Bertiehardwi

Booking a five-star escape with only a few days' notice used to mean paying rack rates or settling for whatever room was left.

Asia's luxury hotel scene is unlike anywhere else on earth: overwater villas in the Maldives, rooftop infinity pools in Bangkok, ryokan-style suites in Kyoto, and colonial-era grandeur in Mumbai.

There's a quiet moment at every luxury hotel front desk when the agent glances at your reservation, pauses, and taps a few extra keys.