Over the years, I’ve been able to stay at some magnificent Park Hyatt properties, all around the world. Some of the most memorable have been in the Maldives, Bangkok, Vienna, and Istanbul. All of the eight Park Hyatt visits I have made have had a common theme of a consistent high-quality offering, no matter what part of the world I’m in.

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Park Hyatt Dubai!

Most recently I had the chance to visit Park Hyatt Dubai which is located alongside the gorgeous Dubai Creek. Dubai Creek is actually a rather large river which adds a very calming atmosphere to the resort. The property sits next to a golf course which I sadly didn’t have a chance to play at during my stay.

The grounds of the Park Hyatt Dubai include both a hotel and residence, simply a massive compound. I arrived via the Dubai Metro and was able to take a buggy from the front gate. Although this was fairly convenient, it’s more comfortable to arrive by car. Not only are the grounds of the Park Hyatt Dubai massive, they are also gorgeous. Everywhere I looked was beautifully maintained.

The Park Hyatt Dubai has multiple pools which include an artificial beach pool along the Dubai Creek. This was something truly special because it really felt like I was at the beach in the center of the city! Even in the heat of the summer this was a super enjoyable place to be.

My room was located in the fourth building, on the fifth floor with a beautiful view of the marina below. The room was fairly spacious with lots of comfortable seating, capsule coffee machine, balcony, iron with ironing board, and more. I’ve always loved Hyatt bedding and this occasion was no different.

Just behind the bed was the impressive bathroom that included a large standalone tub, shower stall, toilet stall with bidet, as well as a large closet with plentiful storage space. Overall, I was very satisfied with the room and the relaxing resort atmosphere.

The breakfast takes place near to the lobby which was a bit of a walk from my room. The dining room was just beautiful. There was a very extensive buffet focused mostly on regional and Western cuisine. The Hyatt brand seems to always do a great job with the food and beverage so I was not surprised by all of the fantastic food I found at Park Hyatt Dubai. Also appreciated was very personalized service when I was given a complete tour of the buffet by a friendly staff member.

Near to the reception are the spa, fitness facilities, and second pool. Inside of the Amara Spa guests can enjoy a variety of spa treatments but they also offer relaxation areas which include steam rooms and a dry saunas. This is another area where the Hyatt brand has a solid track record of high-performance. Their relaxation areas always look beautiful and are paired with attentive staff.

In the gym there is high-end equipment and more good service.

Park Hyatt Dubai has allowed me to keep my expectations of the Park Hyatt Brand very high. The artificial beach was definitely a major selling point of this property. The Park Hyatt Dubai is another remarkable Hyatt property and truly feels like a resort right inside of this bustling city. All in all, I’d highly recommend a stay at the Park Hyatt Dubai! It was amazing.

Park Hyatt Dubai

Hotel

Dubai Creek Club St – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 4 602 1234

I’ve got some great memories when it comes to the Swissotel Hotel Brand. Previously, I’ve stayed at the Swissotel Kolkata and the Swissotel Merchant Court in Singapore. If you’re a fan of the brand, I would recommend you check out those articles. Now, I was back in the UAE for the fourth time and I got to try out the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai. This property is located not too far from the Dubai International Airport, on the north end of the city. There’s a lot going on around in the area and it’s near the Gold Souk and Dubai Creek. Very convenient!

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai!

I was met with warm faces at the check-in counter and then it was up to the 17th floor to see my sweet suite. This suite was incredibly massive! First I walked into the living room that had a dining room table, working desk, capsule coffee machine, and lots of seating. The view from the living room of the Dubai skyline was absolutely jaw-dropping. I got a lot of work done from the desk and got to enjoy the view while doing so!

The suite’s living room at the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai had its own half-bathroom.

Everything about this suite is incredibly large, including the bedroom. The northern view, aiming at Sharjah is also easy on the eyes. There are lounge chairs, a king size bed, and enormous closet.

