JOIN USHere are some record-breaking hotels around the world, whether they are the biggest, tallest, oldest, greenest or most expensive.
* World’s tallest hotel: Burj Al Arab - Dubai
Standing at 321 metres, 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. 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.
* World’s largest hotel: 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.
* World’s oldest hotel: Hoshi Ryokan – Komatsu, Japan
This 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.
*World’s most expensive hotel room: Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens, Greece
Featuring a dedicated butler, chef and pianist, this hotel 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.
* World’s coldest hotel: Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, 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.
(For details log on to hotels.com)