Our arrival in Dubai....if you have ever thought you have seen the most luxurious hotel check these pictures out!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru


   We arrived in Dubai after a seven hour flight to be greeted by the hottest climate I have ever experienced (108 DEGREES). The hotel sent a car to pick us up at the airport and in about 30 minutes we arrived at our hotel, the Burj al Arab, part of the Jumeirah group chain of luxury hotels worldwide (they own the Essex House on Central Park South in New York City). Now, like everyone else, I had seen this hotel before on television and in the magazines, but honestly, when they call it the world's only 7 star hotel, they are not kidding. The hotel is located on a small peninsula connected to the mainland by a walkway with a security booth only allowing those who stay at or have reservations to eat or drink at the restaurants or bars in the hotel to enter the property. Many people walk across the walkway up to the security booth and snap pictures of the hotel in the day and at night as the hotel's design (in the form of a traditional Arab sailing ship) has become one of the most recognized images worldwide.

    The check-in was smooth and was done in our suite (all of the rooms in the hotel are duplex suites). My pictures cannot even do justice to the beauty and over the top luxury of the hotel (you would really have to see it to believe it). Outside my door is a butler's station, which operates 24 hours to get you anything you need.

   The hotel will take you by buggy for free to any of their connected sister properties (4 of them within 5 minutes) and this service operates 24 hours. You can use any of the properties' pools, beaches or kid's clubs and have free access to their water park just steps outside the hotel. There are 4 restaurants in the hotel (International, Middle Eastern, Asian and Seafood) and another fifty to choose from in their sister properties.    I may have to mortgage my apartment to stay here but the threat of foreclosure can never feel this good.

The elevator bank outside our hotel room

Full size complimentary Hermes toiletries and perfumes for the women (yes, the ones you pay $100 for in the stores)

and for the men

The Burj al Arab hotel at night

The room includes an office with laptop and all in one printer

The ground floor of our room which includes a huge circular velvet sofa and sofa bed

The hotel's sister property across the beach

The living room has a large sitting area

The Dubai skyline at night in the distance

The guest bathroom on the first floor

A view form the staircase to the second floor

The view from the lobby up

Even Ashley has her own toiletries and creams

The view as we appraoched the hotel

Part of the sitting area in the living room

The closet, vanity area on the second floor

The living room with the staircase in the background

The sitting area in the master bedroom on the second floor

The aquarium next to the lobby escalator

The television and the dining area

The second floor master bathroom

When I was walking around the airport dazed, my daughter saw my name on this screen..the hotel had
 come to pick us up.

The jaccuzi tub and glass enclosed shower

The spiral staircase  leading to the second floor

The fountain outside the hotel

The chandelier over the staircase as welll as a stained glass window and a projector clock

The master bedroom 

The view from my room down to the lobby

Time to relax