Something new under the sun

If burning your feet on hot sand isn't part of your vision of a fun day at the beach, then the Palazzo Versace hotel (currently under construction in Dubai) may have an amenity to your liking. The luxury resort is planning to include a refrigerated outdoor beach to complement its chilled pool in a region where summertime temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

A system of thermostatically monitored coolant-filled pipes under the sand will keep
the beach at a pleasant temperature. The resort's planners are also considering installation of giant wind machines to provide sun-worshiping guests with a cooling breeze.

While the idea of a cooled beach in the desert is likely to get a chilly reception from environmentalists, the Palazzo's developers, Emirates Sunland Group, believe it could help set its establishment apart from the region's other posh hotels. The nearly half-billion-dollar resort is expected to open later this year and will be the second of a planned chain of 15 Versace hotels worldwide. Dubai, as you may know, also boasts an indoor ski slope.