We think the Emirates Palace has gotten the message. Rather than strive to top last year's $11 million Christmas tree monstrosity, the hotel has graciously toned things down for the time being.

This month, guests at the gold-loving hotel won't be blindsided by a tree that's wearing more expensive jewelry than they are. Adorning the tree instead are custom-made Christmas balls from the Netherlands, and gold and silver foil ribbons. For good measure, the hotel also threw in some Christmas carolers. Who sang from gold-plated manuscripts atop gold podiums with gold plates on their teeth. A modest affair, really. ]]> ASchechter 2011-12-20T11:28:59-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/12/23/10393/250 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/ritzcarltonreynolds_gingerbreadhouse.JPG" class="top"><p> It's no secret that hotels like to do it up <b>BIG</b> for the holidays and just like Christmas trees, when it comes to <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/hotel%20gingerbread%20houses"><b>hotel gingerbread houses</b></a>, hotels have gone above and beyond the call of festive duty. <p>We've added a few new shots to our Hotel Gingerbread House collections, including the whopping 8-foot Gingerbread Castle put forth by <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Drake+Hotel/local/2155"><b>The Drake Chicago</b></a> which was constructed with 75 lbs of frosting, 150 lbs of gingerbread and 75 lbs chocolate, sugar candy and other décor.<p> The hotel says the castle is completely edible but we suggest bringing a carton-load of Tums with you if you plan on helping them "break it down."<p>And you can't miss the gingerbread house--literally, juliana 2010-12-23T16:53:31-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/12/16/32432/652 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/emiratesxmastree.jpg" class="top"><p> Well, now, this is just showing off. While we've been cultivating snapshots of <a href="">hotel Christmas trees</a> around the world, the ostentatious <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Emirates+Palace/local/282"><b>Emirates Palace</b></a> in Abu Dhabi was working on their own Christmas tree decorations. <p>And in true Emirates Palace fashion--remember, this hotel is home to the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/5/12/222555/944/hotels/Forgot_to_Get_Some_Gold_Before_Your_Trip_Emirates_Palace_Has_You_Covered">gold bar ATM</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/7/23/125737/243/hotels/Million_Dollar_Hotel_Package_Includes_Guns_Gold_Gluttony_and_Probably_Guilt">$1 million hotel package</a>--the hotel decided to make their Christmas tree the most expensive tree in the world by adorning it with <b>jewelry worth $11 million dollars</b>. That's the Christmas spirit! <p><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-16/abu-dhabi-s-emirates-palace-flaunts-11-million-christmas-tree.html">Bloomberg.com</a> reports: <blockquote><p>The tree, standing 13 meters (43 feet) high at the 302-room hotel, carries 181 pieces of diamond, pearl, emerald necklaces, bracelets, earrings and watches. The price tags of the juliana 2010-12-16T08:45:54-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/8/23/225858/843 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/10trickedoutcars.jpg" class="top"><p>These days we've been noticing that hotels are trying to make our stays feel more like home. That's why we rarely see a hotel room without a flat-screen TV, an iPod dock, a stack of pillows on the bed and "home-like" decor. But doesn't that seem kind of crazy? Who wants to pay good money to spend the night at home? Not us. <p>We want our hotel stay to be a chance at living beyond our means, if only for one night. That's why we're obsessed with hotels with <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/5/25/11110/6152/hotels/The_Best_Geek_Hotels_in_the_World_in_2010">cool technology</a>, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/6/27/125953/845/hotels/10_Death_Defying_Rooftop_Hotel_Pools">death-defying rooftop pools</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/7/20/195259/603/hotels/HotelChatter_s_10_Sexiest_Hotel_Rooms_Alive_">sexy suites.</a> And now we've got a new lust--<b>10 Tricked Out Hotel House Cars</b>.<p>These hotels ferry their guests around in juliana 2010-08-24T10:37:11-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/5/12/222555/944 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/goldbaratmemirates.jpg" class="top"><p> Usually when staying in hotels, we find ourselves in need of dollars bills for tipping the staff. But we guess some people need <i>bricks of gold</i> instead.<p> We first heard about <a href="http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/18/164915/877/travel/Thar%27s+Gold+In+Them+German+Vending+Machines!"><b>Gold to Go</b></a> last year over at Jaunted when we learned that these special ATM machines were dispensing <b>bricks of gold</b> at the Frankfurt Airport in Germany. One more time: <i><b>bricks of gold!</b></i> <p>Now the <s>silly</s> clever ATMs can also be found inside the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Emirates+Palace/local/282"><b>Emirates Palace</b></a> in Abu Dhabi. Yup, while we would settle for a simple cash ATM at our hotel, the Emirates has to top the rest with a gold brick ATM machine.<p> <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hiozn5dpQeLFjBQ9hBypN59v1nOAD9FLD9PO0">The AP reports</a>: <blockquote><p>The ATM-style kiosk in the juliana 2010-05-13T09:30:36-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/