From cocktails on a rooftop with a view of the Mediterranean coast, to gorgeously glam nights under the stars, to castles on hills with sweeping panoramic views of mountains and seas and deserts; here are the 27 most beautiful, luxurious, and incredible boutique hotels in the Middle East.

It's times like these we wish we lived in Dubai.

Warning: This article may contain content suitable for ages 18+ only. In the first edition of our new column, How (Not) To, Egyptian writer Timmy Mowafi reflects on, well, how not to do things. This time around, he recounts his experience at one of Thailand's infamous ping pong shows...