A Wild Remain In Addition To $5,000 Upgrade At The 7-Star Burj Al Arab

***This is component fifteen of my "Camels, Bats, in addition to Bloggers" trip study detailing a recent trip to Dubai in addition to Seychelles, amongst a terminal halt inward Las Vegas to attend the 2014 BAcon conference hosted yesteryear BoardingArea***

1. Introduction - Camels, Bats, in addition to Bloggers
2. Emirates Lounge at SFO
3. Emirates First Class San Francisco to Dubai
4. Conrad Dubai
5. Old Dubai, Ski Dubai, in addition to At the Top
6. Emirates Terminal B First Class Lounge at DXB
7. Emirates First Class Dubai to Mahe, Seychelles
8. Four Seasons Republic of Seychelles
9. Air Republic of Seychelles Economy Class Mahe to Praslin
10. Raffles Praslin Seychelles
11. Island Hopping - La Digue
12. Island Hopping - Praslin, Cousine, Curieuse, St. Pierre
13. Hilton Republic of Seychelles Northolme Resort in addition to Spa
14. Emirates Business Class Mahe, Republic of Seychelles to Dubai
15. 7-Star Luxury at the Burj Al Arab
16. British Airways Lounge at DXB
17. mainland People's Republic of China Pacific Business Class Dubai to Los Angeles via Hong Kong
18. 2014 BAcon Conference inward Las Vegas + Mandalay Bay Hotel
19. American Express Centurion Lounge at LAS
_______________________________

Getting there/Check-in

Our Emirates chauffeur pulled to the front end gate of the Burj Al Arab where at that spot was a guarded safety checkpoint. Apparently, you lot can't fifty-fifty see the hotel unless you're a hotel invitee or stimulate got eating spot or spa reservations.

After providing our advert to the guard nosotros were waved through, in addition to drove yesteryear at to the lowest degree a dozen tourists standing unopen to taking pictures. The unique sheet shape in addition to self-proclaimed 7-star status sure build the Burj Al Arab 1 of the most recognizable hotels inward the world.

Burj Al Arab

We pulled upwards to the circular driveway in addition to the bellman at nowadays ran over to aid us amongst our bags. Even our prissy Mercedes railroad vehicle was looking similar a slice of junk compared to the hotel's white Rolls Royce parked out front, along amongst a murderer's row of automotive talent that included a matte light-green Lamborghini, a gilt Ferrari, in addition to a yellowish McLaren. It was similar a scene out of the Top Gear guys' moisture dreams.

If you lot recall the Emirates means of decor has a lot of bling, hold back until you lot encounter this place. The Burj Al Arab has the most over-the-top decor that I've ever seen, amongst gilt cut back on told of gilt leafage on transcend of fifty-fifty to a greater extent than gold.

We took a 2nd to marvel at the atrium, which according to the hotel staff is the tallest inward the world.

Tallest atrium inward the world

Lobby fountain

Lobby eating spot entrance

We took a spot piece the front end desk clerk checked our reservation, in addition to enjoyed some Standard Arabic java in addition to dates inward the hateful time. There were 2 huge aquariums on each side of the lobby.

Lobby aquarium

She returned amongst some adept news. Actually, she clarified that at that spot were 2 pieces of adept news, in addition to our ears perked up.

"First, I'm happy to allow you lot know that your room is ready."

That sure falls into the category of adept word - I mean, it's definitely non bad news. But it was already 2pm in addition to check-in fourth dimension was 3pm, hence I barely cracked a smile. We weren't expecting much out of item #2, in addition to allow her continue.

"Also, you've been upgraded from a 1 sleeping room suite to a 2 sleeping room suite"

Now that's what I telephone telephone adept news! The practical side of me was thinking, "what the hell are nosotros going to exercise amongst an extra bedroom?" The other side rapidly took over, amongst the mindset that "more is ever better". At this point, nosotros didn't realize merely how awesome this upgrade would plow out to be.

We were escorted over to the elevators, in addition to rode upwards to the twelfth flooring where our room was located.

Shopping boutique

Elevator bank

I establish if interesting that the hotel doesn't seem that large from the outside, but from the within it feels absolutely massive, amongst unique architectural nuances unopen to each corner.


View from the inside

We arrived at the twelfth floor, in addition to as shortly as the elevators opened at that spot was a human being inward a tuxedo waiting for us. He escorted us farther downwardly the hall to the butler desk, which was staffed yesteryear three additional butlers.

