Elite Traveler January-February 2019

BULGARI DUBAI DUBAI, UAE

It’s somewhat of a challenge to make a stir in the luxury hotel scene in a place as extravagant as Dubai, but if anyone is up to the task, it’s Bulgari. Set on a seahorse-shaped island in Jumeirah Bay, the hotel’s unmistakable white coral-esque structure was designed by Antonia Citterio Patricia Viel and opened in 2017. Within the hotel grounds, there’s a plethora of amenities: six gourmet restaurants, private beach, manicured gardens, mosaic-design outdoor swimming pool, an 18,300-sq-ft spa, beauty salon with hairdressers and barbers, and Bulgari’s first-ever Marina and Yacht Club, with 50 boat berths available. The hotel is also surprisingly family friendly, with a kids club and separate pool. Top suite The Bulgari Villa from $3,270 per night We love The typically Bulgari design touches, especially the in-suite mini bars that have been designed to look like vintage trunks. Contact Pep Lozano, general manager, dubai@bulgarihotels.com, +971 477 755 55, bulgarihotels.com

ROYALMANSOUR MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH DUBAI, UAE

Needing little introduction, the Burj Al Arab is known the world over for its inconceivably grand design and top-notch amenities. An absolute riot of color, pattern and overt lavishness, the hotel’s bold decor is not for minimalists. Often voted as the most luxurious hotel in the world (and a regular in Elite Traveler ’s Top Hotels and Top Suites lists), it has a helipad, Rolls-Royce transfers, private beach, five swimming pools, nine restaurants and bars, and over 200 gorgeous duplex suites. There’s also the highest staff-to- suite ratio in the world (8:1), so your every need is more than taken care of. Top suite Royal Two-bedroom Suite from $9,000 per night Deep-sea dine Feast on hand-dived scallops, fisherman’s stew or Scottish langoustines as you watch marine life swim by in the floor-to-ceiling aquarium at the acclaimed restaurant, Nathan Outlaw at Al Mahara. Contact Margaret Paul, general manager, baainfo@ jumeirah.com, +971 430 177 77, burjalarab.com

You’ve surely heard the rumors about Royal Mansour — the hotel is simply astonishing in its grandeur: It was commissioned by King Mohammed VI and built with an unlimited budget, which saw 1,500 craftsmen working three years to create this incredible palace. Set within Marrakech’s ancient medina , the hyper-luxury experience begins before you even set foot in the hotel — a rose-gold Range Rover or Bentley will escort you to the decadent wonderland where there’s a 3.7-acre private fragrant garden, Michelin-starred dining and a terracotta–hued roof terrace. Thanks to the underground warren of tunnels, staff appear as if by magic to see to your every need. Top suite Grand Riad from $40,600 per night High life See the Sahara from a new perspective — drift over the mammoth desert in a hot-air balloon at sunrise. Contact Touria El Rhachoui, head concierge, concierge@royalmansour.ma, +212 529 808 080, royalmansour.com

LARESIDENCE FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTHAFRICA

Hidden beneath the foothills of the Franschhoek Mountains and surrounded by a 30-acre estate brimming with vines, fruit trees, flowers and herbs, La Residence has the dreamiest setting. It is flamboyantly decadent and one of a kind, especially for South Africa, where most hotels are a little more austere. An eclectic mix of inspirations, from a Maharaja’s palace to the Palace of Versailles, means that no two guestrooms are the same, and there’s fine art and antiques wherever you look. The panoramic views from the swimming pool are to die for, and if you want to head out and explore, there’s a complimentary vehicle on call to whisk you around — or hop on a bicycle to take it all in. Top suite Three-bedroomVineyard Suite from $1,750 per night If you do one thing Drink all that glorious wine, of course. Book a tasting in La Residence’s private cellar for a night you might forget. Contact EdwardMorton, general manager, reservations@trp.travel, +27 216 715 502, theroyalportfolio.com

ANANTARAAL JABAL AL AKHDAR RESORT NIZWA, OMAN

As one of the world’s loftiest resorts at 9,800 ft, Anantara has breathtaking views of vast, jagged canyons that are best enjoyed from the hotel’s protruding platform, Diana’s Point (named for Princess Diana). It’s incredible to see such a high level (literally) of luxury in such a remote, natural place, with in-villa infinity pools, three divine restaurants and excellent activities. The hotel’s classic Omani design features sand-hued, domed archways with intricate Omani patterns, an open-air courtyard with a fire pit and surrounding comfy sofas, and blooming flower gardens with trickling streams. Be sure to visit the spa, also designed in an Omani style, for a treatment using the mountain’s damask roses. Top suite Three-bedroom Royal Mountain Villa, from $7,285 per night Cliffhanger Rock climbing and zip-lining in the canyon is unforgettable; the views are worth overcoming any height-related fears. Contact Dagmar Symes, general manager, dsymes@anantara.com, +968 252 180 00, jabal-akhdar.anantara.com

Photos Bruce Horak, Tommy Picone, Durston Saylor, Jochen Manz, CrookesAndJackson