Presidential Suites: Everything You

Need to Know
Posted on February 4, 2023 by Daniel Gillaspia

[Source: https://www.uponarriving.com/presidential-suites/]

For lots of travelers, staying in a presidential suite is a bucket list item. It’s a way to experience how the rich and
famous live and it can be one of the most memorable and exciting ways to travel.

But what exactly can you expect when booking a presidential suite? Just how cheap or expensive can they be and
what kind of special amenities or room features might you have?

We researched over 100 presidential suites in the US and abroad and have broken down a lot of the key
things you need to know about presidential suites, including how to find presidential suites for under $1,000!

Table of Contents

 Where did the term presidential suite come from?

 What exactly is a presidential suite?
 Booking
 How much do presidential suites cost?
 How big are presidential suites?
 What to expect inside a presidential suite
 Room amenities
o Pools
o Gyms
o Pianos
o Other interesting amenities and perks
 Special services
o Butler service
o Chef
o The overall service level
 List of Presidential Suites
 Final word

Where did the term presidential suite come from?

Where and when exactly the term “presidential suite” originated is up for debate.

Some sources claim it originated from Woodrow Wilson’s presidency from 1913–1921,
while others attribute it back to the time of Ulysses Grant in 1890 or even to the
European tradition of royal suites.
 Regardless of where the term came from, it’s now undoubtedly a term associated with
the most luxurious type of lodging.

What exactly is a presidential suite?

It will help to define a presidential suite before we dive in too deep.

The presidential suite is usually the premier hotel suite offered at a property. It’s the
“biggest and the baddest” room. The type of room that makes you feel like royalty.

This top level residence is not always labeled with the name presidential suite and can
go by other names like Pinnacle Suite, Ambassador Suite, or even take on a namesake.
You might even run into an actual presidential-themed room like the JFK Suite at
the Hilton Fort Worth.

One thing that makes these suites special is that lots of these rooms have hosted
presidents, world leaders, and other high profile individuals. Case in point: the Waldorf
Astoria in New York has hosted every U.S. president since Herbert Hoover.

That would explain the bullet proof windows in some of these suites….

Sometimes there are suites better (and larger) than the presidential suite, especially
when you venture overseas.

Look to the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London which has a presidential suite with
1,023 square feet but a number of other suites much bigger like the three bedroom
penthouse with a little under 5,000 square feet!

It’s also worth noting that some presidential suites fail to deliver because hotels use the
term “presidential suite” wayyy too loosely.

I break down these shortcoming suites into two different categories.

 Vice presidential suites: These are presidential suites that are nice and quite spacious but lack the unique
character and features of a true presidential suite.
 Faux presidential suites: These are suites worthy of being impeached and that have absolutely no business using
the term presidential in their name!

Booking

Some hotels don’t allow you to book presidential suites online and sometimes they don’t
even publish a lot of (or any) details about them.
Instead, you’ll have to call to make a booking and get pricing information from the sales
department although a concierge is sometimes involved.

I’m guessing they prohibit online bookings so that they only get people seriously
interested in staying.

For the really pricey presidential suites, don’t be surprised if you are required to pay
upfront (even if they have a flexible cancellation policy).

Finding availability is sometimes difficult because some people — usually celebrities or

high profile net worth individuals — occupy the presidential suite for extended periods of
time. For example, an actor could be in town shooting a movie and could be staying in
that presidential suite for a couple of months.

That’s probably yet another reason why hotels like to have personal interaction to book
the suite — they don’t want people tying up inventory.

If you’re hoping to get upgraded to a presidential suite, the odds are definitely stacked
against you. However, I have seen some people with elite status get bumped to the
presidential suite on occasion.

Usually it’s for something like a one night stay and often that person has stayed with that chain
many times, perhaps even earning a high tier of lifetime status. But if you see that the suite is
available, it never hurts to ask.

How much do presidential suites cost?

We analyzed about 100 presidential suites in the US and in different countries. On

average, we found the price for a presidential suite came out to $4,453 and the median
price came out to $2,127.

However, the price range for a presidential suite can vary dramatically.

For example, the cheapest presidential suite we found was at the Riverwalk Plaza
Hotel and it was going for only $230 per night. It was a nice suite but it did not have true
presidential suite qualities.

As for the most expensive, it was at The Carlyle, a luxury property in New York. The
sales team told us that it went for $42,500 per night (and that’s not even including all
the taxes).

