Two SA hotels among only four in Africa featured in world’s Top 100

Elite Traveler magazine has released its annual Top 100 list of the most opulent and extravagant accommodations in the world and two South African hotels made the list.

The magazine, distributed onboard private jets, has published its ranking of the world’s biggest and most costly suites.

“Exceptional amenities, stunning design and over-the-top attention to detail ensure these suites are a cut above the rest,” says the description of the ranking.

Only four Africans hotels made the list, with two of them in South Africa, and the other two in Morocco and Seychelles.

The eight-chalet Nelson Mandela Villa in the Shambala Private Game Reserve is in the top 100 best hotels in the world, according to the magazine.

The Singita Castleton at Singita Sabi Sand, comprised of a main house with communal living spaces and six individual cottages, also made the cut.

Also read: Top five hotels in the Cape Winelands

According to the magazine, the world’s most expensive hotel suite is located in Las Vegas in the USA and must be booked for at least two nights for $200,000 (R2.87 million). The second most expensive suite is The Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva and costs $81,000 (just over R1 million) per night, while The Mark Penthouse at The Mark Hotel in New York came third for $75,000 (also just over R1 million).

The most expensive suites are found in the United States and Switzerland.

These are the most expensive suites according to the magazine:

• Empathy Suite, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas – $200 000 two nights – USA
• Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva $81 000 – Switzerland
• The Mark Penthouse, The Mark, New York – $75 000 – USA
• The Imperial Residence, Intercontinental Geneva – $59,000 – Switzerland
• The Muraka Suite, Conrad Maldives – $50,000 – The Maldives
• Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel New York – $50,000 – USA
• Prince Rainier III Suite, Hôtel De Paris – $50,000 – Monaco
• Penthouse, Faena Hotel Miami Beach – $50,000 – USA
• Penthouse Suite, Hôtel Martinez – $50,000 – France
• Hilltop Estate, Laucala Island, – $45,500 – Fiji

Only one African suite, the Grand Riad, Hotel Mansour, in Morocco made the top 10 biggest in the world.

These are the top 10 biggest suites in the world:

• Mulia Mansion, Mulia Villas – Bali
• Ty Warner Mansion, Las Ventanas, A Rosewood Resort – Mexico
• Three Bedroom Villa, Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Bali
• Grand Riad, Hotel Mansour, Marrakech – Morocco
• Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson – Switzerland
• The John Jacob Astor Estate, St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort – The Maldives
• Villa One, One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos – Mexico
• Amanyara Villa, Amanyara Turks & Caicos – Turks & Caicos
• The Mark Penthouse, The Mark, New York – USA
• Empathy Suite, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas – USA

(Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde)