Bling Palace

Diana Milne spends a night at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi and discovers that there's something very fetching about over-the-top opulence.

It's worth asking for a map if you ever have the good fortune to spend a night at the Emirates Palace.

I lost track of the number of times I got lost in its endless corridors on the way to my room, or had to be rescued by a passing golf cart as I tried to find the pool.

The enormity of this hotel is staggering and it wouldn't surprise me if there are still lost guests wondering aimlessly through its opulent hallways for all eternity.

If that sounds like an exaggeration then here is an idea of the size of this hotel: it consists of 302 rooms and 92 suites and is set in 85 hectares of landscaped gardens with much of the interior décor in gold and marble.

It's no surprise then to hear that this is the most expensive hotel ever built - costing a massive US$3 billion. But was it worth it?

Emerging from its gold decked lobby after a weekend of living in the lap of luxury, I concluded that it most definitely was.

Driving up the hotel's sweeping driveway and entering its Faberge Egg like interior is awe-inspiring - so much so that tourists visit just to take photographs - in keeping with the fact that Emirates Palace has become one of Abu Dhabi's top tourist landmarks.

The walls are literally dripping with gold and no surface is left untouched by pearl, marble or precious stones.

Inside the rooms are beautifully decorated - not modern, but in keeping with the hotel's opulent theme, in shades of gold and cream.

The lighting, entertainment and air conditioning are operated by a high-tech remote control system which is fairly easy to work out. But if you struggle, ask for help from your personal butler who, if you don't already feel like royalty, will complete the palace effect.

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