So obviously your experience in a presidential suite can be extremely different

depending on what property you are staying at.
But you’ll be happy to know that we also found plenty of presidential suites for
under $1,000 per night.

If you have a credit card like an American Express card, you can often find deals where
you can get around $100 to $200+ off on stays when spending several hundred dollars.
This can turn one of these cheaper presidential suites into a pretty reasonable rate for a
“splurge.”

Also, if you are set in stone on your dates you can purchase an advanced purchase rate
(that you can’t cancel) and that could save you a good amount on a presidential suite.

Here are some examples of presidential suites (or rooms that are effectively presidential
suites) that cost under $1,000/night:

Riverwalk Plaza Hotel Presidential Suite $229

Residence Inn Phoenix Glendale Sports &

Presidential Suite $318
Entertainment District

Kimpton: Hotel Monaco Seattle Ambassador Suite $364

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson – Reid Park Presidential Suite $388

The Ashton (Fort Worth) Presidential Suite $468

Menger Hotel (San Antonio) Luxury Suite $678

Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego La Jolla Presidential Suite $694

Andaz West Hollywood Presidential Suite $729

The George Presidential

Kimpton: George Hotel $736
Suite
 Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk Presidential Suite $789

Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk Presidential Suite $845

Kimpton : Hotel Monaco Philadelphia Presidential Suite $856

The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton Presidential Suite $863

Kimpton : Pittman Hotel (Dallas) Presidential Suite $906

Kimpton: Hotel Palomar Phoenix Presidential Suite $940

The Guild Hotel, San Diego, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Penthouse Suite $940

Pacific Terrace Hotel (San Diego) Master Suite $949

Hotel Elysée (New York) Presidential Suite $959

New York Hilton Midtown Presidential Suite $967

San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter Presidential Suite $969

The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel Governor’s Suite $999

Keep in mind that presidential suites can often go for discounted rates, especially for
high-level executives who are capable of bringing in a lot of business for the hotel.
Other times a discount might be given for those on an extended-stay.
How big are presidential suites?

After analyzing 100 presidential suites in the US and in different countries, we found the
average size for a presidential suite to come out to 1,812 square feet. An average hotel
room is probably about 300 to 500 square feet so a presidential suite is easily 4 to 6
times larger than a standard room.

The smallest presidential suite at the Kimpton: George Hotel had only 535 square feet
while the largest one was the Park Hyatt Bangkok at 4,100 square feet.

(The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa had the Overwater Reef Residence with a whopping
9,634 square feet but that type of room is designed for multiple guests so it’s sort of in a
different league.)

So based on all the above you can probably guess that one of the main qualities of a
presidential suite is that they are going to be huge in terms of the square feet.

So what can you expect to find with all this space?

What to expect inside a presidential suite

Whether it’s the high ceilings, grand entryways, or stunning decor, each room can blow
you away with its elegance, features, and sophistication.

Sometimes you’ll find a presidential suite that provides more of a cozy “home” feeling
like the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile shown above.

Other times it will be all about the ultra-modern swank or traditional opulence (especially
with historical hotels).

But regardless of which way the hotel goes with its interior design style, one thing that
I’ve noticed is that the suites often have a much different feel than the other rooms
found in the hotel.

Usually, standard rooms, junior suites, and even deluxe sweets, all kind of have a
similar look or feel. They get progressively more interesting as you go up in price but the
color schemes, decor, and art, all usually fall within the same design theme.

But when it comes to the presidential suite, hotels sometimes put a lot of effort into
giving them a very distinguished feel and it’s almost as if you’re entering a different
property.
For your bedroom, you can expect it to be extra spacious. Sometimes the bedspread is
extravagant with ornate pillows and soft, high-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens.

Your room may be tricked out with automated drapes, shades, and lights — you might
even have a tablet for enhanced control of things like temperature, lighting, and
entertainment. Quality sound systems may offer surround sound that you can easily
take advantage of with Bluetooth.

A huge TV often hangs from the wall or you might even have your own projector screen
system that lowers from the ceiling. If you’re in a high-rise hotel, you may have the best
view in the whole building just outside your windows.

A good presidential suite will also have an impressive office for those people who need
to get things done. For example, the office at the InterContinental New York
Barclay features a library office with an ultra stately feel. Much different from your
ordinary hotel room desk sitting under a TV.

Others offices may even offer a quality work computer like a Mac to go along with
personalized stationary.

