Destination hotels come in several varieties. The traditional destination hotel was built in a remote location to provide wealthy patrons with luxury accommodations and gourmet food near a difficult to reach natural feature. Many of these, like the Mohonk Mountain House in New York State and the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, were built during the 1800s and have been providing quality service for generations.

Today, many destination hotels are located in urban settings. They have become destination hotels not only because of their tradition of luxury and service but also due to a reputation for catering to the “rich and famous.” Hotels like New York City’s Waldorf Astoria, Chicago’s Palmer House, and Las Vegas’ Caesar’s Palace have become famous throughout the world.  If your destination is Ireland you should consider a Galway bed & breakfast. A bed and breakfast differs from a standard hotel and offer a more homey environmet.  Hotels such as these are as much tourist attractions as the museums and historic sites they are near. Some, such as the Raffles in Singapore have even been declared National Monuments.

Many tourist destinations, such as Disneyland, have built their own 5-Star accommodations for their customer’s convenience. Hailing back to the original concept of a destination hotel, they offer packages that include lodging within or next to the attraction.

Where ever in the world you plan to visit, there will be a destination hotel nearby. Perhaps the newest type of destination hotel is one that is so unusual, it becomes its own attraction. If attending the races at Keeneland, near Lexington, you can stay in a castle. Designed to look like a medieval castle complete with turrets at the corners that contain luxury suites, the Castle caters to weddings, conventions, corporate retreats and private fund raisers.

If your goal is a more exotic location, try the Hilton Maldives Rangali Island. Voted “Best Hotel in the World,” the Conrad Maldives is surrounded by miles of white sand beaches. Arrive by seaplane on the private lagoon and dine in the world’s first underwater restaurant. The Conrad Maldives is a spa resort where the accommodations themselves provide a complete vacation without any other attractions.

Qualification as a destination hotel requires more than providing a convenient place to stay. It should include distinctive features such as unusual architecture or history. Most all such enterprises have an upscale restaurant and entertainment on the premises. Some modern versions even include shopping malls and theaters. The current trend is to also offer on-site gyms, spas, and conference rooms.

While most people will think of a luxury hotel as the place for special vacations, many corporations such as Fisher Investments are using such venues to house their executive retreats and industry conventions. A destination hotel will have the staff to handle large parties in an efficient manner. Don't wait for a fiftieth anniversary. The next time you travel, regardless of the reason, make your trip a memorable one. Destinations hotels may be more expensive, but the indulgence is worth it. A unique location can make a routine business trip seem like a vacation.