The Burj is very much a giant sail; its exoskeleton is comprised of a woven, Teflon-coated fiberglass cloth. Not only is this the tallest hotel on Earth (it's slightly shorter than the Empire State Building), but it's also "the world's tallest structure with a membrane facade." Built on a manmade island that took three years to dredge up, the hotel is accessible via a private bridge. It's admittedly an impressive sight, especially at night, when the external lighting system sets the hotel aglow in a palette of pastels. The total cost of the hotel is somewhere north of $650 million, and rumor has it that it will take a century to get a return on the investment.
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Visitors are greeted by a perpetually smiling staff, gold-coated walls and a massive interior waterfall. At almost 600 feet, the lobby atrium could accommodate two Statues of Liberty, stacked toe-to-torch. Float alongside 20-foot-high aquariums as you ride the escalator to the second floor, where you'll find the requisite high-end jewelry stores and more dancing water displays. The interior design of the Burj was done by Khuan Chew, who is also responsible for the Sultan of Brunei's palace.
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The cheapest room in the Burj is still a suite (rates start roughly $1,000 a night, and quickly work their way up to $15,000). These are all two-story affairs, replete with marble staircases and Persian Gulf views. The basic package includes a 42" gold-framed television, DVD and book libraries, laptop and high-speed Internet, hundreds of dollars worth of complimentary Hermés bathroom products and your choice of 13 different kinds of pillows. The universal remote can open the curtains, change the temperature and open the front door. Naturally, every floor has its own reception desk and butler.
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If the standard two-story suite strikes you as a tad plebian, consider upgrading to one of the two Royal Suites: the canopy beds revolve, the carpets are leopard print and they have glass ceilings (literally). You'll also find a film screening room, a private mosque and bathrooms that are bigger than the average hotel room. Recent guests have included Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and David Beckham, and the cost is about $28,000 a night (breakfast not included).
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There are seven restaurants in the hotel, but one stands out--literally--600 feet above the water. Al Muntaha, which is Arabic for "The Ultimate," is suspended by a cantilever and is accessed by a high-speed glass elevator. The décor could be described as Kubrick-futurist, rife with aquatic tones and brushed metal. This acrophobe's nightmare serves Mediterranean cuisine and breathtaking views the Persian Gulf, as well as hundreds of construction cranes stretching into the sunset.
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Al Mahara ("The Oyster") is another restaurant serving up a large helping of kitsch alongside gourmet cuisine. The adventure begins with a three-minute voyage in a simulated 12-man submarine to this "underwater" restaurant. The plexiglass fish tanks that lend the room an eerie glow are filled with a quarter of a million gallons of seawater. The restaurant also features a bandshell dance area that would fit right into a Fitzgerald novel.
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The Skyview Bar, also perched high above the Dubai haze, requires a reservation for nonguests. Since you've paid in advance, you might as well enjoy the $20 cocktails made by Swedish mixologist Rikard Lindqvist. Also available: 40 teas, each accompanied by a fresh, silver tea strainer. No longer available (unless you can sweet talk the barman): their special gold-leaf cappuccino, neither good for your health nor your wallet, but made with actual gold.
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The hotel's physics-defying helipad has become famous in its own right, primarily as a result of a few high-profile photo ops. Tiger Woods used it to tee off into the Gulf, and last year it was transformed into a grass tennis court for Roger Federer and Andre Agassi (ballboys were out of the question). The helipad, suspended 700 feet above the ground, mainly shuttles guests to the airport. The other option, a chauffeured Rolls Royce or BMW 7 series, is nice too.
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Nonguests must spend a minimum of 600 dirham ($160) at the Assawan Spa. What can you get for that price? A 55-minute Lymphatic Drainage Massage, a Jet Lag Reviver Body Wrap or a Caviar Facial. For $300, you'll be treated to a two-hour Rose Rejuvenation Ritual that includes "olive grains, cooling gels and creams of nourishing Damask rose." The entire 18th floor is a narcotic whirl of soothing sounds and colors, and all treatments include use of the sauna, steam room, whirlpools and plunge pool. There are no couples massage, however, as the spa is segregated by gender.
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Dubai summer temperatures simmer around 120 degrees Farenheit, and in an effort to shield its guests from the heat, the hotel gives free entry to nearby Wild Wadi, one of the largest water parks in the world. If you're not up for slides and fountains, head to the Burj's private beach area, where you'll find plenty of eager staff members who are very quick on the facial-spray draw.
For more information, visit www.burj-al-arab.com
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