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Middle Eastern & African Luxury Hotels Tips
Middle Eastern & African Luxury Hotels Ratings
Without a doubt, Middle Eastern hotels are some of the most prestigious and luxurious in the world. One need only look at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai to see how luxury can be redefined. Don’t be surprised to hear of six-star or even seven-star hotels, though these are more self-proclaimed accolades rather than measured by an independent body. No matter -- those hotels are almost always on everyone’s top lists, such as the Travel + Leisure 500 or rated by the Mobil or AAA guides as five stars, for lack of a higher rating.
Here are some fun facts to take with you:
In Dubai, it is illegal to sunbathe topless!
In Jerusalem, the currency is the New Israel Shekel (NIS) or shekel for short (pluralized as shkalim in Hebrew or shekels in English).
Turkey has 5,000 miles of coastline, making it a beach paradise. It is surrounded by sea on three sides, the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west.
The world’s first heart transplant was done in South Africa in 1967 by South African Dr. Chris Barnard.
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Jerusalem-The City of Gold
Established over 3,000 years ago by King David, Jerusalem, Israel is considered a religious center of the world. Each year, millions of travelers from diverse religious backgrounds make their pilgrimage to the Holy Land. A visit to Jerusalem is an unforgettable travel experience.
When choosing where to stay in a city steeped in history, most travelers prefer a hotel that reflects a sense of place rather than a generic present day hotel with cookie-cutter rooms that could be in any city around the world. King David Hotel has been the landmark meeting place for Kings and Presidents, diplomats and dignitaries and celebrities and sophisticates for over 75 years. It is traditionally the setting for important state receptions. It is also a hotel that is often featured in films and television documentaries. It played a leading role in the award-winning classic Exodus. It is at the same time historic and a thoroughly modern Jerusalem luxury hotel.
Standing like a stately mansion or royal palace, King David Hotel is located in the center of Jerusalem, overlooking the historic walls of the Old City where many of the world’s most significant religious landmarks are found. Today, King David Hotel is one of the most recognized 5-star luxury hotels in the Middle East. It is a member of the Dan Hotels group and the Leading Hotels of the World luxury hotel collection. It is recognized as on of the best hotels in the world by the Condé Nast Gold List.
Combining the rich heritage of its past with totally modern comforts and amenities, King David Hotel offers business and leisure travelers a premier travel experience. Middle East motifs partner with modern high-tech with Internet, voice mail and fax connections in all rooms. And, when it is time to see the best of Jerusalem, the professional concierge staff at King David Hotel arranges tickets for tours, restaurants and special events. Not to be missed: Watch the sunset turn the city into the breathtaking fabled “City of Gold.”
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Dubai Luxury Hotel: The Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab wasdesigned to resemble a billowing sail and looks like a mirage in the desert. This all-suite hotel is luxury redefined, to say the least. The interior, with 30 kinds of marble and 22-karat gold leaf throughout, is so over the top that it’s difficult to imagine.
Perks include a chauffeur (driving a Rolls Royce), in-suite check-in, private reception desks on every floor and a butler to provide around-the-clock attention. Burj Al Arab does not have standard hotel rooms; it has 202 suites, each one arranged over two floors with floor-to-ceiling glass windows so you can see the glistening Arabian Gulf.
Each suite comes standard with a wide array of full-size bathroom amenities by Hermes, music and oils and an alternative menu with 13 differing pillows to choose from.
Dining After a 3-minute simulated submarine voyage to the restaurant Al Marhara, you’ll find a ceiling seawater aquarium in the center of the room. Obviously seafood is on the menu!
Spa The Assawan Spa offers decadent massages and facials and the treatments are designed with La Prairie, ESPA and Aromatherapy Associates products.
Details Burj Al Arab www.burj-al-arab.com Tel: +971 4 3017777
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Treasures of Istanbul
Once known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, Istanbul is the only city in the world divided over two continents, Europe and Asia. For more than 1,000 years, it was also the capital of two empires, Christian and Muslim. It is an immense living museum and a major port and modern trade and cultural center.
Choosing a hotel in a city like Istanbul is challenging. It pays to take the advice of seasoned travelers. The annual Travel & Leisure World’s Best Hotels list is a definitive guide to leading hotels around the globe chosen by the magazine’s professional travel editors and reporters. Hotels are evaluated on rooms, amenities, service and special features. Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul ranks high on this prestigious list. It is also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World 5-star luxury hotels in Turkey.
Rising majestically on the European side of the city, Swissôtel Istanbul is a contemporary hotel in a historic setting of the former gardens of an Ottoman palace. It is a legendary and luxurious base for exploring the treasures of Istanbul. Standard rooms are spacious, comfortable and well-appointed. The Presidential Suite features services and amenities befitting royalty. Swiss executive floors and an executive lounge make doing business in Istanbul a breeze. Sixteen diverse restaurants satisfy the palate with a wide variety of international cuisines and Turkish specialties. And, The Bosphorus Spa & Wellness Center is a haven of tranquility and relaxation amid the clamor of the city. Not to be missed in Istanbul: stand in the Hippodrome, the center of life in 203 A.D. and listen to the echoes of the past. Visit the breathtaking Blue Mosque, with over 20,000 delicate blue tiles and six towering minarets. Hagia Sophia, Topkati Palace and the Grand Bazaar are also among the many must-sees in Istanbul. The concierge will gladly arrange tours, reservations and tickets to these and other must-see sites, top restaurants and special events for guests at Swissôtel The Bosphorus.
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Jerusalem Luxury Hotel: King David Jerusalem Hotel
The King DavidJerusalem Hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and was PresidentBill Clinton’s base during presidential trips to Israel. The lobby is characterized by cornices with Middle Eastern motifs and lush indigo couches. It was listed for Best for Design and Location on the Conde Nast Gold List 2007. It is the flagship of the Dan Hotels. There are a dozen Dan Hotels in the country.
