Inside Burj Al-Arab - The world's most luxurious hotel

It is said that Burj Al Arab is the most luxurious hotels in the world. For starters, the prices of rooms vary from $1,000 to $27,000 per night! It is also described as 'the world's only seven-star hotel.

Even though its star rating has often been debated, one thing remains certain that at 321 m (1,053 ft), it is the fourth tallest hotel in the world.

All we can say is take a grand tour of the hotel here and you decide if it deserves seven-star rating or more!

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Photograph: burjalarabhotel.net

Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge.

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The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. In fact, it was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. The two 'wings' are spread in a V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium.

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The architect of the building, Tom Wright was quoted saying, "The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera House, London with Big Ben, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country."

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The atrium takes up about a third of the hotel's space and soars 590 feet above the lobby. Hefty pillars gilded in 22-karat gold stretch up several floors, and gold spandrels leap and crisscross between them.

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Burj Al Arab holds 28 double-storey floors which accommodate 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 m2 (1,820 sq ft), the largest covers 780 m2 (8,400 sq ft).

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Anyone staying in a suite gets driven around in a Rolls Royce. You can also fly around in a helicopter for an extra charge.

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While you are staying at the hotel, be prepared to be served in luxury as there are people waiting to attend to every small need.

This service begins from the time you enter the hotel. You are first served by the hot-towel girl, then the perfume girl, then the date guy and then the coffee guy.

After this grand welcome, guests are led to their rooms where they meet with a personal butler and privately check in to their lodgings.

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Two Royal Suites take up the entire 25th double floor. Leopard print, gold and marble swathe the 2,559-square-foot space, and a rotating canopy bed holds court in the master bedroom. And the Royal Suite guests can enjoy the private elevator and cinema.

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The Burj Al Arab has only suites -- two-floor suites with marble staircases, full-size Hermes toiletries and 13-selection pillow menus. The Burj Al Arab's most humble accommodations, a misnomer if there ever was one, start at 558 square feet.

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Each suite has multiple bathrooms with spa baths, decorated with murals of ancient dhows and mosaics that replicate traditional Arabic designs.

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The hotel has seven restaurants including Al Mahara, a seafood restaurant that is reached by a simulated submarine ride, and Al Muntaha, which is 656 feet above the sea.

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Mind you, nobody can just walk around on the territory of Burj Al Arab without advance booking. After all, they don't want to make it another Disneyland, where everyone is crowding to take pictures!

So, does this impress you enough to put in your must-visit-places list?