This suite’s master bathroom is the largest I think I have ever seen in a hotel room! The bathroom has two sinks, a large standalone bathtub, bidet, a shower stall that you could fit a whole group of people in, and more. The same quality toiletries were present that I found at other Swissotel propreties.

For my stay at the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai I had access to the club lounge, located on the 18th floor. Early on in my stay, I learned that the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai actually doesn’t sell any alcohol (a decision made by the owner, not the brand.) Therefore, the club lounge offers a sizable afternoon tea offering, as well as an evening food period. I can honestly say that everything I ate during both periods was very tasty! Paired with the tasty food are a team of friendly club lounge staff.

I visited during the summer and got to experience their Liwan Restaurant for both a buffet breakfast and buffet lunch. I really felt that the selection in both breakfast and lunch were similar and quite substantial. All of the regional cuisines were present as well as international options insuring everyone can find something to enjoy. I especially enjoyed the Indian and Arabic options at Liwan! This was all accompanied with very attentive service from a great team.

On multiple occasions during my stay at Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai, I felt the urge to truly enjoy myself in the room and order room service! What a life! As I want to give you my readers, my best opinions, I was sure to sample several dishes to experience both the food as well as the service. Turns out the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai runs quite a tight ship when it comes to room service! No matter what I ordered, the food always came within 30 minutes and tasted absolutely great! Seriously, every single thing I ordered was delicious. I don’t want to leave!

On the fifth floor of the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai Hotel is the Swissôtel Spa & Sport facilities which include a rooftop pool, fitness center, and spa with an extensive offering. The rooftop pool was quite the place to be. If you want more of a quiet swim, I recommend going early in the morning. Around the pool there’s lots of comfortable seating and friendly staff.

The gym was great with lots of quality equipment to choose from. It was also never very busy so I never had any issues finding available equipment.

I had an opportunity to go for a massage at their lovely spa which you can read more in depth about in a separate article here. Long story short, I had one of the best massages I’ve had all year and I’ve already had dozens. The spa facilities were quite impressive and included gorgeous treatment rooms, a jacuzzi, steam room, dry sauna, and relaxation rooms.

My stay at the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai Hotel was nothing short of spectacular! Three fantastic Swissotel properties thus far and I’m planning to visit more and more! This property has everything you’d expect at a 5 star hotel and also feels like home. For everything I have mentioned and more I’d be happy to stay again at the Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai Hotel or recommend it to you!

Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair Dubai

Hotel

Omar Bin Al Khattab St – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 4 293 3000

Dubai is a glorious land of beautiful hotels! On my recent trip, I had a chance to visit the Address Dubai Mall Hotel for the first time. The property had recently undergone a massive update which I was very excited to experience. From the name, you can tell that the property is connected to the massive Dubai Mall, the second largest in the world. If you’re here for shopping, this is as convenient of a location as it gets. If you’re not, it’s also right in the middle of the city offering easy access to all areas of Dubai. I arrived at the Dubai International Airport (DXB), hopped on the train and arrived at the hotel for just 5 dirhams.

The gorgeous lobby was a sign of what was to come! I loved the chic look of the reception counters matched with the tall ceilings.

Let’s discuss these beautiful modern and recently updated rooms. I’m a huge fan of interior design and when I entered my sixth floor room my jaw dropped. There were so many beautiful features to take in. My eyes immediately were drawn to the bed as the focal point of the design. All of the varying materials including lots of marble, fit together like a glove. I can safely say that the bed is just as comfortable as it looks, it was like sleeping on a cloud!

Just next to the bed is a seating area with a sofa. Beyond that is a balcony that looks down over the pool. Additional features I noticed were the iPad, capsule coffee machine, and kettle with modern design. The room could have used a few more universal power outlets but other than that, there wasn’t much that needed any changes.

The spacious bathroom at the Address Dubai Mall was done in a different color scheme which contrasts nicely to the rest of the room design. Inside the bathroom there’s a large bathtub with exterior window, shower stall, separated bidet, a two sink vanity, and toilet.

