10 World's Most Expensive Hotel Suites

Presidential Suite, The Plaza
Location: New York, New York

Luxury Trademark: A wine cellar, library and hotel staff at disposal

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Guests who are rolling in the dough can check into the same digs as tycoon Alfred Vanderbilt! The 28-year-old chose to make the brand-new Plaza hotel his bachelor pad back in 1907 when an entire year's bill was only $25,000. Since then, little has changed — except the prices. Now, one night's stay is a cool $15,000, and the Plaza is still heralded as the city's most elite hotel. The two-level Presidential Suite occupies the entire 18th floor of the hotel; plus, guests have access to a rooftop area. Within the 7,800-square-foot space, there are two living rooms, a parlor and a library. That's in addition to six bedrooms and seven — yes, seven — bathrooms. The suite also has a private wine cellar, four balconies and a staff of maids, a butler and chauffeur with a Rolls Royce. For those quick snacks, there's even a private chef on call at any hour of the day.

Where: Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (800) 527-4727
Web site: fairmont.com
Rates: $15,000 per night


2. Presidential Suite, St. Regis
Location: New York, New YorkLuxury Trademark: Whirlpool marble baths and Louis XV furniture
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For travelers in the market for luxury, the St. Regis, another New York hotel with a lengthy pedigree, serves it up on a silver platter (to those who can pay $10,500 a day). The hefty rate buys guests a three-bedroom, four-and-half-bath suite with views of Central Park. John Jacob Astor opened the St. Regis in the early 1900s, and although much has changed in New York during the last hundred years, some things are exactly the same as they were in 1904. Each of the hotel's 16 floors is served by its own maitre d’. Guests in the Presidential Suite dine in a formal dining room with meals prepared in the full-sized kitchen by their very own staff. The living room is furnished with antiques, tapestries, Oriental rugs and Louis XV furniture. The master bedroom has silk-covered walls, and a walnut-paneled library is available to guests who want to curl up with a book at the end of the day.

Where: Two East 55th Street (at Fifth Avenue), New York, NY 10022
Phone: (800) 759-7550
Web site: Click here
Rates: $10,500 per night


3. Presidential Suite, The Four Seasons
Location: New York, New YorkLuxury
Trademark: Black Florentine marble floors and original Caldor sketches
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To elite guests throughout the world, the Four Seasons embodies upscale hospitality. The New York hotel was designed by noted architect I.M. Pei. The Presidential Suite is a 3,000-square-foot penthouse on the 52nd floor. Unlike many other top-of-the-line suites in the city that are done up in traditional furnishings and antiques, the Four Seasons offers up a contemporary look complete with black marble floors and rich wood paneling. Guests gain access to a 24-hour staff, TV monitors that pop up a la Jay Leno and marble baths complete with whirlpools. The list of notable former guests includes Michael Jackson, who made the Four Seasons his home for three months.

Where: 57 East 57th Street, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (800) 819-5053
Web site: fourseasons.com
Rates: $10,000 per night



4. Triplex Suite, The New York Palace
Location: New York, New York
Luxury Trademark : Rooftop party rooms and room service from Le Cirque
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Once the domain of headline-grabber Leona Helmsley, the New York Palace now belongs to the Sultan of Brunei and his brother Prince Jefri. Unlike the super-posh digs of other hotels, the Palace has four Triplex Suites, so celebrities, royalty and presidents won't face the proverbial "no vacancy" sign. Each of the deluxe suites features its own private elevator, two-story ceilings and private kitchen. The 4,000-square-foot suites all have massive master bedrooms, and guest rooms are equipped with huge dressing rooms. Each unit has large terraces with gorgeous views of the city. Guests looking for a midnight snack or an elegant brunch receive their meals from gourmet eatery Le Cirque and, of course, are served by their own personal butler.

Where: 455 Madison Avenue at 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 888-7000
Web site: newyorkpalace.com
Rates: $10,000 per night


5. Royal Floor, President Wilson Hotel
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Luxury Trademark: Absolutely huge with a private terrace
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Located only steps from Lake Geneva, the art deco President Wilson Hotel is rooted in history. In addition to fantastic views of the beautiful lake, guests of the Royal Floor (a suite that takes up an entire floor) can gaze through bay windows or from a private terrace at vistas of the Alps and the Mont Blanc. The suite also has a spacious living room and elegant dining area. The hotel maintains that the security system is up to par for royalty or the biggest celebrity guest, and those staying in the suite can escape for a stroll through Geneva's old town or along the waterfront promenade. Guests in search of history can visit the Palais Wilson, the headquarters of the Human Rights Organization.