While most hotels usage the front end desk as the funnel for invitee inquiries, the Burj Al Arab is to a greater extent than floor-centric, amongst each 1 staffed yesteryear a squad of butlers. Each fourth dimension nosotros arrived at our flooring at that spot was at to the lowest degree 1 butler manning the desk, in addition to would walk us dorsum to our room. In total, the hotel employs over 250 butlers that stimulate got pride inward helping guests amongst anything in addition to everything they desire.

They began to give us an overview of the hotel at the butler desk, but my continuous inching toward our room must stimulate got been a hint that I was anxious to instruct inside. They led us to our room to goal the check-in process.

About to move into our suite

Our Suite

So at that spot are suites, in addition to and then at that spot are suites. The 1 sleeping room suite that nosotros had originally booked was the entry-level suite, but all the same comes at a whopping 1,830 foursquare feet. All the rooms inward the hotel are duplex suites, amongst the living infinite located on the kickoff floor, in addition to the bedrooms located on the 2nd floor.

There are several room categories, amongst the largest "Royal 2BR Suite" coming inward at an insane 8,400 foursquare ft. amongst an every bit ridiculous toll tag of $19,000 per night.

Our amazing upgrade bumped us upwards several room categories to a 2 sleeping room in addition to 2.5 bath suite, spread across 3,600 foursquare ft.

Coming from the San Francisco Bay Area where the 2 of us had been used to living inward a 700 sq. ft. condo prior to of late moving, nosotros merely didn't know what to exercise amongst that much space. We all of a abrupt establish ourselves inward a hotel room that was five times the size of what nosotros were accustomed to!

Here's the tour, starting amongst the vestibule in addition to an side yesteryear side one-half bath.


Suite foyer

1st flooring one-half bathroom

The 1st flooring of the suite opens upwards into a total usage equipped amongst an iMac, printer, in addition to scanner. This infinite would hold upwards really useful for those that stimulate got existent move to do. For me, I primarily used the infinite to claw upwards my iPad in addition to lookout adult man Sons of Anarchy on a bigger screen.

Office

After a difficult day's work, it's natural to wishing a drink. Next to the office, at that spot was a 4-stool bar which was fully stocked amongst an assortment of refreshments in addition to treats. We cracked into the bottle of reddish vino in addition to grazed from the fruit platter.

Bar area

Then nosotros dug into the sweets which included a box of baklava inward the shape of the Burj Al Arab, in addition to a plate of tiramisu.

Baklava

Tiramisu

There were bottles of H2O all around, in addition to the butlers brought to a greater extent than each fourth dimension they came to freshen upwards the room. It was a French build that we'd never heard of, in addition to came inward a drinking glass bottle. It tasted like...water.

Wattwiller water

The 1st living room was outfitted amongst a huge sectional sofa, a small-scale table, in addition to a padded wall? As you lot tin give notice see, the decor looks similar it was taken from the laid of Aladdin.


Living room #1

Throughout the suite at that spot were fantastic views downwardly to the beach, in addition to at that spot was a constant current of helicopters flight by.

View from the suite

This is the most high-tech hotel room that I've ever stayed in. There were a total of four TV's, in addition to each 1 took every chance to remind you lot that you lot were staying inward the world's most luxurious hotel.

Every unmarried room inward the suite was wired amongst environs sound, as good as dimming lights that could hold upwards laid at four dissimilar brightness levels. Each private room had a panel to command both the audio in addition to lighting.

Since the suite is hence large, of class you're non expected to instruct upwards in addition to opened upwards the front end door. My favorite characteristic was the mightiness to opened upwards the front end door from whatever of the remote controls scattered across the suite.

Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel

The 2nd living room provided fifty-fifty to a greater extent than space, amongst some other sectional sofa along amongst 2 large chairs amongst ottomans.

Living room #2

Adjacent to living room #2 is a formal dining room, equipped amongst a large 6-person dining tabular array that tin give notice hold upwards used to host a proper dinner. Or, inward our case, to pretend similar nosotros were hosting a dinner for our imaginary friends.

Formal dining room

Here's your dinner, fruit!

If you lot really were hosting a a dinner, there's a kitchen side yesteryear side to the dining room which was equipped amongst a microwave, sink, oven in addition to stove top.

Kitchen

After exploring the 1st floor, nosotros headed dorsum to the vestibule in addition to made our means upstairs to the 2nd floor. The vestibule featured a grand staircase in addition to chandelier.

