[Guest post by DRJ]

If you’ve looked at Patterico’s pictures of Italy and Switzerland but you’re still not sure where to go on your next vacation, there’s always Dubai.

Emirates Airlines has just the ticket:

“Texans will have one more far-flung foreign spot to put on their travel wish list when Emirates airline launches nonstops from Houston to Dubai this fall. But this is not just another international flight to just another foreign city.

Seats on the Boeing 777-200LR will cost $1,400 to $11,000 roundtrip, company officials said. Even the cheapest seats will come with a personal TV and a five-course meal. First-class passengers will get a snack or a meal whenever they desire, free TV, Internet and phone access, and the ability to shut out the rest of the world in their one- or two-seat private suite.

And that’s just for the 15-hour flight. Once in Dubai, travelers will find some of the world’s most renowned hotels, including the all-suite Burj Al Arab, which resembles a giant billowing sail. Cost: $2,000 to $4,000 a night.

“Dubai is not exactly a place for people who are on real tight budgets,” said Henry Harteveldt, an online travel expert for Forrester Research. “Dubai very much enjoys its reputation as a destination for a premium-type of traveler, but at the same time, you don’t have to be an oil sheik to enjoy Dubai.”

Click on the link to see the mock-up of the airplane seating and amenities including: a 10 inch to 23 inch HDTV per passenger (depending on whether you book economy, business class, or first class); First class has massager chairs, a personal minibar, and retractable doors for privacy.

This year, Switzerland; next year, Dubai?

— DRJ