Review: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre

Review: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre

NAME: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre
LOCATION: Dubai, UAE
DATE: April 2022
REVIEW RATING:
BEN SAYS: The Waldorf Astoria DIFC is an incredible option if you want a city hotel in Dubai. The hotel has a central location, exceptional service, an amazing breakfast, and modern and luxurious facilities.
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EXTRA PERKS AVAILABLE Enjoy breakfast, upgrades, & more

Want to take advantage of Hilton Impresario benefits at no extra cost (when paying for your stay with cash), including a room upgrade, free breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He doesn’t charge booking fees, and may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.

I’ve been to Dubai more times than I can count, but this time decided to mix things up and stay in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) for the first time. I’m really happy we did, because we stayed at the Waldorf Astoria DIFC for two nights, which we loved. I’d wholeheartedly recommend this hotel, and would return in a heartbeat.

You absolutely shouldn’t stay here if you’re looking for a beach or pool getaway (in that case the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah would be a better option). However, if you’re like me and view Dubai more as a cosmopolitan city and want easy access to great restaurants, shopping, other attractions, and the airport, then the Waldorf Astoria can’t be beat.

Booking the Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC

We booked our two night stay at the Waldorf Astoria DIFC though the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program. The rate was just under $300 per night, and for booking through Amex FHR we received several perks, including a room upgrade, free breakfast, a $100 hotel credit, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.

On top of that, the Amex Platinum offers a $200 annual Amex Travel credit, so I was able to apply that toward this stay, which lowered my out of pocket even further.

I’m also a Hilton Honors Diamond member, so some of the perks (like free breakfast and an upgrade) were redundant. If not booking through Amex FHR, I’d recommend instead booking through the Hilton Impresario program, which offers largely similar perks.

For what it’s worth, the hotel was charging 80,000 Hilton Honors points per night for the stay. Based on my valuation of 0.5 cents per point, paying cash was the better value.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC service

Usually I mention service at the end of my reviews, but in the case of the Waldorf Astoria DIFC, I can’t help but start with that. I find that service in Dubai can be a mixed bag — it’s generally well intentioned, but often not attentive or cohesive.

The Waldorf Astoria DIFC has the best service I’ve experienced at any hotel in Dubai, period. Literally every single employee we interacted with — from the front office staff, to housekeeping, to the restaurant staff — was exceptionally friendly and polished.

Everyone at the property basically had a “what else can I do for you?” attitude, and that was so refreshing to see. Just to give a few examples:

  • When we were in the elevator with hotel staff, we’d always be asked how our stay was going, and if there’s anything they could do for us
  • The restaurant staff were all just so lovely, and at breakfast you didn’t have to ask for a drink refill, but were offered one before your previous drink was half done
  • At check-out, we were asked the bravest question a front office employee can ask, which you only ask if you’re genuinely looking to improve — “is there anything we could have done better?”
  • Everyone took such pride in the hotel and their jobs — for example, at Peacock Alley I loved the detail that the server went into in describing how the drinks were made
  • The housekeeping staff were extremely detail-oriented; for example, we drank all the water in the room the first day, so on the second day they left double as much bottled water in our room
  • The hotel treats Diamond members very well; we were offered a proactive suite upgrade, and when I asked about late check-out, we were proactively offered 6PM check-out at no cost

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC location

As you may have guessed based on the name, the Waldorf Astoria is located in Dubai International Financial Centre. Don’t be deceived by the name — this area isn’t just interesting if you’re in Dubai for business. Think of it more as being in the downtown area of the city, with great restaurants and walkability (by Dubai standards).

The hotel is within a 10 minute walk of all kinds of top restaurants, and just a 15 minute walk from the Dubai Mall. You’re also just a 15 minute drive from Dubai International Airport (DXB), which is convenient if you’re just planning a brief stopover in Dubai.

Dubai International Financial Centre
Dubai International Financial Centre

The Waldorf Astoria is located in a massive 56-floor mixed use development, with has the hotel, apartments (not in any way connected to Waldorf Astoria in terms of branding), and offices. Even though the building is massive, the hotel feels surprisingly boutique, especially given how many rooms it has.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC entrance
Waldorf Astoria DIFC exterior
Waldorf Astoria DIFC exterior

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC lobby & check-in

The Waldorf Astoria DIFC’s lobby is located on the 18th floor, and then rooms are located on the 27th through 55th floor. The hotel has 275 rooms, though as you can tell, there are fewer than a dozen rooms per floor. On the ground floor there are several hallways you have to walk through to get to the elevators leading to the 18th floor lobby.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC ground floor lobby
Waldorf Astoria DIFC ground floor lobby
Waldorf Astoria DIFC ground floor lobby
Waldorf Astoria DIFC ground floor lobby

When you exit the elevator on the 18th floor, you’ll find yourself in the gorgeous lobby. I loved the design of this hotel — it’s elegant and modern without feeling gaudy. It also felt like no expenses were spared in the design, which seems pretty rare for newly opened hotels nowadays.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC 18th floor lobby
Waldorf Astoria DIFC 18th floor lobby

We arrived at the hotel at around 9AM, and were immediately helped at reception. The professional front office associate thanked me for being a Diamond member, and said that we had been upgraded to a suite, and that it was even ready for early check-in — woot!

