9 Hotels on the Edge

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Oyster Blog

For travelers with a bit of acrophobia, some of the world’s most gorgeous spots are also the most terrifying. These nine hotels, from a cliff-side sanctuary to an uber-luxe mountaintop retreat, will test travelers who are even a little scared of heights. The views may be endless, but for some, so is the vertigo.

Think you’re ready to live on the edge? If so, proceed — with caution.

Rockhouse Hotel

Negril, Jamaica

First up is the aptly named Rockhouse Hotel, which was built right into the rugged cliffs of Negril, Jamaica. Loungers can be found throughout the property at the cliff's edge, as high as 40 feet from the water below. The massage hut (pictured) is set on a precarious-looking outcropping.

Gaia Hotel and Reserve

The posh Gaia Hotel is set into a hillside in a 14-acre nature reserve, towering above the lush rainforest of Manuel Antonio. The views are spectacular because of the abrupt incline; visitors should come prepared to take a golf cart around or hike.

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay, Silicon Valley, Calif.

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay is perched on a dramatic cliff, overlooking the bay. The golf course surrounding the property leads right up to the edge; it's a precipitous drop to the rocky waters below.

Jade Mountain Resort

St. Lucia

Jade Mountain may be one of the world's most exclusive and romantic resorts, but it's not for the faint of heart. Reaching it require a slightly terrifying drive from the airport, with hairpin turns and, for the last 10 minutes of the trip, a one-lane dirt road. Once there, visitors will find stunning views of the ocean and the Pitons from a lofty mountainside perch.

The property also has hundreds of steep stairs and a visually striking but seriously daunting system of catwalks suspended high in the air.

The Joule, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Dallas, Texas

The Joule is one of Dallas' top luxury hotels, but it's also notable for its gravity-defying, cantilevered pool which juts out over Main Street. Visitors can literally swim over air, with nothing between them and the ground but a glass wall.

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

Monterey, Calif.

Monterey Plaza is built on pillars right over the water in Monterey, Calif. The views of Monterey Bay are best from the hotel's rooftop Jacuzzis — but the short glass walls may not feel like a sufficient barrier for those nervous about heights.

Trapp Family Lodge

Stowe & Smugglers’ Notch, Vt.

The Vermont lodge run by the Trapp family — whose lives inspired the plot of The Sound of Music — has a gorgeous setting above Stowe Village. Some visitors may feel like they are floating above the clouds — others may experience overwhelming vertigo.

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Hotel La Mariposa sits high above the Pacific Ocean, with breathtaking — but dizzying — views. The infinity pool is truly deserving of the name, with an edge that feels barely there. Some may enjoy feeling like they can swim off into the horizon, while others may feel like they're going to plummet into the trees below.

The Caves

Negril, Jamaica

The Caves is one of Jamaica's most jaw-dropping retreats — not only for its rustic luxury, but for its setting on Negril’s vertical cliffs. Steep, narrow staircases connect lounge chair platforms at the cliff's edge, and there are a number of ledges for cliff jumping throughout the property — including a heart-stopping 30-foot plunge right off the breakfast area. Be careful not to make a wrong step.

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Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica