Here they are, the hotels with names so famous that even those uninitiated in the more indulgent excesses of luxury travelling would recognize their monikers. Some are famous by virtue of their venerable age and history, others because they are an architectural flight of fancy and still others, God help us, because of Hollywood and the elegant backdrop they presented in a movie.
Modelled on the wind-blown sail of an Arab Dhow with a very high tech twist, the Burj Al Arab stands for all that is over the top and excessive in the Emirates.
A key feature of the décor of Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris are the lavish displays of flowers everywhere, the work of floral designer Jeff Leatham.
The view has been enchanting guests since 1869 - the great pyramid of Khufu is practically in the back yard and looms large in the windows of many of the rooms.
This hotel has a legendary past. In colonial days the decadent and gin-soaked sat on its white-arched verandahs and discussed all kinds of dubious deeds.
