Immerse yourself in the storied history of one of these top five mansions and manor houses turned hotel.

The Villa By Barton G., Miami, Florida

Find sanctuary in one of  ten opulently appointed hotel suites that await guests at fashion designer Gianni Versace’s former mansion on Miami’s Ocean Drive.

Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador

Due to the importance of old Quito’s Plaza San Francisco over the centuries, wealthy families built their homes around it. This mansion on the hotel’s present site later became the residence of several Republican-era presidents. It was completely rebuilt in 1926 by its owners, the Gangotenas, whose family included important industrialists, politicians, landowners, academics and even poets.

Adare Manor Hotel, Adare, Ireland

This exceptional Neo-Gothic manor owes its existence to one of the most excruciating ailments of its time. The second Earl of Dunraven, an active outdoorsman, had been laid low by gout and confined to indoors. His wife, Lady Caroline, had encouraged him to embrace this immense architectural undertaking to distract him from the pain of the disease. It was a distraction that would develop and mature into the next generation.

Les Ottomans Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey

This luxurious ten-suite, boutique hotel on the Bosphorous was built in the 1790 as a mansion for Muhsinzade Mehmet Pasha. Family members lived in the mansion until 1929. On the property, there is an exquisite Ottoman era fountain and garden set that dates back to the time of Ahmet III.

La Posta Vecchia Hotel, Ladispoli, Italy

In the 17th century, this hotel was an outbuilding of the castle owned by the Orsini family, one of the oldest families in Rome. Following its sale, and a devastating fire, the American billionaire J. Paul Getty purchased the property in the 1960s, transforming it into his seaside home. During the restoration, a Roman villa from the 2nd century BC was discovered and its precious remnants are now exhibited in the hotel’s museum.

The royal family has a long history of traveling around the world. When royals stay in a hotel, you can imagine the accommodation is top in luxury and service. Where in the world have the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed when not in one of their royal residences? Aside from royal chateaus and other private residences, several first class hotels have had the grand privilege of hosting the young royal couple.

A Quintessential English Hotel Neighboring Buckingham Palace

The Goring hotel in the elite Belgravia section of London has been in service for over a century. It sits adjacent to Buckingham Palace, making it a perfect location for visiting royals to stay when in Londontown. With a rich history, this historic hotel practically serves as an annex to the palace. In fact, the night before marrying Prince William and becoming the title, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton stayed at The Goring.

Each of the 69 bedrooms and suites encapsulate the quintessentially English feel of this grand hotel. Over the past five years, the hotel has engaged some of the top British interior designers to add glamour, sophistication and luxury to all of the rooms and suites while retaining the coziness of a home away from home.

Enjoy the most British of traditions, afternoon tea, on the sunny terrace overlooking the private gardens or in the warm, inviting lounge. In the winter months, enjoy tea by a roaring fire while looking out upon the immaculate lawn.

A Solitary Resort on Desroches Island in the Seychelles

Part of the Seychelles, the exclusive and luxurious Desroches Island of the Amirantes Archipelago is considered to be one of the most pristine and untouched islands in the world.

About an hour away by air from Mahé, Seychelles, Desroches Island Resort is a refuge for indulgent private escapes set amid an atoll islet with palm fringed white sand beaches, lush hardwood trees and tropical island vegetation. It is here that the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, spent their honeymoon.

The island, an exotic land mass 6 km long and 1.5 km wide, has only one luxurious resort with a range of accommodation options. Each option offers intimate privacy and spacious luxury with tastefully modern designs that blend seamlessly into the exotic island setting.

An Iconic Colonial Oasis in Tropical Southeast Asia

First opened in 1887, Raffles Hotel Singapore epitomizes the romance of the Far East. It boasts an intoxicating blend of luxury, history and colonial ambiance. Continuing to make history, it is here that William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, stayed during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tour.

Immortalized by writers including Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway and Alfred Hitchcock, Raffles is the perfect place from which to explore Singapore. The hotel’s Long Bar is home to the legendary Singapore Sling cocktail.

