The Burj al Arab is in Dubai and promotes itself as the only “seven star” hotel, and when the opportunity to stay there presented itself, I could not pass it up. This is an iconic hotel built on a man made island in the Persian Gulf. It was designed to look like the sail of a ship. The entrance is a massive atrium, which is the tallest in the world.
Booking:
I booked the Burj Al Arab using the American Express Travel Portal. The hotel is part of American Express’ Fine Hotels and Resorts program. Hotels that are part of this program can be booked by redeeming Membership Rewards points at a rate of one cent per point. The nightly rate for the room I booked was approximately $2,000.00/night, so I used a combination of just over 180,000 Membership Rewards points and my $200 Fine Hotels and Resorts credit from my Platinum Card from American Express to book the room.
Check-in:
At check-in, guests are greeted by staff and given Arabic coffee and dates as the staff completes the check in process. After check-in guests must ride up escalators to the elevators, which lead to the guest rooms. The escalators are flanked by massive fish tanks on the outside and a beautiful cascading fountain on the inside. The elevators then lead to the guest rooms, which are all two level suites.
Room:
The room I initially booked was a Panoramic Suite. One of the benefits of booking through American Express’ Fine Hotels and Resorts program is the potential for room upgrades. I was not expecting an upgrade at this hotel since the Panoramic Suite is not a base room, but to my surprise, I was given a room upgrade upon check-in.
The “room,” if that is what you want to call it, I was upgraded to was a Burj Two Bedroom Family Suite. The suite is absolutely massive, measuring over 3,600 square feet (over twice the size of my house)! It is a two level suite, with two bedrooms, each with its own full bathroom, upstairs, and a living area, office, and dining area downstairs. The staircase connecting the two floors was a massive marble staircase just inside the front door. It has huge floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Persian Gulf, and the curtains are controlled electronically.
As you would expect from a room this size, the bathrooms are very large as well. The counters and floors are marble, and each bathroom had a huge shower and huge separate bathtub. Gifts are provided for both men and women in each bathroom. Gifts for men include Hermes cologne and aftershave. Gifts for women include Hermes perfume, shampoo, and conditioner. These are full size bottles, and not travel size bottles as you might expect at a hotel.
The bed was one of the softest beds I have ever slept on. Something I had read about this hotel prior to staying there was the ability to choose the pillows your room would have upon check in, but I was not given this option. Nonetheless, the pillows were amazing as well.
Food:
The Burj al Arab has several restaurants. Unfortunately, I only stayed there for one night and ate elsewhere, so I did not get the chance to eat at any of them. One of the benefits of booking through the Fine Hotels and Resorts program is you get free breakfast. I left the hotel without getting to try breakfast as well though.
Amenities:
The only activity I tried at the hotel was “Inside the Burj al Arab: An Exclusive Tour.” It was pretty amazing. During the tour guests learn about the history of the hotel and important events it has hosted. The tour also includes access to the presidential suite, which is available for $25,000 per night! The tour is included in the nightly rate for guests who stay at the hotel. People not staying at the hotel can pay to take the tour.
I did not use it, but one of the highlights of the Burj Al Arab’s incredible service is a butler for each floor. The butler can arrange everything from transportation to meals, and the service is available 24/7. Another service offered is shuttle service to and from Dubai’s international airport. This service was pricey though, at several hundred dollars each way. I opted to book our transportation through Emirates chauffeur service instead.
Value:
Using Membership Rewards points to book hotels through American Express’ travel portal is rarely a better value than transferring to hotel partners, but the Burj al Arab is not associated with any loyalty programs, and therefore, the only way to book with points was through the travel portal. That being said, this was a bucket list hotel, and I felt the the cost was worth it. Especially considering I received a complimentary room upgrade, which ended up giving me a massive suite.
Overall Impression:
This hotel was amazing. Every inch of the hotel exudes luxury, and the amazing service matched the luxurious look of the hotel. I wish I would have had the opportunity to try some of the restaurants at the hotel, as I am sure they would have been amazing as well. While the hotel is extremely pricey, I am definitely happy I splurged on one night here and had the opportunity to experience this iconic hotel.