If you haven’t been to Dubai, imagine luxury in the middle of the desert. Las Vegas, but far away in the Middle East, a long plane ride away from pretty much anywhere. That said, when you arrive, you’ll get pampered with luxury after luxury and top notch food prepared by top notch chefs. Ready for a journey? Here are six luxurious spots worth spending some time at. Have a look!
Shangri-La Hotel: 302 guest rooms have deep soaking tubs, rain showers and warm décor with modern designs and artwork from locals. Their signature restaurant, Shang Palace, serves high-end Cantonese specialties while Marrakech serves contemporary Moroccan cuisine in a bright and airy courtyard. It is very centrally located with shopping, entertainment and wild skyscrapers just a few blocks away.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara: More earth toned than some of the other properties, it has more of a subdued look and feel, but the incredibly beautiful views of the expansive desert match its naturalness on the inside as you gaze out over those sandy dunes. They have 4 restaurants on the property, a pool and a spa (think floral foot bath baby). There’s also a Thai herbal compress massage or a detoxifying green tea scrub waiting for you. (top photo)
Burj Al Arab: It’s one of those places that makes you go ‘wow,’ with the outside posing a light show that moves across the sail-shaped structures. Want REAL opulence, then go for the Royal Suite, which has a towering 4-poster canopy bed on a rotating pedestal and a staircase built from marble and gold. Yes, really. Butlers wait on you hand and foot, so order that cavier, salmon, foie gras and lobster and sit back and relax baby.
Bab Al Shams: Ahhh yes, romance baby, bring it on. Located just outside Dubai, its smaller than some of the city properties, boasting only 113 rooms. That said, while smaller in guest size, there’s still 8 restaurants and bars, so if you’re a serious foodie, you may want to stop here. One of the restaurants – Al Hadheerah, has an open-air dining area that looks like an Arabic market with belly dancers and artists. Exotic, yet simple. Lovely yet decadent.
Al Qasr: This means “the Palace,” and its got a ton of posh character throughout not to mention the incredible Jumeirah beach in the front. There are 292 guest rooms decorated with classic Arabic flair and private patios, many with perfect ocean views. And of course there’s a spa if you want pampering and for kids, Sinbad’s Kids Club and water-park fun at Wild Wadi.
The Atlantis: The Atlantis is the majestic focal point of The Palm, the magnificent man-made island. A dazzling world of imagination, pleasure and luxury The Atlantis offers thrills for all, including unique marine habitats, an exhilarating water park, pristine white beaches, world-class cuisine, spa, cosmopolitan boutiques and only 20 minutes from many of the great golf courses.
Photo credits: Bab Al Shams Photography courtesy of Jumeriah. Al Qasr – ChakaTravel. Burj Al Arab: Interior Design: KCA International/IDesignArch.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
