Luxury hotels worth checking
Last updated: 2026-06-17
What separates a luxury hotel from an expensive one
Plenty of hotels charge premium rates without delivering on service. Genuine luxury usually shows up in staff-to-guest ratio, food quality that holds up beyond the photos, and room or villa privacy — not just marble in the lobby. It's worth checking recent reviews for consistency on service rather than relying on the hotel's own description.
What to check
- Room type and privacy — overwater villas, private pools and separate living areas vary hugely even within the same star rating
- Service level — butler service, turndown and concierge support are common at the top end but not universal; check what's actually included rather than assumed
- Food quality — à la carte options and ingredient quality differ significantly between resorts marketed at the same price point
- Cancellation and deposit terms — luxury bookings often carry larger non-refundable deposits, so flexible cancellation terms are worth paying attention to, especially for long-haul trips booked well in advance
- What's excluded — spa treatments, premium drinks and certain excursions are commonly excluded even at luxury all-inclusive resorts
Best for
- Honeymoons and special occasions
- Travellers prioritising privacy and service over price
- Longer stays where consistent food quality matters more than at a short city break
luxury hotel hotels worth checking
Luxury hotels worth checking by destination
One&Only Reethi Rah
Maldives
One of the country's best-known ultra-luxury overwater resorts.
Rixos Premium Seagate
Sharm El Sheikh
Private beach cabanas and butler service, among the most premium options on the Red Sea.
Domes Aulūs Elounda
Crete
Adults-only luxury overlooking the Gulf of Mirabello.
Sofitel The Palm
Palm Jumeirah
French-Polynesian-themed design hotel for a quieter luxury stay.
DealStays verdict
A luxury hotel is worth the premium when the service level and food quality are consistent, not just impressive in the marketing photos. Check the cancellation terms as carefully as the room type — the bigger the deposit, the more it matters if your plans change.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
- What makes a hotel genuinely luxury rather than just expensive?
- Consistent service level, food quality that holds up beyond photos, and room or villa privacy — these matter more than star rating alone. Recent guest reviews are usually a better guide to consistency than the hotel's own marketing.
- Are luxury hotels worth booking all-inclusive?
- It depends on the resort. Some luxury all-inclusive packages genuinely cover premium dining and drinks; others exclude spa treatments, certain restaurants and excursions, so check the specifics before assuming everything is included.
- Why do cancellation terms matter more for luxury bookings?
- Luxury hotels often require larger deposits, sometimes non-refundable, especially for long-haul or peak-season stays. A flexible cancellation policy is worth more here than on a lower-cost booking where less money is at stake.