Buzz
From flying in gold-plated planes to cruising on luxurious yachts and even 'demolishing and rebuilding' entire hotels, these are the sophisticated and lavish pleasures of Arab royalty.
Luxury Travel: Indulgences That Make Arab Royalty Stand Out
Golden-Plated Airplanes
The wealth of Arab royalty always commands admiration, especially during their vacations and official trips, where they bring many surprises. One notable example is the grand entourage and the gold-plated airplane.
During a recent state visit, Saudi King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud landed his gold-plated plane at Halim Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia. Not only was the interior gold-plated, but even the escalator brought from home was adorned in gold. The passenger cabin was extravagantly decorated, resembling a luxurious palace in every intricate detail.
All-Inclusive Luxury: Resort Redesign According to Your Desires
Summer marks the season when hundreds of wealthy families from the Gulf region overflow into Europe for shopping and to escape the heat. A room in a 5-star hotel in the UK had to undergo a complete reconstruction from scratch as per the whims of an Arab young heir who rented it for an entire month.
During the royal family's vacation in France, to serve the king, the villa manager immediately changed all the glass doors, planted tons of fresh flowers, and even installed a floating elevator from La Mirandole Beach to the villa to cater to the royal members.
On another occasion, 700 wealthy guests from an oil-rich nation stayed at luxury hotels in Cannes, France, for approximately £750/night. However, they often booked entire resorts in the city to ensure privacy and showcase their extravagance.
Building Entire Castles for Vacation
Former King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz was known to spend hundreds of millions of USD per leisure trip. His preferred resort destination was Costa del Sol, Spain, where he built his own palace named 'Mar Mar' in the resort town of Marbella, at the heart of Costa del Sol. A series of luxurious villas and hundreds of 5-star hotel rooms were exclusively reserved for the king and his entourage. Estimated costs for each royal trip ranged from $90 to $300 million.
Flying in Style: Purchasing First-Class Tickets for Falcons
A Saudi prince was determined not to be outdone in luxury, spending money to buy 80 first-class tickets for his 80 pet falcons during a hunting trip. To the surprise of fellow passengers, the falcons perched comfortably in a cabin reserved for the elite.
Ownership of Luxury Aircraft and Extravagant Yachts
Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal boasts a collection of over 300 luxury cars, including a diamond-studded car worth around $48 million. The prince often uses his private fleet, consisting of a personal jet (including a private jet and a Boeing 747), as his mode of transportation. The extravagant Boeing 747, priced at $220 million, features gold seats, two bedrooms, a 14-seat dining table, and 11 attendants.
One of Alwaleed's yachts is the 86-meter-long New Kingdom 5KR, which appeared in James Bond's 007 film series. The yacht includes a disco room, a movie theater, a helipad, guest rooms, and various amenities that leave others in awe.
Source: SuZi Nguyen/Ngoi Sao
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Reference: Travel Guide on Mytour
MytourSeptember 1, 2017
