The 11 Most Expensive New Hotels That Are Worth the Splurge

In recent years, average hotel rates have skyrocketed, but these 11 hotels and resorts take luxury to a whole new level. Despite their high price tags, they offer exceptional value thanks to their stunning locations—like a remote safari lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta—breathtaking architecture, such as guest rooms carved into Arizona's red rock mountains, and rich atmospheres reminiscent of historical sites like an 18th-century villa on Lake Como that once hosted Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill.We’ve searched for the most extravagant hotels that have opened since 2020 and compiled our favorites here, all of which made it onto our annual It List. While the prices may seem intimidating, the experiences they offer are truly exceptional.

Bulgari Hotel Paris, France

Paris boasts an abundance of luxurious grand hotels, but Bulgari’s location on Avenue George V adds a touch of Italian flair to the city’s Golden Triangle. The vibe here leans more toward a Milanese penthouse than a traditional French palace, featuring sleek marble finishes and rich jewel tones throughout its 76 spacious rooms and suites. The penthouse, complete with a rooftop garden and views of the Eiffel Tower, is a must-see for high rollers.

Downstairs at Il Ristorante, Chef Niko Romito serves refined Italian dishes that are light and refreshing—think saffron risotto instead of heavy escargots. The nearly 14,000-square-foot subterranean spa, featuring a colonnaded indoor pool, is among the most indulgent in the city.

Room rates in March 2025 start at around $2,080 per night.

Angama Amboseli, Kenya

If Angama Mara set the standard for high-design safaris, Angama Amboseli has taken it up a notch with stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro. This new lodge, which opened in 2023, is situated in a private wildlife sanctuary and features just 10 tented suites for an intimate experience. Floor-to-ceiling mesh walls allow guests to observe elephant herds from the comfort of their beds, while indoor-outdoor living spaces enhance the breathtaking surroundings. The design beautifully marries contemporary minimalism with African craftsmanship, showcasing handcrafted furniture and spacious verandas for enjoying those Kilimanjaro views. Days here revolve around exploring the Amboseli ecosystem, with private game drives to spot some of Africa’s last remaining super tuskers (male elephants with tusks weighing over 100 pounds) or guided walking safaris led by Maasai guides.

As the sun sets, guests can enjoy lantern-lit bush dinners under the stars, with dishes featuring locally sourced ingredients like nyama choma (grilled meat) and kachumbari (a refreshing tomato and onion relish). Service is warm and attentive, making guests feel like part of the family while providing an exclusive, immersive safari experience.

Rates for a tented suite in March 2025 start at around $1,775 per person per night, all-inclusive.

Xigera Safari Lodge, Botswana

Few safari lodges offer as comprehensive an experience as Xigera, located in the heart of the Okavango Delta’s ever-changing floodplains. Owned by Red Carnation, this property often feels like a contemporary art museum set in the bush, with every suite and common area adorned with custom-designed pieces from some of Africa’s most innovative artists, including Porky Hefer’s cocoon-like hanging chairs and ceramics by Andile Dyalvane.

Game drives are just part of the adventure; many guests find the real magic in floating mokoro safaris (traditional wooden dugout canoes) and glass-bottomed boats that glide over crystal-clear channels. Dining is an event, featuring dishes that highlight hyperlocal ingredients like Kalahari truffles and wild figs, with a wine cellar stocked with some of South Africa’s finest vintages. The wellness offerings are equally inspired by the environment, with open-air spa treatments that draw from indigenous traditions. Every detail at Xigera celebrates African art, culture, and nature, making it one of the continent's most unique safari experiences.

Suite rates in March 2025 start at around $2,000 per person per night, all-inclusive.

Six Senses Bhutan

Rather than a single resort, Six Senses Bhutan comprises five unique lodges—each reflecting its specific location, from Paro’s pine forests to Punakha’s lush rice fields—offering a mobile retreat through this mountainous Himalayan nation. Every aspect of each lodge is designed to evoke a sense of place, from traditional hot-stone baths to meals featuring fresh produce from nearby farms, handwoven Bhutanese textiles, and guided meditation sessions with views of cliffside monasteries. For those looking to blend cultural immersion with high-end resort amenities while exploring Bhutan’s stunning natural and spiritual landscapes, it’s hard to find a better match.

Room rates in March 2025 start at around $1,935 per night.

The Green O, Montana

The Green O redefines what a wilderness retreat can be. Located within the expansive 37,000-acre Paws Up ranch in Western Montana, this adults-only getaway features 12 glass-walled structures that resemble stylish treehouses. Guests can choose from action-packed days or more relaxed activities: explore the vast wilderness on horseback, join guided foraging walks, practice outdoor yoga, or experience a crystal bowl sound bath beneath the trees. Adventure seekers can try archery, fly-fishing, or snowshoeing in winter. In the evenings, the Social Haus restaurant offers a tasting menu that highlights Montana ingredients—don’t miss the bison tartare, smoked huckleberry sorbet, and house-aged elk.

Rates for a “haus” in March 2025 start at around $3,022 per night.

