Where To Stay When Visiting The 7 Wonders Of The Modern World

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A GUIDE TO THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD: WHAT THEY ARE, WHERE THEY’RE LOCATED, AND WHERE YOU SHOULD STAY (LUXURIOUSLY, OF COURSE) ON THESE EPIC ADVENTURES.

“Adventure” and “luxury” don’t have to be mutually exclusive things, as I’ve discovered well. If you’re someone who embraces both, a quest to explore all seven of the new wonders of the world will be right up your alley. Of the original wonders — the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Pyramids of Giza, only the latter is still standing. So, in 2007, over 100 million global citizens cast their vote for the newest wonders, all highlighted here. Do you agree with the choices they made? And more importantly, are you ready for an adventure?

WONDER: MACHU PICCHU

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Incan citadel situated on a mountain ridge 7,970 feet above sea level in Peru’s Sacred Valley, just 50 miles outside of Cusco. It wasn’t actually discovered until 1911 (by American historian Hiram Bingham), but although many archaeologists have taken educated guesses about its past, little is truly known. Most believe that it was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, which was abandoned during the Spanish Conquest. It was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

STAY: TAMBO DEL INKA + PALACIO DEL INKA

Photo Credit: Tambo del Inka

Many say that the most worthwhile things in life are those you have to work for, and that is definitely the case when it comes to Machu Picchu. Those determined to climb to the top of this mountain will take extraordinary measures to get there. Most will fly into the capital city of Lima and take a connecting flight to Cusco. Given that Lima is one of the hottest culinary destinations in the world — full of World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Michelin-starred eateries such as Virgilio Martínez’s Central and Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura’s Maido, as well as World’s Best Bars like Aaron Diaz’s Carnaval, it’s best to spend a night or two and indulge. Stay at the centrally located five-star The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center, a sleek oasis with modern amenities and an excellent secret bar in Alphonse, a speakeasy inspired by the prohibition era and the life of Alphonse Capone. From there, carry on to Cusco; a great place to spend a few days drinking Pisco and getting acclimated to the altitude (it’s 8,000 feet above sea level). Check in to Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel that was part of the most famous temple of the Incan time, Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun); as such, it’s considered to be a historic landmark. The property is housed inside a 500-year-old mansion in the heart of Cusco that has a truly ancient feel thanks to its opulent, Colonial-style décor, stone archways, and ornate, gilded antiques. Make sure to stop into the hotel’s Rumi Bar to view an original, 200 square-foot Inca stone wall, learn how to make a Pisco Sour, and take an experiential cocktail journey through the apus (or mountains) of Cusco. Then, it’s time to head to the main attraction: Machu Picchu. Stay at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, the first LEED-certified hotel in Peru, located in Urubamba within Peru’s Sacred Valley. It’s breathtaking and quietly luxurious, with rooms and suites that offer private balconies with dramatic views of the Andes Mountains and the Vilcanota River. Its Kallpa Spa is one of the best in the country, with treatments that utilize ingredients from the Incas era. There’s also a heated indoor and outdoor swimming pool that offers picture-perfect views of the mountains; an authentic Andean forest within the hotel grounds; and llamas that hang out in the hotel lobby to greet guests. Sacred Valley, Av. Ferrocarril S/N, Urubamba 08660, Peru + Santo Domingo 259, Cusco 08002, Peru

WONDER: THE COLOSSEUM

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The Colosseum, which is located smack, dab in the center of Rome just east of the Forum, has the distinction of being the largest amphitheater ever built. It was initially used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, whereupon 50,000 to 80,000 spectators could witness everything from executions to reenactments of famous battles.