Dining The La Regence Grill Room’s menu is highlighted by local ingredients and Middle Eastern spices and herbs. Don’t miss the lamb cutlets served with either fries or homemade potato and chive puree.
Spa There’s a swimming pool, a fitness center, a tennis court and massages can be arranged.
Deluxe Touch The Dan VIP Lounges at Ben Gurion Airport are owned and managed by the Dan Hotel Chain and QAS. The VIP Lounges offer a private and secluded area, refreshments and free Internet access.
Details The King David - Jerusalem Hotel Tel: 972-3-5202552
Swissôtel’s Bosphorus, Istanbul property is located in the center of Istanbul on the European banks of the Bosphorus. The hotel's spacious gardens were previously the gardens of the Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Situated on a wooded hilltop, the hotel has panoramic views of the Bosphorus, the Asian coast and the old city of Istanbul. It’s also close to many of Istanbul attractions and shopping.
Dining There are 16 restaurants, bars and lounges at the hotel. Try international delights at Café Suisse, Swiss cuisine at Swiss Chalet, Pacific Rim and Mediterranean cuisine at the hotel's Roof Garden and authentic Japanese food at Miyako. Gaja Restaurant offers fine dining, as well.
Spa The Amrita Spa and Wellness Centre has an outdoor pool with separate children's section, a heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, fully equipped gym, sauna, solarium, plus traditional Turkish bath and massage services.
Deluxe Touch Stay in the Japanese suite or one of two Presidential suites. Each suite features marble bathrooms with a separate shower, special bathroom amenities and jacuzzis.
The Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is right on the edge of a crater and offers endless views of the crater below. The boulder-built buildings are linked by rope-lashed timber walkways that skirt the roots of ancient, liana-hung trees. You can visit a selection of authentic Maasai villages, all of which belong to the national Cultural Tourism Program, as well as Maasai homesteads, traditional cattle markets and women’s handicraft groups. The lodge made the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List 2007.
Dining The Maasai-inspired, split-level dining and bar area features a two-tier wall of windows looking down on to the crater, a traditional circular fireside meeting area, and a motif of massive 'prehistoric' cave paintings, stone-studded walls, Maasai spears and blazing jewel-hued wall lamps. The menu includes traditional Maasai fare, long-time safari favorites and international dishes.
Spa Beauty treatments, massage and hairdressing are all available.
Deluxe Touch Serena Safaris operate a fleet of safari-adapted Land Cruisers. Each tour is led by an experienced guide. Picnics, mineral water, cool boxes and bush libraries are also provided.
Details Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania Tel: 255 272 537050
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Cape Town, Africa Luxury Hotel: The Bay Hotel
The Bay Hotelin Camps Bay, Cape Town, is right at the foot of Table Mountain between the Twelve Apostles range and the white sands of Camps Bay beach. It is just 10 minutes from Cape Town. The hotel made the 2007 Travel + Leisure 500 list.
Dining The Tides Restaurant dinner menu is based on the prix-fix concept, offering guests the choice of a two or three course meal at a set price. Tides Restaurant in Camps Bay has a menu that boasts interesting and innovative cuisine. The wine list is large and diners can select their wine from a temperature-controlled walk-in cellar. Imported cigars and a vast selection of cognacs are also on offer.
Spa You’ll have to take the free shuttle over to Bay Hotel’s sister Camps Bay Retreat for spa treatments. The resort is on four acres of private land with waterfalls, mountain streams and pools. Treatments include comprehensive facials, manicures and pedicures, waxing, tinting, body massage, aromatherapy and reflexology.
Deluxe Touch Stay in the luxury Penthouse suite and you’ll have a spacious bedroom, private dining room and lounge, large bathroom and balcony overlooking Camps Bay Beach. It also has an exclusive staircase, entrance lobby and guest bathroom. Plasma television sets and a home theater system allow you to set the mood.
Details 69 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town Tel: +27 (0)21 438 4444
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Jumeirah Defines Luxury in Dubai
Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, is quickly becoming one of the leading and most exciting international travel destinations. Located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai blends tropical beach and warm desert ambiance. Boasting the “Best of East and West, it is a city typically described by superlatives including: wealthiest, tallest, most beautiful, most welcoming, most progressive, best world-class resorts and a veritable shopping paradise.
Jumeirah, the most popular suburb of Dubai, is home to the finest beaches and most luxurious resorts. Discerning travelers recognize that luxury is in the details including accommodations, amenities and impeccable service. The Jumeirah Hotels Group, the leading five-star luxury hotel brand in the UAE, exceeds expectations on every level. Rooms and suites at Jumeirah hotels are decorated in vibrant colors complemented by lavish textures and features. Expect an array of luxury amenities like bath and pillow menus, fresh flowers, gourmet snacks, champagne and the latest technology with an in-room laptop computer and large-screen plasma television. Dining at Jumeirah is a sensory experience, a feast for the senses. Jumeirah Spas are havens of serenity offering a wide range of the latest treatments and services. And, personal butlers/concierges ensure that no wish is left unfilled.
Each Jumeirah hotels is a unique travel destination in itself. Burj Al Arab is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Shaped like a gigantic billowing sail, it dominates the Jumeirah skyline. Described as “simply spectacular,” Burj Al Arab is ranked as one of the best hotels the world on the Condé Nast Gold List. Jumeirah Emirates Towers also enjoys a spot on the Gold List and is ranked as the Best Business Hotel in the Middle East by Business Traveller UK Awards and World Travel Awards 2007. Other leading Jumeirah Hotels in the UAE include: Jumeirah Beach Hotel (home of Wild Wadi Water Park), Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Club Resort & Spa and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa.
