THE TOP HOTELS AND MOST VISITED PLACES IN THE WORLD?

You might already know these famous hotels by name, but do you know why they’re famous? Here’s what earned some of the world’s best-known hotels their prominence—and why you should stay there.

1. Mardan Palace, Turkey

Mardan Palace is a luxury hotel based in Lara, Antalya with a reported cost of approximately $1.4 billion. With over 560 hotel rooms, it is commonly known as Europe’s most expensive luxury resort.

Facilities include a 12,000 sq ft spa, 4 aquariums, 5 acres of pool plus a personal beach for the guests with sand imported from Egypt. Perfect for travelers wishing to combine comfort with luxury, the hotel includes velvet lined furniture, exotic wood floors and marble bathroom interiors.

2. Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Built to represent the sail of an Arabian dhow, the Burj Al Arab is the seventh tallest hotel in the world. Easily one of the most outrageously extravagant hotels in the world, it features a pillow menu with nine types of pillows for the guest to choose from, 24-carat gold leaf walls and full-sized Hermes amenities in every suite.

Whilst the official rating of the hotel is 5-star (the highest hotel rating there is), it is widely referred to as a seven-star hotel. This magnificent destination offers world class service-right down to the chauffeur driven Rolls Royce service.

3. Atlantis Paradise, Bahamas

Welcome to paradise. As one of the most stunning hotels in the Caribbean, Atlantis island resort features 11 swimming pools, a magnificent water park, 18-hole golf course, 21 restaurants, gym, tennis courts, a spa and even a Pilates and yoga studio. With a whole array of activities from family friendly fun to after dark nightlife, there is truly something for everyone at this awesome resort.

4. Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace is a lavish, golden exterior property overlooking the shores of the Arabian Gulf. Offering an array of worldwide cuisines, 1.3km of private beach land, a private marina and coral rooms with garden views, this iconic hotel welcomes guests into a world of indulgence. Emirates Palace is a testament to Abu Dhabi, showcasing Arabian culture at its finest via its whopping three-billion-dollar construction.

5. The Plaza, New York City

Based in midtown Manhattan, The Plaza has been one of New York’s most treasured landmarks since 1969. For over 100 years, the hotel has welcomed guests from around the world, including dignitaries, Hollywood royalty and world leaders.

Providing a luxurious backdrop for famous blockbusters, guests can indulge in an opulent five star stay whilst being conveniently situated near New York City Center, Rockefeller Center, the Radio City Music Hall and Central Park.

6. Westin Excelsior, Rome

Offering the true ‘Roman Emperor’ experience, The Westin Excelsior is not only a luxury hotel but a prized landmark too. Featuring Empire style furniture, indoor swimming pools styled after Pompeian baths and bohemian chandeliers, the Westin Excelsior has become a symbol for Italian opulence. Also famed for its Café Doney, the lounge bar often has opera singers as entertainment during Sunday brunch.

7. The Palms, Las Vegas

Situated near the Las Vegas Strip, The Palms offers uncompromising service and prides itself on being ‘different in design’. As one of Las Vegas’ most ambitious projects, the hotel and casino underwent a jaw-dropping $690million renovation to make The Palms one of the world’s most sought after luxury destinations. Featuring artwork from Andy Warhol and Jean- Michel Basquiat in the lobby, a $3million scotch inventory, a rooftop nightclub and fine dining in Michelin-starred restaurants.

World's Most Visited Tourist Attractions:

Travelers are always looking for inspiration to guide their adventures. Coming up with a list of places to visit can be challenging when you're staring at a globe. What are the top tourist attractions in the world? The most iconic sites that all travelers have on their bucket-list of things to see around the globe?

If you're looking to start your own checklist of places to visit during your life, begin with our list of the top tourist attractions in the world.

10. Forbidden City - Beijing, China

Annual visitors: 15.3 million.

Beijing’s Ming Dynasty palace — the largest ancient palace in the world — has been standing since 1420.

Once the home of Chinese emperors, the 180-acre complex of 980 buildings is now home to the Palace Museum. Visitor numbers are limited to 80,000 per day, and during peak periods like July, August, Chinese national holidays, Spring Festival and Golden Week (held twice per year around Chinese New Year and in October), it can sell out before midday.

Forbidden City Tip:

Your best bet: Go early, aim for a weekday, and visit during the low season from November through March (holidays excluded).

9. Disneyland Park - Anaheim, California. USA

Annual visitors: 15.9 million.

Opened in 1966, the original 85-acre Disneyland Park consists of eight themed “lands” including favorites like Main Street, U.S.A.; Frontierland; Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland. Attracting both visitors and season-pass-holding locals, it’s consistently busy, especially on weekends, during the summer, and over school holidays, when crowds surge and the “happiest place on earth” can be anything but.

Off-season months include January through March and September through December, when kids are in school and fewer people are traveling to Southern California. Of course, within that window, Christmas, New Years, and Spring Break are busier times, while weekdays, especially those that fall a few days after a major holiday, tend to be quieter.

Disneyland Tip:

During peak times, head to the most popular attractions early or during times when the bulk of the crowds are focused on other events or dining.

8. Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom - Orlando, Florida, USA

Annual visitors: 17.5 million.

Opened in 1971, Disney’s second theme park surpasses the Anaheim original by nearly 2 million annual visitors. Part of the larger Walt Disney World Resort (which encompasses three other parks, four golf courses, and two dozen hotels), it’s the most popular theme park in the world.

