Jumeirah Burj Al Arab

The Talise Spa, meanwhile, with its indoor pool flanked by colorful mosaic pillars, remains a destination within itself—the jewel in this hotel’s crown.

The grand dame of Dubai hotels has officially become a tourist attraction with a sky-high museum celebrating its construction and 1999 opening, complete with guided-butler tours. Elsewhere, it remains a fully operational, ultra-luxury hotel, home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, air-conditioned pool cabanas and a helipad.

Feel like a sheikh in your own palace at this sail-shaped Dubai landmark, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, where interiors are embellished with 24-karat gold and the atrium lobby rises some 600 feet.

The style icon that put Dubai on the tourist map, the Burj Al-Arab has to be one of the most famous hotels in the world.

Whimsical decor abounds throughout, from the 24K gold-leaf details to the hot pink majlis-style sitting room, the leopard-print carpet on the grand staircase and the dining-room ceiling that has been painted with a blue sky and puffy white cloud motif.

Ever wanted to live like an oligarch? It's a combination of the luxurious rooms and the service that makes this an exceptional place to stay... All the time you feel wonderfully and exhilaratingly insulated from reality.