STAY: HOTEL HASSLER ROMA

Photo Credit: Hotel Hassler

It’s hard not to become obsessed with Hotel Hassler; it is the gold standard in Rome, after all. It commands one of the most exclusive views in the world, set at the top of the Spanish Steps, presiding over the churches, domes, and rooftops of the Eternal City like the grand dame that it is. Stay in the Hassler Penthouse Suite, which features Botticino marble floors; luxurious Hermès fabrics in hues of dove grey, rich burgundy, and orange; a grand piano; panoramic terraces; Chroma therapy showers for re-energization; use of a private butler; and even its own custom-made line of fine bone china tableware. Yet, you can’t go wrong with any of the rooms or suites here, given that each is filled with masterpieces of art and antiques such as Venetian lamps and chandeliers from Murano, Limoges porcelains, and French crystal. The property’s crown jewel is its Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant Imàgo, which is helmed by young chef Andrea Antonini. In addition to its exquisite Italian fare, the eatery offers 360-degree views of the city that are truly unbeatable. Additionally, the hotel — which also features a stunning spa and Rossano Ferretti salon — even has its own unique fragrance, Amovero, created by famed Italian “nose,” master perfumer Lorenzo Dante Ferro. Piazza della Trinità dei Monti, 6, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

WONDER: PETRA

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The ancient city of Petra is a historical icon in southern Jordan, famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. “The Rose City,” dubbed as such for its petal-pink rock structures, is Jordan’s most-visited tourist attraction and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

STAY: MÖVENPICK RESORT PETRA 

Photo Credit: Movenpick Petra

For those looking to visit the ancient city of Petra, the Mövenpick Resort Petra could not be a better (or closer) location: the hotel is located right at the entrance to the historical Petra Archeological Park. Its enviable location makes it a first choice for discerning travelers, who come to marvel at the Nabatean citadel. Its authentic antique furnishings, Oriental artwork, and classic architecture give it a locationally distinctive feel, while its spectacular sunset views across the “Valley of Moses” make it truly unbeatable in the area. Seasonal dining outlets make the most of the local desert climate, including Al Iwan, which offers cuisine in a candlelit Middle Eastern setting in the winter, while its Al Ghadeer Roof Garden transforms the space into a fairytale like setting under the stars in the summer. The hotel also features the Al Maqa’ad Bar, which guests refer to as “a unique piece of Islamic art” due to its gold leaf walls, hand-carved wooden screens, masterpiece ceiling, and rich fabrics; a spa; tea room; and — quite uniquely — a “chocolate hour” in its lobby lounge, which offers tastings of its house-made Mövenpick chocolates. Tourism St, Wadi Musa 71810, Jordan

WONDER: CHRIST THE REDEEMER

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Christ the Redeemer, an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ located at the peak of the 2,300-foot Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the most iconic sights in the world. The sculpture, who has become a global homage to Christianity, stands at 98 feet tall — not including its 26-foot pedestal or its widespread, 92-foot arms — and weighs a whopping 635 metric tons.

STAY: HOTEL FASANO RIO DE JANEIRO

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Geographically, it’s hard to beat the Fasano, which is located by the sea on Avenida Vieira Souto in the heart of Ipanema. As designed by world-renowned architect Philippe Starck, the eight-story property oozes 1950s and ‘60s glamour with its use of wood, glass, marble, and dark hardwood floors throughout its 89 rooms, 42 of which have ocean views. The property’s pièce de résistance is its rooftop infinity pool, which offers endless, breathtaking views of Ipanema, Leblon, Corcovado, and the Two Brothers Mountain. Av. Vieira Souto, 80 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22420-002, Brazil

WONDER: GREAT WALL OF CHINA

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“Great” is an understatement when it comes to China’s Great Wall, one of the world’s largest building-construction projects. Archaeologists still argue about its length, of which is debatably between 5,500 and 13,170 miles. What is definitively known is that its construction began in seventh century BCE and continued for an additional two millennia — and that it is one of the few worldwide landmarks that can be seen from space.

