We drove with caution, after reading reviews about this hotel.... It so happened that we read the reviews after confirmation and partial payment came, they even wanted to refuse, but there was little time before the vacation and decided to take a chance and go.
Most likely, we were lucky with the number, fortunately we didn’t survive any terrible moments with cockroaches and music from clubs. Everything worked in good order, comfortable, the room is large, there is a balcony. But some said that there were a lot of cockroaches, there was no balcony, no window, and music blared at night, so many changed to another, by the way, without any problems.
The hotel itself is small, a lot of Russians, we got to know everyone when we went to Al Mamzar beach (on Friday to Jumeirah beach) by hotel bus there at 9.00, back at 12.30. Entrance fee is 5 dirhams. For a long time on the first day they could not find an exchange office, because in the morning they had to go to the beach with 10 dirhams, they don’t take any other currency, as a result they already went to the supermarket, bought a bottle of water, gave 5 dollars and received change in dirhams. Later we found several exchangers on the way to Nasser Square. The exchange rate is 1 dollar = 3.66 dirhams.
The restaurant gives coupons at the reception (in the hotel breakfast and lunch). Of course, I was struck by the scarcity of the Swedish table after Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Tunisia. There is almost no choice, but in principle they cooked well, they really liked the soups, they cooked meat and fish perfectly. Fruits - apples, bananas, oranges, once there were watermelons. And sometimes for breakfast the omelet was for some reason sweet, I couldn't eat it. Delicious pancakes with jam. Cabbage salad is both sweet and spicy at the same time. I really liked the yellow sauce, sweet and sour for rice, sometimes it was still reddish, also delicious.
The meeting side of Desert Adventures was brought to the hotel in a jeep, it was also unusual to return to the airport on it, it was unusual... We didn’t see the hotel guide for the whole trip, the meeting representative at the airport gave a plump envelope with various information and a book on excursions, it was said, so that they call if that is the phone number. The flight information was sent by fax. Apparently this is the way it is in the Emirates, but in general it didn’t bother us, because we read in advance in the reviews that it’s better to take excursions on the beach at Aladdin or Arabian Knight (better at Arabian Knight).
Foolishly, we took the first tour from Aladdin - a sightseeing tour in Abu Dhabi, then we very much regretted that it was not from Arabian Knight. Then the remaining two were already taken from Arabian Knight and we really, really liked it, especially with Vladimir in Al Ain, he still spends on the Indian Ocean and safari, it’s a pity that there was no time left, we went to Al Ain on the penultimate day, it is from morning to 9 pm, and in the morning the next day at 8.00 we had to leave for the airport, so we could not order a disk with this excursion, so sorry... Vladimir is such a good fellow, a born guide, with a great sense of humor, very uplifting with his jokes , I can imagine what an interesting disc it turned out to be, I really want to return to the UAE, if only to go on all the excursions with him and order discs! We went to the survey in Dubai with Valentina, ordered a CD, liked it very much too, watched the CD at home, everything is so cool!! ! Wonderful excursion! In general, Arabian Knight are great and professionals!!!
I had no idea that I would like the Emirates so much! I was just amazed by Dubai with its extraordinary architecture! All this thanks to excursions. I don’t understand people who don’t take excursions, they say that they have read everything and know everything, isn’t it interesting to see everything with your own eyes?
if anyone has any questions, feel free to answer)
Minuses:
-disco open all night, very loud music,
-proximity of the airport also makes it difficult to sleep, planes fly over the hotel all night
- a lot of Indians and Iranians guests, few of ours
- swimming pool not working
- monotonous food, small, very cold restaurant, the hotel operates on a breakfast-lunch system, while other hotels offer tourists a choice - did not have time for lunch, come to dinner
-the area is not the most prestigious, but close to the sea
Pros:
-price
-spacious rooms, we got a balcony
- daily cleaning, linen change
- the service staff is not intrusive, as in Egypt, but they do not speak Russian
In general, an economy option, but quite decent. I was pleased with the free transfer every day, in the morning to the sea, in the evening to shopping centers (taxi is expensive).
I advise you not to buy excursions at the hotel, competitors offer more interesting routes, although not much cheaper (and some at the same prices), but the difference in the program is enormous. They sell excursions on the beach, travel agencies on the street, as in Egypt or Turkey, do not look, come to the beach, they will find you. The cost of excursions is 30-100 dollars.
The country is very interesting, not at all like Egypt and Tunisia (I have not been to other Arab countries).
-there is no pool, although the website of the hotel and the operator indicates that there is a pool;
- the restaurant that is in the hotel is a real Soviet dining room, in which monotonous tasteless food, cold sausages half-eaten in the evening, served for breakfast;
- during my stay at the hotel, repairs were in full swing, there was a strong smell of paint;
- cockroaches walked in the room, the bed linen was damp, everything was in some kind of dirty spots;
- There are NO bars in the hotel, 1 gay restaurant.
The guide of the host company Planeta Travels and tours Gerasimova Olga, who appeared 1 time in 10 days, waved her hand at the tourists and safely disappeared. Excursions were bought on the street, I was very pleased with them.
In general, the holiday was a success, the country is wonderful, I really want to go back there again... only of COURSE to another hotel.
As for the DUBAI PALM HOTEL on al Muteena street - a city hotel, NOT in the worst location: close to the metro and Nasser Square and Creek Bay. There is a palm alley in the middle of the street. 3 discos on the ground floor from 12 pm: Indian, Pakistani and Iranian, it's something : ). We were settled on the 4th floor, we heard only the bass, BUT the hood was noisy!
In general, there is a lot of noise and varied, but either from a change in the time zone, or from a lack of oxygen, as the guide said, although most likely from the fact that we were running around the city like crazy, we slept without hind legs. HB is breakfast and lunch, very convenient.
Things to do in Dubai in our opinion : )
1) sign up for excursions, at least a sightseeing tour of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the ocean. Very cool guide Oksana, Aladdin company. Drove to Abu Dhabi. Super pro. See all the sights;
2) ride the subway;
3) visit huge malls, stock up and sit in cafes to look at local gods (we called the indigenous Arabs in white clothes that way : ));
4)buy a souvenir in memory of Dubai : )