A gem amongst the Arabian sands – see how Farrah got on in the heat of the Dubai desert at the Le Meridien

Landing in Dubai in darkness is somewhat of a delight. The dotted lights plastered across a dark desert is a 21^st century oxymoron. The largest (in terms of population) of the seven Emirates is a diamond in the desert, and although it owes its wealth to the natural oils in the land, founded back in the 60s, its economy doesn’t just rely on this, with tourism being its flourishing money maker today.

The lush architecture and over-the-top building design entices people from all over. I remember seeing the ‘sail boat’ for the first time a couple of years ago. What an idea for a hotel – why didn’t I think of that?! The Burj-al-Arab, along with so many others, has become a worldwide celebrity. And this whole idea of creating ‘palm islands’ and revolutionising modern day architecture has become a common pastime for local experts.

My first hotel, an international superstar of hotels, is a celebrity in its own right. Le Meridien is conveniently located right by the airport – smart for business people who don’t have much time to see Dubai or for people who are waiting for connecting flights, what with Dubai being a hub for connections from and to the Far East.

The luxurious driveway is outlined by glorious (albeit artificial) palm trees, giving you the impression that you are in a land of oasis rather than a desert. These trees are recurrent throughout the grounds of the hotel, setting a green theme to those who are favourable to it and providing shelter for those daring enough to soak up the sun.

It was very quiet at 11pm when I checked into the large but warm marbled reception, coloured with browns and beeches. I was told it was the quiet season, due to it being the Holy month of Ramadan. This also meant that Le Meridien was taking this opportunity to renovate older rooms. My ‘older’ room was therefore unavailable and I was forced to have a free upgrade – the inconvenience!

The room I got was a brand new design, on which the rest of the rooms will be based, and Oh. My. God. This room IS the business. It has everything you need and more. In terms of space, modern facilities, luxury and decor, this is the best hotel room I have stayed in. Ever. Pure luxury.

The bathroom is big, housing six different types of shower, a bath, heated mirrors, mats, ceramic and turquoise tiling and separate toiletries within the various sections. Yes, my bathroom has sections.

My bedroom had a separate office area with ample lighting, a mini bar that was more like a mini factory, a sofa and a chair, more lights, a huge TV, excellent quality sheets and linen, and energy saving lights. My favourite thing of all was having my very own personal garden area with two chairs and a table overlooking the entrance to the hotel. I have a thing about balconies/garden areas and this is the first hotel on my trip that has satisfied this urge. Tea and sunshine – perfect!

The service was fantastic and I was actually brought to my room and shown all my facilities and how to make the most of my stay. And to top it all off, I got complimentary fruit and coffee. I love free stuff! Do I get to keep my beautiful robe? Maybe not. The hotel has 18 restaurants, with Yalumba being the busiest restaurant of them all, specialising in modern Australian cuisine. Others include French, Chinese, Japanese, fresh seafood and Italian. Dress codes are applicable for some of these restaurants, so ladies get your glad rags and high heels on and fellas put on those smart ties and shirts.

The first time I came to Dubai with my family, it was very pleasant but basic, as we stayed at a small family owned hotel. This time around I got to see Dubai the way the celebrities see it and the way we see on TV. It feels good to be surrounded by luxury. Dubai is definitely a diamond in the sand, and you know what they say about diamonds? They certainly are a girl’s best friend! See you next time guys.