Inside “World’s Most Extremely-Luxurious Resort”, At $100,000 A Evening

Chef Jos Andrs on the Jaleo restaurant.

From the second you step by way of the entrance entrance, Atlantis the Royal places on a present. Water pours down inside glass partitions, whereas hearth periodically flashes up. The stress to publish to Instagram is speedy, since you’ve arrived on the self-titled “most ultraluxury” resort on the earth.

This is not the world, although. It is Dubai, the place “ultraluxury” has a selected that means and nouveau riche aesthetics are giddily embraced. Wealth like this was made to flaunt, not accrue silently in financial savings accounts. Ultraluxury is over-the-top, clad with gold and marble.

That is what the $1.2 billion Atlantis the Royal, the newest property from Dubai-based hotelier Kerzner Worldwide Ltd., delivered with a “Grand Reveal” present in January starring Beyonce: And it is what visitors have skilled since its 795 rooms opened in mid-February.

The journey of opulence begins within the lodge foyer, the place the unifying theme of water (Atlantis, bear in mind?) is hammered residence with a towering aquatic sculpture and pool cutouts within the ground into which visitors sometimes tumble. Verify-in happens at unmarked golden counters, which require fixed buffing with microfiber towels to take away dreadful indicators of human presence reminiscent of fingerprints.

Firm officers initially garnered headlines by saying the top-level suite, the Royal Mansion, would value $100,000 an evening. Now a spokeswoman is demure concerning the worth, saying it is accessible upon request. And in February, Louis Vuitton booked the room for a non-public buying occasion, so I could not go to. As a substitute, I used to be proven the Panoramic Penthouse, which took my breath away-starting at 135,260 dirhams ($36,825), plus 22% in taxes, it had higher. Shampoos and different facilities in rooms come from Hermès, Frette and Graff. On one facet of the lodge, visitors have an unobstructed view of the blue-green Persian Gulf. The opposite facet appears out over the fronds of the man-made Palm Jumeirah archipelago and the mansions of billionaires and royalty.

I stayed in a Seascape King, one of many primary rooms, however I take advantage of the time period evenly. The studio begins at about 4,135 dirhams an evening in excessive season. It is massive sufficient for a king-size mattress, lounger and desk, and spacious closets. The furnishings is snug, and facilities within the grand loos embody golden toothbrushes, combs, a again scrubber, flip-flops and a seashore bag, all of which could be taken residence with out cost.

For a resort promising that “one thing unbelievable occurs at each second of your keep,” the essential rooms lack a wow issue. They’re lovely, positive, and the views are phenomenal. I used to be excited to see a high-tech Toto model bidet rest room with a heated seat, although that made me want the lavatory flooring had been heated, too. (Clearly, I am getting spoiled.)

However this is not a lodge the place visitors disguise away of their rooms. As a substitute, they placed on their trendiest beachwear, take selfies in entrance of the Bellagio-style fountains, buy groceries within the Valentino boutique or ebook a cabana at one in all a number of out of doors lounges. At Nobu by the Seashore, for an additional 10,000 dirhams, you and 9 buddies have entry to a lounge, a non-public altering space and bathe, and a small personal pool. The speed contains two bottles of Champagne and a few nibbles.

First, nonetheless, you may wish to get a Botox top-up, ozone dialysis or stem cell remedy on the on-site Aeon Clinic for “regenerative wellness.” Or head as much as the true showstopper: the Cloud 22 lounge, an open-air house on the twenty second ground with thumping membership music and a powerful wind. An infinity pool with a double ledge is all that separates you from the resort under. Right here, too, you may ebook cabanas for an additional charge and get your personal plunge pool, which the resort does not depend as one in all 90 whole swimming pools on the property, together with 44 in personal suites.

The gorgeous Awaken spa has gender-segregated leisure rooms, however six hammams, or Turkish baths, have but to open. The meditation with dolphins program can be pending.

The room charge contains entry to Aquaventure, the water park subsequent door billed because the world’s largest. My 3-year-old daughter had a blast within the toddler splash areas, and if we had extra time I’d have braved the slides with 360-degree loops and darkish tunnels. With day passes beginning at 315 dirhams for adults, this actually provides to the worth you get on your room.

On the lodge, every of the seven movie star chef-helmed eating places has a novel vibe and design, however the stage of service is celestial throughout the board. After we ate lunch at Jaleo by Jose Andre (get the rossejat, a paella-style pasta), 4 totally different folks requested if we needed a highchair for our daughter. On the breakfast buffet, out of nowhere she obtained a hankering for tofu, and the kitchen fortunately supplied a plateful. In the meantime, I hadn’t completed my latte earlier than my cup was taken away and changed with a brand new one-twice.

That is the place Atlantis the Royal earns its title and its ultraluxury repute. Each few ft as you stroll the grounds, a safety guard, concierge, lifeguard or cleaner locations their proper hand on their coronary heart, bows ahead and says hiya. All properties run by Kerzner have adopted this obvious Covid-era gesture, nevertheless it actually made me really feel like a queen.

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