Editor’s note: This article was first published in September 2014; the ranking and all room prices are from 2014, and the prices, names and ownership of several of the hotels may have changed since.
The average cost of a room in a luxury hotel is around $660 a night. As it does every year, Business Insider has drawn up a list of the best hotels in the world in 2014, based on four rankings from different travel media and specialist websites, such as TripAdvisor and Travel + Leisure magazine.
As you can see, there is something for every taste, though not for every budget.
10. Singita Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park, South Africa
This hotel in Kruger National Park is the perfect place to stay on a safari holiday. There are two lodges on the property (Lebombo Lodge and Sweni Lodge), and the resort offers game drives twice a day.
Rooms cost from $1,700 a night.
9. St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
With its secluded location in Punta Mita overlooking the Pacific Ocean, its luxury amenities and its exceptional service, the St. Regis Punta Mita is the ideal hotel for newlyweds.
It ranked No. 16 in Travel + Leisure and No. 8 on TripAdvisor.
Rooms start at around $400 a night.
8. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Located in the heart of Kruger National Park (home of “the Big Five”), Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is the embodiment of the luxury safari.
Rooms cost about $1,700 a night.
7. Inn at Palmetto Bluff (tie)
Secluded rustic cottages back onto lush wetlands and maritime forests. Guests can enjoy horseback rides, excursions and trips on the hotel’s yacht.
Rooms cost from $550 a night.
7. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos (tie)
Located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, the One&Only Palmilla looks out over the Pacific Ocean and the rugged rocks that jut out of it. The resort has a “vintage” Mexican feel, but with luxury amenities such as a spa, golf course, pools, restaurants and a private yacht.
Rooms cost around $450 a night.
5. The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club
St. Simons Island, Georgia, United States
The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club is a golf paradise with three renowned courses (including the Plantation and Seaside courses, two 18-hole championship courses) and a top golf performance centre. After a day on the course, guests can relax in the luxurious rooms or enjoy a treatment at the spa.
Rooms cost around $495 a night.
4. Rosewood Mayakoba
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Considered one of the best luxury properties in Mexico, the Rosewood Mayakoba puts you very close to Yucatán’s beautiful white-sand beaches, cenotes and ancient Mayan ruins. The hotel has luxury suites with views of the sea or of a quiet private lagoon, filled with high-end amenities such as butler service and a private plunge pool.
Rooms cost around $515 a night.
3. Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens
Set in the middle of the Costa Rican rainforest, the Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens feels like a tropical hideaway, with stellar service, a luxurious spa, restaurants and spacious rooms.
It is considered one of the most romantic resorts and is highly ranked by TripAdvisor (No. 4), Travel + Leisure (No. 23) and Condé Nast Traveler magazine (No. 63).
Rooms cost from $280 a night.
2. Singita Sabi Sand
Kruger National Park area, South Africa
Singita Sabi Sand offers two stunning options: the rustic and elegant Boulders Lodge, and the more traditional Ebony Lodge.
Rooms cost around $1,360 a night per person.
1. The Oberoi Udaivilas
Staying here is quite an experience: guests arrive at the grand estate by private boat and then head to their private rooms, many of them with their own pool and terrace.
Rooms cost from $585 a night.
Further reading
Featured image: McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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