On the Edge: 5 Amazing Cliffside Hotels

by  Teresa Bitler | Aug 6, 2015
Hotel Caesar Augustus
Hotel Caesar Augustus

Sometimes, all you want to do on vacation is to kick back and enjoy the view. We don’t blame you. For sweeping, panoramic views, vacation on the edge -- literally. These five amazing cliffside hotels will take your breath away.

Hotel Caesar Augustus, Capri, Italy
Once a private villa that hosted artists and intellectuals, the six suites and 49 rooms of Hotel Caesar Augustus rest on a cliff's edge approximately 985 feet above the ocean below and boast amazing views of the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi coast. Unfortunately, at more than $2,500 per night, it’s admittedly not for everyone. Pro tip: Don't miss the hotel’s bi-level infinity pool that seems to drop into the ocean. Spend an afternoon lounging here with a glass of Capri’s famous limoncello liqueur made from the island’s lemons.

 

Jade Mountain

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
This 600-acre, exclusive resort, considered one of the best properties in the world, overlooks the St. Lucia’s Piton World Heritage Site and Caribbean Sea. Each of the 29 sanctuaries -- that’s what architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy calls the suites -- is open on one side and includes an infinity pool that begins in the living space and seemingly drops off the cliff, giving you an opportunity to soak in its waters while simultaneously soaking in the view. Jade Mountain can be pricy ($1,050 per couple per night), but what would you expect from a hotel that has a James Beard Award winning chef, organic farm, and chocolate laboratory where they make chocolate from their own estate grown cocoa trees?

 

Parador de Ronda

Parador de Ronda, Spain
Some of the greatest creative minds of the last two centuries, including Alexandre Dumas, Ernest Hemingway, and Orson Welles, have spent time in Ronda, and it’s no wonder why. The Spanish town sits on the edge of an inland plateau that has been cut by a 350-deep river gorge known as El Tajo, creating an awe-inspiring panorama of the surrounding Serrania de Ronda mountain chain. Originally the town hall, Parador de Ronda is famous for being located near the Puente Nuevo (“new bridge”) where the gorge meets the edge of the plateau. The property ends where the plateau drops off on one side and with the gorge on another side. For rates, contact the hotel online.

 

Cliff Side Suites

Cliff Side Suites, Santorini, Greece
Santorini has plenty of cliffside hotels, ranging from $1,300 per night at the 5-star, boutique Iconic Santorini to more economical options. We like the Cliff Side Suites for the budget-minded traveler looking to unwind. Located in the small village of Firostefani, near the capital city of Fira, the hotel features 23 suites along the cliffs above the Aegean Sea (from $170 per night). Spend the day relaxing poolside with views of the Caldera that formed the island. In the evening, stake out a spot on the patio to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets to be seen, anywhere.

 

The Earth Hotel

The Earth Hotel, Japan
This modern take on the traditional Japanese inn is remote (only 5 percent of the property’s nearly 45 acres is developed) but worth the drive to Ise-Shima National Park. All 16 rooms have at least a partial ocean view and an open-air, in-room bath filled with water from the property’s natural hot springs. Although most guests are Japanese, many of the staff speak English. Still, be prepared for a traditional experience. Guests are encouraged to wear yukata, a casual summer kimono, to dinner (provided). Rooms start at a very reasonable $260 per night.

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