Where: 47, Quai Wilson, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Phone: (+41) 22 906 6666; in the U.S. (800) 325-3589
Web site: hotelpwilson.com
Rates: $9,090 per night


6. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Luxury Trademark: A private screening room and rotating beds
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Standing 321 meters high, the Burj Al Arab is the world's tallest hotel, rising above even the Eiffel Tower and only 60 meters shorter than the Empire State Building. For those with big bucks to spread around, there are two Royal Suites on the 25th floor of the 28-story building. The luxurious accommodations have breathtaking views of the ocean, a private elevator, a personal meeting room and decorations of the finest materials. Guests have butlers to tend to their every need and can spend free time surfing the Internet on laptop computers provided by the hotel. When they arrive in the country, well-to-do guests can land their personal helicopters on the hotel's helipad. And the hotel's trademark restaurant awaits on the 28th floor, offering more spectacular views, fine cuisine and excellent service.

Where: P.O. Box 11416, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Phone: (+971) 4 3017202
Web site: www.burj-al-arab-dubai.de
Rate: $6,800 per night


7. Royal Suite, The Lanesborough
Location: London, England
Luxury Trademark: Private security and personal butlers
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Located in historic Hyde Park, the Lanesborough has been meticulously restored to its original 1828 grandeur so that guests can go back in time and imagine the hustle and bustle of an early 19th-century residence. The hotel has a policy of greeting all guests by name in order to make them feel as though they are in a private home. For those checking into the Royal Suite, the high price tag buys a three-bedroom spread plus a private dining room, kitchen and drawing room. Guests also enjoy floor-to-ceiling views of Hyde Park Corner, a dedicated personal butler, use of a chauffeured limousine and around-the-clock security.

Where: Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X7TA England
Phone: (+44) 20 7259 5599; in the U.S. (800) 999-1828
Web site: lanesborough.com
Rates: $5,837 per night


8. Peninsula Suite, The Peninsula Hong Kong
Location: Kowloon, Hong KongLuxury Trademark: Butler service and a Rolls Royce limousine-----------------------------------------In a city full of glistening skyscrapers, the Peninsula Hong Kong, with a colonial elegance that reflects its pedigree, stands out as Hong Kong's greatest hotel. Built in 1928, the Peninsula is known for simple touches like marble baths, elegant furnishings and excellent service with a location that allows guests easy access to shopping and the business and entertainment district. The hotel is close to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Space Museum. The one-bedroom Peninsula Suite features a European décor laced with hints of Asian influence. Guests in the suite have access to 24-hour butler service and can ride around town in a Rolls Royce limousine.
Where: Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong KongPhone: (+852) 2920 2888Web site: peninsula.comRates: $4,875 per night

9. Presidential Suite, Beverly Hills Hotel
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Luxury Trademark: Private chefs and butlers and the Hollywood legacy
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With a Hollywood legacy dating back to 1912, the world-famous Beverly Hills Hotel is known for its pink stucco walls, private bungalows and Polo Lounge. Many a star have stayed in the fabled bungalows over the years, including Marilyn Monroe, Howard Hughes and Greta Garbo. Most of the suites are equipped with fireplaces and private terraces or patios, and the hotel has personal butlers available upon request. At $4,700 per night, the Presidential Suite comes with a private chef, butler, kitchen, dining room and Boston grand piano.

Where: 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (800) 283-8885
Web site: beverlyhillshotel.com
Rates: $4,700 per night


10. Coco Chanel Suite, Hotel Ritz Paris
Location: Paris, France
Luxury Trademark: Furnished in the inimitable style of the famous designer
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Coco Chanel made the Ritz her home for 37 years, during which she resided in three rooms overlooking the Place Vendôme. Guests can relish the same garden view from Chanel's bathroom and gaze upon the Place Vendôme from one of her two balconies. The hotel is located in the heart of Paris near the Louvre and the Museé d'Orsay. And with a history that dates back more than 100 years, this statuesque hotel has hosted such famous guests as England's King Edward VII, Marcel Proust, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, each of whom has a suite named for him (although none quite as pricey as the one that pays homage to the couture designer).

Where: 15 Place Vendôme 75041, Paris Cedex 01 France
Phone: (+33) 143 16 3070; in the U.S., (212) 838-3110
Web site: www.ritzparis.com
Rates: $4,300 per night