After spending a night at the Shangri-La Abu Dhabi and thenflying from Abu Dhabi to Cairo and back in a day, I had two more nights in Abu Dhabi before my flight to Sydney.
Continue reading: Review: Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I find this kind of hotel to be soulless. Sometimes there is such a thing as too big. Luxury should be about quality and intimacy of space and service. That said, I enjoyed the review.
The room decor reminisces of a Golden Girls set. The restaurants looked like several nursing homes I've visited. When spaces and rooms are so large the question is: does housekeeping have the staff and necessary designated time to clean and disinfect all surfaces? Vacuum carpets, cloth seats, make beds, wash glasses, disinfect a tub and bathroom, mini-bar refrigerator gaskets and shelves and so forth?
Rumor has it that this was supposed to be the original Royal Palace - but deemed to small so they built the new Royal Palace Complex next door.
Oh. My. God.
Best hotel in Abu Dhabi, best plane seat in Abu Dhabi. That's how you travel in style!
I stayed in the Emirates Palace last year and it is a phenomenal hotel, I had a similar experience as you Ben, the service is top notch and it is definitely the best hotel I ever stayed in. Even though the hotel is unbelievably big, it still felt warm as if I came home (only this hotel is a palace). One of the most noticeable aspect of my stay was that the person who brought me to my room, remembered my name when I saw him a few days later and greeted me with my last name. How do they even remember!? Furthermore, you will get unlimited free soft drinks in your minibar. The butler even asked which soft drink we preferred so your minibar will be refilled every day with that drink.
There are some pretty amazing deals; I booked my stay (standard room) at Expedia for around 1600 euro’s/ 6 nights which is only 266 euro per night including breakfast for 2 persons. A standard 5* hotel in Amsterdam is around the same price (if not even more expensive) and you are lucky if you receive a complimentary bottle of water in your room.
the room doesn't look like $1200 per night to be honest. The decor is awful, it looks like a mustard colour everywhere.
Seriously, my GOD. This review has drawn out what? FOUR weeks now? Thursday or something there'll be a lounge review and then ... around June 15, the Residence review?
I feel like such an idiot for looking forward to this trip on your behalf. 🙁
A little over-the-top for my personal tastes. Not sure I'd stay, even if it was free.
"Across from that was a console with a flat screen TV"
Can we just call them TVs yet? 😉
Sorry to inform you that ,The Eye gel is the same brand that Oman air Business Class use,So I think it is not first class standards
What a fabulous place, and kudos for pushing and getting it for free.
It's funny tgat you mention there not having a coffee maker in your suite. When a guest "is" paying $1,500 a night, they'd be pissed at the idea of making their own coffee! That's what your butler is for.
Excellent report Ben, but it appears your personal bag has grown even bigger than your carryon since the last time you wrote about it 🙂
The breakfast looked like it had everything...except for real bacon 🙁
This was also a great review not only for you readers, but also for the Etihad staffer that called the hotel to make sure you got a suite because they were sure that the follow up blog post would be worth it from a pr marketing angle. Job not only well done, but exceeded and the electronic high fives over the phone, SMS and email between Etihad marketing and The Palace marketing are burning up data. Now they are in the process of emailing out a link to your review to their respective bosses. Each will be the office pet of the week. Win-win-win for everyone!
I know the above sounds cynical. It is, only because I work in a services marketing environment. :-/ Anyways, I DO enjoy reading your posts.
@william, he's doing this for the extra views. The review of the residence probably won't go up til the end of next month
@Leo, Amouage is the national perfume brand of Oman. So of course they are using it in their business class. Strange logic by the way to conclude that it's not first class because of that.
That's not an Atlantis being built. It's a hotel that ripped off Atlantis in design.
Little known fact: There's a hotel tour you can book for 100 AED that takes you through the interior, explains the architecture and you get a golf cart ride around the ENTIRE property including both wings and the private marina which is a great photo spot.
