Would you pay $100 to tour a hotel you weren't staying in?
Would you pay more than $100 just to have a look at a hotel you weren't even staying in?
Dubai's most iconic, and only (self-proclaimed) seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab has launched Inside Burj Al Arab, where members of the general public can purchase tickets for a small-group, butler-guided tour of the property.
This landmark hotel is usually closed to anyone who is not staying at the hotel, or has booked a meal in one of its sky-high restaurants (with astronomical prices to match).
Tickets start at 399 dirhams ($108) per person and run every 15 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. You might think the price covers a whole day of hotel entertainment and use of their extensive facilities such as the pool deck — but you'd be wrong. This is Dubai, after all.
The ticket only includes the guided tour and the ability to take photos inside one of the most opulent buildings in the Middle East. No bed for the night, no cooked breakfast, not even a soft drink.
When booking your tour ticket online you have the option of purchasing additional items, such as the hotel's famous 24-carat Ultimate Gold Cappuccino served at Sahn Eddar restaurant, or a full meal in any of the hotel's restaurants.
These don't come cheap either, of course. When it debuted, the glitzy cappuccino cost about $26.
Related: Sky High: Dining at At.mosphere in the Burj Khalifa
Note that anyone can gain access to the public areas of the hotel just by making a restaurant or bar reservation, without the need to pay extra to purchase an Inside Burj Al Arab ticket. This allows you to have a good look through the hotel, though you won't have anything in the way of a guided tour — which includes a peek into the Royal Suite the hotel describes as the "pinnacle of luxury" — and simply dining or drinking at an on-site venue could cost be an expensive endeavor.
The tour promises to "appeal to those intrigued by [the Burj Al Arab] story, not just of the building, but of its people, creativity and ingenuity, as well as its Emirati hospitality, Arabian opulence and world-class service."
Note the hotel is only 22 years old, so the tour may not be as rich in history as, say, a tour of the Palace of Versailles.
Photo by Basith Rahman Rahman / EyeEm/ Gettys
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| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
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Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
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The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month