When it comes to what makes a truly spectacular hotel , a cliffside setting is hard to beat. Undoubtedly, some of the most stunning properties in the world are situated dramatically on top of the cliffs.
Awe-inspiring views, whether ocean, mountain or valley, along with enviable locations give these hotels an endless fascination – it’s no wonder they are among the most coveted accommodations by travelers.
“Cliff properties have everything you could want in a stay,” says Josh Alexander, a consultant for Protravel, a travel company in New York City.
“They are romantic, private and generally very luxurious. Literally and figuratively, you feel on top of the world.”
These are hotels worth daydreaming for future trips, even if the pandemic means a stay isn’t in your immediate future.
From Dominica and Big Sur to the Amalfi Coast and Santorini, here are some of the most impressive and awe-inspiring cliff top hotels in the world :
Secret Bay, Dominica
In the pristine Caribbean island nation of Dominica, this boutique resort of villas is perched atop a high headland amidst lush rainforest and overlooking the sea. All units have kitchens, indoor and outdoor living areas, and plunge pools.
There are ocean views from almost everywhere on the property, including the open-air restaurant and treehouse-style spa.
Guests can enjoy numerous activities on land and at sea – including lionfish hunting, diving in Champagne Reef and hiking the longest trail in the Caribbean.
Angama Mara, Kenya
Perched 300 meters above the Maasai Mara, Angama Mara sits on the edge of the Great Rift Valley and offers endless sweeping plains panoramas. The field’s name was inspired by the Swahili word for “suspended in the air”.
The location also served as a location for the 1985 film “Out of Africa”. Guests can expect a view of high-quality gaming, including Africa’s Big Five, every month of the year, both on safaris and walking safaris.
Amenities include a photography studio, gym, art gallery, 40-foot-long swimming pool and a studio where local Maasai women do bespoke items.
Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Formerly a monastery dating back to the 17th century, the family-run Monastero Santa Rosa sits on a cliff side overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. With 20 rooms, it has an infinity pool, five levels of landscaped gardens filled with bougainvillea, a Michelin-starred restaurant and several open-air pavilions.
The spa is the best on the Amalfi Coast and offers treatments using local herbs and plants, while the quaint towns of Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello are 20 minutes away by car or boat.
Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection, Santorini, Greece
Perched high above Santorini’s caldera, in the island’s northwest village of Imerovigli, the whitewashed Grace Hotel is the ideal place to enjoy the most captivating sunrises and sunsets on the Aegean Sea.
The property has a champagne lounge overlooking the sea, a beautiful infinity pool, an upscale Mediterranean restaurant, and a yoga and Pilates studio.
For a splurge, travelers can book the two-bedroom villa, which features a spacious outdoor terrace with a private pool, as well as a private spa area with a heated indoor pool.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Nizwa, Oman
Towering 6,000 feet above sea level on the curved edge of a canyon, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar – Arabic for “green mountain” – overlooks Oman’s rugged, mountainous landscape.
It’s an area that Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales visited in 1986 to see the dramatic beauty first-hand.
The resort has 115 rooms, a cliff-side infinity pool, six restaurants and lounges, and a spa with a hammam. Guests can hike through the valleys, watch the stars, go mountain biking or visit ancient mountain villages and historic sites nearby.
Reid’s Palace, Madeira, Portugal
Set on a rocky cliff above Madeira’s Porto do Funchal, Reid’s Palace, a Belmond hotel, is surrounded by ten hectares of subtropical gardens and offers expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean from each of its 158 rooms.
One of the resort’s three pools sits at the base of the cliff and has a sea-level platform so guests can jump right into the ocean.
The Italian restaurant also overlooks the sea and is an especially picturesque spot to enjoy island sunsets.
Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Ireland
Located on Ireland’s south east coast in the fishing village of Ardmore, the aptly named Cliff House Hotel sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the expanses of Ardmore Bay and beyond.
The Well by the Sea spa features rooms and an after-care relaxation area that seems to float above the bay.
The property’s excellent Michelin-starred restaurant serves contemporary Irish cuisine, and the hotel is a great base for exploring the surrounding villages, as well as Cork City, less than an hour’s drive away.
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
In remote Big Sur, Post Ranch Inn, a favorite getaway for the who’s who of Hollywood, sits 300 meters above the Pacific Ocean.
Guests can look forward to the sight and sound of crashing waves, breathtaking sunsets and a relaxed atmosphere where days are filled with scenic walks, relaxing by the pool or indulging in a spa treatment (which takes place in between. of the forest).
Dining in the property’s glass-enclosed Sierra Mar restaurant is an experience akin to floating in the sky.
Source: CNN Brasil
