Forbes has selected world's most luxurious hotels... Top spots Down-Under, cool American and Canadian lodges, sublime hotel stays in Asia, Europe's remarkable retreats. SEE PICTURES

Ultimate world hotel stays - 13 / 12 / 2007 00:54

Petrol prices are rising, home sales have stalled and the stock market is more volatile than Great Adventure's Kingda Ka roller coaster.

The perfect escape?

 A visit to one of the globe's most lavish hotels.

Whether you're traveling to Big Sur or British Columbia, and in search of an innovative inn or a more posh place, one of these luxe lodgings is sure to please.

* Luxury is finding its way to even the most out-of-the-way places in the Australian outback, as well as Bora Bora and the Fiji Islands.

* The Great White North is wooing international travelers with earth-friendly inns, rustic retreats and high-tech hotels.

* Places such as Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong are experiencing big booms in the luxury hotel sector.

* The region's decadent digs lure luxury seekers in the mood for everything from fine dining to upscale urban living in Europe.

 * At US ten spots, guests enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences from butler-drawn baths to oyster-stocked après ski hours.

* India, once a cheap travel destination, has morphed in recent years into a chief player in the global luxury-hotel market.

Forbes