Beyond Decadent: The Top 5 Luxury Hotels in Dubai

Dubai's luxury hotels really are beyond compare. But the trouble is that while usually the word luxury can separate the majority of accommodation in any given country fairly evenly, in Dubai top notch lodgings are so common that the term 'luxury' has been completely devalued. When it comes to luxury hotels in Dubai, you need a new category to separate the luxurious to those which are almost beyond words for their decadence.

Here's the five I would highlight for extra special treatment. Sure, they'll cost you, but for an extra special luxury holiday in Dubai they're worth their weight in gold.

One and Only Residence and Spa

You know you're in some brand of paradise when half the spacious rooms lead straight out onto the private beach, and that's just scratching the surface of what makes the One and Only Residence and Spa one of the finest luxury hotels in Dubai. The staff are attentive and nothing is too much trouble for them, but the thing that sets this one apart is just how relaxing it all is - the hotel is like a sanctuary away from the troubles of the modern world. Whether your idea of paradise is a full body massage or basking in the sun on a private beach, the One and Only Residence and Spa provides you with almost everything you could want without needing to leave your hotel!

Palace of the Royal Mirage

Any hotel that evokes a sensation similar to being royalty must be luxurious in my book, and it's actually a tradition of the hotel to bang a gong for new visitors. The service is unbelievable, and the staff will try to make you feel comfortable as best they can, doing anything from giving you a choice of rooms, to bringing round fruit kebabs and cleaning your sunglasses by the poolside. The executive rooms are splendidly furnished, and have free access to the gold lounge, where you can gorge on a seemingly endless supply of fruit, soft drinks, cakes and sandwiches. You can visit the hotel and never need to leave the grounds, such is the level of service, the facilities and the activities available to the guests who choose this as the base for their luxury holiday in Dubai.

Al Murooj Rotana

The Al Murooj Rotana hotel stands out from the first moment you see it, and you know upon entering the spacious, glamorous lobby that you are in for something special for the duration of your stay. The hotel is immaculately clean, with room cleanings at least twice a day, and nothing is too much trouble for the staff. Although this hotel feels more suited to business types, the facilities are welcoming to all comers, and the more focussed business clientele means there is less competition to the world class swimming pool - the perfect place to cool off from the heat of Dubai on your luxury holiday.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel

As the name suggests, one of the biggest attractions of the luxury hotel in Dubai is the location. And the private beach is every bit as enticing as you'd expect from a hotel that names itself after it! Indeed, the theme of water and sands is extended to the shape of the hotel itself, which appears from the distance to mirror a giant breaking wave: this is one hotel that seems to hold the philosophy that if things can't be done amazingly, they should not be done at all. As is the norm for these luxury hotels in Dubai, service is outstanding, and the rooms are both comfortable, welcoming and an aesthetic delight. This is also one Dubai luxury hotel where children are not only welcomed, but seemingly encouraged by the unlimited free access to the neighbouring Wild Wadi Water Park - which opens exclusively to hotel residents an hour early.

Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab certainly is an unforgettable sight - towering above the Dubai coastline at a height of 321 metres, and with a unique look resembling a billowing sail you'd be forgiven for thinking that this was a way of covering up insufficiencies elsewhere. Yet amazingly, the service, style and 'feel' of the famous luxury hotel in Dubai is echoed throughout, and has been recognised as the 'best of the world' by both the Institutional Investor Magazine and the World Travel Awards. This is one of the friendliest, stunning and comfortable hotels in the world, let alone Dubai - if you can afford it, this is THE place to stay.

Frankly, any one of these luxury hotels in Dubai will offer an unforgettable experience, which puts many European 5 star hotels to shame in terms of service, aesthetics and old fashioned pampering. Spoil yourself this summer with a luxury holiday to Dubai beyond decadence!