have connecting doors), discerning cou-
ples may be more charmed by the elegant,
classically furnished retreats in the Tower
Building. All have sea-view balconies. With
three pools, a top-notch gym, a full menu of
water sports and lots of activities for kids
and teens, no one will get bored.riTZ-carlTon dubai luXury hoTel $$$
Map p220 (%04-399 4000; http://www.ritzcarlton
.com; The Walk at Jbr, Dubai Marina; r Dh2100;iWs) The Ritz-Carlton exudes an aura of
timeless elegance. When it first opened in
1998, Dubai Marina was still the middle of
nowhere. Now high-rises loom above, but
the mature gardens and tall palms create a
visual berm. The Mediterranean-villa-style
resort is typical of the chain’s restrained
and elegant European style – conservative,
but cushy – with plush fabrics, marble foy-
ers and colonial-style hardwood furniture.
All 138 rooms face the gardens and seadeserT dreaMsJust a short drive from the traffic jams, construction sites and megamalls are three
stellar desert resorts� If you crave a little peace and quiet, and are prepared to
spend some serious money, these hotels will show you a calmer, less-hurried side
of Dubai�
desert palm (%04-323 8888; http://www.desertpalm.ae; hatta/oman rd; ste incl breakfast
Dh1800-2500, villa Dh4500-6250; Ws) Feel the stresses nibbling at your psyche
evaporate the moment you step inside this luxe boutique retreat a short drive south
of town and set on a private polo estate� You can opt either for a palm suite with floor-
to-ceiling windows overlooking the polo field (plus Bang & Olufsen surround system
and Apple iPod), or go for total privacy in one of the villas with private pool� Either
way, you’ll feel quite blissed out amid earth-toned decor, fancy linens and vast green
landscapes� There’s also an infinity pool, an on-site spa and a gourmet deli for picking
up tasty treats to enjoy on the terrace or as a desert picnic�
bab al-shams desert resort & spa (%04-832 6699; http://www.meydanhotels.com; near
endurance Villlage; r incl breakfast from Dh1060; iWsc) Resembling an Arabian fort
and effortlessly blending into the desertscape, Bab al-Shams is a tonic for tourists
seeking to indulge their One Thousand and One Nights fantasies� Its labyrinthine
layout displays both Arabic and Moorish influences; rooms are gorgeous, spacious
and evocatively earthy, with pillars, lanterns, paintings of desert landscapes and
prettily patterned Bedouin-style pillows� While this is the perfect place to curl up
with a book or meditate in the dunes, the stimuli-deprived will find plenty to do� A
wonderful infinity pool beckons, as do the luscious Satori Spa and an archery range�
Children under 12 years of age can let off steam in Sinbad’s Club� Off-site activities
include desert tours and horse and camel rides� Bab al-Shams is about 40 minutes
south of Dubai�
al Maha desert resort & spa (%04-303 4222; http://www.al-maha.com; off the Dubai to
al-ain rd; ste weekday/weekend incl all meals from Dh5430; Ws) It may only be 65km
southeast of Dubai (on the Dubai to Al-Ain Rd), but Al Maha feels like an entirely dif-
ferent universe� Gone are the traffic, the skyscrapers and the go-go attitude� At this
remote desert eco-resort it’s all about getting back to some elemental discoveries
about yourself and where you fit into nature’s grand design� Part of the Dubai Desert
Conservation Reserve (DDCR), Al Maha is one of the most exclusive hotels in the
Emirates and named for the endangered Arabian oryx, which are bred as part of
DDCR’s conservation program� The resort’s 42 luxurious suites are all stand-alone,
canvas-roofed bungalows with private plunge pools� Each one has its own patio with
stunning vistas of the beautiful desert landscape and peach-coloured dunes, punc-
tuated by mountains and grazing white oryx and gazelles� Rates include two daily
activities such as a desert wildlife drive or a camel trek� Private vehicles, visitors and
children under 12 years of age are not allowed, and taking meals at your suite rather
than in the dining room is a popular choice� Save 30% by reserving a month or more
in advance�s
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