Destination: Dubai

Landing at the edge of the Arabian desert in Dubai is like landing in some gold-plated Xanadu.

Here, seven-star hotels line the boulevards and beaches and recreational activities are shaped by elite standards in service and luxury.

Arriving at the city's international airport, one would be hard-pressed to find the fake among the Rolex-bound wrists. Pass the Mercedes (on sale at the airport) and the lineup of luxury cars and limos in attendance at the curb and you enter an Emerald City of sorts where there was only sand and not so copious supplies of oil 50 years ago.

Dubai put its geologic riches into its future and now it is beginning to pay off in a tourism industry that is booming bigger than anyone could have predicted. Dubai attracted 5.5 million visitors last year and the reason is simple. "Dubai is one of the most dynamic travel destinations to come in line last decade," says Jim Berkeley, president of California-based (DAI) "It started with its incredible beach resorts but now it is also about the shopping, the dining, the gold, the golf and the incredible desert experience."

DAI usually sets up 5- or 7-day itineraries that go well as a pre- or post-trip to other destinations, such as India or Africa. Ideally, they can be split between a resort beach stay at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel or the amazing Burj Al Arab and a luxurious desert stay at the Al Maha, about 40 minutes from the city and inside a natural desert reserve. Berkeley recently spent his own honeymoon at Al Maha and extols the beauty, the privacy each cottage offers with endless views of the desert horizon, all complemented by the attentive service offered by hotel staff and butlers. "It is an amazing place and we fully recommend it to the luxury client."

Top-Tier Accommodations

For the upscale traveler, the city has a plethora of properties that present the uber-star experience to anyone looking for whatever "over-the-top" means to them. Most famous is the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab. Ascending more than 1,000 ft., it is the tallest hotel tower in the world. A night here means a night like no other, with personal butler service, private check-in and concierge services on each floor, hi-tech everything, full-sized Hermes bath products and two floors to roam within each suite. The royal suites at the Burj Al Arab offer private elevators, rotating beds, even a private theatre room. Rates for standard suites start at $1,000 per night.

The Burj Al Arab is just one of the properties in the Jumeirah International complex along Dubai's Jumeirah beach strand. Nearby, behind gated walls along a private beach lies Madinat Jumeirah—an authentic recreation of ancient Arabia capturing the natural beauty of the region in the theme of a dazzling ancient trading metropolis, all interconnected by three miles of waterways and landscaped gardens.

The resort features two grand boutique hotels: Al Qasr and Mina A' Salam, as well as the region's first Six Senses Spa.Al Qasr, which translates as "The Palace,," is the centerpiece of the resort with 292 rooms and suites all designed and decorated in traditional Arabic style. The royal suite starts at $6,800 per night; presidential suites are booked at $3,000.

Dar Al Masyaf, a series of 29 traditional Arabian summer houses, are located throughout the resort. These stand-alone villas have between eight and 11 bedrooms, which can either be used independently or booked by families and small groups. Offering a total of 283 luxurious rooms, the summer houses represent the premium accommodation experience within the resort and are designed to capture the essence of summer with white linens, light walls and astounding views. Oceanview gulf summer cottages start at $2,178.

The 292-room grand boutique hotel, Mina A' Salam, features iconic wind-towers guarding luxurious interiors. Royal suites run $4,000 per night. However, for those not traveling in a royal entourage, standard accommodations can be found for rates as low as $274 per night.

Desert Retreat

Bab Al Shams, which opened a year ago, is Dubai's second desert-focused retreat after Al Maha. The desert resort and spa lies close to the Dubai Endurance Racing Village and just a 35-minute drive from its sister properties Burj Al Arab, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Madinat Jumeirah. The resort, which translates into "The Gateway to the Sun," is an elegant desert resort in a traditional Arabic Fort setting featuring traditional gulf decor in natural stones, dark wood and Arabian glasswork. All rooms and suites on the ground floor spill out into a garden, but all of the terraces and balconies of this exclusive low-rise resort soak up the purity and silence of the desert for an ultimate escape.

The property offers 115 rooms, including 10 suites. Topping the accommodations is the deluxe suite: a spacious, 1-bedroom layout that is available at the rate of $1,021 per night. The hotel has five deluxe suites all designed in tasteful themed arrangements evoking thoughts of an ancient Arabian castle in a bustling merchant town.

One of the many amenities clients have access to is the Safari Spa with indoor/outdoor treatment rooms and a pool in the stunning desert setting and camel and horseback riding around the grounds.

Rising Star

"The Middle East is a very hot destination right now" ,says TRAVCOA's Director of Marketing Alexandra Mager. "And Dubai, with all of its amazing product in the luxury category, is receiving a lot of attention. We just started offering this destination again and we combine it with Oman in a 10-day, first-class package. We've received a lot of interest and a lot of positive feedback from agents now that our catalogue is out".

"Our guests are going for the desert experience and although Dubai is exotic it is a great destination to send clients, whether they are well-traveled and have been everywhere or are just starting out. It has the service and the product and it has something for everyone," Mager adds.

Travcoa is running four trips to Dubai and Oman in 2006 for rates starting at $6,695.

For more information on Dubai, call (888) 584-7070 or visit www.dubaitourism.ae

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