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Concierge.com's insider take:
The 202 all-duplex-suite Burj Al Arab is, at 1,053 feet, the tallest building in the world to be used exclusively as a hotel. Low-key it is not, with Rolls-Royce pickups at the airport, a rooftop helipad, and an entrance that denies mere plebeians the right to gawk (a barrier ensures only guests and those with restaurant reservations get onto the man-made island on which it's located). The interiors are brightly colored and Midas-touched, while the service is slick and discreet, thanks to battalions of 24-hour personal butlers and in-room check-ins. Each suite has private dining facilities and 42-inch plasma-screen TVs, while the Club suites have their own snooker rooms. The decor is pretty garish, with lots of gold leaf and mirrors over the beds, but the views either out to sea or back toward the coast are breathtaking. Additional facilities are as luxurious as you'd expect: They include the Assawan Spa & Health Club, a secluded infinity pool, and six restaurants, among them the Al Muntaha, 656 feet above sea level on the 27th floor, which serves Mediterranean cuisine, and Al Mahara, the flagship seafood restaurant on the ground floor. But all this glitz comes at a price: Deluxe suites (the most basic) start at around $2,000. If you're determined to get that unique Burj experience, shop around off-season, as it's highly likely you'll find a cheaper rate.
From the readers of Condé Nast Traveler:
(202 suites)
—2009 Gold List
Overall Score: 95.2
- Rooms: 98.7
- Service: 97.4
- Food: 92.1
- Location: 96.1
- Design: 94.7
- Activities: 92.1
View the entire 2009 Gold List of the world's best places to stay ›
Also appeared in the Gold List in 2008, 2007
Amenities: Beach, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports
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