Staircase to 2nd floor

There was also a virtual clock projected onto the wall.

Virtual wall clock

At the transcend of the stairs, the hallway branched off inward 2 directions toward each of the rooms. The spare sleeping room featured 2 twin beds in addition to a total en-suite bathroom. Since my married adult woman took over the master copy bathroom, this became my bathroom.

Obviously nosotros had no usage for this bedroom, in addition to it was completely unnecessary.


Bedroom #2

Spare bathroom

And finally, the master copy suite which was humongous. It started amongst the sleeping room expanse which featured a Rex bed along amongst a solar daytime bed in addition to additional chairs inward each of the corners.

There were to a greater extent than mirrors than I could count, including the infamous mirror inward a higher identify the ceiling. It's non to everyone's taste, but I establish it amusing as a deterrent from eating inward bed, since you lot had a perfect sentiment of yourself making a mess everywhere.

Master bedroom

Behind the sleeping room at that spot is a walkway which connected to a pulverization room which contained the wardrobe as good as a total make-up area.

Make-up room in addition to wardrobe

The master copy bath was basically identical to the spare bathroom.

Master bathroom

The shower in addition to bathtub were both huge, although nosotros did stimulate got some problem amongst the shower draining likewise tardily in addition to made a fleck of a mess yesteryear flooding the floor. I approximate the spare bath came inward handy later all!

Huge tub

Shower

Both bathrooms were stocked amongst total size 6-12 oz. Hermes toiletries, in addition to since nosotros barely position a dent inward them, I broke my dominion of never checking bags in addition to brought them dorsum home. The spare bath paid off, since it essentially doubled our loot which totaled 2 bars of soap, 2 bottles of perfume, in addition to 8 bottles of shampoo/conditioner/body wash/lotion that took upwards one-half the infinite inward our suitcase.


Hermes toiletries

Hotel Facilities

While the hotel is massive, the rooms really stimulate got upwards the vast bulk of the space. Additional facilities include a small-scale shopping boutique located inward the atrium, in addition to a fitness center, spa, in addition to indoor puddle located on the 18th floor. My married adult woman went to the gym to move out in addition to reported dorsum that he fitness centre is real large in addition to well-equipped, in addition to really offers both a co-ed gym in addition to a gym specifically for women. As you lot tin give notice guess, when given the alternative it appeared that all the women were inward the women's solely gym.

They were real strict almost pictures inward the spa, gym, in addition to pool, hence unfortunately this department volition hold upwards picture-less.

Activities

Staying at the Burj Al Arab grants you lot access to several of the nearby Jumeirah facilities, which include the outdoor Executive pool, Jumeirah beach, in addition to Wild Wadi H2O park. There is buggy service which takes guests along a loop to all of those locations.

Since nosotros were at that spot for merely 1 nighttime in addition to the 1st solar daytime was already packed, nosotros solely had spare fourth dimension the morning time of our difference to depository fiscal establishment check out the neighboring facilities. By 10AM the temperatures were already approaching xc degrees, hence nosotros weren't likewise bully on merely sitting unopen to at the puddle or beach. We wanted to hold upwards inward the water, in addition to no meliorate identify to exercise that than at Wild Wadi H2O park.

Wild Wadi opens at 10AM in addition to beingness the early on plane sure had its benefits. There were no lines for the kickoff hour, in addition to nosotros were able to instruct through all of the rides inward no time.

The best ride is the Jumeirah Sceirah which was a 400 pes slide that reaches speeds of 60mph. You're placed into the launching pod, in addition to as the countdown reaches "1", the flooring of the pod opens upwards in addition to you lot instruct flight down. I'm a total chicken when it comes to roller coasters, hence my screams were  likely heard all the means from Abu Dhabi.

Jumeirah Sceriah

Wild Wadi encourages the usage of GoPro cameras, but this was the solely 1 where they don't allow you lot stimulate got it on the ride. I was able to snap a motion-picture demo of the Burj Al Arab from the transcend of Jumeirah Sceriah earlier taking the plunge.

View of the Burj Al Arab from the transcend of Wild Wadi

We did position the GoPro to adept usage on a couplet of the other rides, in addition to captured a couplet selfies amongst the Burj Al Arab inward the background.


Waterslide selfies

Food in addition to Beverage

Since nosotros were at the terminate of our trip in addition to had done most of our over-eating inward the Seychelles, nosotros didn't really experience the demand to stimulate got a proper dinner. Also, nosotros had read reviews almost the nutrient at the hotel which were a mixed bag, amongst many feeling that it was overpriced for what you lot get.

