the view.
Mystique
Location: Santorini, Greece
View: Caldera Cliffs, Santorini
Santorini is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world, and anywhere you go on the island you’ll have a beautiful view. But no place has it quite like Mystique. The hotel is a destination unto itself with unique modern architecture that is distinct from the region. Rooms have a hot tub and full-on jacuzzi, and the à la carte breakfast is to die for. But what you see when you look out from your cliffside enclave are tremendous views of the bay and the town above. If you’ve ever seen a postcard from Santorini, this is probably what you’ve seen.
Six Senses Paro
Location: Paro, Bhutan
View: Eastern Himalayan Mountains
If you’ve never been to Bhutan, then you’re really missing out. The country has hands down some of the best hotels in the world, and Six Senses might top the list. From your sky-high mountain lodge, you’ll look down upon the valley floor, where small villages and terraced fields make an unimaginably scenic view that goes on for hundreds of miles. Your mountainside lodge is also a site unto itself with sleek modern architecture, wood-burning fireplaces, private courtyards and tubs that look out from floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort is really all about spirituality and reconnecting with nature, and archery practices and hikes by the ancient ruins will help you do that. And it isn’t hard to feel like a changed person after leaving when everything you do at Six Senses is set against the unbelievable backdrop.