You’ll usually find plenty of comfortable seating in the living area that’s ideal for having
multiple guests or even small business events and private parties. They will surely be
dazzled by sparkling chandeliers, Spanish rugs, and original artwork.

If you’re visiting during the holidays, small touches to the living areas like a fully
decorated Christmas tree can add some festive spirit to your stay.

A large dining table that can also function as a meeting table for eight to 12 people is a
staple of a presidential suite because of all of the executives that often occupy these
rooms.

And if it’s cooking that you’re interested in, some of these suites offer a full-sized kitchen
with a fully stocked pantry and refrigerator, not to mention top of the line appliances.

Some hotels like the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills offer a special media room for you to
enjoy movies in your own little private movie theater.

Huge, impressive balconies and terraces are another common fixture for presidential
suites.

Often you’ll find wraparound balconies with exceptional views of the city, the coast, or
the surrounding hills or mountains. A fireplace can warm you up while you enjoy
magnificent sunsets and lounge seating can help you keep guests entertained.
The bathrooms in the presidential suite can be exceptional.

Expect to find oversized tubs and showers along with beautiful marble floors, counters,
and spotless glass. Lots of presidential suites come with a soak tub — sometimes big
enough for a couple of people.

The bathroom might even have your own steam room or an interesting shower layout
like the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale which features an indoor and outdoor shower.
And of course, premium towels and robes will be waiting on you when you get out.

Some presidential suites could have multiple bedrooms allowing extra guests to stay with you.
Other times there could be a pull out bed.

But don’t invite all your friends and family for a stay just yet. Despite the huge amount of
square feet you may have in your suite, the occupancy limits for the suite may be still
relatively low at only a few guests.

And beware: Hotels know that presidential suites are prime targets for partiers. Some
hotels like the Kimpton: La Peer Hotel will even make you sign a “no party policy” if you
plan on staying in the presidential suite.

Related: Why Do Hotels Ask How Many Guests are Staying in Your Room?

Room amenities

Now let’s get into some of the different amenities you can expect to find in a presidential
suite.

The special amenities can really make a presidential suite stand out because in some
cases you’ll find some pretty over the top amenities like your own personal gym or pool.

Pools

Some of the more impressive presidential suites may include a hot tub or even a
personal pool. For example, the Cozumel Palace has not one but two hot tubs in a two
bedroom presidential suite.

Lots of presidential suites will impress you with their pools like the Hotel Principe di Savoia,
which comes with a Pompeii styled swimming pool. One of the coolest features I’ve seen is the
private pool offered at the Park Hyatt Bangkok, which also comes with a spa room.
 But if you really wanted the ultimate private pool experience, you’d have to go with the Grand
Hyatt Tokyo. The only drawback is that you may have to play your own life guard. That is,
unless your butler is up for it.

Gyms

One of the coolest features of a presidential suite is an in-room gym which you can find
at hotels like the Conrad Hong Kong, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Park Hyatt
Shenzhen, and many others.

You might have your own elliptical, treadmill, peloton, and even a small free weights
section and bench to work on.

The drawback is that you are probably missing out on some really nice gym equipment
in the fitness center so you may not always want to limit your workouts to your
presidential suite. However, if you were a high profile individual wanting some privacy
this would be a perfect set up for you.

Pianos

Piano players can rejoice because one of the most common features of a presidential
suite to find is a piano. These could be grand pianos, baby grand pianos, or some other
type.

Other interesting amenities and perks

Some other random amenities include:

 Japanese Zen garden

 Private staircase to panoramic tower (Molino Stucky)
 Pool table
 Wine refrigerators
 Complimentary limousine service
 Fireplaces
 Expansive balconies
 Stunning artwork or decor
 Shoeshine
 Extra attentive housekeeping
 Instant hot water
 Daily gifts
 Free valet
 Washer and dryer
 Telescope
 Multiple large TVs
 Complimentary use of conference rooms
 Steam room/sauna
 Private elevator
 Open bar
 Aquariums
 Showers with scented water 
 Powder room
 Welcome champagne and chocolates/fruit
 Projector screens
 Complimentary spa treatments

Special services

Another way that presidential suites stand out is that they offer you special services.

Butler service

Butler service often comes with a presidential suite reservation.

Sometimes you may have a special phone number you can call or they could have the
service linked to a tablet or phone. You can ring them if you need anything,
sometimes even on a 24-hour basis.