As such, it’s pretty much always busy, but particularly so in summer and on holidays. Because it’s most popular with families, when kids are out of school, crowds surge, lines for attractions can be hours long, and it’s nearly impossible to score a seat at a table-service restaurant.

To avoid the bulk of the chaos go January through early March or September through December, but avoid weekends, holidays, and dates of special events like the Disney World Marathon. While temperatures may be cooler during these months, lines are also significantly shorter. 

Magic Kingdom Tip:

If you must go during peaks times, line up for the most popular rides during the nightly parade, during meal times, or during Extra Magic Hours, which are available to guests staying in Disney hotels. The perk allows these guests to enter the park one hour prior to the official opening, or stay up to two hours after the park closes to the general public.

7. Faneuil Hall - Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Annual visitors: 18 million.

Once the scene of speeches from the likes of Samuel Adams and George Washington, Faneuil Hall is known as “the Cradle of Liberty” for its role in pre-Revolution America. Today, it’s a bustling marketplace with more than 100 specialty shops, restaurants and food vendors — as well as Boston’s tallest Christmas tree each holiday.

Faneuil Hall Tip:

The pedestrian-only streets around Faneuil Hall are always bustling, and even more so during lunchtime and during the Boston Marathon weekend. To see it in all its historical glory without the crowds, come during off hours (early morning or late afternoon) or brave the Boston winter, when the city is relatively quiet.

6. Grand Central Station - New York, New York, USA

Annual visitors: 21.6 million.

A U.S. National Historic Landmark, Grand Central Station covers 48 acres and has 44 platforms that bring more than 750 trains in and out of the city each day. For commuters, it’s a vital transit hub, while for visitors, it’s a beautiful, historic Beaux-Arts building with a painted ceiling featuring a map of the constellations.

It’s also home to some of the city’s most iconic bars and restaurants, like the Campbell Apartment, which you might recognize from “Gossip Girl,” and the Oyster Bar, which was featured on AMC’s “Mad Men,” and which serves a whopping two million oysters per year.

Grand Central Tip:

In general, New York is a bit less crowded during the cold months; to see Grand Central with fewer fellow travelers, avoid rush hour and go late at night or in the wee hours of the morning.

5. Niagara Falls - USA and Canada

Annual visitors: 22.5 million.

Niagara Falls (which is actually three waterfalls) sits on the border of the U.S. and Canada, and its dual citizenship seems to attract double the visitors. At “only” 165 feet, it’s not the tallest waterfall in the world, but it is one of the most powerful, pumping 6 million cubic feet of water over its edge every minute.

Niagara Falls Tip:

Niagara is at its most crowded during the warmer months (late spring to early fall) when the Maid of Mist boat sails close to the thundering falls; come in early spring or late fall instead to see slightly fewer tourists, or pack your parka and visit in winter to have the place nearly to yourself. Avoid long weekends and holidays (both Fourth of July and Canada Day) and book your tickets in advance to cut down on your time spent in lines.

4. Union Station - Washington, DC, USA

Annual visitors: 32.8 million.

DC’s main transit station sees more than 100,000 commuters every day — plus thousands of tourists who come to see its incredible Classical, Beaux-Arts and Baroque architecture and shop at its more than 70 stores.

Union Station Tip:

Designed by famed architect Daniel Burnham and completed in 1908, the station is a stop on just about every DC tour, including the many school group tours that swarm DC in the warmer months, which means spring and early summer are particularly popular times to visit. Come in fall or winter instead, avoid rush hour, and you might just get a glimpse of what it was like back in the 1940s — when the station served just 45,000 travelers each day.

3. Central Park - New York, New York, USA

Annual visitors: 37.5 million.

New York’s most famous green space covers nearly 850 acres in the middle of Manhattan, and though it’s the most visited park in the world, it still offers a lot of space to spread out.

Central Park Tip:

One easy way to avoid the crowds is to seek out the less-visited areas of the park, like the Northern Woodlands north of 86th street or The Great Hill, a grassy hilltop that’s the highest point in the park (just avoid it when there’s an event like August’s annual Great Jazz on the Great Hill concert). Early weekday mornings can also be quieter, and if you can brave the cold, a winter trip ensures you can see one of the world’s most iconic parks without feeling like you’re elbow to elbow with all of Manhattan.

2. Times Square - New York, New York, USA

Annual visitors: 39.2 million.

Once one of the seediest spots in Manhattan, Times Square is now more like a cleaned-up theme park version of New York. Though New Yorkers might turn up their noses at it for not being part of the “real” NYC, tourists and theatergoers still flock to Times Square to check out its crowded chaos, marvel at its massive billboards, and see famous Broadway shows.

Unfortunately, traffic swells right before said shows start and after they end, so your best bet for seeing Times Square with slightly more breathing room is in the early morning before rush hour, mid-afternoon, or late evening after the theater crowd has gone home.

Times Square Tip:

Chilly February is the least busy month, with “only” about 250,000 visitors per day.

1. The Strip - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Annual visitors: 39.6 million.

The 4-mile-long Las Vegas Strip, Sin City’s main thoroughfare, is home to more than 30 casinos as well as the famous Bellagio fountains and the High Roller, a 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel that slowly rotates over the city lights. More than 75% of all visitors to Vegas stay at hotels located on The Strip and during peak times — like during the Super Bowl, March Madness, Halloween and the Consumer Electronics Show — it can feel like they’re all there at once.

Sin City Tip:

Better times to go: midweek during winter (so long as there are no big conventions happening) and during the peak of summer when the desert’s sweltering temps keep the crowds inside or at the pool.