Seven resorts with spectacular views

1. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

 There is literally nothing blocking your view of St. Lucia's famous Piton Mountains and the Caribbean Sea at this resort.

The fourth wall is entirely absent from Jade Mountain's suites, which the hotel calls "sanctuaries," so guests get unobstructed panoramas of the beautiful surroundings.

Each sanctuary also comes with its own infinity pool for the ultimate in privacy and relaxation.

"It's total luxury, and it's a great romantic spot. You can be as alone as you want there," McCabe said.

But be prepared to completely unplug during your stay.

Jade Mountain is "deliberately techno-free," the resort says. There are no telephones, radios or televisions in the rooms, and guests are asked to not to use their cell phones in public. Internet access is available at reception "for those who simply cannot let go of the outside world."

Rates start at $950 a night.

2. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Canada

 Experience this magical corner of Banff National Park, and you may feel like explorer Thomas Wilson, who exclaimed, "I never in all my explorations saw such a matchless scene,'' when he first glimpsed the lake in 1882.

Known to native tribes as "lake of little fishes," the majestic body of water was dubbed Emerald Lake by Wilson, and later renamed Lake Louise in honor of Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta.


The hotel offers sweeping panoramas of the lake and the surrounding Canadian Rockies. Come in the winter for unforgettable skiing, sleigh rides and dog sledding -- Veith was there when the lake was frozen, and she had a chance to skate on the icy surface.

There's also lots to do in the summer, including hiking, horseback riding and canoeing.

Rates start at about $358 a night for the Sizzling Summer Travel Package, which is in effect until September 30.

3. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania

 This luxury lodge sits perched on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest caldera -- formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed about 3 million years ago.

Thousands of animals roam the floor of the crater, including lions, wildebeests, zebras and gazelles. The stunning landscape and abundance of wildlife prompted UNESCO to declare the area a World Heritage Site, calling it one of the greatest natural wonders of the planet.

The accommodations are luxurious, imaginative and fanciful.

Rates start at $720 per person, which includes meals, drinks and scheduled safari activities.

4. The Springs Resort & Spa, Costa Rica

For a bit of a thrill with your beautiful view, why not stay near a volcano?
This boutique hotel sits on a mountain ridge less than four miles north of Costa Rica's Arenal Volcano but is "safely outside the government declared danger zone," the resort says on its website.

(Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until 2010 but entered into a resting phase last fall.)

Observe the volcano from your room or from one of the resort's 18 pools and natural hot mineral springs.

Rates start at about $385 a night.


5. Hotel Villa Ducale, Sicily

 This boutique hotel features just 11 double rooms and six suites, but there is nothing small about the sweeping views.

Each room has a private balcony or terrace that lets guests take in vistas of Giardini Naxos Bay, Mount Etna, Italy's mainland coastline or the Strait of Messina.

The Hotel Villa Ducale was among the winners of TripAdvisor's 2011 Travelers' Choice awards -- chosen by the site's members as one of the top 10 luxury hotels in the world.

Rates start at about $285 a night in September.

6. The Cambrian Hotel, Switzerland

 Expect endless mountain views from this picturesque location in the village of Adelboden in the Swiss Alps.
Built in the late 19th century and revamped in recent years, the hotel is a scenic and luxurious base for hiking and mountain biking in the summer, and world-class skiing in the winter.

And when it comes to promising relaxation for guests, the resort takes a whimsical approach.
"Just look at the cows reclining in the meadows outside," the hotel instructs on its website. "They don't look stressed, do they?"

Rates start at about $225 in September.

7. Hayman Island Resort, Australia

A favorite with honeymooners, this five-star resort is on a private island within the Great Barrier Reef.
Guests can take in uninterrupted views of the Coral Sea and the Whitsundays -- a chain of islands known for their idyllic white sand beaches.

Then there are the underwater vistas -- Hayman offers memorable snorkeling and scuba experiences, as well as night diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

The famous resort, which made the list of Travel + Leisure's best island hotels, is reopening in August after recovering from two cyclones that swept through the region earlier this year.

Rates start at about $510 a night.

The rates given above are in US$ for reference only. For a comprehensive package to any one of these exquisite resorts, contact us.

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Thanks to cnn.com/travel for the text & pics.