They can help you out with different things like room service, getting your clothes
pressed, dealing with luggage, etc.

Sometimes they have overlapping duties with the concierge so they can help with
booking things like shows and restaurant reservations. Or they could hook you up with
local services like a barber.

Chef

Sometimes you can get special dining privileges as a guest in the presidential suite.

For example, you might be able to get a special breakfast or even have a chef come up
into your kitchen and cook something up for you like at the Banyan Tree Bangkok or
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. We are talking high-quality dining tailored to your
preferences and dietary needs.

For true foodies, this might be one of them most enticing reasons for booking a
presidential suite!

The overall service level

In addition to all of the above, a good hotel will offer top-of-the-line service throughout
the stay for someone staying in a presidential suite.
If it’s not your personal butler staying on top of things, the concierge may be more
proactive checking up on you and making sure that you are having an amazing stay.

List of Presidential Suites

Square
Hotel Name Suite Name Price
ft.

Riverwalk Plaza Hotel Presidential Suite $229 631

Residence Inn Phoenix Glendale Sports &

Presidential Suite $318 701
Entertainment District

Kimpton: Hotel Monaco Seattle Ambassador Suite $364 960

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson – Reid Park Presidential Suite $388 990

The Ashton (Fort Worth) Presidential Suite $468 810

Menger Hotel (San Antonio) Luxury Suite $678 922

Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego La Jolla Presidential Suite $694 1,175

Andaz West Hollywood Presidential Suite $729 800

The George
Kimpton: George Hotel $736 535
Presidential Suite

Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk Presidential Suite $789 1,751
Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk Presidential Suite $845 1,100

Kimpton : Hotel Monaco Philadelphia Presidential Suite $856 1,366

The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton Presidential Suite $863 1,350

Kimpton : Pittman Hotel (Dallas) Presidential Suite $906 970

Kimpton: Hotel Palomar Phoenix Presidential Suite $940 1,325

The Guild Hotel, San Diego, A Tribute Portfolio

Penthouse Suite $940 1,809
Hotel

Pacific Terrace Hotel (San Diego) Master Suite $949 850

Hotel Elysée (New York) Presidential Suite $959 950

New York Hilton Midtown Presidential Suite $967 1,259

San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter Presidential Suite $969 650

The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel Governor’s Suite $999 1,600

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London Presidential Suite $1,013 1,420

Hyatt Centric The Woodlands Centric Suite $1,057 1,635

Hyatt Regency Austin Presidential Suite $1,095 1,404

 Camelback Presidential
Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale $1,099 1,123
Suite

Banyan Tree Bangkok Presidential Suite $1,145 2,195

Legacy Resort Hotel & Spa (San Diego) Presidential Suite $1,200 2,600

Hilton Americas – Houston Presidential Suite $1,210 1,904

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa Presidential Suite $1,219 1,250

Courtyard San Diego Downtown Presidential Suite $1,279 985

Kimpton: Hotel Born (Denver) Presidential Suite $1,282 1,140

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Presidential Suite $1,348 1,050

Omni Dallas Hotel Hospitality Suite $1,349 1,770

The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa Presidential Suite $1,504 1,288

Andaz Singapore Presidential Suite $1,667 2,023

Royal Palms Resort and Spa Presidential Villa $1,729 1,700

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa Presidential Suite $1,757 1,708
 Skyline Penthouse
Kimpton: Alma – San Diego $1,804 1,510
Suite

Loews Philadelphia Hotel Presidential Suite $1,817 1,650

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort Presidential Suite $1,849 2,000

Omni La Mansion del Rio Presidential Suite $1,899 1,900

La Peer Penthouse
Kimpton: La Peer Hotel $1,910 1,200
Suite

Hotel Van Zandt (Austin) Presidential Suite $1,969 900

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk Penthouse Suite $1,978 2,100

W Scottsdale Extreme WOW Suite $1,979 2,100

Richard’s Flat King

Virgin Hotels Dallas $1,994 1,400
Suite

Graduate Roosevelt Island Presidential Suite $2,000 1,145

The Westin San Diego Bayview Presidential Suite $2,000 2,000

W Chicago – City Center Extreme WOW Suite $2,057 1,600

 The Emma Koehler
Hotel Emma $2,095 1,643
Suite

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows Albers House $2,099 1,800

Hotel Valley Ho Presidential Loft Suite $2,154 1,500

Kimpton: Tryon Park Hotel Presidential Suite $2,222 1,290

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa Presidential Suite $2,279 2,840

