Tag Archive for Mandarin Oriental

It’s OK to Look Down from these High-Altitude Hotels

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Vertigo sufferers beware: These hotels are not for you.

This post was inspired by La Maltese, which sits high above Santorini’s ancient caldera. Santorini is famous for its cliff-hugging buildings, many of which are hotels or guest houses. The views are unparalleled, breathtaking … the list of superlatives goes on and on.

Santorini’s caldera, viewed from the infinity pool at La Maltese; photo courtesy of La Maltese

Of course, Santorini doesn’t have a monopoly on top-of-the-world views. Here are a few more hotels that offer thrilling views.

3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat; Zermatt Switzerland – When the Matterhorn looks small, you know you’re up there. This hotel offers birds-eye views of the surrounding Alps, with rooms named and numbered after nearby peaks and their corresponding height in meters.

Park Hyatt, Shanghai, China – Occupying floors 79 to 93 of the 1,600-foot tall Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC), the Park Hyatt is one of the highest hotels in the world. It only takes 51 seconds to get from the ground-floor courtyard to the 87th floor lobby.

Hotel de Larache, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile – Overlooking the highest desert in the world–the Atacama–this luxurious, adventurers’ paradise sits at a respectable 8,200 feet above sea level. Guests enjoy views of the nearby 19,000-foot Licancabur volcano.

Mandarin Oriental, New York City, New York – Towering Central Park views abound from this super-luxe property located in the top 20 floors of the Time Warner Center. Though not the tallest in the city, its location offers fantastic views along with an otherworldy price tag.