Jumeirah Beach Hotel

My husband and I have just returned from a fortnight at this wonderful hotel.
We arrived at the hotel at 7.45am (38 degrees!) and were greeted warmly by the staff waiting at the door of the hotel and those behind the desk. After taking our details, they apologised that our room was not ready (hardly surprising as check in time is 2pm). We were given a mobile phone and invited to have a complimentary breakfast. After a night flight from Manchester we were tired and probably snoring a little whilst relaxing in the lobby! We were asked if we would like to have a sleep and were shown to the very cool nightclub which had ten lovely comfortable beds set up in it.
At around 12.30 the mobile rang and we were told that our room was ready. After reading a review on this site I had e-mailed the hotel and asked for a room on a higher floor, we were given a room on the 22nd floor which had fantastic views of the Burj al Arab and the Palm and the World in the distance. The (standard) room was huge, with a sitting area, fresh exotic fruit replenished every day, free internet access via the TV, magazines including 'time out' which gave restaurant reviews, bottles of water replenished every day. The bathroom was very large with a huge walk in shower and lots of amenities including sun tan lotion, body lotion, mouth wash etc. Bed linen was changed daily and towels twice daily, in the evening there was a turn down service with Godiva chocolates and a bookmark left on your pillow together with additional water.
The staff were very friendly and many greeted us by name - nothing was too much trouble for them. We got back one day from shopping and within seconds of getting to the room there was a knock on the door and the assistant manager came in and apologised that one of his assistants had broken my perfume bottle when cleaning - he had been to the hotel shop and bought me a brand new bottle!
The restaurants that we ate in in the hotel were all excellent, particularly the Lebanese restaurant and with at least one vegetarian choice on each. The alcohol prices in the hotel were expensive though with the cheapest bottle of wine around £30 and about £5 for a pint of beer. Taxis are very cheap though and are charged by the km (not by time) - a taxi from the hotel into the city cost around £5-6. There are some excellent restaurants in the city (although most are not licensed) - if you are a vegetarian try Govindas (behind the Regents Palace hotel) which is an Indian vegetarian restaurant, the menu is about 40 pages long and there is an excellent ice cream shop attached to it. There are also some excellent restaurants - Italian, Mexican & Chinese (good value for money including alcohol) at Rydges Plaza Hotel.
If you like a night cap in your room, there is a duty free shop just before you collect your cases at the airport where you can pick up 4 bottles of wine spirit etc or 4 cases of beer.
The are three hotel pools, and although a little crowded at times, the pool attendants always found us a place and put an umbrella up for us when we had enough of the sun. As others have reported, the staff come round with ice lollies, water melon, cucumber and cold towels.
The fitness suite is excellent with free water provided in the gym and again cold face towels every 15 minutes.
It is well worth a trip to the Burj (take the elevator to the 27th floor to see the views from the restaurant/bar) - you might even be lucky, as we were, and be taken back to the Jumeriah in a 7 series BMW if there are no buggies available! and also a trip to the Madinat Jumeriah next door - there are some interesting shops in the Souk situated between the two hotels (Mina A Salam and Al Qasr). You can take an abra trip along the canals which is very nice - there is also a nice beach front walk back to the hotel if the heat will allow!
It is also worth taking the desert safari trip. We booked with Arabian adventures which is based in the hotel. For around £40 each you get a trip over the dunes in a four wheel drive jeep, a trip to a camel farm, watch sunset from the top of a dune then head off to the camp in the desert. here you can have a camel ride, a henna tattoo, try the various Shishas and watch a belly dancer. As much food and drink (wine, beer , soft drinks) as you want is also included in the price - excellent value for money.
A trip to Dubai museum and the different souks are also recommended. The hotel runs a free shuttle into the city several times a day but jump in a taxi if you miss them, it is very cheap.
All in all, Dubai was an excellent trip with a first class hotel. Would definitely come back again but would probably try November - March for a little bit cooler weather - it was 40c+ every day we were there and quite humid but we were told that the weather was just beginning to turn and would be very pleasant come October/November.

