A Dh25,000 royal indulgence

In the duplex Royal Suite at the Rosewood Corniche Hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, things happen at the touch a button.

Summoning the butler after waking up in the morning – one tap on a touch pad. Opening the window drapes to let the morning sun in – another touch.

And then there is the bathroom where a long soak in the Jacuzzi can be combined with spectacular views of Jeddah and the Red Sea spread out below. There is a private theatre, too, to enjoy your favourite movie without having to leave the privacy of the suite.

Located at the heart of Jeddah's fashionable northern corner, the Rosewood Corniche has a reputation for pampering guests, but it is the occupants of the Dh25,000 per night Royal Suite who are really mollycoddled.

Shamel Droubi, Sales and Marketing Director of Rosewood Corniche, said: "We try to make the stay of our guests as relaxing as possible. There are two butlers on call round-the-clock. They go out of their way to ensure the comfort of the guests and perform an in-room check in so that guests do not need to wait in the reception after their long and tiring journey."

No wonder, the list of VVIPs who are now regulars at the hotel includes leading businessmen, sportsmen and high-level international and regional diplomats.

With lavish interiors and handcrafted furniture, the signature suite carries an unmistakable sense of style and luxury throughout, and its location over the hotel's top two floors reveals breathtaking views across the city.

Droubi said: "The personal cinema and the Jacuzzi overlooking the Red Sea are two of the biggest luxuries guests in the Royal Suite can enjoy.

"All the furniture is handcrafted by the famous Austrian company, Whitman. Guests are given their own personal panoramic elevator and can enjoy sweeping views of Jeddah as they travel to the top of the hotel."

But it does not end there – the four-poster master king-bedded room, with a private dressing area, has separate twin accommodation for staff and the upper and lower relaxation lounges have unrivalled furnishings. Other in-room features include touch-screen controls for lighting, curtains, and temperature, as well as LCD TVs in all rooms and bathrooms.

"We have embraced the latest and most sophisticated technology possible. Everything in the hotel is controlled by an LCD touch screen panel. Guests can call their butlers using the device. Waking up in the master bedroom and opening the curtains, using your LCD touch pad to see the Red Sea and the whole of Jeddah before you, is spectacular and the guests just love it. The LCD touch pad is also used to adjust the AC and lighting," Droubi said.

Apart from this, guests at the Royal suite are given personalised business cards and stationery upon arrival. Droubi said: "Guests in the royal suite are given personalised stationery for their use. Letterheads and business cards with the hotel's contact information and the guest's name are especially printed for their use during their stay at the hotel. It's our way of making them feel special."

And if you plan to go there with your family then women butlers are also available and can provide information about the city's facilities for women and assist the women of your house in every way to ensure their complete comfort and cater to their every whim.

And the dining experience that goes with it is just as spectacular. According to Droubi: "Chefs tailor-make menus to suit any palate and guests can enjoy dinner around a beautiful 12-feet dining table, again, overlooking the Red Sea."

However, if you want to dine out then culinary options at the hotel include European fare at Habsburg, exquisite hand-made pastries at the Soliel Café and modern Japanese delicacies at Ginza i Chome.

"Ginza i Chome offers the finest Japanese dining experience in Jeddah. Chefs entertain guests by preparing food on The Long Bar, a hand-carved stone bar. Guests enjoy the best sushi and fois gras, while enjoying the views," said Droubi.