Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Sheer opulence and exceptional service reign at riverside Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, long a favorite destination of the rich and famous.

In the Ayurvedic Penthouse of the spa at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, you're deep into an Indian head massage. Before you lay down, you were rubbing your own noggin at the many extravagances of this beautiful property. Take the flower-adorned spa - across the Chao Phraya River from the hotel, its 14 suites reside in a traditional Thai house made of expertly carved golden teak.

There's exotic wood and silk upholstery in the rooms and suites of the 130-year-old Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, which has hosted everyone from Princess Diana and Audrey Hepburn to writers such as Joseph Conrad. You might select a 985 sq. ft. Authors Suite, whose amenities include butler service and floor-to-ceiling windows with river views. Meanwhile, the 1,398 sq. ft. Siam Suite features antique Chiang Mai furniture and contemporary northern Thai watercolors.

Grand in every way, the hotel has nine restaurants and watering holes, from French legend Le Normandie to live-jazz Bamboo Bar.