1. Burj Al Arab in Dubai
Picture entering a realm where even your grandest ideas of luxury seem modest by comparison—that’s exactly the sensation I had upon arriving at the Burj Al Arab. This stunning structure, rising from its own man-made island, feels like a futuristic palace plucked from the pages of Arabian Nights. But what left the biggest impression on me wasn’t the 24-karat gold leaf covering the walls or the chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce that met me at the airport—it was how effortlessly the hotel made over-the-top extravagance feel entirely normal. When you’re handed a gold-plated iPad at check-in and guided to your 8,396-square-foot two-story suite, you’ll begin to grasp how this place completely redefines the meaning of luxury.