Therefore, nosotros felt similar a prissy compromise would hold upwards to stimulate got afternoon tea at the Skyview Bar, in addition to made reservations for 4:30PM which is the finally seating of the day. There are 2 afternoon tea seatings, each of which has 2 reservation times staggered xxx minutes apart. I would recommend the 2PM or 4PM reservations times, since yesteryear 4:30PM all of the window seats had been taken.

There was all the same enough of infinite to walk unopen to in addition to bask the fantastic views from the 27th floor.

View from Skyview Bar

The Skyview Bar has a really unique style, in addition to is sectioned off from the eating spot for afternoon tea in addition to eve cocktails.


Skyview Bar

The afternoon tea hither is as much almost the ambiance in addition to views as it was almost the food. Overall, it was a fun experience, but the "Burj" element is sure baked into the cost in addition to I tin give notice encounter why people felt the means the did almost the restaurants inward the hotel.

Our 5-courses started amongst champagne in addition to dates, followed yesteryear the meat of the solar daytime which was a delicious cutting of beef served amongst a helping of mashed potatoes.

Meat of the day

The courses alternated betwixt sugariness in addition to savory - following upwards was a delicious berry fruit tart.

Fruit tart

It was in addition to then fourth dimension for the smaller Burj Al Arab platter which was filled amongst finger sandwiches. There were solely five sandwiches per individual on the platter, but the waiters came yesteryear oftentimes amongst refills. They must stimulate got sensed my hungry eyes, in addition to since nosotros were making dinner out of this, I didn't agree back. Much to my wife's embarrassment, I had the waiter swing yesteryear several times in addition to must stimulate got had at to the lowest degree 20-25 of these piddling guys.

In general, you lot tin give notice really recall of this as an afternoon tea buffet, since they exercise non nickel in addition to dime you lot at all. In add-on to the food, nosotros must stimulate got tried 8 dissimilar types of teas, in addition to if anything the waiters were encouraging us to endeavour more.


Cold finger sandwiches

Lastly, the large Burj Al Arab platter was brought out, in addition to contained scones, muffins, a broad assortment of other pastries, in addition to mini creme brulees. Oddly, they don't give you lot 2 of everything, hence my married adult woman in addition to I had to cutting each slice inward one-half inward guild to share. No demand for refills here, as this was an unreal amount of sweets that left us on a saccharide high for the balance of the day.


Afternoon tea sweets

The following solar daytime nosotros headed downwardly to Bab Al Yam eating spot for breakfast which is located on the Earth flat following to the beach. The other alternative for breakfast is Jinsui which is an Asian-style buffet.

There was a high-quality selection of items for breakfast, but it sure wasn't quite as overwhelming or indulgent as nosotros expected it to be. During our kickoff halt inward Dubai I had been blown away yesteryear the eggs at the Emirates First Class Lounge, which had the most amazingly golden yolks I've ever seen. I made sure to squeeze inward 1 finally guild of sunnyside upwards eggs here.


Breakfast buffet

As a bonus, nosotros had been wanting to endeavour camel milk at some signal during our stay, in addition to luckily they had it here. 

Camel milk

Breakfast selection

Final thoughts

Overall, our remain at the Burj Al Arab was as ridiculous in addition to over-the-top as nosotros expected it to be. Everything almost this 7-star hotel is loud, but beyond that it genuinely did alive upwards to the hype as the most luxurious hotel nosotros stimulate got sure stayed at.

In some ways I sentiment our remain to a greater extent than as the buy of a "royal treatment" type of experience, rather than a nighttime of hotel accommodations. They exercise non nickel in addition to dime you lot hither at all, in addition to if anything it's quite the opposite. As a guest, you're showered amongst all the finest food, drinks, amenities, in addition to services your pump could desire. Of class it's all baked into the price, but amongst this all-inclusive mindset you're able to really merely relax in addition to enjoy.

Would I remain again? Perhaps. I'm glad nosotros tried it 1 time for the novelty, but at that spot are hence many amazing properties inward Dubai such as the One in addition to Only The Palm that I would similar to endeavour earlier returning to the Burj Al Arab. However, I would absolutely recommend staying at the Burj Al Arab at to the lowest degree once, in addition to would also recommend it solely for relatively curt (1-2 nights) stays.

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