The lovely palm court, white marble colonnades and unique air of romantic grandeur transport guests back to a more elegant time. Liveried Sikh doormen usher guests through an ornate wrought-iron portico into a lobby that seems unaltered from the turn of the century. Guests stroll across the polished teak verandas past tropical gardens to suites with an elegant parlour, period furnishings, a bedroom that leads to a dressing room and en suite bathroom.

Luxuriate in the history, in the scent of frangipani in the evening, in the Raffles Spa, or indulge in room service from the legendary Raffles butlers.

A Wellness Hotel Set Amidst the Swiss Alps with a Private Mountain Railway

Arosa, Switzerland lies at the end of the Schanfigg Valley and is regarded as a resort with guaranteed snow in winter. Thanks to its position, the area is blessed with generous sunshine and is well sheltered from the wind. In the summer and fall, visitors can enjoy radiant alpine roses and crystal-clear lakes as well as the colorful autumn show put on by deciduous and coniferous forests.

The Tschuggen Grand Hotel showcases the breathtaking mountain scenery of Graubünden at its most beautiful. Even the most seasoned traveler will appreciate the genuine hospitality, attention to detail, and understated elegance. The hotel is one of the most impressive wellness areas in Europe set in a stunning mountain landscape. The hotel even has its own mountain railway, the Tschuggen Express, which takes guests directly to the ski and mountain resort of Arosa.

Established 1883 as a retreat for those in need of the therapeutic effects of Arosa’s fresh air, the refuge became a hotel in 1929 for winter and summer sports enthusiasts. It has seen its ups and downs, but was transformed, with a sizable investment, in 2004 under the expert guidance of the internationally renowned Swiss architects, Mario Botta and Carlo Rampazzi. The entire infrastructure was remodeled to perfection, but it is the uniquely modern Tschuggen Bergoase spa facility that is unforgettable.

It is certainly not unusual to encounter famous guests here. In fact, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge recently stayed here for a friend’s wedding.

An icon of hip, modern hotels on Santorini, the Chromata Hotel, in Imerovigli on the most romantic island of Greece’s Cyclades, boasts a glamorous, contemporary design.

Long acknowledged as one of the chicest and most luxurious hotels in Imerovigli, new design details enhance the 5 star hotel’s incredibly beautiful and romantic location by using lots of white hues while incorporating elements of the astounding beauty of the island with the use of rich textures and sumptuous fabrics.

Perched on Santorini’s caldera edge in the Cyclades village of Imerovigli, which is perhaps the most emblematic picture postcard image of both the Cyclades and Greece, the small luxury hotel effortlessly blends a sense of glamour and tradition with modern amenities.

The mesmerizing sea view rooms and suites, all pure and white, are amongst the most luxurious accommodation on the island of Santorini.

5 – 8 Best Luxury Overwater Villas – Maldives

One&Only Reethi Rah

5Surrounded by the crystal blue wonders of the Indian Ocean, the One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives all-villa resort offers an unrivaled level of style, luxury and personalized exploration. Sleek and spectacular, with genuine privacy, Reethi Rah inspires extraordinary journeys for the soul.

Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef

6Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef Maldives has all the exotic ocean views and dramatic sunsets that are expected of any tropical vacation. The twist comes when you step into your overwater villa and you find a streamlined, sophisticated take on resort accommodations, rather than the usual beach decor.

Cocoa Island

7Cocoa Island is a small, private island resort designed for those seeking an easygoing, foot-in-the-sand excursion. The rich, warm waters and bountiful coral of the Maldives promise some of the world’s best beach going, snorkeling and diving experiences.

Conrad Rangali Island

8The award winning Conrad Rangali Island Maldives resort is set on two private islands offering beach and overwater villas among miles of idyllic white sand beach and unspoiled reef.

» 1 – 4 Best Luxury Overwater Villas

The award-winning, Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Island Resort is one of the most renowned vacation destinations in the South Pacific. Located on a coconut plantation on the island of Vanua Levu, the luxury hotel accommodations overlook the peaceful waters of Savusavu Bay.

