Tired of trying to nab the hotel room with the best view in the house? That won’t be a problem at Taj Lake Palace which, as it name suggests, is a floating hotel in the middle of Lake Pichola. It was built between 1743 and 1746 at the request of Maharana Jagat Singh II, son of former Indian ruler Sangram Singh II.

Prices start at US$420/night.

Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India

If you fancy being closer to the city, there’s another palace in India that has been turned into a hotel. The Rambagh Palace, often called the “Jewel of Jaipur”, was the former home of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and Maharani Gayatri Devi. Built in 1835, it has 78 fully-restored luxury rooms and suites.

Intricate hand-carved marbles, latticework and sandstones adorn its rooms and hallways, as well as its Mughal Gardens. It has already hosted many of the world’s royalty such as Prince Charles and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Prices start at US$325/night.

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Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Turkey

This luxury hotel is also a 17th century Ottoman imperial palace that sits in the middle of Istanbul. It has 310 rooms including 20 suites in the main hotel section, and 11 suites in the imperial palace section the hotel’s restaurants and bars.

It has Instagram-worthy gardens and outdoor dining areas where you can experience its “Luxury Picnic”. It also has a giant infinity pool that perfectly overlooks the Bosporus, also known as the Strait of Istanbul.

Prices start at US$660/night.

Aman Summer Palace, Beijing, China

When a hotel sits right next to a Unesco World Heritage Site, you know it’s special. With just 18 rooms and 33 suites, the imperial-style resort offers awe-inspiring gardens and courtyards meant for tranquillity and relaxation. The rooms themselves feature intricate traditional Chinese-style architecture mixed with modern accents.

The hotel resort, which was built in 1750 and was used to house the guests of Empress Dowager Cixi, also has a beautiful spa, three restaurants, a cigar bar and a 37-seat cinema.

Prices start at US$590/night.

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La Posta Vecchia Hotel, Italy

Fancy a Renaissance-style, five-star hotel that’s only an hour away from Rome? Get cosy at the La Posta Vecchia Hotel, an 18th-century-palace-turned-hotel that was built by the Orsini family, one of the most influential families in medieval Italy.

It boasts intricate designs in all of its rooms, and a Michelin-starred restaurant aptly named The Cesar, where you can dine right by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Guests can also roam around the B.C Roman Villa, which dates back to the second century.

Prices start at: US$550/night.

Villa d’Este, Lake Como, Italy

If you’re a lover of history, then you’ll certainly enjoy the luxurious Villa d’Este in Italy. Right beside the world-famous Lake Como, it was built in 1563 by a cardinal, then later served as home to European royalty, sultans and tsars.

Aside from ultra-luxurious 152 rooms and suites, the hotel is also surrounded by a 10-hectare private park for those romantic strolls. Other amenities include the iconic floating swimming pool, gym, and tennis and squash courts.

Prices start at US$810/night.