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa Presidential Suite $2,331 2,240

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa Manor House $2,410 1,866

Presidential Scene
The Shay (Los Angeles) $2,459 1,100
Suite

JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE JW Suite $2,489 1,189

SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills Presidential Suite $2,555 1,900

Villa Two Bedroom

Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort $2,603 1,600
Suite

Conrad New York Downtown Conrad Suite $2,733 1,500

The Driskill (Austin) Cattle Baron Suite $2,734 1,230

InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile Presidential Suite $2,791 1,700

W Dallas – Victory Extreme WOW Suite $2,940 1,323

W Austin Extreme WOW Suite $3,429 1,798

The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago Presidential Suite $3,440 1,937

The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey The Ritz-Carlton Suite $3,500 1,500

The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton Presidential Suite $3,668 2,500

JW Marriott Houston Downtown Presidential Suite $3,693 1,320

Austin Proper Hotel Proper Penthouse Suite $3,770 1,110

Camelback Presidential
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia $3,794 2,800
Suite

Fairmont Grand Del Mar Grand Suite $3,809 2,840

Hilton Molino Stucky Venice Presidential Suite $4,060 3229

Hotel Casa Del Mar Pacific View Suite $4,080 1,800

Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa Presidential Suite $4,100 2,140

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa Presidential Beach $4,175 2,500
 House Suite

The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, a Luxury

Presidential Suite $4,337 1,800
Collection Resort, Scottsdale

Park Hyatt Bangkok Presidential Suite $4,550 4,100

Conrad Hong Kong Presidential Suite $4,610 2,519

Park Hyatt Chicago Presidential Suite $4,625 1,600

The Westin Houston, Memorial City Presidential Suite $4,909 1600

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North Pinnacle Suite $4,940 3,000

Marriott Marquis Houston Presidential Suite $5,000 2,130

The Rittenhouse Hotel (Philadelphia) Presidential Suite $5,099 1,400

The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San

Presidential Suite $5,360 3,012
Antonio

Beach Village at The Del, Curio Collection by Hilton Presidential Suite $5,575 2,035

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo Presidential Suite $5,995 2,077

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami Presidential Suite $6,045 2,800

InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Presidential Suite $6,570 2500

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Presidential Suite $7,022 1,023

Grand Hyatt Tokyo Presidential Suite $8,142 2,799

Four Seasons Hotel Houston Presidential Suite $8,370 1,570

Hôtel Plaza Athénée Presidential Suite $8,729 1,180

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia Presidential Suite $9,920 2,137

Overwater Reef $14,10

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa 9,634
Residence 0

$14,97
Park Hyatt Shenzhen Presidential Suite 3,229
4

$25,00
InterContinental New York Barclay Presidential Suite 3,400
0

$25,00
The Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park Presidential Suite 2,175
0

$25,00
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Presidential Suite 3,215
0

$28,00
The St. Regis New York Presidential Suite 3,000
0
 $30,00
Park Hyatt New York Presidential Suite 2,300
0

$42,50
The Carlyle Presidential Suite 2,722
0

Final word

Staying in the presidential suite can be extremely memorable. You can instantly feel like
royalty and enjoy special amenities and perks that could blow your mind. But do your
research because the price and quality of a presidential suite can vary drastically!

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card
app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert
and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his
content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic,
Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his
full bio here. 
What is the definition of a presidential suite in the hospitality industry?

In the hospitality industry, a presidential suite is typically the most luxurious and spacious suite in a hotel. It is usually
reserved for high-ranking officials or VIP guests, such as presidents, prime ministers, celebrities, or wealthy individuals.

Presidential suites often feature multiple rooms, such as a bedroom, a living room, a dining room, and a study, and may also
include amenities such as a private balcony, a jacuzzi, a sauna, and high-end entertainment systems. They are usually located
on the highest floors of the hotel and offer expansive views of the surrounding area.

The cost of a presidential suite can vary widely depending on the location, amenities, and level of luxury, and can often
exceed thousands of dollars per night.

[Source: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-definition-of-a-presidential-suite-in-the-hospitality-
industry]

What are the features of a presidential suite?

They often include separate sleeping and living quarters, state-of-the-art technology, high-tech security systems, a
wet bar and prep kitchen, fireplaces, outdoor terraces and an oversized executive work desk. Bespoke interior design
and artwork set presidential suites apart.