InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam

They don't come much posher than this grand hotel standing imperiously over the river it takes its name from. If movie stars or royalty are in town, they lay their heads on a super-soft pillow in one of the huge, soundproofed rooms or even bigger suites here. Everything here is superlative: arrival by the hotel's own boat is possible; staff are both liveried and top-hatted; the restaurant is Michelin-starred; the swimming pool looks out on the river; even the galleried lobby as you walk in is breathtaking. If money is no object or you're after a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, then this is the place to do it.