We went to Dubai in November this year to coincide with the Rugby 7's competition which held annually in November/December and which last 3 days. The competition itself is well worth a visit, there is such a terrific atmosphere with much friendly rivalry. Entry is by ticket, the first day is free and it is more cost effective to purchase a two day ticket than two single day ones, it works out at about £26 for the two days. Tickets are on sale at the ground or by Internet. Buy one of the cushions as the terracing is a bit on the hard side after a few hours. There is about 12 hours of rugby each day. Transport there and back is safe and easy by taxi at about £5 from a beach hotel. All the drivers spoke good English. Everything is well organised with plenty of food outlets, toilet facilities and beer by the iced bucket! A must for rugby fans and it features a free pop concert too.
We stayed in the Jumeriah Beach Hotel, which is just stunning with attention to detail everywhere from orchids in the bathroom to a mobile phone handed to you on check in so that they can tell you when your room is ready. I can’t think of any down point to it other than the room had tinted windows and so made the view out look dull. The Staff are amazingly friendly, there were 36 different nationalities there and nothing was too much trouble. The prices for food were reasonable with say a steak costing about £10 and a two course buffet £14. We didn’t have time to take in all the facilities and would love to go back as there is a beautiful beach. The hotel is sister to the most luxurious hotel in the world - the Burj Al Arab and as a guest you can go in and have a wader round - not to be missed with the most amazing water features.
Take some smart casual clothes for the evening, but nothing too formal and perhaps some lightweight trousers for ladies as it is a Muslim country although you can drink in the hotel and it does attract a lot of ex-Pats looking for someone to talk to.
Make a trip up to the cocktail bar on the 24th floor for a spectacular view as the Burg has a spectacular lightshow late in the evening. Don’t forget a trip to the gold souk where everything is 18 or 22 carat and is sold by weight. Make sure to haggle for a good deal, or try the Gold and Diamond Park for a sparkler.

We flew out with BA which was ok - flight on time, very cramped in economy class.
First and only problem occurred at Dubai airport - we were not met for our transfer to the hotel - eventually a rep from the hotel chain tracked down the company who were supposed to transfer us, and they did, but also failed to show up to take us back to the airport - not a problem as the hotel had already arranged a free limousine transfer for us.
We stayed in a 1 bed suite which meant we had all the benefits of the executive club - masses of free fruit, flowers, mineral water, sun cream etc in the room, free alcoholic drinks from 5-7 pm daily, free afternoon tea, and free transport to the town and shops etc.
The hotel was superb- our every desire was attended to - often before we’d even asked for anything. If a restaurant didn’t have something we wanted, they soon acquired it!!
20 restaurants, 4 pools, free access to a water park. All in all a perfect holiday. Shame lastminute.com mucked up the airport transfers.

Wonderful Hotel.
Staff were fantastic and so friendly. The room was always cleaned at times to suit us, and to a fantastic standard. Beach and pool clean, always space around the pool. Wild wadi water park a stones throw away and great fun. Massive choice of restaurants, all fairly priced and food scrummy. Views from the room were sensational. Seriously the best hotel I have ever seen! We cannot wait to go back.

The best Holiday we have ever experienced. Accommodation oozing luxury, with service fit for our Queen.
Breathtaking architecture, with new buildings being erected everywhere to make sure Dubai becomes the ultimate place to visit.
The restaurants excellent value for money. 5* food and surroundings for next to no money. My favourite was The Noodle Bar in the Emirates Towers. Authentic cuisine, swift and delicious.
Our Desert Safari took us over 100 ft dunes with almost vertical drops either side. Friendly Camels carried us across the hot sands to where an Arabian feast was waiting for us.
We went to Jebel Ali race course and spent the evening having free bets, eating sumptuous food and watching beautiful Arabian horses race.
For me, Dubai is the ultimate Holiday experience.