By Rick Watkins
After working long hours at the office all year, that much-deserved couple
of weeks you manage to squeeze in for your holiday has to be perfect. If you're
looking for the ultimate in luxury, holidays to Dubai
offer stylish shopping, fine dining and fabulous hotels.
Sleep in the lap of luxury
If you're after top of the range, how about a seven star hotel? The owners
of the Burj
Al Arab deemed the usual five star rating not good enough - and it's easy
to see why. The Burj has quickly become one of Dubai's design icons, a soaring
sail-shaped tower visible for miles around. Tiger Woods recently used the hotel's
high level helipad as a makeshift driving range (before calling room service
for more balls). Whilst the Burj has really put Dubai on the map, newer luxury
hotels are cropping up all the time.
The Westin
Dubai Mina Seyahi is the latest addition, built in opulent, neoclassical
style with huge airy rooms. Along with a private beach, five pools, 10 restaurants
and a seriously indulgent spa, it's also great for families, with babysitting
services, special menus, pools, and daily beach games to keep younger holiday-makers
happy.
The One&Only
Royal Mirage has it s own private beach too and has a more intimate Arabian-themed
atmosphere. Here rooms feature antique wooden furniture and traditional Arabic
carpets.
Closer to Dubai's old town the Park
Hyatt is a particularly good choice for golf lovers as it's located right
next to the Dubai Creek golf club. And if you want to get out of town completely
and relax in the very latest resort hotel, the brand new Hilton
Ras al Khaimah Resort and Spa opens its doors this autumn. It boasts an
unrivalled location in a private bay with a beautiful sandy beach and a spectacular
mountain backdrop.
Shop, shop, shop
If you can drag yourself away from the comforts of your hotel, there's plenty to do in Dubai as well, with shopping high on most holidaymakers' lists. The options are endless with several gigantic malls packed with designer goods. The Mall of the Emirates is Dubai's largest with over 500 stores including a Harvey Nics, high street favourites like Monsoon and Zara and up market brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Breitling. (If you really want to cool off, the mall also houses the world's biggest indoor ski slope, with real snow - perfect for keeping your parallels in trim before St Moritz or Aspen.)
When it comes to shopping, Dubai isn't just about great value designer gear. Gold, silver and all manner of jewellery are also great buys - you'll struggle to find cheaper anywhere in the world. The area to head for is the Deira souks at the heart of old Dubai. Here in the Gold Souk you'll be dazzled by the sheer quantity of glittering bracelets, necklaces and watches on show. The souks are also a great place to wander and get lost a little. You can browse the aromatic wares of the old Spice Souk or haggle for colourful bargains in the Textile Souk.
Dine in style
Once you're too loaded down to carry more shopping, take a well-earned rest
and sample some fine food and wine. Dubai's dining establishments don't quite
rival London or New York yet, but they're catching up fast. Gordon Ramsey's
Verre, at the Hilton
Dubai Creek Hotel is the town's latest top table offering innovative European-style
dishes like lobster ravioli. With a population from all corners of the globe,
international cuisine is also a dining highlight. Zheng He's European-Chinese
fusion cuisine (pesto with Chinese leaves anyone?) will leave your taste buds
tingling and Nina's contemporary take on Indian flavours ranges from old favourites
like Tikka Masaala to the totally unexpected like Frog's Legs with Rambutan.
If luxurious Dubai sounds like the place for your next holiday find
out more about the latest VHOT
DEALS to Dubai.
Rik Watkins is a freelance travel journalist who regularly writes for Lonely Planet and Rough Guides.