They'll also take you inside the 65,000 AED/night suites, show you the amenities and let you poke around and take as many pictures as you want.
As it's rarely booked, I got the private treatment and it included a welcome Arabic coffee, date and cold towel along with some other offered treats.
Highly recommend and then stay for a drink.
E-mail guest relations to book.
Ben, first of all- your new website layout and design are great. Congrats.
The hotel does indeed look massive. It is tacky but also at least it's relatively monochromatic (unlike the Burj Al Arab) which makes it a bit less tasteless.
@JoeMart regarding your question: "does housekeeping have the staff and necessary designated time to clean and disinfect all surfaces? Vacuum carpets, cloth seats, make beds, wash glasses, disinfect a tub and bathroom, mini-bar refrigerator gaskets and shelves and so fort."
Yes they have. Saw great documentary just on the houskeeping and I was impressed. Schooling takes 3 months, "academy style" after then they graduate, so to speak. They are being taught all the processes and procedures etc. And not all have actually passed the first time. So the hotel-palace is also "picky" on who do they select.
Shame cannot find a link so you could see for itself. It was rather interesting.
Furniture placement in the room looks less than desirable. Lack of attention to detail is disappointing.
For this trip I wonder why you left out the flight of LA to Dulles. I think it is crucial because is is truly the start of your trip. I just want to see a trip report of it.
I think Sheikh Zayed would be a bit surprised to hear someone state that the hotel (which opened in March 2005) was planned to be his palace. One of his family's palaces is just down the beach to the left of the hotel where the yacht was moored but was built eons ago.
Some suggest that the interior looked chintzy - perhaps they were not aware that all the gilt on display is real gold. Bring your sunglasses and cameras have a very hard time in all that "sunshine".
Ben - you thought that the hotel was basically empty when you were there. Correct. Tourism in the UAE is extremely affected by the electronics ban and the general problems in the Middle East. We were in Dubai in January and the price for the Hilton Dubai Creek was only 500 AED when it would normally be 1000 AED. So the Palace was probably empty except for the aforementioned Chinese tour group who definitely would not be staying in the suites wing.
Nice review. Your comment about feeling like you're the only one to be staying there makes me think about what a complete waste of food that buffet had. I've been to similar buffets that don't seem to be used at all and wonder what they do with all that food. I hope the staff can take it to their families as I don't imagine there's a lot of homelessness in UAE.
Im with Todd, seeing the buffet and the lack of people gives me not interest in the concept. What a waste
BEN
Really not impressed. The Middle East is very different mind set . Money
is never selective into which palms it may fall into . More is not better & every
Shoe meets a sock. Your fortunate in hearing what i haft to convey . indeed .no charge for the consultation . I travel
A great deal it my world as well, but prefer less . Ps I like the Middle East I have
Been many times more than most , Hotels very few impress me it's the people around me & the local residents. But u are doing a good job ,mostly in detail.
I liked your comments Concerning mr& Mrs well put like your blog
I know this is your life, I do not envy nor emulate anyone, Try with a transatlantic crossing. On HMS QM2 Cunard lines. how civilized with an invitation to polite society and calmness Would like to hear your views we are in the same business of travel it's my Life I love it keep up your blog I told. Many people
About your adventures. you have expressed your view on foie gra's , it's better
Than IRAN C like. Comparing an apple to an orange. I like your country very much especially Baden Baden I go often and stay in my little Zimmer B&B & The breakfast Is out of this world, and healthier . Your KALB - S is the best. Your views are. Interesting But not agreeing in all respects keep in touch
Peter. NYC
Just want to point out the building under construction, which looks like Dubai's Atlantis is Fairmont Marina.
Lovely hotel, though the breakfast seemed disgusting, detail should be top number one priority, and how can you "lower your expectation of service" in the Middle East, since it's considered to be the best in the world? Anyway, thanks for your great review, the Emirates Palace surely seems like a massively luxurious and stylish luxury hotel, it's really amazing.