Another beautiful part of this property is the impressive Club Lounge! The Club Lounge has a very similar style to the rooms, and its just gorgeous. At the Club Lounge guests can enjoy a full breakfast, very large afternoon tea spread, and evening alcohol and food period. The service at the Club Lounge was incredibly friendly and attentive. I didn’t want to leave!

The selection of food and beverages in the evening were definitely enough for a full-on dinner, if you wish!

The main hotel breakfast offered flawless service and an absolutely massive selection of food and beverages. The dining room was designed like an outdoor courtyard and felt very spacious. The food was just phenomenal! I went for a Turkish coffee and asked for some dates which they happily provided. What a great way to start the day! I’d eat here everyday if I could.

The fitness center, spa, and rooftop pool are located on the 3rd floor of the Address Dubai Mall Hotel. All are top-of-the-line facilities. In the gym there is only the latest equipment accompanied with welcoming staff. Outdoor, the rooftop pool is massive, great for swimming laps, or just relaxing. Inside the changing rooms are both steam rooms, and dry saunas. I couldn’t find any faults with these incredible facilities.

The Address Dubai Mall has both a hotel and residence. From the residences, the views of Dubai are simply jaw-dropping! The residences are full-sized apartments ready for all of your long-term stay needs.

What more could you want? The Address Dubai Mall Hotel has got it all! This property is beautiful from top to bottom and has all of the quality in its offering to match. It really doesn’t get much better than this folks. Considering how perfect the property is, plus the fact that it’s in the absolute heart of the city, the Address Dubai Mall puts up some serious competition for being the best hotel in Dubai. Without a single doubt, I would highly recommend a stay at the Address Dubai Mall Hotel!

Address Dubai Mall

Hotel

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, 31166 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 4 438 8888

My first Raffles Hotel visit was in Istanbul, Turkey, which was an eye-opening experience that left a very strong impression on me. The whole experience was grandiose in nature, luxury everything and was a great first impression to what the Raffles brand is all about. Some time had passed, and then, during my latest trip to Dubai, I visited my second Raffles property. Lets just say that I had very high expectations.

Click HERE to check out Raffles Dubai!

Raffles Dubai is located comfortably near the airport and a short distance from the center of Dubai. Raffles Dubai is also very convenient as it’s connected to WAFI Mall in the hotel’s lobby and only 400 meters from the Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station. The feature of the property that first caught my attention was the extravagant lobby. High ceilings with lots of gold made this feel incredibly spacious and luxurious along with a very apparent Egyptian theme. Actually, Raffles Dubai has an Egyptian theme throughout its entirety which is evident in both the interior and exterior design. After arriving, I headed up to the Raffles Club Lounge on the 10th floor for my check-in.

My Raffles Club Room was located on the seventh floor and had a beautiful view of the pool as well as a stunning view of the Dubai skyline. This was the most complete view of Dubai that I had ever seen! My Raffles Club Room had a large balcony which was a great spot for taking pictures and just enjoying in general. The room was a very spacious 70 m² which felt more like a suite than simply a room, and probably the reason why they refer to them as Room Suites. Once again, there is the gorgeous Egyptian theme everywhere you look!

I loved that they included Turkish delights on the welcome platter.

The bathroom was impressive with a large bathtub, separate shower stall and large vanity with two sinks. The bathroom could be opened up to the rest of the room if necessary with its window.

Raffles Dubai had a great coffee maker and tea station I was sure to use daily! They had great quality tea as well as coffee.

What sets Raffles apart from lots of the competition is the magnificent Butler Service. Our butler Kingston did a great job making sure all our needs were met! He even went above and beyond by surprising us with a bubble bath and providing a bottle of champagne!

Raffles Club Guests receive two items of complimentary laundry service during their stay which made me super happy to get back my pearly white dress shirts! Raffles Club guests also have access to the Raffles Club Lounge on the 10th floor which includes continental breakfast, afternoon tea and evening open bar and canapes. Their lounge breakfast is quite limited and more of a snack than anything. In contrary, the main breakfast of Raffles Dubai is quite extensive and where you should go to eat.

