While the domestic options are absolutely of international quality, sometimes staying in extra-special rooms can make a long trip that much more exciting. These incredible suites represent the best the world has to offer in luxury hotel suites.

Opened in March 2011, Ozone at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is 118 floors up, overlooking all of Victoria Harbor. They serve pan-Asian tapas and signature cocktails in an exciting, weirdly futuristic setting that takes up most of the floor.

Designer hotel wars continue apace, with Signore Armani opening in Milano this fall, and a London Bulgari Hotel scheduled for early 2012. But surely the most extravagant of them all will be Dubai's Palazzo Versace, also expected to debut in early 2012.

Poor Tom Cruise. Until now, he was the one to have pulled the ballsiest stunt ever associated with the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Not anymore. As ardent followers of all things Burj Khalifa (to us, it will always be the Burj Dubai), from it's not-so-humble beginnings and onwards, we report with great sadness that the world's tallest building is now an accomplice to murder.

When our very own Chris Mohney visited Dubai back in May of '09, the world's tallest building was still under construction. The growing Burj Khalifa (then called the Burj Dubai) had long been a source of fascination for us, so Chris mustered all his courage and, from the safety of a nearby building, filmed the imposing structure in all its stratospheric glory. The Burj Khalifa has instantly shattered the lenses of lesser men, but somehow, with nothing but a video camera (camera phone?), Chris managed to capture the entire beast, lobby to radio tower. But, once again, he's been one-upped by none other than the shortest superstar in the world, Mr. Tom Cruise.

If you're an alcohol fan and you find yourself in the United Arab Emirates, you're going to love Raffles Dubai. The swanky hotel just opened an ultra-modern Chinese lounge called Red LoungeTerrace. It's one of the only places in Dubai where you can actually booze until 3am on the weekends. Due to the strict Muslim culture, serving alcohol is prohibited in most restaurants (I learned this first-hand when I tried ordering a gin and tonic in Damascus and the server looked at me like I was crazy). But most hotel bars can get away serving - there's money to be spent here, after all - and Raffles Dubai is part of the exception. What makes the lounge especially unique is that it's importing Chinese culture, a welcome change from the ubiquitous Japanese-themed lounges.

Karl Lagerfeld, the be-gloved genius behind the Chanel cotton ball, is designing an island. Somehow, this feels inevitable. "The legendary Chanel designer has teamed up with prestigious Miami-based architecture firm Oppenheim and the KOR hotel group to create the manmade island situated 20 km off the coast of Dubai," reports Vogue UK. The island, dubbed the world's first-ever "fashion island," will house not only luxury boutiques, but three highest-end hotels and 150 villas, and should be up and running by 2014. (For some mind-blowing renderings, check out this slideshow.) If you're looking to set your sights on a cheaper, more immediate fashion project not located in the UAE, look no further than Matthew Williamson, the British designer synonymous with vibrant palettes and graphic prints.

BlackBerry just unveiled their new Torch model, but it won't get much coverage in some parts of the world. The United Arab Emirates just announced that they are suspending the use of Blackberry services starting this October. Barring Blackberry will not only affect half a million users, it will also make for some very irritated business travelers, who are dependent on their mobile devices. The outright ban will also have an impact on regular travelers passing through Dubai International Airport, the Middle East's busiest airport, averaging 100,000 passengers a day.

When we hear the words "United Arab Emirates" and "new hotel," we immediately imagine another kazillion-star Dubai uber-tower being built on a man-made island in the shape of Justin Bieber's hair. But in an emirate that isn't Dubai, there's an intriguing hotel opening this month that looks like a bit of an anecdote to the Burj Khalifa ... or at least a more understated approach to luxury.

Dubai continues to prove it's not for lovers. A British couple that was arrested last year for kissing on the mouth in a restaurant has lost their appeal and is now facing a month in prison for their supposed crime of passion.