Mii Amo, Sedona

A desert sanctuary with a strong wellness focus, Mii Amo has been a go-to retreat for health enthusiasts since it opened over two decades ago. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2023, it’s better than ever.

The newly expanded spa offers treatments rooted in Native American healing traditions, such as blue corn body scrubs and energy-balancing massages. The adobe casitas, nestled against Sedona’s red rocks, offer both grounding and luxury. The retreat's all-inclusive “Journey” packages—available in three, four, and seven-night options—include personalized consultations, guided meditations, sound baths, and restorative hikes through Boynton Canyon.

The cuisine is equally nourishing, focusing on organic, locally sourced ingredients (think jackfruit tacos, seabass with pumpkin puree, and mushroom curry with garden greens) crafted into vibrant, health-conscious meals. Whether guests seek relaxation or transformation, Mii Amo provides a deep, soul-soothing escape in one of the most spiritually charged landscapes in the country.

Room rates in March 2025 start at around $1,420 per night, all-inclusive.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, Hawai’i

After more than a decade of anticipation, Kona Village—originally opened in 1965 and closed in 2011 for a complete renovation—reopened in 2023, blending its storied past with a modern reimagining under the Rosewood brand. The resort pays homage to its roots with 144 thatched-roof bungalows, now featuring private plunge pools, hand-woven Hawaiian textiles, and outdoor showers, thanks in large part to San Francisco-based interior designer Nicole Hollis. Sustainability is a core value here: the property operates entirely on solar power, with conservation efforts aimed at protecting the surrounding coral reefs.

Guests can immerse themselves in Hawaiian traditions through canoe excursions, hula lessons, and storytelling sessions under the stars. The ocean remains central to the experience, offering surf lessons, outrigger canoe sailing, and the beachside restaurant, Moana, which celebrates the Pacific's bounty with seafood dishes like Hawaiian snapper and charred ahi tuna.

Room rates in March 2025 start at around $1,784 per night.

Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, Costa Rica

Nestled in the lush Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica, Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, offers a new kind of wellness-focused luxury. The property features 50 casitas situated on a 180-acre estate that blends high-end hospitality with holistic healing, offering tailored treatments and experiences in collaboration with The Well, a spa and medical practice based in New York City. Activities may include sunrise horseback rides through misty valleys, river baths led by local healers, and Ayurvedic treatments using native botanicals. The casitas are styled with leather furniture, glass walls, and expansive open-air terraces that overlook the surrounding cloud forest and mountains. Dining emphasizes hyperlocal ingredients sourced from the on-site organic farm, ensuring that every meal is both nourishing and flavorful, with a Latin American flair.

Rates for a casita in March 2025 start at around $2,750 per night.

Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy

Perched above the stunning waters of Lake Como, Passalacqua—a 24-room retreat set within an 18th-century villa—redefined luxury when it opened in 2022. This passion project of the De Santis family (known for the Grand Hotel Tremezzo) blends baroque opulence—frescoed ceilings, Murano chandeliers, hand-painted silk walls—with a personal touch, thanks to decorative antiques and artifacts collected over the years by Valentina De Santis, a third-generation hotelier. The villa was once home to composer Vincenzo Bellini and has hosted notable figures like Winston Churchill and Napoleon Bonaparte.

Days here feel cinematic: enjoy breakfast in the rose garden, take a private boat ride at sunset, or attend an al fresco opera performance under the stars in nearby Como.

Room rates in April 2025 start at around $1,352 per night.

The Peninsula London, U.K.

London’s luxury hotel scene received a significant boost with the opening of The Peninsula in Belgravia in September 2023. Just steps from Buckingham Palace, this grand new property boasts a prime location on Hyde Park Corner, seamlessly blending British heritage with the brand’s signature Asian hospitality. The 190 rooms, designed by Peter Marino, are some of the largest in the city (with the smallest measuring 549 square feet) and feature marble bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Hyde Park, and a soothing neutral color palette.

The lobby’s afternoon tea has quickly become a must-try reservation in London, while the rooftop restaurant, Brooklands by Claude Bosi, offers skyline views paired with Michelin-star-worthy modern British cuisine. A fleet of Rolls-Royce vehicles, private shopping services, and a world-class spa complete the experience, establishing this hotel as a new icon of hospitality in the UK capital.

Room rates in March 2025 start at around $1,386 per night.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia

For travelers who equate splurging with total seclusion, this 25-suite property, resembling a spaceship that has landed on a pristine stretch of Australia’s Kangaroo Island, is hard to beat. Overlooking the wild Southern Ocean, this legendary eco-lodge reopened in December 2023 after being rebuilt following the devastating 2020 bushfires.

The new design embraces its rugged surroundings with floor-to-ceiling windows, earthy tones, and natural materials (primarily stone and wood) sourced from South Australia. Each suite offers uninterrupted ocean views, complete with sunken lounges, fireplaces, and outdoor terraces perfect for storm-watching. Guided excursions highlight the island’s unique wildlife—think sea lions, echidnas, and koalas—while the dining program showcases hyperlocal ingredients, from freshly caught abalone to native botanicals. It’s a dramatic, nature-immersed escape like no other in the world.

Room rates in March 2025 start at around $3,600 per night.