Geneva: The place for a vacation—if money doesn't matter
Famous for being a font of global diplomacy and expensive watches, Geneva continuously ranks among the world's most costly travel destinations, and with good reason. During 2014, the average daily rate (ADR) for luxury European hotels was $866 per night, according to luxury travel company Virtuoso. For Switzerland, it was $929 per night.
Switzerland's economy draws in more than 34 billion Swiss francs ($36 billion) annually from tourism, according to the Swiss Federal Statistics Office, with Geneva as its centerpiece. The city has a well-earned reputation as a hub for all things cosmopolitan and international, and it is estimated that more than 40 percent of Geneva's population comes from other countries. For lovers of the finer things in life, the city should be near the top of any list of potential summer getaways.
Naturally, it won't be cheap. A study by Hotels.com, which used a "club sandwich index" that recalls The Economist's"Big Mac" Index that measures purchasing power across economies, shows that Geneva is the most expensive city for a regular club sandwich. The quirky study revealed that the average such sandwich costs a whopping 20 francs (the equivalent of about $21).
Provided that money is no object, finding a suitably grand living arrangement won't be a problem.
The Hotel President Wilson—part of the Starwood family of hotels—boasts the most expensive room in all of Switzerland, and indeed the world. The 12-bedroom, 12-bathroom Royal Penthouse Suite covers an impressive 18,000 square feet (the entire eighth floor of the hotel).
If you stay in this grand "room," you can expect a hefty list of amenities and features.
"Sweeping views of the lake, a private gym, a Steinway piano and probably anything else a guest could desire," said Misty Belles, director of global public relations at Virtuoso. "It also has enhanced security measures such as bulletproof glass and a private elevator."
It doesn't come as a surprise, then, that the Royal Penthouse Suite is attached to a price tag of at least $64,000 and tops out at $83,000 a night—making it the most expensive suite in the world.
The Hotel President Wilson—part of the Starwood family of hotels—boasts the most expensive room in all of Switzerland, and indeed the world. The 12-bedroom, 12-bathroom Royal Penthouse Suite covers an impressive 18,000 square feet (the entire eighth floor of the hotel).
If you stay in this grand "room," you can expect a hefty list of amenities and features.
"Sweeping views of the lake, a private gym, a Steinway piano and probably anything else a guest could desire," said Misty Belles, director of global public relations at Virtuoso. "It also has enhanced security measures such as bulletproof glass and a private elevator."
It doesn't come as a surprise, then, that the Royal Penthouse Suite is attached to a price tag of at least $64,000 and tops out at $83,000 a night—making it the most expensive suite in the world.
Geneva: The place for a vacation—if money doesn't matter
