Fodor's Expert Review Al Maha

The only rival to the Burj al Arab, if you want to go all-out, Al Maha is Dubai's most prestigious desert resort. It is at the heart of the Dubai Conservation Reserve, an area of rolling red dunes that is populated with native fauna. The complex is a gathering of individual rooms built to resemble tents (the smallest room is 75 square meters), meaning you can get that glamping experience without sacrificing luxuries like windows, a minibar, and air-conditioning. Each suite has its own private outdoor space with plunge pool and sun deck, and all the rooms are decorated with handcrafted Arabian furniture and artifacts. The focus at the resort is on privacy; many guests spend days and days without meeting anyone except the multitude of service staff---and perhaps a lost gazelle or Arabian hedgehog.