Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Fairmont Banff Springs hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada, rises in the middle of Banff National Park like a fairytale castle towering over slopes that are either blanketed with white snow or covered in evergreen forests. The existing Chateauesque-style hotel was built between 1911 and 1928 as an entirely new structure to replace the original grand Canadian railway hotel that opened in 1888.
Many of its 764 guest rooms and suites offer sweeping mountain views. The Fairmont Gold is, essentially, a private luxury hotel within a luxury hotel on the fourth and fifth floors and offers guests exclusive services and amenities, such as a private lounge and concierge team.
Because of its location high in the Canadian Rockies, the town of Banff is famous for its winter sports and is home to three ski resorts: Banff Sunshine, Mount Norquay and Lake Louise Ski Resort, all a short drive from the hotel.
Guests can also go snowshoeing, dogsledding and cross-country skiing. Although Banff is famous for its winter sports, the “Castle in the Rockies” offers year-round activities, such as fishing, hiking, river rafting and horseback riding and boasts a 27-hole golf course.
In the town of Banff, just a short walk from the hotel, visitors can explore art galleries, museums, boutiques and restaurants. As the Banff Gondola carries passengers to the Sulphur Mountain summit and observation deck, they’ll enjoy aerial views of the hotel, the town, Bow Valley and six mountain ranges. Banff Upper Hot Springs in the national park is open year-round.
www.fairmont.com/banff-springs
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai has become a haven for luxury seekers in recent years, and the bright-white, sail-shaped silhouette of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah has become a symbol of the city.
The seven-star property has repeatedly been named the world’s most luxurious hotel — and for good reason. Visitors can arrange for a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce or arrive by helicopter, landing on a circular helipad that seems to barely cling to the building’s topmost edge. All guests have access to 24-hour private butler service.
The hotel is an all-suite property that includes 202 luxury duplexes, nine restaurants and bars, and five pools.
Burj Al Arab sits on its own island that was built specifically for it. The Terrace is a 107,000-square-foot outdoor luxury leisure facility that was built in Finland, shipped to Dubai and installed at the hotel. The Terrace is home to the Scape Restaurant Bar, two pools, cabanas with butler service and a private beach area with luxury daybeds and lounges.
The finest of dining can be found at the hotel; Arabic, French and seafood cuisine are offered. Al Muntaha sits at the top of the hotel and serves the height of haute French cuisine.
