Alternative to Dubai levels of service?
Discussion
Gotta be honest, I love it in Dubai and Abu Dhabi - I love the luxury, the service you receive, the quality of the hotels, and the sense of freedom in that it's not crowded, you don't have to battle to get a lounger, it isn't a scrabble for food each meal etc and (hate me if you wish) there aren't football shirts everywhere.
But it's a fact that it's very expensive now given that I've just taken on a ludicrous mortgage increase to move house (great timing eh?) so is there anywhere else that I can get a comparable to Dubai quality of hotel, service and - most importantly given my requirements - a relaxed and uncrowded pool / beach scene that is not full of the stereotype Brit abroad crowd?
I'm only interested in 7-10 days maximum so would rather not spend 2 days of that in the air either if possible. Ideally I'd like to find a relaxed, secluded 5 star hotel somewhere in the med that has a large pool / beach area and is not filled to the rafters every single day of the season. I have looked at renting a villa, but given that I'm travelling with just my partner renting a villa that sleeps 10 or similar for only 2 of us isn't very practical or cost effective so it needs to be a hotel.
Anybody have any recommendations for top hotels that are a little off the regular tourist track?
End of snobbery session!
But it's a fact that it's very expensive now given that I've just taken on a ludicrous mortgage increase to move house (great timing eh?) so is there anywhere else that I can get a comparable to Dubai quality of hotel, service and - most importantly given my requirements - a relaxed and uncrowded pool / beach scene that is not full of the stereotype Brit abroad crowd?
I'm only interested in 7-10 days maximum so would rather not spend 2 days of that in the air either if possible. Ideally I'd like to find a relaxed, secluded 5 star hotel somewhere in the med that has a large pool / beach area and is not filled to the rafters every single day of the season. I have looked at renting a villa, but given that I'm travelling with just my partner renting a villa that sleeps 10 or similar for only 2 of us isn't very practical or cost effective so it needs to be a hotel.
Anybody have any recommendations for top hotels that are a little off the regular tourist track?
End of snobbery session!
In lieu of any other replies, somewhere like El Gouna in Egypt sounds worth a look - don't expect everything you get in Dubai, but it's more economical, very pretty/ relaxed and seems to tick your other boxes! 
ETA: Or slightly less exotic but lovely all the same, Malta's nice - try somewhere like Golden Sands if you want service and lack of football shirts (although saying that, we bumped into Gary Neville last year!)
ETA: Or slightly less exotic but lovely all the same, Malta's nice - try somewhere like Golden Sands if you want service and lack of football shirts (although saying that, we bumped into Gary Neville last year!)
Edited by Ultuous on Friday 27th July 18:46
Thanks all for the replies. Dubai / Abu Dhabi has been our holiday destination of choice for the last 6 years so it's a difficult proposition to think about going somewhere else. I visited the Seychelles a VERY long time ago and liked it, so that's worth a shout. Haven't been to Mauritius or Maldives but know plenty of friends who have so will gather their thoughts too.
Cheers
Cheers
Thailand?
Best hotel I have ever stayed in. Service levels where out of this world....
http://www.sarojin.com/en/
Best hotel I have ever stayed in. Service levels where out of this world....
http://www.sarojin.com/en/
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