From underwater suites to South Pacific tropical islands, these rare retreats are as remote as they are refined.
In pop culture, the ultra-exclusive resort is having a moment. From The White Lotus to Nine Perfect Strangers and Mountainhead, the fantasy of escaping to a high-design, all-inclusive hideaway has never felt more seductive. In the real world, such places very well exist (for those with deep pockets and the right concierge, at least), whether on the otherworldly atolls of the Maldives or the forested isles of Fiji. These are destinations defined not just by price, but by intent: purposefully secluded, detail-obsessed and entirely tailored to the guest. Here are six of the world’s most expensive stays, where hospitality reaches its most rarified form, and leaving becomes the hardest part.
Lover’s Deep, St Lucia
Forget private beaches and private islands – anchored in the Caribbean near St. Lucia, Lover’s Deep is a private submarine suite in the silence of the sea. Designed for two, the vessel features a fully-appointed master bedroom with extraordinary views of marine life in motion, alongside a well-stocked champagne mini bar. A private chef, butler and captain remain on call, stationed in soundproof quarters within the sub. This deep sea retreat is built for exploring depths that few will ever see, from nearby shipwrecks to pristine coral reefs. This one is not so much a getaway as it is an escape into another world – one that’s entirely isolated.
Banwa Private Island, Philippines
A contrast to the quiet blue world of Lover’s Deep, Banwa Private Island in the Philippines is all vivid greens, tropical birdsong and barefoot white sands. Located in the Sulu Sea, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this 15-acre island is a sanctuary of nature-led wellness, available for exclusive buyout at $100,000 per night. Perched between rainforest and reef, each villa is glass-fronted and minimalist with its own infinity pool, private chef, spa therapist and direct beach access. By day, guests can snorkel with hawksbill turtles and forage from the organic farm, then stargaze beneath the unpolluted Palawan skies by night. Fresh, local produce shapes the dining experience here, with honey farmed on the island and seafood sourced responsibly from the surrounding waters.
Off-island detours include trips to the Subterranean River National Park on Saint Paul Mountain – one of UNESCO’s New Seven Wonders of Nature – and cruises to the biodiverse Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. Banwa’s approach to luxury is rooted in sustainability, with solar-powered systems, minimal waste kitchens and a marine research station hidden among the mangroves.
The Royal Mansion, Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
If Dubai does anything well, it’s scale, and The Royal Mansion at Atlantis The Royal is a masterclass in it. Occupying the 18th and 19th floors of the new Palm Jumeirah resort, this 12,000-square-foot duplex is equal parts private residence, gallery and spectacle. Guests enter through a private elevator into a double-height salon lined with century-old olive trees – a grounding contrast to the surrounding gloss. Designed to feel like home, the suite features a private library, bar and entertainment room, with glass walls that pull sea views into every corner. The terrace – over 5,000 square feet of it – includes a temperature-controlled infinity pool and an outdoor kitchen.
A resort unto itself, the primary suite comes with its own marble spa with Hermès amenities and a dressing room the size of a boutique. There’s even a pillow menu, a private cinema, and rumours of gold-plated grooming sets. Beyoncé famously stayed in the suite in 2023 for the hotel’s global launch, and at a price of $100,000 per night, it sits squarely at the epicentre of Dubai’s most expensive resorts.
The Royal Penthouse Suite, Hôtel Président Wilson, Geneva
On the edge of Lake Geneva, just steps from the Palais des Nations, the Royal Penthouse Suite at Hôtel Président Wilson is where world leaders and ultra-private guests retreat when only the top floor will do. Spanning the entire eighth floor, the suite has 12 bedrooms, 12 marble bathrooms and a wraparound terrace with views that stretch from the Jet d’Eau to the snow-capped peaks of Mont Blanc. A Steinway grand piano, Brunswick billiards table and wellness room offer recreation, but the true currency here is privacy. Designed with heads of state in mind, the suite is fitted with bulletproof windows, reinforced doors and panic-room-level security. Notable guests include Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, alongside celebrities and business magnates like Bill Gates and Richard Branson. At $80,000 per night, it remains one of the most expensive hotel stays in the world, and perhaps one of the most self-contained.
The Muraka, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
The Maldives, a cluster of white-sand islands in the Indian Ocean, is home to some of the world’s most paradisical resorts, so it’ll come as no surprise that it’s also home to some of the most expensive. Chief among them is The Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, a two-level villa suspended between sea and sky, with an aquarium-like master suite located sixteen feet beneath the surface. Hypnotic in every sense, the bed is positioned beneath curved glass walls, offering close-up views of the surrounding seascape, from eagle rays gliding gracefully past to schools of silverbait darting in unison. It’s one of the few places on Earth where you can wake up to reef life unfolding just inches from your window.
Above water, the suite includes a private gym, an ocean-facing bathtub, and a freshwater infinity pool. A private chef prepares dinner, while yoga instructors, spa therapists and dive guides are on standby. Guests arrive by private seaplane or speedboat, with rates beginning around $50,000 per night.
Laucala Island Resort, Fiji
In Fiji’s remote north, where the South Pacific Ocean starts to feel impossibly endless, Laucala Island sits resolutely off-grid. This 3,500-acre former coconut plantation is a self-contained resort with rainforest trails, abundant coral reefs and a private airstrip. Just 25 villas are scattered across the island, woven into the landscape with thatched roofs, lava-rock pools and dense gardens that hum with tropical life. The crown jewel is the Hilltop Estate – a grand eyrie perched on a volcanic ridge. At $45,000 per night, the estate spans multiple structures: a master residence, two guest residences, a library, lap pool, panoramic decks and a full-service kitchen, all staffed by a private chef, butler and chauffeur.
Days here are filled with horseback rides along empty beaches, dives among giant clams, or rounds of golf on the island’s 18-hole championship course. Meals are prepared with ingredients grown on-site, from wagyu cattle to hydroponic greens, and spa treatments are infused with tropical botanicals sourced from the island’s gardens. Here, the line between resort and private kingdom is quietly erased.
