The minimalist movement may be everywhere – from home decor to clothing to Instagram feeds – but sometimes it’s nice to live large, and loud. Before you start planning your next vacation, consider one of these seven maximalist (and very Instagram-worthy) hotels curated by travel website Booking.com.
With the new Musee Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech is this summer’s hottest new destination. At The Royal Mansour, the 53 private riads peppered around the hotel’s eight acres of Moorish gardens all share the same ornate sense of style: four-poster beds with velvet brocade curtains, silk-covered or mosaiced walls, carved wooden doors and other palatial details that took over a thousand craftsmen several years to complete.
As a design epitome of maximalism (from its 24K gold leaf, neoclassical statues, marble columns and mirrored walls, which has been sustained to despite several massive renovations over the years) The Ritz is one luxurious hotel known for its breathtaking decor and rich culture. For extra maximalist points, it hosts a daily afternoon tea in the gold-tinged palm court, which is decked out with birdcage chandeliers and palm trees centered around an enormous floral display.
Three 14th-century Venetian palazzos combine to form this lavish hotel on Venice’s waterfront. Just a few minutes from St Mark’s Square, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant has panoramic views of the Venetian lagoon and the city. But the regal suites are what’ll get avid maximalists going. Think mahogany antique four-poster beds draped with pastel-coloured, cloud-soft silk quilts, while Renaissance paintings and murano glass chandeliers adorn the walls and ceilings. P/S: the bathrooms are clad entirely in marble.
Housed above an old Parisian boulangerie in the chic Le Marais district, this intimate hotel is an artful example of modern maximalism. Inspired by illustrious French fashion designer, Christian Lacroix, Hotel du Petit Moulin is a riot of colour. There’s wallpaper depicting a galaxy-filled night sky, bathroom murals that make you feel like you’re in the rainforest, clashing zebra prints next to mosaics and Persian rugs and crystal ball bedside lights.
Once the headquarters of Barcelona’s Cotton Producers’ Guild, the 19th-century neoclassical building has been revamped by interior design studio, Lazaro Rosa-Violan as become one of the city’s most glorious hotels. The octagonal hall and six-storey spiral staircase that appears to float in the air (it’s suspended via the ceiling) makes for a memorable first impression. The reception area oozes period grandeur, what with its marble floor tiles and carved wooden doors, mixed with modern art.
Nothing here is understated (then again this is Miami). From a sculpture of a gold mammoth skeleton encased in glass, down to the circus-striped, red and white poolside parasols. The hotel also features Hollywood-esque red carpets and other velvet upholstery, making red the prominent colour scheme. FYI: this hotel was built in collaboration with director of Moulin Rouge and Great Gatsby director Baz Luhrmann and his costume designer wife Catherine Martin.
Situated within the former Marine Police Headquarters (one of the oldest buildings in the city) the hotel’s heritage pedigree is alive in the framed, historic photographs, hand-painted murals depicting life under the Tang Dynasty and traditional, carved Chinese lanterns. Though every suite follows its own bespoke theme, the overall aesthetic is gloriously kitschy.