Hotel World: Best Hotels and Curious Travel Questions

In 2001, Ali Smith published Hotel World, a novel that orbits a hotel and its ghosts. Two decades later, the same phrase—”hotel world”—now pulls up ranking lists, booking platforms, and debates about age limits and missing room numbers. This article traces the intersecting curiosities that emerge when you search for the world’s best hotels, asking what a literary ghost story and a global luxury list have in common.

Last checked: 2026-06-20

What is Hotel World?: A 2001 novel by Ali Smith about a hotel and its ghosts. · Top 3 Hotels in the World (as per 50 Best): Listed on The World’s 50 Best Hotels · Most stolen item from a hotel room: Bathrobe (per Southern Living) · No room 420 in hotels: Superstition or urban myth; some hotels skip the number

What is hotel world about?

The phrase hotel world carries two distinct meanings today. The first is a literary one: Hotel World, Ali Smith’s 2001 novel set in a hotel where the dead narrator haunts the living. The book won the Scottish Arts Council Book Award and the Encore Award (Wikipedia). Its story weaves together the lives of five women, orbiting themes of class, time, and what gets left behind.

The second meaning is the sprawling ecosystem of global hotel rankings, booking platforms, and traveller anecdotes that fill search results for “hotel world.” When you type that query into Google today, the top organic results list includes the World’s 50 Best Hotels, booking aggregators like Trivago, and articles about hostel age limits.

What this means: A single phrase now bridges a literary ghost story and a consumer‑ranking obsession—both are, in their own ways, about who gets to sleep where, and what that says about us.

What are the top 3 hotels in the world?

According to the 2025 edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, the top three are Rosewood Hong Kong (No. 1), Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (No. 2), and Capella Bangkok (No. 3) (official list). Bangkok’s double entry at the very top is a striking pattern—no other city placed two hotels in the podium positions.

The list also includes Passalacqua on Lake Como at No. 4 and Raffles Singapore at No. 5. The voting academy of 600 anonymous voters—composed of hoteliers, travel journalists, educators, and experienced travellers—produces a ranking that, as The Luxury Travel Expert describes, “heavily leans towards urban luxury hotels” (The Luxury Travel Expert).

Meanwhile, the claim of a “7‑star hotel” is often attached to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, though no official star‑rating body recognises a seventh star (the list does not include such a category). The World’s 50 Best Hotels programme, part of the wider 50 Best franchise known for its restaurant and bar lists, has quickly become a bellwether.

The pattern: These top three are all luxury properties in Asian capitals, reflecting a geographic and typological skew that matters for anyone using the list as a guide.

What’s the most stolen item from a hotel room?

The most commonly pinched item from hotel rooms is the bathrobe, according to travel and lifestyle coverage (e.g., Southern Living). Towels, hangers, and even light bulbs also vanish, but the plush robe tops the list. Hotels in the luxury tier—like those on the World’s 50 Best list—often embroider robes with the property name, making them both desirable souvenirs and a quiet cost of doing business.

The trade-off: For travellers, the urge to take a robe is understandable; for hotels, it is a predictable line item. Some properties now include robe purchases in their gift shops, turning theft into revenue.

Why is there no room number 420 in hotels?

Some hotels are known to skip room 420, largely due to superstition or guest requests. The number 420 is associated with cannabis culture in parts of North America, and hoteliers sometimes avoid it to prevent parties or drug use. This is not a universal practice—many hotels do have a room 420—but the pattern appears consistently enough to become a travel trivia staple.

The catch: There is no official regulation. It is an unscientific practice driven by hotel staff experience and guest behaviour, not a rule across the industry.

Is 30 too old to stay in hostels?

No official age limit exists in most hostels. Platforms like Hostelworld welcome all ages, though some hostels in party‑heavy destinations set upper age caps (e.g., 30 or 35) to maintain a youthful atmosphere. The debate around age thresholds often appears in travel forums and articles, with many travellers in their 30s and 40s reporting positive hostel experiences in quieter, more social properties.

What to watch: If you are over 30, check the hostel’s policy and read recent reviews that mention guest demographics. The trend is towards inclusivity, but exceptions remain.