Morocco Boasts the Second Most Expensive Luxury Hotel in the World

FEATURE

09/06/12

Kathy Kehrli

Still considered a developing nation, Morocco isn’t a country with which one typically associates luxury travel. Surprisingly then, the Royal Mansour in Marrakech, one of Morocco’s major cities, is home to the second most expensive hotel in the world, according to a recent survey from Luxury-Hotels-com.

The survey ranked luxury hotels across the globe based on their average rates for a standard double room during the period spanning June to August 2012. The cost of the cheapest available room at each establishment served as the basis for comparison. As such, it represents the minimum amount a traveler had to pay to stay at that particular hotel.

To stay overnight at the Royal Mansour this summer, visitors had to shell out at least $2060 per night, on average. When the list was compiled, only one hotel came in more expensive. That honor went to the Le Dune, located on the Mediterranean Island of Sardinia, at $2539 nightly.

If the list is examined as a whole, Sardinia appears to be the ultimate luxury destination. Indeed, a total of five of its luxury hotels landed inside the Top 10. Another African hotel made it onto the list as well, though. The Maia Luxury Resort and Spa, located in Mayhé, the largest island of the Seychelles, snagged the number eight slot with an average rate of $1692 for a standard room.

The following rankings show the world’s 10 most expensive luxury hotels for the period spanning June through August 2012. The rates listed are based on the average price for a standard double room.

1. Le Dune, Forte Village Resort (Sardinia, Italy) $2539

2. Royal Mansour (Marrakech, Morocco) $2060

3. Hotel Pitrizza (Sardinia, Italy) $2041

4. Villa del Parco (Sardinia, Italy) $2031

5. Amankora (Paro, Bhutan) $1910

6. Hotel Cala di Volpe (Sardinia, Italy) $1904

7. Hotel Romazzino (Sardinia, Italy) $1850

8. Maia Luxury Resort and Spa (Anse Louis, Seychelles) $1692

9. Southern Ocean Lodge (Kangaroo Island, Australia) $1665

10. Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) $1651

To see the survey’s full rankings, check out  http://www.luxury-hotels.com/press/survey-2012.html.