Originally Posted by riazshah
Having stayed there last year, I agree with you post.
Your cost per night was a high - in fact, more so than the Burj al Arab which would give you a room at least twice the size again.
It was high - I tried to find a better deal but the need to book direct with them cuts down your options.
However, I compared prices with a number of UK luxury travel agents who book packages at Dar Al Masyaf and the price per night was about the same as they charged people who wanted to extend their stay. There are also only a small number of Ocean View villas which lets them get away without much discounting at this peak time, I think.
And the Burj is truly, truly horrendous - I wouldn't have stayed there even if it was cheaper. We went inside and it was horrible, and the photos of the rooms looked just as tacky. It is designed for Arab tastes, I think (ie mirrors above the bed, gold plated everything, brightly coloured carpets), not European tastes. The building itself is gorgeous, though, and I loved being able to see it from our balcony.