jumeirah hotel review

This hotel instantly became a Dubai landmark after it opened in 1997 thanks to its striking architecture imitating a breaking wave. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, together with the iconic Burj al Arab across the bay and the glorified Madinat, are the most talked-about hotel complexes in the Middle East. This large beach resort is very popular with European and Far Eastern groups and is also a favorite choice of meeting organizers. The glossy glass exterior can be seen from miles away and has become a focal point from which other city landmarks are measured (more than ever now that the Burj is its neighbor).
The focal point of the busy lobby is the lounge built above a decorative pond. Several of the hotel's restaurants and the shopping arcade can be accessed from here. Culinary offerings include a German beer keller, an English pub, an Argentinean steak house, Italian, Lebanese, American and Asian eateries, and the Marina Seafood Market, built at the tip of the marina pier. The favored Middle Eastern outlet is one of the most popular and offers regular belly dance performances, elaborate meze spreads, and a comfortable introduction to the local cuisine. Reservations are recommended at most of the restaurants as locals flood the property for its massive array of choices. The Asian fusion eatery is actually a beachfront outpost offering romantic views and Oriental cuisine. A DJ keeps things lively at the dance club popular with expats. The 24th floor bar and lounge is a dusk favorite where the sea views mesmerize as much as the liquid concoctions. The pool bar is another daytime watering hole, and 360 (on the rooftop of the marina restaurant) is the hotel's signature patio lounge that swings with the sounds of live music and the breeze of its open-air setting.
Several free-form and lap pools and a private beach are at guests' disposal. Kids have their own club and pool, and the choices are amazing, including plunge pools, whirlpools, a lap pool, one with an underwater sound system, another with a wave effect, and one dedicated to the exclusive use of premium-room guests. Adults can use the large health club located within a shell-shaped building comprising a gym, squash courts and sports classes. Other recreational amenities include tennis courts, a golf course, a private yacht marina, watersports and a PADI scuba diving center. Guests also have free access to the Wild Wadi water park located within the complex. Spa services include saunas, steam rooms, and a wide range of mineral baths, beauty treatments and massages.
The purpose-built conference center of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is housed inside a building shaped like traditional dhow boats. It boasts a dozen meeting rooms, a 416-seat auditorium and a ballroom for up to 1,200 people. Additionally, the business center provides Internet access and a host of other services for those not interested in strolling the retail areas.
When accessing their rooms, guests will notice the huge mural covering the entire height of the 25-story atrium that depicts Dubai's position in the world. All rooms face the sea, the smallest measuring 50 sq m. Decorated in shades of blue, each room has a choice of twin or king beds with sleep-inducing mattresses and comforters, ample seating space with a sofa bed sleeping an additional person, and large floor-to-ceiling picture windows. Business amenities are a must for visitors to Dubai although most here have leisure pursuits on their minds. Nevertheless, high-speed Internet access, dual-line speaker phones with voice mail and data ports, safes and work desks are firmly in place. Baths are also large and feature separate tubs and shower stalls plus hair dryers and a range of posh European toiletries.
There are two choices for room upgrades: Premium Leisure Club rooms are for families looking for additional services, whereas Club Executive rooms are for business travelers. Extra perks include, among others, separate check-in, free Internet use, use of a private lounge and access to a private pool and beach section. The former provides kid-friendly perks such as Sony PlayStations, a game room and special goodies on arrival. Several suites have two or three bedrooms, some with a private terrace, and amenities such as wide-screen TVs, wet bars, kitchenettes and half-baths. In addition to the rooms and suites in the main building, the Beit Al Bahar section comprises 19 beach villas with private gardens and plunge pools.
Room service is always an option, and housekeeping does a marvelous job keeping this small city constantly looking good. A member of Leading Hotels of the World, this place is hard to beat when it comes to wide-ranging facilities. However, its mass-market feel does not allow it to measure up to the luxury resort hotels along Jumeirah Beach such as the Burj Al Arab or the modest, low-rise Ritz-Carlton and the One&Only Royal Mirage farther afield.