The London Eye as an Insta-shot from your balcony? No problem. We window-shop for the best family suites with the world’s ultimate views.
A mini musician’s dream will come true in this striking penthouse. With a Steinway Model O piano, record deck, private lift taking you between levels and two vintage-style chandeliers, the spirit of the 1920s music scene lives on. The experience reaches a crescendo as you enter the outside space, complete with dining area, gas fire and mix of city and riverside views. With a butler tending to every need, you can watch the London Eye rotate from your suite while the kids practise their scales and arpeggios.
Wake up in the heart of London with floor-to- ceiling windows offering dramatic views of the River Thames, Canary Wharf, the Houses of Parliament and beyond. The kids will love spotting seven of London’s bridges from the suite, while you relax in the bathtub knowing that a Savoy Butler is unpacking for you. If the little ones want to get a close-up view of what they can see from their rooms, a chauffer-driven Rolls-Royce courtesy car will take you around the city for the day.
Step into the largest hotel penthouse suite in the USA, perfect for multigenerational travel. Meghan Markle held her baby shower here, giving the two-storey suite – with its rooftop terrace and panoramic views of Central Park and the glistening New York City skyline – the royal seal of approval. This castle-in-the-sky features three king and two queen bedrooms, six bathrooms, a library lounge and dining room for 12. The suite is large in both size and character, sure to entertain everyone from grandma to the tiny tots.
The view from the balcony of this suite will have the family in awe: Lake Como stretches out beyond the shuttered French doors, with views across the water to the town of Bellagio. Little guests are welcomed with bears wearing bright orange bows (the hotel’s signature colour) on their pillows. Take your children on a ferry ride across the blue lake to other waterside towns or search for the big hotel bear by climbing up to the viewing point high above the hotel where Bobo the teddy (named after owner and CEO Valentina De Santis’ beloved childhood toy) sits surveying the view – the only one that’s better than yours.
Sitting on the west bank of the Nile, kids will be treated to a bird’s-eye view of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens below, while the Great Pyramid of Giza stands proudly in the distance. The residential-style layout of these suites is perfect for families who want to feel right at home, while the views of the pyramids and Nile from the terrace offer a palatial feeling. The 108–115-square-metre suites offer plenty of space, with marble bathrooms, open living areas and panoramic terraces perfect for entertaining. Or perhaps a night in with room service is more your speed, perfect for tired tots after a day spent exploring the pyramids you see from afar.
Wake up to the picturesque view spilling before you in this expansive suite that immerses you entirely in the rainforest of Zimbabwe. The gorge-facing suite offers spectacular views over the surrounding woodland, while at sunset and sunrise a layer of mist from Victoria Falls – one of the seven natural wonders of the world – glistens with an orange hue that makes a magical background for a family photo opp. Whether splashing about in the private plunge pool, rinsing off in the outdoor shower, or relaxing in the open-plan style rooms, you will be treated to the most enviable view of the largest waterfall in the world.
Kids will feel like fashion royalty staying in this lavish suite overlooking chic Avenue Montaigne. Stretching over 130 square metres, this one-bedroom suite has second-to- none views of the Eiffel Tower, framed by an ornate frame for an extra touch of glamour. Children will be greeted by the signature red hotel teddy bear, Gustave, propped up on their bed, while parents will be entranced by the quintessentially Parisian design. Silken fabrics inspired by the history of haute couture, antique furnishings and silver-leaf accents offer a suitably palatial feel, complete with baby grand piano. The Concierge is on hand to help you plan activities to delight all ages.
Located in the heart of the Greek capital, this suite offers legendary views of Athens’ most famous landmarks, taking you back to ancient times in the most stylishly modern way. Kids can peer down at the changing of the guard at Syntagma Square, marvel at the Parthenon atop the Acropolis and soak up the grandeur of the White Church of Agios Georgis. The 70-square-metre suite is perfect for families with its butler service and option for interconnecting rooms, and is complete with heavy silks, a glistening chandelier and antique furnishings.
The ultimate in high-end accommodation is right on our doorstep. This 350-square-metre suite is perfect for families with two bedrooms, a full kitchen with dining table for eight, master bathroom with freestanding spa bath, dry sauna and steam room and an outdoor terrace with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer unrivalled views of the Opera House and Circular Quay, while the hotel’s rooftop pool is perfect for the kids to cool off in while you soak up the surroundings and sip on a cocktail.
Nestled in a private hillside setting facing the famous Pitons volcanic mountains and the Caribbean Sea, this is the perfect suite for families seeking the serenity of the natural world. The open-walled living concept invites the outside in, so you are totally immersed within the paradisiacal landscape. With the 15-square-metre private pool, there’s no need to leave your sanctuary, although little ones might want to join in the fun at Kids Sea Camp (there are sessions throughout the year) or learn how to make everyone’s favourite treat in the Chocolate Laboratory.
Just 600 metres from the Taj Mahal, you cannot beat the position of this hotel. The suite’s wall-to-wall windows offer a striking view of the Taj Mahal at every angle – you can even see it from the standalone bathtub. The open floorplan means you can walk fluidly from one end of the suite to the other without compromising the view, while silk room dividers can provide a little privacy if your little ones need a rest. For those who want to venture out to take a closer look at the white-marble UNESCO World Heritage Site, private golf buggies can be arranged for the family.
This pastel-pink hideaway is located right next to one of the planet’s greatest natural wonders, and is a must-visit for families who appreciate the almighty power of nature. Surrounded by a lush 185,000 hectares of tropical forest, guests are granted exclusive access to the park, allowing them to immerse themselves in their surroundings for a truly visceral experience. The indulgent suite is complete with plush interconnecting deluxe bedrooms, spacious living areas and four balconies perfect for admiring the majesty of the falls.
With not one, not two, but four cantilevered balconies soaring more than 150 metres above Manhattan, this suite gives your family 360-degree views from the very centre of the Big Apple. The balconies are diagonally aligned with Manhattan’s grid layout, and glass-panel railings on the balconies ensure that your unique view of this iconic city is completely uninterrupted. You’ll find views of a different kind inside, with a selection of original works by international artists hanging on the hand-lacquered, mother-of-pearl-inlaid walls of the living room.
Take a cable car up from the bustle of downtown San Francisco to the Fairmont San Francisco and experience the best view of the city and the bay from your eighth-floor suite. Spanning the entire floor of the hotel’s historic building, there’s plenty of space for the kids to roam with three bedrooms, a grand piano, formal dining room, kitchen, two-storey library and expansive balcony with sweeping views beyond. Little touches make a huge impression on young guests, starting with Ollie the Otter amenity kits and mini bathrobes so they can be like mum and dad.
A trip to Cape Town is not complete without seeing one of the New7Wonders of Nature – Table Mountain – and the Presidential Suite has the best view in utmost luxury. The lavishly large terraces offer captivating views of Table Mountain and the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, while the suite is complete with two guest rooms with king-size beds, a butler’s kitchen with butler access and private gym with massage bed. The hotel’s brilliant KidsOnly Club facilities include Nintendo and Xbox consoles, plus mini guests receive a welcome gift and half-price meals.
This article originally appeared in Five Star Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.
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