Fine... I know you want to hear about it, so I guess I'm forced to mention it here...

I will not tell you "definitely stay in this hotel!"
I will also not tell you "Don't stay here!"
I will give you the facts & let you decide if the experience is worth the price.

The architecture: Yes, it is beautiful. I will admit that the concept behind the idea is lovely: The Jumeirah Beach Hotel represents a wave, the hotel’s conference centre represents a "Dhow" (traditional Arabic boat), and the Burj Al Arab was therefore designed in the shape of a sail.

The details & finish in the rooms, bathrooms, restaurants, etc. is amazing: bling-bling! Gold, satin, silk, glitter, you'll need sunglasses. But I find the decor quickly becomes overwhelming, and after the initial shock you can recognise the resemblance of what we know as "overdone, cheesy Arabic interiors".

The size: Yes, the hotel is very impressive: at 321 meters high, Burj Al Arab is taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 60 meters shorter than the Empire State Building, and also the fact that it stands on it's own man-built island, so it's reachable by helicopter, boat or by its heavily guarded bridge.

The Spa: the hotel itself does not impress me much, but I wouldn't say "no" to a day at the Assawan Spa!

For more info on the picture of Andre Agassi & Roger Federer playing tennis on the helipad of the hotel, click here...

It is known as the landmark of Dubai:
If you desperately want to see the Burj Al Arab, then go as part of a guided Dubai city tour with one of the many tour operators. Afternoon Tea is offered to non-guests of the hotel every day apart from Fridays.
There are 2 options:
> The Lobby Lounge, at 3pm or at 5pm.
> Al Muntaha Sky View Rest, at 3pm or at 4pm.
Prices at the moment (Year 2007) are 280 Dhs per person.
(1 US Dollar = 3.67 Dirhams)
It is vital that you make a booking in advance.
Tel: 00971 - 4 - 301 7600.

Wining & Dining: The restaurant at the top of the hotel is called Al Muntaha... great views of the ocean, Palm Island construction & shoreline. A little know fact is that it has been voted Dubai's worst restaurant for 2 consecutive years (!) so I would suggest simply having some drinks in Al Muntaha, enjoying the views & then heading downstairs for food. My mother actually refuses to take her tourist groups there, as so many people have had diarrhea, etc. after dining there.

If you wish to have a great meal at the Burj, eat at the Al Mahara Seafood restaurant (it's not a real submarine ride... don't be so gullible). This is the hotel's signature restaurant.

MY VERDICT: If you have the cash & absolutely want to stay there for 1 night, go ahead. But please be aware that a stay at the Burj Al Arab is NOT experiencing Dubai. It's nice, but far too "over-the-top" for many of us.

In the end, all I want to say is:
Sting, Bryan Adams, the Black Eyed Peas, Bill Clinton etc. have been in Dubai before. Non of them have ever stayed in this hotel. The hotel pleaded, the organisers begged, but they have no privacy, no back-doors, no way of hiding unless you stay locked in your suite, and no safe & quick emergency exits...

For little-known, secret & true facts about the Burj Al Arab, click here!
 

Description for Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai

Designed to resemble a billowing sail, the hotel soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai coastline and is the right place to be in.

Location
The Burj Al Arab is located in the Jumeirah Beach area of Dubai, 15 kilometres from the main city centre and 25 kilometres from Dubai International Airport. It offers an unforgettable sight at night, surrounded by choreographed colour sculptures of water and fire.

Rooms
The hotel has 202 suites offering breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and is decorated with lavish textures and exuberant colours.

Restaurant
From the finest seafood to modern international cuisine, exclusive dining options cater to your culinary cravings in a multitude of elegant settings.

General
With stunning views of the Dubai coastline from the upper level of the Al Falak ballroom, this luxurious venue is a perfect place for product launches, gala dinners and weddings. It features a sumptuous living and dining area as well as state of the art entertainment system.

 

 

• 25 km to the International Airport (Dubai)

building work by jojo17 just returned from 7 night stay yes lots and lots of building work on this strip,whole of dubai appears to be a building site.but this had no impact on our enjoyment.service was 1st class from all,little things that make a difference, from cool drink offered at check in ice cold wet scented flannels handed out whilst sun bathing. stayed in exec room which came with exec benefits.breakfast could be taken in lounge on 9th floor with afternoon snacks between 3-5pm also cocktails/beer/spirits etc between 6-8pm.lots of resturants within hotel to keep all happy.son aged 8 said it was the best holiday he had been on,he has also visted orlando-disney!.service is outstanding staff look after you very well nothing is too much trouble.they achieve this without being intrusuve cant rate staff highly enough. beachside location with lots of water sports hotel also has kids club (never used this)drink/food within hotel very reasonable(wished i was back there now)building work- yes but you dont notice it! sounds strange i know it's amazing. pool is fab with swim up bar very nice relaxed hotel not stuffy at all.service is outstanding.will deff return to this hotel again already making arrangements cant wait to see what buildings have been finished or started. Description by Wayne Lorentz I f there's one thing Dubai excels at it's building magnificent hotels. The Burj Al Arab exemplifies this talent. It is ideally situated to take advantage of the natural beauty of the area by providing spectacular views in nearly every direction. Nature returns the gesture by lighting up its glass exterior with awe-inspiring sunset reflections. Inside, the views are just as spectacular with gold leaf, extravagant art, and sumptuous marble at every turn. Some have criticized the hotel's interior for being too conspicuously glitzy. But when you're spending US$1,000 a night for a room, it better not be decorated by Ikea. As if building a spectacularly beautiful hotel wasn't enough, the Burj Al Arab rests on its own man-made island. The effect is to surround its visitors with the sea, and from a distance to make the building's arched form seem like a sail, allowing the hotel to break away from the land and take voyages through the Arabian Gulf on its own. For those who choose to travel by air, a helipad projects from the building 200 meters off the ground. The people of Dubai are proud of their creation. Proud enough that at one time its image adorned the emirate's license plates.   The atrium is 590 feet / 180 meters tall. One of the restaurants is accessed via submarine. A 79 foot wide / 24 meter wide helipad projects from the building 689 feet / 210 meters above the ground. The building's design is influenced by the profile of an Arabian sailing ship. May, 2006: Model Naomi Campbell causes a stir when she rents out 18 floors of the hotel for a party to celebrate her 36th birthday. The cost of the lavish bash is estimated at US$1,800,000.