Room with a View: Spectacular Hotel Room Vistas

November 6, 2024 by Hidden Doorways

In the hierarchy of luxury hotel amenities, nothing quite compares to the perfect view. A truly extraordinary vista—one that stops conversations mid-sentence and makes time stand still—is impossible to fabricate. Imagine waking up to the Acropolis, soaking in a tub facing the Grand Tetons, or drifting to sleep on the edge of a volcano crater. We’ve curated a collection of rooms where the view itself is the ultimate amenity.

The Grand Tetons Take Center Stage at Hotel Yellowstone

Guests checking into luxury mountain resort Hotel Yellowstone naturally expect to be up close and personal with Wyoming’s Teton Mountain Range. But a stay here guarantees direct views of its highest peak – Grand Teton – from their cabin suites, and is the only hotel in all of Jackson Hole to promise so. For the very best vistas, the Grand Reflection Suites offer a direct view with the hotel’s tranquil pond in the serene foreground. Or go for a Grand Teton Suite to see the mountain in all its glory from the comfort of the soaking tub. For the full mountain range, consider a west-facing Vista Suite, and for travelers who are content with just a portion of the Teton Mountain Range, a Reflection Suite would do more than nicely.

Ancient Wonders Frame Every View at The Dolli

The Dolli in Athens’ colorful Plaka neighborhood ranks high on the vista list. Its 46 decadent rooms and suites offer historical city views like no other — the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Hephaestus Temple and the Roman Agora are all on the menu. And speaking of menus, guests will have their minds blown when they head to the rooftop restaurant where magnificent city panoramas are as mesmerizing as each and every dish.

A Royal View of Diamond Head at Halekulani

Described as ‘a house befitting heaven,’ Hawaii’s Halekulani is a celebration of the islands’ indigenous surroundings and culture, and no room celebrates the setting more than its Royal Suite. Guests are whisked to their humble abode in their own semi-private elevator to the top floor — aka the land of the Premier Suites. From here, they’ll enjoy unobstructed views of Diamond Head volcano, Waikiki Beach, and the endless Pacific Ocean from their wrap-around balcony (we strongly encourage the private daily breakfast that can be laid out al fresco to soak in those views from the moment guests wake). And because of the suite’s pared-back color palette, those azure blue hues from sky to sea pop more triumphantly than a bottle of the hotel’s finest brut.

Aegean Blues at Gundari

Another new addition to the five-star scene, ultra-chic Gundari on the cliffs of the lesser-known Greek isle, Folegandros, is where panoramic Aegean views reach their peak. With raw and rugged suites designed to blend seamlessly into the landscape, some are even part of the cliff face itself to truly remove any barrier between guest and the vast blue ocean below — each subterranean suite has a private, heated infinity pool where those iconic views are best enjoyed. P.S. they’ve also been thoughtfully placed southward so there’s no harsh northerly wind to detract from it all.

Volcanic Delights at Pikaia Lodge

Being located on the perimeter of an extinct volcano crater has its perks, as Pikaia Lodge can testify. Waking up to captivating views is standard for every guest here, with room after room strategically placed to offer uninterrupted panoramas of the Galapagos Islands. To maximize them, Pikaia’s rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the nature beyond like the work of art that it is. Shimmering oceans, rugged cliffs and the lush green highlands extend as far as the eye can see — there’s not a single room that doesn’t offer Pacific Ocean expanses, and some even allow for endemic flora and fauna to be spotted without stepping foot out of bed.

Floating Above the Pacific at The Hive

The Hive is no ordinary villa. Set high in the Costa Rican hills, it sits between the Pacific Ocean and the sky — something that all six of its almost-floating bedrooms can see and feel as daylight breaks through and its own private world opens up. Three of the six have their own private outdoor terraces that position guests amid the lush jungle treetops of Peninsula Papagayo, whether that’s to sit with a good book or better still to simply look out onto the wild and wonderful.

Panoramic Alpine Splendor at Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne

The Contemporary Lake View Royal Suite – it’s the suite to know at Switzerland’s legendary Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne. Sure, the suite has square footage to spare and cloud-like comfort in its king-size bed, but it’s those Swiss Alps and glistening Lake Lucerne views that take the accommodation to the next level. Soak it all in from the room’s private steam bath or jacuzzi and ask its concierge to tend to the room’s double-sided fireplace and let it crackle away as grateful guests gaze in wonder from their panoramic bay window.

Casa Palopó’s Volcanic Views

Small and perfectly formed, this former private estate turned exclusive hotel is a retreat for travelers seeking rich Guatemalan culture alongside the finer things in life. It’s one where all fifteen of its brightly colored stucco-walled rooms have views on tap — perched spectacularly high above Lake Atitlán in the Guatemalan Highlands means the views truly are extraordinary. To really emphasize those heights, many guests arrive via helicopter, and there are three volcano peaks to observe from AM to PM.

The Allure of the Alentejo Plain at Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

Privacy, exclusivity and luxury are Portugal’s Herdade da Malhadinha Nova’s promises to all of its guests, regardless of which accommodation they choose. In the case of Casa Das Pedras, there are four sumptuous suites that we’d suggest making a beeline for, each with its own terrace and private pools that offer arresting views across the Alentejo plains. Immensely intimate (it’s the only part of the estate where there are no common areas), those who choose this as their Portuguese home will be surrounded by immediate views of the Peceguina vines and the once-navigable waterway Ribeira de Terges beyond — tales of water and earth, each as rich as the other.

The Magic of the Med at Finca Cortesín

Avant-garde Andalusia sets the scene for five-star resort Finca Cortesin. A palatial place in every respect, from its 67 exquisite suites to its 23,000 square meters of manicured gardens, 4 swimming pools and spectacular 6,000 square meter beach club (the list goes on), the views here arguably begin with its facilities. If we had to pick just one room to book into though, it would be its Pool Suites that boast a colossal 60 square meter terrace and private pool with a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea to cap it all off. Warning: your clients may end up sleeping out here rather than in the comfort of their decadent king-size bed.