Don't ask me why I chose to spend my Labor Day weekend in Dubai. The average high temperature in late August/early September is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and with the heat index it can feel like 120. The good news is that this isn't a peak tourism time in the UAE, since most sane people…
Continue reading: Review: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Dubai
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Did they provide the googly eyes for the towel swans? Turning the the adorable into slightly creepy.
@David W: I flew Etihad both ways, using American miles. On the way there I flew in business class, and on the way back I flew in the first class Apartment!
@Ed: Yes, they provided the googly eyes, as I'd forgotten mine at home 😉
I love Jumeirah in UAE. Etihad Towers in AUH has the best Executive Club spread I've ever seen...
That hotel room is gorgeous. I much prefer their decoration to the Burj (although yes I know it is a different league). Thanks for the report!
Lived in the UAE for 11 years and always loved the Hilton Jumeirah Beach Hotel - a home away from home (lived in Abu Dhabi). Now completely surrounded by high rises but still a great location. In 01 it was the only hotel on the beach.
These other glitzy hotels are interesting I suppose from a North American perspective of people who have never visited the gulf but are so much "Dubai" which I associate with a cross between Disneyland and the worst of Las Vegas.
The Hiltons on Jumeirah Beach, Abu Dhabi waterfront, the Creek in Dubai, in Fujairah, in Ras al Khaimah and in Al Ain are all quiet and very accomodating places to stay. Non of the artificial glitz of this hotel or others of the same ilk. Yuk!
@Andrew Thats fantastic! Did you fly on their 789 from IAD? If so, are yoy planning to write about it? I'd love to hear more about their business class on that plane
@Andrew great report, love your writing :)! Thanks for the tips about traveling there as a gay couple, I've always been a bit worried about that over there. Hope to read more from you on this blog!
Did not know Jumeriah resorts include wadi wadi waterparks passes. Recently stayed at Atalantis Dubai with our kids and the hotel was amazing, and with kids it was great to be able to go to the waterpark and if it got crowded just to leave as you could do it again the next morning. May have to look at Jumeriah resorts in the future.
I traveled 4x to dubai since 2008 with my husband and we were also bit reserved travelling as a gay couple. We stayed the first time at Jumeirah's Al Qasr (the castle) in a club twin room, we didnt encounter any awkwardness during our stay. Later upon befriending some staff, we learned it would be no problem booking a kingbed as staff are trained to be discrete and the policy of the hotel is to treat everyone as a an esteemed guest. We have been back to the same hotel ever since and no complaints just praises.
I appreciate that it may be part and parcel of Dubai but I have to say the aesthetics of that particular hotel do nothing for me. Nice report though.
My partner and I travelled quite a bit in the middle east, even Iran, and we never experienced any difficulty as a gay couple. Just be discreet. If someone asks about your relationship, tell them you are friends. Which, I hope, is the truth.
I stayed there one night, when it was new, do they still have the drawer with the foam inserts with crystal glasses and champagne flutes? It was lovely....I was on the western side with a great terrace, I moved from the Jumeirah Beach for a night as they were full...The Saray was a great experience and it smelled great then too! Glad you liked it, thanks for the report!
Twice at the Zabeel Saray and twice very happy. The only two disadvantages: The location is not that great if you head to the Marina or Downtown. They have a shuttle to MoE. The beach is not great. I wouldn't swim there and I haven't seen anyone else while staying there.
The bathtub is enormous. After 30 minutes, the tub still wasn't even remotely full...
@David W: Hah, I don't think I'm going to write about it...I hardly took any photos, and I slept for a lot of the flight! But I do recommend it.
@LJR: Yes, the glasses were still in the room in the little boxes...hopefully they've been cleaned once or twice in the time between your stay and mine!