Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

Quite possibly the apex of the Far East school of high-luxury mega-hotels, Hong Kong’s Island Shangri-La is nothing if not large. A futuristic skyscraper rising some 56 floors above Victoria Harbour, its 16-story glass-topped atrium contains the world’s largest landscape painting, an enormous Chinese silk painting called “The Great Motherland of China”—itself as large as some entire hotels we’ve seen.

Rooms are massive, with wide-screen LCD televisions dwarfed by the sheer expanse of wall, and with full-length picture windows taking up an entire side. The views are spectacular, with a commandingly high vantage point above the harbour and the city beyond. The décor is a bit more traditional and opulent than one would expect from a building so modern; expect crystal chandeliers, silk bedcovers, and antique-style lacquered furniture. And beneath this veneer of tradition lies all the expected modern technology—lighting and entertainment systems are controlled from a bedside panel, and the full-size desks include broadband internet connections.

Service is top-notch throughout—from curbside, to the restaurants, to the guided tour of your room at check-in. Seven restaurants mean you’ll be spoiled for choice, without even venturing into the adjacent Pacific Place shopping and entertainment complex. And of these choices, the award-winning Petrus is perhaps the most in-demand, serving a frighteningly authentic French cuisine alongside an encyclopedic wine list. Business and conference services are comprehensive, of course, and leisure travelers will appreciate the fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool and full-service spa.