The Bar/Lounge at Burj Al Arab

"Non-guests can visit the Burj provided they have a reservation at one of the restaurants or bars, and occasional tours are allowed in the public spaces"

"Low-key it is not, with Rolls-Royce pickups at the airport, a rooftop helipad, and an entrance that denies mere plebeians the right to gawk (a barrier ensures only guests and those with restaurant reservations get onto the man-made island on which it's located)"

"The interior is gaudy but the spectacular coastal views, especially from the Skyview Bar, make up for it"

"Whatever form of suite you stay in there’s pretty much every business and leisure facility you could imagine, including the superlative Assawan Spa, a handful of spectacular restaurants and bars and a fabulous stretch of beach"

"The most basic room here is their one-bedroom single suite that’s a (measly?) 170 square metres, with its own living room, lounge area, bathroom with a Jacuzzi, bar counter and decor that’s more grandiose than minimalistic"