One&Only The Palm

You could be anywhere in the world of luxury island resorts, but in fact this modern Arabian fantasy is located at one end of the crescent that tops the man-made extravaganza of the Palm Jumeirah. It’s surprisingly easy to ignore the view of vaulting skyscrapers just across the Arabian Sea—there’s so much to look at. One of the great pleasures is breakfast on the terrace facing the central pool, which is rimmed by palm trees, reminiscent of Moorish and Andalusian water gardens. There’s a first-rate spa, and rooms with sweeping views of the beach and the marina—and, yes, those buildings you really don’t see.