It's a different world for the 1%. While many of us will think twice before deep diving into the mini-bars of our hotel rooms, there are others that wouldn't even flinch at ordering ski sessions with an Olympian and 24-karat gold iPads for their stay.
Here are the most outrageously extravagant hotel amenities money can buy:
Butler service (The Lodge at Sea Island, Georgia)
$$$: Price included with room
Live like Bruce Wayne for your stay with this service. The Lodge at Sea Island has butlers on deck 24/7 to do everything for you from wiping the corner of your mouth to packing your bags.
Personal bartender (Cavallo Point, Sausalito)
$$$: $65 AUD/hour (excluding tax, gratuity, and delivery fee)
Because who has time to pour their own drinks, anyways?
Personal shopper & stylist (Hotel Saint Cecilia)
$$$: Complimentary (partnerships with fashion and lifestyle store)
Enjoy a curated styling session with the good folks at ByGeorge. Signature collection from the company brought to your room included.
Recovery concierge (The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans)
$$$: (?)
Hangover keeping you down? Not a worry. Just ring for the recovery concierge. Nursing you back to health by doing everything from making a Bloody Mary to delivering you a smoothie, why should you ever reach 100% on your own?
Ski session with an Olympian (L'Apogee Courchevel)
$$$: $2,606 AUD/day (includes accommodation + professional stretching)
Spend the day skiing with fifteen time France champion and Olympic gold medallist, Florence Masnada.
Private tequila tour + tasting (Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita)
$$$: $29,975 AUD/two people
This one sounds quite pedestrian until you get into the details. For about $30,000 AUD, this package buys a private helicopter ride to the Jose Cuervo distillery in Tequila, Mexico, an exclusive tour lead by a tequila expert, after which you get to actually drink some tequila and relax.
Champagne bubble bath (Il Salviatino, Florence)
$$$: $11,729 AUD/bath (starting price)
Soak yourself in a private bath filled with French Champagne, Prosecco, or Spumante. An additional bottle is also provided for drinking. There's also a chocolate fountain bath which comes with fruit to dip starting at $3,518 AUD.
24-Karat gold iPads (Burj Al Arab Jumierah, Dubai)
$$$: Complimentary
Exactly what it sounds like. Given to guests at their arrival, it also grants access to hotel information and services.
Private recording studio (Eden Rock, St. Bart's)
$$$: Complimentary (with booking Villa Rockstar suite)
Ever find yourself chilling on vacation with the burning desire to drop a fire mixtape? You're in luck. This studio comes equipped with all sorts of guitars, drums, bass, piano synths, amps, and mixing console-- the same mixing console apparently used by John Lennon to record 'Imagine'.
Helicopter glacier tours (Sonora Resort, British Columbia)
$$$: $5,083 AUD/hour, $7,299 AUD/two and a half hours
The glaciers and peaks on the British Columbia coast just have to be seen in person. The tour is concluded with a remote gourmet picnic with 360 views at the mountaintop.
Helicopter cave tours (Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler)
$$$: $1,818 AUD/person
Experience Canada's largest and southernmost ice caps as well as a guided tour through the caves.
Paragliding tour (Six Senses Zighy Bag, Diba Musandam)
$$$: (?)
Live life on the very edge with a professional paragliding session of the Zighy Mountain in Oman. You'll be reaching altitudes as high as 960 feet.
Private fireworks (Las Ventanas al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo)
$$$: (?)
To make things easier, you can design the entire show from an iPad. The answer is yes. Always.
