Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

Adjacent to the Çırağan Palace, and nearly as costly, this Four Seasons property is as elegantly restrained as the Çırağan is glamorously over-the-top. Both hotels attract high rollers, but while the Çırağan draws label-loving jet-setters (Victoria Beckham, anyone?), the Four Seasons attracts those who’d rather fly under the radar (in complete comfort, of course). The property, set in a refurbished 19th-century building, has all the luxury bells and whistles—including a heated riverfront pool, a chic terrace restaurant, a 2,100-square-foot spa, and 170 airy, high-ceilinged rooms decorated in a hushed palette of cream, russet, and gold. If you prefer a sleek, understated aesthetic to a wildly ornate one, this property will appeal to you.