Synchronised champagne pouring
“Honey, do you mind if I put an afternoon tea on the credit card? It’ll be $120. Ok thanks bye!” I ask Mr NQN by instant messenger.
Perhaps you may have heard of the Burj Al Arab Hotel which is Dubai’s 7 star (self rated) all suite hotel that is said to be a must do – if only you can get in that is. Visitors or inevitable gawkers aren’t permitted and can only gaze at it from afar, where it resembles a sail. It is the location of the famous tennis court where Roger Federer and Andre Agassi played tennis on the helipad. It sits in the middle of an artificial island and is accessible only by a 280 metre bridge. Otherwise the only way in is by a booking either as a guest of the hotel or as a restaurant visitor. This all seems rather easy until you realise three things:
1) You can’t just walk in. You need to book ahead of time and you are assigned an unique code which allows you entry.
2) Apparently even with the current economic troubles in Dubai, a luxurious dining experience is a highly sought after thing and they advise you to book a few weeks in advance.
3) The least costly “encounter” is their ever popular afternoon tea which at 395AED for the Sky Lounge is about $120AUD/$105USD*. The Lobby Lounge afternoon tea on the first floor is 375AED and is slightly easier to get a spot at as it has less spectacular views.
So with these three things in mind I thought I would chance it and try to get in (for research purposes of course) even though I was *shock horror* asking for a table just the day before. I was in the business centre of the Le Meridien hotel and they were on the phone to the Burj Al Arab. It was a tense time waiting. As they were taking my credit card details (which secures your booking and diners are charged 50% for a no show) my booking quickly disappeared before our eyes as it was snapped up by another diner whose credit card details were entered just a fraction quicker than mine were. The business centre woman and I looked at each other aghast at being pipped at the post by mere seconds!
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