Seven-star hotels take luxury to a new level, offering experiences so lavish that even a five-star rating can’t capture them. From private islands to gold-leaf interiors, these properties redefine what it means to travel in style.
What gives a hotel a 7-star rating?
Officially, there is no such thing as a 7-star rating. The term 7-star was created by a journalist who attended the opening of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and felt the standard five stars didn’t do its decadence justice.
Even a 5-star rating can vary country to country as there is no global standard for star ratings. But what we can gather from hotels who market themselves as having seven (and very few claim to have six) is that they are a really, really luxury property with the glitziest and flashiest extras you can imagine.
Let’s take a look at what you can experience at the world’s most outrageously opulent hotels, along with just how much it will cost to get a room there.
These are the best seven-star hotels around the world
1. Hotel Burj Al Arab, Dubai
From $2,400 AUD to $11,000 AUD per night
Hotel Burj Al Arab is where the idea of a seven-star hotel came to life. It’s hard to say what it was about the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab that inspired the phrase but the all-suite property’s fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms (available to pick you up after your flight to Dubai lands) and 24-hour butler service might have had something to do with it. The décor at Dubai’s most famous hotel is as upmarket as its clientele, with more than 21,000 square feet of 24K-gold leaf gracing the property. Helicopter transfers, gold-plated iPads and caviar facials are standard here, as are multiple attendants for every suite.
2. Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
From $750 AUD per night
Labelled as the only 7 star hotel in India, the Taj Falaknuma Palace was built in 1884 and was once owned by the Nizam (ruler) of Hyderabad, who was the world’s richest man at the time. An architectural splendour, the palace was built in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out as wings and includes a walnut-clad replica of the library at Windsor Castle. Inside this phenomenal palace are a number of priceless artworks, manuscripts and furnishings including Belgian Osler Chandeliers and an extensive jade collection. Clumsy guests should head somewhere else! Now managed by Taj Hotels, the Indian palace has been restored to its 19th-century glory. It also offers guests the option of an arrival in a classic horse-drawn carriage and a welcome of scattered rose petals. Quite a difference from backpacking and train travelling in India, don’t you think?
3. Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi
From $800 AUD per night
The Emirates Palace Hotel wins the award for being perhaps the most expensive seven star hotel in the world. Costing a whopping three billion US dollars to build, the Emirates Palace is truly a seven star resort. This hotel features 1.3km of private beach, 128 kitchens, 114 domes and marble imported from 13 different countries (we assume the first 12 ran out!). The opulence extends from the grounds to the ceilings with 12 outdoor fountains, more than 1000 Swarovski crystal chandeliers and a gold vending machine – for when you’re caught short without enough precious metal. Gold is not just worn at the Emirates Palace but eaten too. Everything from camel burgers to the in-house cappuccino get a dusting.
4. Signiel, Seoul
Perched between floors 76 and 101 of the soaring Lotte World Tower, Signiel Seoul offers a literal and figurative elevation above typical luxury hotels. What sets it apart is its blend of sky-high vistas, Michelin-starred dining by Chef Yannick Alléno, a library-style guest lounge called Salon de Signiel, the largest champagne bar in Asia, helicopter transfers, a large pool and butler services that turn each stay into an experience of personalised extravagance.
5. Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco
From $1,300 AUD per night
The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is pure Monaco glamour, sitting right on the famous Place du Casino. Fresh from a lavish makeover, it combines Belle Époque charm with modern luxury—think jaw-dropping suites named after Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, a three-Michelin-star restaurant by Alain Ducasse, a dreamy rooftop spa, and even one of the world’s largest wine cellars. It’s the kind of place where history, elegance, and a little bit of Monaco magic all come together.
6. Galleria Vik Milano, Milan
From $1,100 AUD per night
The Townhouse at Galleria Vik in Milan is the only semi-official 7-star hotel on this list. That’s because the owner hired a company to create a European ranking so they could officially take the title. With only 20 rooms available, it’s the most exclusive hotel on this list and you’ll be pretty lucky to get a room. If you can nab one, they tailor everything including the bed, meals and ambient music to each guest’s individual preference, making it the perfect way to get over jetlag after your long flight to Milan. This hotel is ‘seventh heaven’ for shopaholics as the property’s private lift drops you directly in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest and grandest shopping arcade.
7. COMO Laucala Island, Fiji
From $9,200 AUD per night
The closest 7-star hotel experience for Australian travellers also happens to be the world’s most expensive! With no paparazzi to snap swimwear pics, COMO Laucala is where some of the world's biggest celebrities go on holiday away from the prying eyes of the public. COMO Laucala Private Island resort in Fiji is the largest private island in the Southern Hemisphere, and its hefty price tag makes it one of the world’s most exclusive holiday destinations too. The island has 25 private villas for rent, including the owner’s hilltop residence, if you have $45,000 USD to spare! Activities you can partake in on the island include a paddle in a clear-bottom kayak, a ride on the resort’s submarine (yes, really) or a round of golf with a resident pro.
