THE BRIEF
I relied on my Ambassador Elite Team to find decent accommodation in Dubai, UAE, since this was my first trip to the city and country.
I was arriving in November and wasn’t aware that this was the high season in Dubai. All of the hotels were booked along the waterfront and this was one of the few that was still available, but it was not by the sea.
The Al Jaddaf was a premium 5-star Marriott Resort with all the expected extras. I discovered that “premium” in Dubai was more the norm than the exception. That also means paying a premium price for that luxury.
I was surprised at how Christmas was very much celebrated everywhere in Dubai. The lobby had some very nice displays for the festive season.
The main lobby was nicely finished and besides a large front desk, there was plenty of comfortable seating, a coffee bar, and a business center.
I was upgraded to a large suite near the top floor of one of the wings in the hotel which also housed the Business Lounge. It had all the amenities including a long-necked shoehorn that I love. There was a large outdoor patio attached.
The spa and the gym were located on the 7th floor while the rooftop pool was up on the 8th floor. The gym was nicely equipped and I enjoyed many a workout there.
The swimming pool offered a section for laps or just lounging in the hot tub. It was nice and airy with a wonderful view from the eighth floor. There was a bar poolside with drinks and snacks available for the guests.
Breakfast was included in my package so I went down the first morning to investigate. I was surprised at how complete a fare it had to offer. The buffet style ranged from a complete hot meal to individual side orders.
There was no shortage of food at this buffet. You could have a full breakfast or make it an early brunch. There was a full-service bar available as well.
The executive business lounge was a real treat. It is a nice quiet spot during the day to do some work or relax with tea. Evening canapés featured hot soup and meals, salad and dessert bars, plus a regular full-service bar.
It was located on the sixth floor of the main wing and required key card access. The staff was accommodating and always available.
Two chefs were cooking up something new every evening for the executive lounge guests who arrived to a welcome from the staff as they entered the.
Fresh bread and desserts to finish the meal had their own section. The tea and coffee section was open 24 hours.
THE DEBRIEF
I had a very nice stay at this hotel. It’s the kind of place you can make a home if away on business. It had all the amenities and the staff was top-notch. The location was not ideal if you’re on vacation or staying long term. It was 5 miles from downtown, the major attractions, and the waterfront, positioned beside huge freeways. One annoying point surfaced that seems to be a Dubai Marriott rule. Management insisted, even though I was an Elite Member, that I pay for my entire stay upfront. I’ve never run into this kind of inflexibility anywhere in the world. That was over two months on my credit card in one shot. To be fair, this was my first trip there and I’m sure on future trips this would be resolved. Because of this, and the location, I can only assign one thumbs up as a rating.
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