When I stay at a luxury hotel, I enjoy amenities such as a great hotel restaurant, an attentive concierge, and a menu of pillows ranging from firm to fluffy as much as the next person. However, my favorite perk isn’t found inside my hotel room; it’s the exterior view seen from my room.
I’ve soaked up postcard views of Lapland’s northern lights, Yosemite’s Half Dome, and Rome’s Colosseum from the comfort and privacy of my hotel room. You can too. On your next vacation, stay at one of the following hotels and enjoy a room with an unforgettable view.
The Ahwahnee
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park’s granite cliffs, majestic waterfalls, and giant sequoia groves draw millions of visitors annually. Located inside the park, the Ahwahnee Hotel was built in 1927. This National Historic Landmark’s illustrious guest list includes Queen Elizabeth II, Walt Disney, and numerous U.S. Presidents.
It’s a fine example of “parkitecture” or National Park Service Rustic, an architectural style that utilizes natural materials, such as stone and timber, to gently blend into the environment. For a quintessential Yosemite view right from your room, book one of the Prime View Rooms for unobstructed views of one of three Yosemite landmarks: Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Upper Yosemite Falls.
Willard InterContinental
Washington, D.C.
The Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. is steeped in history. Abraham Lincoln stayed here prior to his Inauguration, Ulysses S. Grant coined the term lobbyist in the lobby, and Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the closing remarks to his “I Have a Dream” speech here.
The historic Washington Monument is a 555-foot marble obelisk located on the National Mall. At the Willard InterContinental, you can book a room with a view of it that would wow George Washington himself. In the Jenny Lind suite, named for the 19th- century Swedish opera star who was once a guest, you’ll gaze at the Washington Monument from the circular window while relaxing in the opulent marble bathroom’s sunken tub.
Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel
Paris, France
The Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel is located on the city’s–if not the world’s– most famous avenue, the Champs-Élysées. With its glass dome centerpiece and abundant flora, the hotel defines chic, fitting for a building that was once Maison Vuitton’s flagship and the atelier of clothing designer Jenny Sacerdote.
During my recent stay, my room had an Instagram-worthy view of the Eiffel Tower, the very symbol of Paris. Mesmerized, I stared at the magnificent wrought iron structure day and night. I managed to pull myself away and enjoy the many charms of the City of Lights, though I was always thrilled to return to that unbeatable view.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Finnish Lapland
Last winter, I toured Finland with Collette, a leader in guided group travel. With the tedious details taken care of by travel professionals, I was free to relax and enjoy my coolcation. After several days in Helsinki, my group headed to Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Located north of the Arctic Circle, the snow-covered landscape looked straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
The concept of the glass igloo was born at the resort. My igloo had a fireplace, sauna, and best of all, a view of the northern lights right from my warm, cozy bed. Swaths of deep green illuminations danced through the dark sky as my head rested on the pillow. Seeing the Northern Lights changed my understanding of what the natural world is capable of. Eventually, I closed my eyes but the spectacle surrounding me was way better than any dream.
The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu
Turtle Bay, Kahuku, Oahu
Oahu’s North Shore beaches are legendary. The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay’s open-air lobby overlooks two breathtaking beaches, an oasis of surf and sand surrounded by fragrant gardenias and delicate wild orchids.
Every room has an ocean view. During a recent vacation with my son, we stayed in one of the upscale oceanfront bungalows. When we weren’t staring at the Pacific Ocean, we were learning about authentic Hawaiian cultural practices thanks to the resort’s range of experiential activities, from lei-making workshops to ukulele lessons. Onsite dining features just-caught seafood, including terrific fish tacos that I devoured each day. The hotel has its own farm, so don’t skip sampling tropical produce.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn, New York
As a born-and-raised New Yorker, I know that some of the best views of the Big Apple’s skyline are found across the river in Brooklyn. At 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in the hip Dumbo neighborhood, rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows framing icons such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Many in-room accents are made by Brooklyn artisans, including Fresnel glass light fixtures and furniture that incorporates reclaimed wood from the former Domino Sugar Factory, weaving the borough’s industrial history into the design.
With onsite restaurant Barbuto Brooklyn whipping up a fresh take on Italian classics, there’s no need to cross the bridge and venture into Manhattan’s Little Italy for dinner.
Palazzo Manfredi
Rome, Italy
With countless monuments, fountains, and squares, Rome looks like a living history museum. While it’s hard for me to pick a favorite site, the Colosseum ranks high. This massive amphitheater was constructed under the Flavian emperors between 70-80 AD and remains a symbol of ancient Roman engineering and architecture.
When I lived in Rome, my apartment was a stone’s throw from the Colosseum. Despite viewing it multiple times as I went about my daily routine, I never stopped being wowed by its grandeur. At the intimate Palazzo Manfredi, many of the 12 guest rooms have a direct view of the Colosseum. As part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, you can expect exceptional service. The restaurant overlooks the Colosseum, the perfect place to indulge in pasta with a view.
Hidden Pond
Kennebunkport, Maine
I live on the 17th floor of a NYC skyscraper with a view of the skyline right from my bedroom window. Perhaps that’s why a room with a pastoral view is my ultimate vacation pleasure.
Hidden Pond is a nature-driven retreat set on 60 serene acres of birch groves and balsam firs. In spring, honeysuckle perfumes the air, summer is as green as an emerald, and fall presents a patchwork of colorful foliage and the song of migratory birds. Time spent here feels like a rustic elixir to my life in the big city.
Book one of the spacious cottages and you’ll enjoy a peaceful panorama of tall trees, velvety moss, and strategically placed hammocks from your patio, porch, outdoor shower, and window seat. Programming is designed to encourage connection to the land through outdoor experiences such as forest bathing, flower arranging, yoga, and painting workshops.