The acclaimed resort is an international favorite for romantics and honeymooners who want to combine heavenly surroundings with an unsurpassed range of eco-friendly activities. Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort is the only luxury resort that employs a full-time marine biologist to help visitors appreciate the underwater world of Fiji.

Reflecting the Fijian essence, the traditional structure, called a bure, incorporates local thatch, bamboo reeds and hardwood timbers. The underfoot decks are made of recycled materials or imported stone paving. Cotton silk fabrics in vibrant reef colors enrich each bure’s decor.

Set in the heart of a lost Eden, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles offers guests an unrivaled luxury hotel experience in a natural jungle setting. Tree-top villas, deserted beaches and world-class service unite to fulfill your notion of paradise.

Experience solitude and serenity in the treetop villas of the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. Take in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean and discover your own private sanctuary in one of the Seychelles luxury resort villas perched upon stilts high in the hillside jungle or nestled amidst the greenery that borders the beach.

Relax in expansive indoor and outdoor spaces built in the traditional Creole style or cool off  in the infinity plunge pool which is surrounded by a natural hardwood deck. Enjoy sleek, airy interiors with ample room to get a massage, watch the sunset or savor a leisurely, in-room meal.

Tucked away in an exclusive area on Hamilton Island’s northern-most tip, Qualia’s private pavilions overlook the Coral Sea and the surrounding Whitsunday Islands.

A byword for Hamilton Island luxury, the Qualia Resort is situated on the secluded, northern-most tip of Hamilton Island surrounded by all the splendor of the Great Barrier Reef. With a relaxed atmosphere and mesmerizing calmness, time seems to stand still.

Surrounded by tropical bushland, each of Qualia’s light-filled pavilions face the water. Natural tones of timber, stone and glass reflect the serenity of Qualia’s Whitsundays locale while subtly framing the seafront setting and providing sweeping views from every room.

At the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, private and exclusive villas sit on the edge of the vast and spectacular Indian Ocean, while richly appointed guest rooms overlook the sandy southern shores of Jimbaran Bay.

Inspired by traditional Balinese architecture, the resort’s villas are housed within free-standing thatched-roof pavilions. Each villa features lush gardens, spacious indoor and outdoor living areas, a personal courtyard and a private pool.

Exclusive and private, the Royal Villas sit behind stone walls overlooking the ocean. The private terraces are the perfect place to unwind and take in stunning panoramic views of Jimbaran Bay.

Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef Maldives has all the exotic ocean views and dramatic sunsets that are typical of any tropical vacation. The twist comes when you step into your villa and find a streamlined, sophisticated take on resort accommodations rather than the usual beach decor.

Guests of the luxury beach resort are greeted at the airport and transported by luxury speedboat to Hembadhu Island, home to the Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef.

The resort is a diver’s dream destination with numerous diving sites to explore, including its own reef and shipwreck. For those that prefer to stay on land, the view of the lagoon dotted with water villas is hypnotic White sands and magnificent coconut palms will have you basking in tranquility.

The Premium Indulgence Water Villas beckon visitors. Each villa is a personal paradise with a thatched roof and outer deck overlooking the water with space to savor dinner. The idyllic villas come complete with an open air shower and wide wooden ladder leading just into the lagoon.

The W Vieques Resort & Spa is located eight miles off the southeast coast of Puerto Rico on the island of Vieques. The stunningly designed island oasis is blessed with two secluded palm-lined beaches, a top-notch restaurant, a full-service spa and countless leisure activities making W Vieques the ultimate Caribbean wonderland.

Succumb to the relaxing, luxurious allure of villa living as only the W could provide. Breathtaking vistas from your private balcony abound at the exclusive beach resort. Take a dip in the infinity pool or immerse yourself in the wonders of the Bioluminescent Bay which is the world’s largest and brightest glowing bays.

If you’re a fan of ABC’s The Bachelor, the W Vieques Resort & Spa should look familiar. The luxury beach resort even has exclusive Bachelor packages available which allow you to experience the thrills of Vieques Island just like Ben and his Bachelorettes.