Best Rooms with as View – Part II

By: Kim Michele

 Continued from: “Best Rooms with a View” – Part I

Halfway through journeyPod’s tour, we find ourselves on Indian soil where we discovered a true gem, and one of Oberoi‘s best hotels – The Hotel Amarvilas Agra. What makes this hotel truly exceptional is its unobstructed view of the Taj Mahal. Each room has its own private view of the great monument, which is located a mere 600 meters away. Inspired by Moorish and Mughal architecture, the resort is a splendid display of terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions with rich interiors fit for a king.

Voted one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”, the Taj Mahal makes for an exquisite and unusual view and earns The Hotel Amarvilas Agra a guaranteed place on our list. The hotel itself has won numerous awards including being voted the 6th best hotel in the world by Conde Nast Traveler, Reader’s Choice Awards 2007 and the Best Five Star Deluxe Hotel, 2005/06 by the Department of Tourism & Government of India.

In our search for more… we couldn’t pass on exploring the African wilderness. Now here is view you don’t get to enjoy very often – truly a special experience. Mara Serena Safari Lodge in Mooresville, Kenya is just the place to fulfill that dream. Hidden deep within the Masai Mara National Game Reserve, Mara Serena Lodge is set high on a ridge in the heart of the African bush and stands center stage to Africa’s most dramatic wildlife arena.

Even the lodge is an incarnation of a traditional African village built with domed huts, from which you can simply look out your window and witness the legendary migration of the wildebeest – ringside seats reserved only for the privileged guests of Mara Serena Safari Lodge. Although during the migration months (July – October), the Masai Mara plains are filled with migrating animals, there is plenty of resident wildlife all year round. Luckily for them, the park enjoys a gentle climate and an abundance of animals so the view is always spectacular.

Back on home ground, our journey lands us in sunny California, at the Inn Above Tide in Sausalito. As the name suggests, the Inn hovers high above San Francisco Bay and has an extraordinary view of the city skyline, Alcatraz and Angel Island. Newly renovated, the stylish Inn is subtly influenced by Asian design and offers a peaceful and relaxing hideaway. Aside from the superior service and ultimate pampering, all rooms feature a panoramic view with a complimentary pair of binoculars for the enjoyment of the guests. You can literally see forever and oh, what a view!

The captivating scenery has to be one of the most beautiful combinations of both land and sea. Winners of numerous awards, the Inn Above Tides was the highest ranking hotel in Marin by Zagat 2008, and is recommended by the New York Times, Frommer’s and Cigar Aficionado, just to name a few.

With so many breathtaking views to take in and extraordinary places to visit, our journey could continue endlessly. To help you along the way, journeyPod has picked the Best Rooms with a View so that you can start planning the perfect vacation.

For destination guide and inside information, don’t forget to take your journeyPod guide with you on all your travels.

Thanks to the photographers at Flikr for sharing these amazing pictures!