Luxury Hotels: Changing in the 21st Century

Luxury hotels, how have they changed as worldwide tourism has become mainstream? When the Victorians took to the road the only hotels available were luxury – comparatively anyway. Poor and middle class people just didn’t travel. Aside from a few inns the middle class hotel hadn’t been invented yet. Hotels were located where commerce happened in the big cities of the day. Lets review how luxury hotels have adapted to the demands of the 21^st century.

Luxury hotels in traditional city locations

A good luxury hotel is a destination in itself. Traditionally deluxe hotels were in the centres of the great cities of the world: London had the Savoy and New York the Waldorf Astoria. In fact these beautiful old hotels are wonderful pieces of history as well as still delivering 5 star service. These hotels developed for needs of visiting business men and the well-off travelling public. Traditional luxury hotels are usually found in the historic heart of their cities: the Waldorf Astoria has a enviable location in the heart of Manhattan.

New Money; New Luxury Hotels

Of course New York and London don’t rule the world commercially as they once did. New wealth and new money has seen news centres of commerce develop who also of course need their luxury hotels.

Dubai boasts the world’s first 7 star hotel, the Burj Al Arab . To be honest though any hotel which wants to stand out has to be extraordinary in this tiny country. There are more 5 star hotels in Dubai than you could reasonably need in a year. The Burj Al Arab does stand out though: it is extraordinary from its submarine restaurant to its unique location on an island out in the gulf so you can watch the lights of Dubai over drinks on the top floor bar. All rooms are suites and come complete with butler service.

Even business orientated luxury hotels do not ignore the leisure market. That market demands many different services but luxury spas are probably the biggest story of the last few years. We have rediscovered what the Romans always knew: spas are the best thing to recharge and revitalize yourself. Plunge pools, water treatments, mud packs and massages: no self-respecting 5 star hotel would be without them.

These days too luxury hotels need to please both the business and leisure market. As the leisure industry has become more and more discerning then these premier hotels have become as well known for their restaurants and bars as for their room service and meeting facilities.

Luxury hotels in exotic developing tourist destinations

The baby boomers are driving the demand for comfortable and luxurious accommodation in countries the may have visited as backpackers twenty years ago. This has seen the rise of new, attractive 5 star accommodation in countries which generally lack decent 3 star hotels.

If you want to visit somewhere new rather than the same old, same old Caribbean island or Swiss ski resorts for your next overseas adventure why not check out some of the newer tourist hot spots. The good news is now you can

Angkor Wat, in Cambodia is surely one of the most impressive sets of ruins anywhere. Unfortunately many of the local hotels give the impression that they gave up maintenance about the same time as the fall of Angkor, in the 12^th century. The solution: is called the Hotel de la Paiz, Siem Reap a beautiful five star hotel which is a centre of calm, efficient and luxurious service. With great restaurants and a spa: you really only have to commute to the Angkor Wat site and the airport, although located in Siem Reap, Hotel de la Paix is not of Siem Reap!

Bhutan has been an exclusive destination for many years. The reclusive regime of the tiny Himalayan country saw the negative effects of mass tourism in neighbouring India and decided to charge tourists a US$200/day minimum to keep the backpackers out. However visitors weren’t getting five star luxury for the price as the country really didn’t have any hotels that matched the quality of the scenery. This is no longer the case with the Taj Group opening the country’s first 5 star hotel the Taj Tashi, Thimphu in the capital. The 66 room hotel is built in the style of the Buddhist monastries and offers spectacular views over the city and the Himalayas. All the beauty of Bhutan but now also every modern comfort and facility, include a spa and conference facilities and multi-cuisine dining.

Luxury Camping Options

Some countries are so remote and so beautiful that they are worth significant effort to get to. Unfortunately in most cases once you arrived you were usually pitching your tent to spend the night. Australia is one such country: the land is beautiful beyond adjectives but remote in terms which it is hard to describe to a European or American. Most Australians haven’t seen the beauty of Western Australia’s Kimberley region but now you can: and in comfort too. Over 250km north of Kununurra on the north-west corner of Australia is the aptly named Faraway Bay, The Bush Camp. Faraway Bay is truly is about as isolated as you can be and not be in the middle of the ocean. Located on the Timor sea with access only by sea or air right in the heart of the spectacular Kimberley’s Faraway really is a sophisticated bush camp which caters for a maximum of 12 guests. Don’ t come expecting wall-to-wall marble: all materials had to be shipped in but the “camp” is very comfortable, the individual secluded rooms and outdoor showers, with solar hot water and a natural spring fed pool rather than an artificial swimming pool.

For another interesting option in Australia’s outback check out Queensland’s Wrotham Park Lodge

So luxury hotels have developed and expanded in the last few decades: we all want to experience something a little different: getting away from it all has become more and more important and the luxury hotel industry has developed some wonderful options for the adventurous luxury traveller!