Where the Raffles Club Lounge really shines is with their afternoon tea and evening food and drink. I found the selection to also be fairly modest but the quality of food and flavor was top-notch. In this respect, Raffles Dubai focused on quality over quantity, which I can appreciate.

An activity I took part in during my stay was their Floral Afternoon Tea in the Raffles Dubai lobby. Feel free to read about that full experience in a separate article here. Spoiler alert: it was superb!

Another strength of Raffles Dubai is their incredible Raffles Spa. After I checked in for my appointment time I was served a cool welcome drink and date which began my journey to relaxation. The treatment room was quite appealing visually. My therapist did a great job at focusing on the points that held the most tension and did her best to release them.

The treatment finished with tea and snacks in a relaxation room. All in all, I would highly recommend you to experience a spa treatment at the Raffles Spa in Dubai. From start to finish the whole experience was very enjoyable and smooth.

As mentioned, I stayed in a Raffles Club Room but also had a tour of some of the other room types. Raffles is known for its luxurious accommodations and this was extremely evident in some of the very extravagant suites.

Raffles Dubai has several food and beverage outlets and the hotel’s main breakfast takes place in their Azur Restaurant. The breakfast buffet was very extensive, satisfying indeed and left nothing to be desired in terms of selection. With that being said, there were a few minor hiccups in the breakfast service itself, but the team showed how much they cared by working hard to make things right.

During my stay I also had a chance to give the Raffle’s Solo Italian Restaurant & Bar a try.

The pool, gym and relaxation areas at the property were incredibly impressive! The gym has brand-new equipment, all feeling like it was fresh out of the box. So much quality equipment and only a few days to enjoy it. The gym looks out over their incredibly beautiful and special pool. Once you’ve finished your workout I would definitely recommend taking a step into the relaxation facilities located in the changing rooms where you can find the steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. One of my favorite ways to relax!

Overall, my stay at Raffles Dubai was very enjoyable! I had high expectations from my previous stay at Raffles Istanbul and in most areas Raffles Dubai lived up to them. Raffles Dubai’s strong points included the gorgeous Egyptian luxury design, convenient location, butler service and spa facilities. All in all, I enjoyed my time immensely at the Raffles Dubai Hotel and I’m sure you will too!

Raffles Dubai

Hotel

13th Street, Sheikh Rashid Rd, Wafi city – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 4 324 8888

While in Dubai, I stayed at the Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites. The property is located next to the Dubai Marina and very near The Palm Jumeirah. The property is easily reachable by public transit with its nearby tram stop.

Click HERE to check out the Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites!

For my short stay I had a massive two bedroom suite! The suite featured an incredibly large living room, four bathrooms, a full kitchen, balcony, washing machine, storage room with extra bed and much more. It was easy to understand why a majority of the property is occupied by long stay guests.

In the kitchen you will find everything you could possibly need, just like home. The kitchen is stocked with instant coffee, tea and 2 large bottles of water as well.

One bedroom of the suite was equipped with twin beds, while the master bedroom had one large bed. Both of the full-sized bathrooms were equipped with bathtubs and shower combinations. The other two were half bathrooms.

On the fifth floor of the Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites you will find the pool, spa, gym and relaxation areas. The pool is on the smaller side and looks out over the harbor. The gym actually packs quite a punch with its also modest size but extensive amount of quality equipment. I enjoyed the relaxation area in the changing room equipped with hot tub, steam room and sauna.

The Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites offers breakfast on the ground floor. Breakfast is in a buffet format with lots to choose from. I was impressed by how tasty every item was as well as the warm and attentive service that came with a smile. It is possible to sit both indoors and outdoors for breakfast. This property does not have a Marriott Executive Club Lounge.

