As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Here, a sampling of the world's most exclusive retreats. Prices listed are per night; see complete address book, linked at right.
$1,146
WHERE Villa San Michele, Italy
WHAT A standard room
BRAGGING RIGHTS Peace and quiet (the hotel used
to be a monastery); views of the Tuscan countryside;
breakfast; shuttle into town.
$1,168
WHERE
Londolozi
Private Game Reserve, South Africa
WHAT A suite in one of five camps
BRAGGING RIGHTS Two openLand Rover safaris per
day; daily meals; house wines and other beverages;
laundry service.
$1,224
WHERE Wrotham Park Lodge, Australia
WHAT One of 10
guest quarters
BRAGGING RIGHTS Outdoor deck; binoculars;
unlimited mini-bar access; three meals daily; beverages;
laundry service; cattle-station tours; gourmet picnic
baskets; horseback riding; canoeing; cooking classes;
use of mountain bikes; guided nature walks.
$2,138
WHERE Wakaya Club, Fiji
WHAT
A bure with ocean and garden views
BRAGGING RIGHTS Indoor space of 1,500 square
feet; a private garden; a lava-rock outdoor shower;
meals and beverages; unlimited mini-bar access; two
scuba dives a day; unlimited use of sports facilities
(everything from snorkeling to professional croquet); a
personal tennis or golf coach; laundry service; natural
woven slippers; chilled Taittinger on arrival; unlimited
bottles of water (Fiji, of course).
$3,175
WHERE North Island, Seychelles
WHAT A thatched villa
BRAGGING RIGHTS Private outdoor showers
surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary; daily meals; scuba
diving; sea kayaking; shore-based fishing; use of
mountain bikes and one island buggy.
$6,700
(three-night minimum)
WHERE Great Mercury Island, New Zealand
WHAT A private island
BRAGGING RIGHTS Two villas and a main house,
which sleep up to 16 people; 5,000 acres of land;
dedicated staff to customize activities (everything from
touring the working cattle and sheep farm to golf on the
mainland); gourmet meals in the main dining room or an
impromptu seafood cookout on the beach; helicopter ride
on and off the island.
$12,260
WHERE Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
WHAT Palace Suites
BRAGGING RIGHTS
Extravagant space (7,405 square feet); three bedrooms;
dining room; Swarovski chandeliers; three rain showers;
seven 61-inch plasma televisions; Lady Primrose
amenities; a butler who can draw a welcome bath; a
constant supply of munchies; a chauffeur to drive you
around town, or to and from the airport, in a stretch
limousine.
$17,047
WHERE Four Seasons New York
WHAT Presidential Suites
BRAGGING RIGHTS Real estate (1,500 square feet,
to be exact); 180 degrees of the best views in town
(this is Manhattan's tallest hotel); living in an I.M.
Pei design.
$28,250
WHERE Setai, Miami Beach
WHAT Penthouse
BRAGGING RIGHTS
When it opens next month: a whopping 10,000 square feet;
three bedrooms; two-level wraparound balconies; a
private lap pool; a Jacuzzi; great city and ocean views.
$333,333
WHERE Little Palm Island, Florida
WHAT
The million-dollar weekend package offers private use of
the island (three-night minimum)
BRAGGING RIGHTS All 30 suites; a bottle of
Cristal, with engraved champagne flutes (to keep);
turndown gifts (think Tag Heuer watches, Tiffany
frames); all meals; open bar; spa treatments; a 100-foot
yacht with crew; scuba and fishing expeditions; a
$30,000 shopping spree at the hotel boutique; a limo on
call for land excursions; fireworks show.
$
Sky's
the Limit
WHERE Hôtel Président Wilson, Geneva
WHAT Imperial Suite (so
exclusive, they won't reveal the rate)
BRAGGING RIGHTS 12,900 square feet; four
bedrooms; dressing room; study; billiard table; cocktail
lounge that accommodates 40; steam bath; stocked
library; bulletproof windows and doors.
