In Dubai money still seems to trump religion and culture. The teeny tiny sliver of a country is a mere desert road trip from Saudi Arabia and Oman, and just an abra jaunt from Iran and Iraq. But Dubai is more green zone than red zone. Dubai's like Macau without the gambling. Disneyworld and Kings Dominion by the Arabian Sea. And again, the Las Vegas of the Middle East. It's also a great place to find yourself slinging back shots with a Sheik -- indoors that is.]]> shiralevine 2009-02-12T09:59:58-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/2/3/161939/5052 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/jumeirahshira.jpg" class="top"><p>Veterans of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/city/dubai"><b>Dubai's</b></a> extreme ritz also call the emirate "Las Vegas on crack." Just like you would imagine, the land of superlatives is big and over the top. Think: If Steve Wynn and Vegas, and Trump and Atlantic City got together and made a gigantic, flashy and utterly spoiled baby, destined to grow up with some serious developmental problems. <p>A long weekend is plenty of time to admire the sparkly sandcastle and glass skyline,luxurious amenities and stellar customer service, if you don't mind an entire day of flying to make your luxe pilgrimmage.<p>The ocean wave-shaped <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Jumeirah+Beach+Hotel/local/608"><b>Jumeirah Beach Hotel</b></a> is super friendly in that Las Vegas mega mall type way where somehow it seems OK that you shiralevine 2009-02-10T10:32:13-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/6/4/193430/3542 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/towel_animals.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>While we were puzzling last week about <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/6/1/55723/58165/hotels/Harry_Potter_Checks_In_To_Jumeirah_Beach_Over_Summer">Harry Potter deals</a> at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Jumeirah+Beach+Hotel/local/608"><b>Jumeirah Beach Hotel</b></a> in Dubai, we couldn't help but notice that their housekeeping staff obviously have a degree in magic too. Towel origami has gone mad at Jumeirah Beach.</p><p>While part of us thinks that the time spent twisting our towels into elephants, swans and dragons could be better used on vacuuming the dust under the bed that we always find when we check we didn't leave socks there, we do appreciate it as an art form. We also want to know what happens to the eyes. Do they recycle them? <p><i>[Photo: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/MemberProfile-ccp-a_uid.A3BBEF026981B35411A714C7407E3B42">Sunskier</a>]</i><p> <b>Related Stories:</b><br>&#183; <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/6/1/55723/58165/hotels/Harry_Potter_Checks_In_To_Jumeirah_Beach_Over_Summer">Harry Potter Checks In To Jumeirah Beach amandak 2007-06-05T09:14:19-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/6/1/55723/58165 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Jumeirah_Beach_Hotel.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>Sitting pretty on the Arabian Gulf, the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Jumeirah+Beach+Hotel/local/608"><b>Jumeirah Beach Hotel</b></a> might look like just another luxurious Dubai hotel. Looks can be deceiving, because this summer it will also become a Harry Potter-style Department of Magic.</p><p>We're not quite sure if it's corny or clever, but the special deal of the summer (designed, of course, to attract families) is the <a href="http://www.jumeirahbeachhotel.com/special_offers/room_offers/#PTP_070501_01242191_UEG91">Wizards and Witches</a> package. Included with your accommodation is a copy of the seventh Harry Potter book, <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i>, a wizard welcome gift, Wizard adventures (whatever they might be) and for the kids, a place in the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Magic School. The press release has been particularly careful about satisfying the concerns amandak 2007-06-01T09:14:01-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/