For food and beverage outlets, I especially enjoyed The Croft and The Observatory. I’ve written a special article all about my experience at The Observatory Dubai, which made it to my top steakhouses in Dubai, which you can read here. The Croft on the other hand offers a very unique concept which is an alcohol buffet paired with a multiple course and multiple cuisine menu. The evening at The Croft took us on a great adventure that I will never forget! This definitely will be great for those of you who love to drink copious amounts of alcohol and eat enjoyable food. Overall, I enjoyed the experience at The Croft, the service was great, although some of the dishes had room for improvement.

I enjoyed my stay in Dubai, where I was able to experience several different districts of this bustling metropolis. I enjoyed staying at the Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites because it felt like a vacation from the busier parts of the city center. If you visit Dubai I would recommend you to visit both a property in the city center as well as a property along the water such as the Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites.

Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites

Hotel

King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 4 319 4000

After an absolutely phenomenal JW Marriott stay in Mumbai, which you can read about here, I was excited to visit the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai. The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is located in Business Bay, which is the central business district of the city. A huge plus to the location is the great river walk just next to the property.

Click HERE to check out the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai!

After checking in, I made my way up to my room and on the way noticed a fairly modest interior design. Once I stepped into my 55th floor room, I was immediately drawn to the impressive view. I never got sick of the view for the duration of my stay. The room was equipped with the incredibly soft Marriott bedding, comfortable seating, desk, day bed and hot water kettle. Unfortunately, there was no coffee machine in the room. The rooms were modern featuring universal plugs and the entire room could be controlled from a controller next to the bed.

The bathroom was  spacious yet minimal in its design. It had a full-sized bathtub, shower stall and quality toiletries I’ve come to know from Marriott.

Thank you JW Marriott Marquis team for the dates! Overall, I did appreciate the minimal design of the space, but it didn’t scream luxury like the other JW Marriott Hotels I’ve visited in the past.

During the stay, I was able to try several food and beverage outlets which included Kitchen6, Prime68, Aqua, La Farine and Vault. The Kitchen6 dinner buffet offered a very wide variety of cuisines from several regions. The dining room at Kitchen6 was incredibly large and really had everything I needed to enjoy my evening. Not many big-ticket items on the buffet, but everything was delicious. Kitchen6 truly excelled in their service, well done staff! Make sure you read about Prime68 in my 3 Best Restaurants for Steak in Dubai article and their Vault bar in this article.

One of my favorite features of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai was the location along the Al Jadaf Canal! During the night, I was able to capture some lovely photographs of this property and surrounding area.

It was very convenient that the Marriott Executive Club Lounge was located below my room on the 37th floor. The Marriott Executive Club Lounge offers a dedicated breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapes. Although the lounge played host to lots of guests, the selection was fairly modest in its offering and setup in a self-service fashion. It was possible to place individual orders with the staff, if you could flag someone down, an area for improvement indeed.

The spa, fitness center and relaxation areas are located on the 3rd floor of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. During the stay I experienced all of the facilities numerous times. I was incredibly impressed with the quality of the massage at the Saray Spa. My therapist knew exactly what my body needed. There wasn’t one time where I felt uncomfortable and I would totally recommend you to treat yourself to a treatment as well. The Saray Spa even has Dead Sea Salt Bath which was a great way to relax and warm-up before my signature massage treatment. Nothing like floating completely effortless

In the gym you’ll find an extensive amount of equipment of the highest quality. Although the gym was busy, there was always enough equipment for all. I especially enjoyed the changing rooms and relaxation areas equipped with both steam rooms and saunas. This beautifully designed area was always delightfully clean and a perfect place to relax.

The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai’s pool is located just a few floors up from the gym. The pool looks great both during the day and night, and clearly a very popular spot for hotel guests. If you are hungry I’d recommend the calamari at Aqua, the poolside restaurant and bar.

The JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai surprised me as the experience was slightly different than I’ve experienced at other JW Marriotts around the world. Overall, the experience was positive, but my major takeaway was that it was less luxurious than other JW Marriotts. When it was all said and done, I enjoyed my stay at the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Hotel

Hotel

Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, Dubai 121000 United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 4 414 0000