Dubai Pride

The Burj Al Arab is not only the world's first six-star hotel but is also a truly beautiful hotel. Shaped like the billowing sail of a dhow, it has become an iconic image and is one of the most photographed buildings in the world. It is also a lightshow after dark, with choreographed shows entrancing those below. And it is not only the outside that the Burj Al Arab shines, the inside in equally as delectable with a luminous Atrium whose edges are fringed with the 28 double storey floors and a ceiling that towers 180 metres above you. As an all suite hotel it isn't cheap but the decor is lush and welcoming and the private manmade island setting and underwater restaurant are the icing on the cake.

Another stunning hotel is the Atlantis the Palm, not only easy on the eye, but also home to a private water park, the opportunity to swim with dolphins, and a mesmerising underwater suite. You can be lulled to sleep by the gentle blue glow and gently drifting fish of the Ambassador Lagoon. Don't worry there are curtains if you don't feel like sleeping under the watchful eye of some of the lagoons more fearsome inhabitants. If you don't fancy sleeping with the fishes you can always zoom past or even through them on some of the thrilling slides and rides of the water park.

If the beach isn't your thing, the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa is a sublime experience tucked away in an oasis in the desert. Not only is Al Maha a wonderful five-star resort, it is also paving the way for a more environmentally friendly approach to hotels. All the water used within the resort is recycled and used for irrigation and practically all packaging is recycled. Each of the 37 Bedouin suites look out over gently undulating sand dunes and the oasis draws in a wonderful array of flora, fauna and birdlife, the greatest of which is the Arabian Oryx. If you wish for a little adventure there is plenty to do besides relaxing as falconry, horse riding, desert trekking and archery are all available.