отдых в новом отеле vacation in a new hotel

Were in February 2010. The hotel is really new, clean and beautiful. It must be taken into account (in order to plan expenses) that a deposit is also taken at the entrance to the hotel, about $ 70 per person multiplied by the number of days. Returned on the day of departure (if paid in cash). If by card, then the card after "defrosting" the deposit amount is unlocked only within 3 days, i. e. you can't use the money. A deposit is like an advance payment for hotel services that you may use. In addition to 1 lunch by the pool, we were charged some other services of about $ 50, but we did not have time to find out what these services were and write them down by amount, because there was no time before departure. The procedure for returning the deposit is long, so I advise you to pay the hotel in advance. One more thing: the meeting party we had was Alpha tour (tour operator - Natalie tours), there is no information desk with information about the time of departure and departure of tourists from the hotel, as well as representatives of the tour operator. The representative of the meeting party appeared 1 time, arranged excursions, left the phone, and said that they would warn us about the departure time by calling the room. The situation actually turned out to be the following: no one warned us, no one called the room, there was no information at the reception (they called themselves everywhere, the representative said to call the main office, no one picked up the phone in the "main" office, etc. ) Then a girl from the reception called you like 5 minutes so that you get off to the bus, otherwise we will leave for the airport, also saying that they allegedly sent a fax to the reception and we should have been warned. In the end, they didn’t find the last ones, the bus left, and we got by taxi (fortunately it costs about 600 rubles to the airport from the hotel), taxis are served right there at the hotel. It’s good that I have already traveled a lot (in the Emirates for the first time) and didn’t worry too much, believing that I would arrive by taxi on my own to the flight indicated on the e-ticket; and if the people for the first time??!!!... In general, the situation is not pleasant and for the first time faced with such disorganization in the work of the hotel representative of the tour operator. Be prudent and do not postpone everything to the last day! ))
Eating at the hotel is very expensive, as well as drinking. On the street to the right of the hotel there is a "kebab" and there (inside! ) There is a "buffet", you pay a certain amount and put everything on a plate. Delicious and economical. Of course, there are restaurants of European and Italian cuisine on this busy street where the hotel is located, but also relatively expensive. It is very convenient and inexpensive, while shopping, to eat in the malls in Dubai. A taxi from Sofitel to the Emirates Dubai Mall costs about 45-50 Dirhams. 1 dirham is about 9 rubles. ; to Deira mall 65-80 dirhams. All taxis are metered, and even when you are in a traffic jam, the meter continues to count)).
On the beach (despite the bans on smoking and alcohol) you can smoke (I don’t know about drinking, it’s probably better if you do it without advertising). Again, if you smoke, then you can stock up on an empty pack, for storing a bullock, they still say selectively fined for garbage. Again, you yourself will then stomp on this rubbish. The pool in the hotel is very warm, like splashing in a hot bath. The windows of all rooms overlook the Persian Gulf (which, by the way, is very beautiful). Every morning freshly squeezed juices, mixes, a large selection of fruits, from rambutans to the notorious oranges. Breakfasts are monotonous, pastries are not bad because they are always the freshest! Everywhere on the tables, from the "buffet" to the hotel lobby, there are freshly cut roses and petals. Flowers change every day. Very impressive in the presence of the desert. Everything else, as elsewhere in the 5-kah - shampoos, slippers, bathrobes, beds, towels and everything is snow-white. In the room there is a kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, sweets (1 piece every day)) for free. Minibar - paid. The cheapest bottle in it is Coca Cola 0.33 about 60 rubles. We didn't use it. we collected a variety of fruits and exotic natural juices in the mall (of course, duty free was fully covered by us when entering a non-drinking country)) There is no alcohol anywhere! except for bars and restaurants, and even then not in all. In general, the service is impeccable. The public beach does not bother those who are used to lying comfortably on a sunbed - they relax by the pool (by the way, there is a very small area around it and there are not enough sunbeds for everyone). We went on 2 excursions: a sightseeing tour of Dubai and a jeep safari. So-so . . The sand in the desert at sunset is undeniably beautiful! And the photos are beautiful.

To summarize my vacation in the UAE, I can say the following: there is nothing to see there (no history, no cultural monuments), yes, skyscrapers, yes, crazy shopping and huge shopping centers with skating rinks, waterfalls, etc. With beaches, too, not everything is good everywhere, plus prohibitions, prohibitions, prohibitions. Well, once or twice you can see... the beautiful Persian Gulf!
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