It is without question that the middle east is the base of some of the most prestigious hotels in the world - the burj al arab is the first to come to mind for most people - however let there be known, there are plenty more.

The great but often frustratingly awkward to navigation forbes.com has been so kind as to list the finest ultra-luxurious hotels in the middle east. The list can be found below:

1. Ciragan Palace Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
2. Ada Hotel, Bodrum, Turkey
3. Emir Amin Palace Hotel, Beiteddine, Lebanon
4. Al Maha Desert Resort, Near Dubai, United Arab Emirates
5. Adrere Amellal, Siwa, EgyptMore »

India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is building what is set to be the most expensive house (palace/castle by normal peoples account) in the world. It’s estimated that it will cost in the region of £1b to build.

Various amenities have been cited, including of course, a swimming pool, multiple "safe" rooms and 600 servants. Along with a health club, the abode will reportedly have a home theater and a helipad, and the tower will include six floors for 168 car parking spaces.

At 570 feet tall, the home's 27 stories will look more like 60 because the ceilings are so high, according to The Guardian.

All of this for one family consisting of Ambani, his wife, Neeta, their three children and Ambiani's mother in a city ... More »

London’s hotels are racing to accommodate the millions of tourists that visit the city each year. In 2007, a record 15.2 million people traveled to the U.K. capital, helping the city’s hotel industry to achieve a 10.8% growth rate in revenue; that’s more than double that of the rest of the country.

It’s a competitive market. The upshot for guests? A wide range of chic options from the traditional to the trendy, and rooms for those on a budget as well as those with money to spare.

Below is a list of London’s Hippest Hotels according to Forbes.com:

1. Hoxton Urban Lodge
   
   No, it’s not an oxymoron. The Hoxton offers 205 rooms complete with flat-screen TVs, duck-down duvets and Frette l... More »

A colleague of mine was recently invited to join a new niche social network called Artipolis. After having a browse myself, I felt it was time for a review.

Artipolis, described by it's founder Alexander Galle as a "City of Art" has definitely found a solid niche that hasn't completely been fully exploited. In reality, Artipolis is a social network catering to artists and art connoisseurs worldwide who are looking for a place to network, socialize and share tidbits from the art world. I would have to boldly say, although by no means extragavant, Artipolis is an understated work of art itself. In design terms, it's simplicity is evident and works well in promoting a 'wealthy' network of hnw members. Artipolis however is by no means the first to try this sort o... More »