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Cubicle Dreamin': Oh, Life Could Be a Dream

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: PO BOX 74147, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
February 20, 2008 at 5:42 PM | by Annabel | 2 Comments

Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.

In this episode, Hotel Maven Annabel wants luxury in Dubai. Enjoy.

When the World Travel Awards names a hotel the world's best (in 2007), it's enough to warrant further investigation in my books. That shimmering sail-shaped oasis of Dubai, the Burj Al Arab, has been met with almost uniform high praise since opening two years ago, and it's easy to see why.

The complimentary full-size Hermes toiletries were enough to excite me from the start. Not to mention the Rolls Royce chauffeured transfer or team of butlers on hand to attend to your every need - they'll even run a bath for you!

Restaurants are of the highest quality and include the Al Muntaha, located 200 metres above the Arabian Gulf, and the Al Mahara, the underwater seafood restaurant complete with aquarium that you arrive at via a simulated submarine voyage.

Then there's the plethora of spa and fitness centres, the pool and private beach and unlimited access to Wild Wadi Water Park. Hell yeah.

With rooms starting from around $USD 1,500, it's a dream that not many of us can afford. I can only hope that my prince charming comes along soon to whisk me away for an Arabian night like no other.

[Photo: Catsper]

2 Comments

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  1. thenotoriousmeg

    HotelChatter Member

    Re: Cubicle Dreamin': Oh, Life Could Be a Dream

    I've often wondered if anyone outside the industry cares about the World Travel Awards.  It's a nice honor to have (and the Burj Al Arab certainly deserves it!) and the winners are always stellar, but it is voted on by industry people and not travelers or writers, and costs a steep $650 (325 GBP) to be nominated.  Perhaps the nominating process has changed (the website says it is based on the past year's nominees, but the entry form just says you have to meet certain requirements and pay the fee), but how much stock should travelers put in awards that you have to pay to be nominated?  
    February 20, 2008 at 7:00 PM
    #Permalink

  1. juliana

    HotelChatter Editor

    Re: Cubicle Dreamin': Oh, Life Could Be a Dream

    To be honest, i don't like to pay that much attention to awards. for example, Travel + Leisure voted Hayman Island the best hotel in all of Australia and New Zealand for like five years in a row.

    when i went there last year, it became clear that no one from T+L had visited the hotel in at least five years. yuck. never again.

    anyways, about the World Travel Awards i agree that travelers or writers should have a say and a nomination fee sounds shady but it seems like its the best of the best in the travel world. then again, there's like hundred of categories that your hotel could win so who know.

    i say stick to word of mouth or you know, HotelChatter.com :)  

    February 20, 2008 at 7:25 PM
    #Permalink

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