Five high altitude hotels

Got a head for heights? Try these rooms with breathtaking views.

Mandarin Oriental, New York

This is the view that any visitor to New York wants to wake up to – jaw-dropping floor-to-ceiling vistas of leafy Central Park surrounded by a sea of skyscrapers. Occupying the top 20 floors of the uptown Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, the Mandarin Oriental treats guests to this panorama, as well as views of the Hudson river and of midtown Manhattan.

Mandarin Oriental New York, 80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street, New York, US (001 212 805 8800; mandarinoriental.com). Doubles start at $939 (£671), including breakfast

Banyan Tree, Bangkok

Anyone enjoying a cocktail in the Banyan Tree's aptly named Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar could be forgiven for feeling a little dizzy. The alfresco restaurant is at the summit of this 196m-high tower, with views of the vibrant Thai capital beneath. Banyan Tree's signature aesthetic of restful decor and Oriental accents prevails in the rooms, which each come with those all-important views.

Banyan Tree, 21/100 South Sathon Road, Bangkok, Thailand (00 66 2 679 1200; banyantree.com). Doubles from 6,591 baht (£135), including breakfast

SwissOtel The Stamford, Singapore

In the centre of the Raffles City complex, Swissôtel towers over bustling downtown Singapore. At 73 storeys, it's South-east Asia's loftiest hotel, with 1,261 rooms. The 72nd-floor cocktail bar gives a bird's-eye view of the harbour below.

Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore (00 65 6338 8585; swissotel.com). Doubles from S$389 (£184), including breakfast

Burj Al Arab, Dubai

The Burj Al Arab resembles a billowing sail gently buffeted by the winds of the Arabian Gulf. Set on its own private island, this 321m-high property is one of the Emirates' most luxurious, with 27 floors housing 202 duplex suites. Its Al Mahara restaurant is reached through an aquarium via a simulated submarine.

Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, UAE (00 971 4 301 7777; burj-al-arab.com). Suites from AED5,641 (£1,102), room only

Park Hyatt, Shanghai

When it opened last year, this monolith stole the mantle of the highest hotel in the world from its neighbour and sibling, the Grand Hyatt. The 174 bedrooms are set out on the upper floors of the gleaming 101-storey Shanghai World Financial Centre. By day you can watch the boats gliding silently up and down the Huangpu river, and by night, marvel at the mass of twinkling lights that make up the Shanghai skyline.

Park Hyatt Shanghai, 10 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai, China (00 86 21 6888 1234; parkhyattshanghai.com). Doubles from Y3,680 (£383), room only