One of the main rules for a seven-star hotel is that it must be located inside an iconic structure of the city. Without this, no hotel can be a seven-star. Also, a seven-star hotel should have more suites than rooms.
The Burj al Arab is a private resort, and it's closed to non-guests. However, you can visit if you have a dining reservation at one of the restaurants.
Officially there is no classification for 7-star hotels and the term 7-Star Hotel has often been rather described as a marketing stunt than a hotel classification or rating, as it is not appointed by a specific institution according to openly agreed on criteria.
Although some may consider 1 star hotels to be dingy and dirty, the single-star rating is just an indication of their basic accommodations and does not reflect cleanliness or safety. One-star hotels offer a place to lay your head for the night, but that is about it.
How much is a night at Burj Al Arab hotel? Nightly rates at Burj Al Arab hotel start at AED 4,500 (about $1,225) during the low season but keep in mind that during that time, you'd experience the sweltering summer heat.High season rates can be AED 8,000 (about $2,175).
A seven-star hotel might have any number of facilities. Pool and spa facilities will be numerous and varied, with a record-breaking range of available facilities and procedures. The restaurants will serve food prepared by Michelin-star chefs. Every suite and room might have a unique design.
Hotel star rating systems in Europe generally work by inspectors visiting accommodation sites and checking what facilities are on offer. For instance, a hotel that features private baths, a 24 hour reception, and a minibar may automatically receive a 3-star rating simply because of these amenities.
As the story goes, when the hotel opened back in 1999, a British travel writer who was invited to stay there was so in awe of the place that she described it in her article as a “seven-star hotel”. Over the past two decades, the glittering description has stuck.
After four years on top, London has lost its crown as the five-star hotel capital of the world - instead, it's Macau, China, that now boasts the most top-rated hotels.