We have rounded up five of the world's most iconic hotels, worthy of your bucket list.
There's no dearth of stop-you-in-your-tracks hotels in the Big Apple, but if we had to pick one, it would have to be the The Plaza, which occupies a prime spot in Midtown, right next to the Central Park, on the city's legendary Fifth Avenue. Space is everything in New York and even the smallest room at The Plaza - the unforgettable setting of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - spoils guests with 44 square metres of real estate, plush king-sized beds, wood-panelled closets and ensuites with gold-plated taps. But if the budget permits, upgrade to Fitzgerald suite. Created by Oscar-winning Australian costume and set designer Catherine Martin, it pays homage to the bygone glitzy Gatsby era, with dazzling light fixtures and striking wallpapers. Theplazany.com
From Winston Churchill who stayed at this hotel after losing the 1945 election to Kate Moss who celebrated her 30th birthday here in the early noughties, Claridge's has remained one of the most esteemed addresses in the British capital ever since it opened in 1856. Located in the heart of London's Mayfair, the art deco masterpiece was designed by CW Stephens - the architect behind Harrods - and, to this day, impresses guests with its striking red Roman stone facade and a soaring lobby with shimmering glass screens dating back to the jazz age of the 1920s and 30s. claridges.co.uk
"When I dream of afterlife in heaven, the action always takes place in the Paris Ritz," Ernest Hemingway once wrote. One look at the hotel's frescoed ceilings and gilded mirrors and you'll know why. Located in the heart of the historic Place Vendome square - its 17th-century facade a must-click on most visitors' list - the hotel is home to a spate of prestigious suites named after their esteemed guests, from Charlie Chaplin to Coco Chanel, who checked in for one night and didn't leave for 34 years until her death. Even if you're not staying at the Ritz, there's a lovely way to experience the hotel - arrive early (at 5.30pm) to nab a spot at the highly atmospheric Bar Hemingway. ritzparis.com
Spotless white corridors, lush lawns and courtyards with trickling fountains... There are many peaceful locations within this storied hotel where you can soak up its timeless elegance. But our favourite is the august lobby - complete with soaring ceilings, grand staircases and bewitching chandeliers - where you can enjoy afternoon tea to the soothing soundtrack by a live cellist. Afterwards, make yourself at home in one of the suites - even the smallest ones are fairly spacious at 46 square metres and boast four-metre-high ceilings, four-poster beds and gleaming marble ensuites. Just don't forget to have a drink at Long Bar - the birthplace of Singapore Sling. raffles.com/singapore
You will have to take a boat to this majestic hotel, located in the middle of Lake Pichola in the city of Udaipur renowned for historic palaces and colourful bazaars. But once you're at Taj Lake Palace, eternalised in the 1983 James Bond flick Octopussy, you may never want to get on that boat again to leave the property. Built in the 1740s as the summer retreat of the king of Mewar, the hotel is an intricate network of picture-perfect pools, terraces with sweeping water views and luxurious rooms furnished with dark teak furniture and rich traditional Indian silks. There are a number of excellent food and beverage outlets at this island hotel, too, but none more exquisite than the rooftop Bhairo restaurant where you can enjoy lip-smacking European fare with a side of sparkling sunset views. tajhotels.com