STAY: BVLGARI HOTEL, BEIJING

Photo Credit: Bvlgari Beijing

Although most folks won’t be able to walk the entirety of the Great Wall of China (especially given that no one seems to know exactly how long it actually is), a great place to enter is close to China’s capital city of Beijing, roughly a 90-minute drive away. Our property pick is for the Bvlgari Hotel, Beijing, a true urban oasis set in the midst of Chaoyang, the Embassy District on the banks of the Liangma River. This serene playground is set amidst lush private gardens created by international landscape designer Enzo Enea, founder of the Tree Museum in Zurich. The hotel’s 119 exquisitely furnished rooms use Italian luxury residential furniture brands like Maxalto, B&B Italia, and Flos, inclusive of its exceptional Bvlgari Suite, which, at over 1,300 square feet, is one of the largest in Beijing. The hotel is also home to Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, a gorgeous eatery highlighted by custom-designed Murano glass chandeliers as well as chairs and columns wrapped in dark-brown leather; the Bvlgari Spa, with a distinctive pool made of shimmering mosaic tiles reminiscent of the historic Terme di Caracalla Roman baths; and a fleet of Maserati limousines.China, CN CN 굇쑴懇날捺혐劤都켓쨌8뵀牘2뵀짜 錟漣긍쯤: 100027

WONDER: CHICHÉN ITZÁ

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Chichén Itzá is an ancient Mayan city on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula that was built sometime between the 9th and 12th centuries. It’s wild to think how advanced the Mayans were given that its imposing, 79-foot primary structure, El Castillo (The Castle), features 365 steps, the same number of days in the solar year. During the spring and fall equinoxes, the setting sun casts shadows on the pyramid that give the appearance of a serpent slithering down the north stairway; at its base is a stone snake head.

STAY: CHABLÉ YUCATÁN

Photo Credit: Chable Yucatan

There are very few luxury hotels close to Chichén Itzá. As such, our recommendation, Chablé Yucatán, is still a two-hour drive away — but what you’ll find upon arrival is worth the wait. This is the first hotel in the world to be built around a cenote, a naturally-formed underground pool deemed sacred by the Mayans. Guests will feel the healing begin as soon as they set foot on the property, and that wellness vibe continues via healing ceremonies that take place in a traditional temazcal, or steam house, with energy clearing rituals, treatments that use the honey from Melipona bees, a sacred species endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula, and more. It’s intimate, with only 40 casitas on site, ensuring optimal privacy, and it has a distinctive culinary pedigree in that Jorge Vallejo, the chef behind Mexico City’s Quintonil, one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, helms its flagship restaurant, Ixi’im (which also houses the largest tequila collection in the world, with more than 3,700 unique bottles). Tablaje #642, Chocholá, C.P. 97816, Yucatán, México

WONDER: TAJ MAHAL

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The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra, commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took nearly 30 years to fully complete, with an estimated cost of what would be, today, $827 million. In 1983, it became a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

STAY: THE OBEROI AMARVILAS, AGRA

Photo Credit: Oberoi Amarvila

The Oberoi Amarvilas is located less than a half mile away from the iconic Taj Mahal. Coupled with its unparalleled opulence, there truly isn’t a better place to stay when visiting the area. The property, which is spread over a little more than eight acres of elaborate gardens, terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools, and pavilions, features a classical design that pays tribute to Moorish and Mughal architecture, accentuating awe-inspiring vistas of the most exquisite mausoleum in the world. Its interiors follow suit with touches of intricate filigree and marble inlay work, jaali (screens), gold thread and bead embroidery, woodcarvings, and hand-woven tapestries. Stay in the Kohinoor suite, a roughly 3,000 square-foot paradise named after the legendary diamond of Indian origin and which features private open-air terraces and a bathroom with a rain showerhead that provides temperature-controlled rain-on-tap and a stand-alone bathtub strategically positioned in front of a huge single-pane glass window that overlooks the Taj Mahal. Make sure to pop into The Bar, which happens to be the only bar in the world which has a direct and uninterrupted view of the Taj Mahal. Taj East Gate Rd, Paktola, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India