For travellers looking for somewhere really special to stay during their break in Rio de Janeiro, Hotel Fasano Rio offers a real wow factor for those who can afford the eye-wateringly high prices. 

The rooftop infinity pool is the crowning glory at Fasano Rio — Photo courtesy of Fasano Rio

With interiors signed by celebrated French interior designer Philippe Starck, this uber-chic spot is the number one choice among rich, hip and fabulous visitors to the city. The minimalist exterior of the building, with its tinted windows and attentive doormen, does little to hint at the world of kooky-chic touches that lie inside, and the average passerby could easily mistake the building for sleek residential apartments.

Once inside, however, there is an Alice in Wonderland appeal to the place, with Starck's playful additions including candy striped lounge chairs on every corridor, in stark (no pun intended) contrast with the marble, glass and reclaimed Amazonian wood used elsewhere.

Luxurious in-room touches include Egyptian cotton sheets and plunge hot tubs, and the hotel's many facilities include an excellent gym, one of the finest restaurants in Rio (the acclaimed Fasano Al Mare), and an achingly hip bar in the form of Londra, which is a favorite hangout for local and international models and celebrities. The hotel's crowning glory, however, is the rooftop infinity pool, which enjoys dramatic views over Ipanema beach.