Since I was traveling with Ford, I also appreciated the professionalism with which she addressed the bedding situation — “I have you booked in a room with one king bed, will that be okay?”

Waldorf Astoria DIFC reception
Waldorf Astoria DIFC reception

There are separate elevators leading up to the guest rooms, so within a few minutes we were in one of those headed to our room on the 41st floor. The elevators here are really fast.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC elevators

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC suite

We were assigned room 4111, a king premier suite, which is the hotel’s entry level suite. Unlike some other entry level hotel suites, this was one was legitimately huge, at 839 square feet, and had two separate rooms.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai hallway

The suite featured a long entryway, with a mirror on the right, which had a half table and seat. Presumably this was more intended as art than as actual seating, as it looked pretty cool how the table was reflected in the mirror.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite entryway

Down the hall was the living room, which had two couches, a coffee table, a desk with a chair, and a TV. I thought the suite was tastefully designed — it was modern and luxurious, but not in the typical Dubai way.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite living room
Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite living room

Waiting on the coffee table was a welcome amenity, consisting of a handful of dates.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite welcome gift

I appreciated having a dedicated desk, as this is something that’s becoming increasingly rare in hotel rooms.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite desk

Next to the desk was a Nespresso coffee machine, kettle, water, and mini-fridge (though there were no drinks in it).

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite minibar

Down the hall was a half bath, with a toilet and sink.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite half bath

There was a door leading to the bedroom, which had a comfortable king size bed, a chair by the window, another desk and chair, and a wall-mounted TV.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite bedroom
Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite bedroom

It was cool to be on a fairly high floor, though we were looking mostly toward the flatter part of Dubai, so there were no iconic sights.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite view

Connected to the bedroom was the bathroom, which had double sinks, a bathtub, a walk-in shower, and a toilet and bidet.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite bathroom
Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite bathroom
Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite bathtub
Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite toilet & bidet

The shower was huge, and had two shower heads.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite shower
Waldorf Astoria DIFC king premier suite shower

Toiletries were the Tuscan Soul collection from Salvatore Ferragamo, as is common at Waldorf Astoria properties.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries

Wi-Fi in the room was fast and free, and there was daily housekeeping and turndown service. What an awesome suite, and in particular what a nice entry level suite to receive an upgrade to as a Diamond member.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC breakfast

Breakfast was served daily from 7AM until 11AM at Bull & Bear, the hotel’s signature all-day dining restaurant on the 18th floor. In the evenings this is a steakhouse, as the restaurant is named after the original Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

The restaurant is large and beautifully designed, with great views of the Dubai skyline.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC Bull & Bear Restaurant
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Bull & Bear Restaurant
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Bull & Bear Restaurant
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Bull & Bear Restaurant
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Bull & Bear Restaurant
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Bull & Bear Restaurant view

Breakfast here consists of a buffet, and then you can order dishes from a menu as well, and everything is included with the standard breakfast package here. I love hotels that let you mix & match buffet and a la carte options.

The buffet was exceptionally good, both in terms of the selection, and in terms of the quality. There weren’t many hot options, but that was simply because those were mostly on the menu.

The buffet had several different fresh juices, and they were actually fresh, as you could tell based on the consistency, and the need to stir them. It amazes me how many other luxury hotels don’t have any fresh juices, or at most just fresh orange juice.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet

The buffet had everything from cereal, to fruit and yogurt, to cold cuts and cheese, to pastries and sweets, to all kinds of Middle Eastern specialities.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast buffet

Yum, yum, yum. And best of all, there was quite a tantalizing menu as well.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast menu

Over the course of our stay we tried the shakshouka (with a side of avocado), the smashed avo with salmon, and the masala omelet with a side of chicken sausage. All dishes were excellent.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast
Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast

Also, there were a variety of barista-made coffee drinks available, and the cappuccino was exceptional, in terms of taste (it was oh-so-smooth) and presentation.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai cappuccino

The iced lattes, fresh juices, and energizing boosts, were great as well.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai breakfast drinks

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC Bull & Bear Restaurant (lunch)

Since we had a $100 credit to spend, we had lunch at Bull & Bear one day as well. Dubai has lots of “business lunches,” which in general are a great deal. They’re a good way to try a restaurant at costs that are much lower than dinner prices.

By the way, it’s worth noting that the hotel offers 25% off food & beverages for Hilton Honors Gold & Diamond members. This is a standard offering at most properties in the UAE.

You can find the Bull & Bear business lunch menu below.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Bull & Bear Restaurant lunch menu

It was a treat to be served by the same employees who took care of us at breakfast (a special shoutout to Sanjay). The meal started with some delicious freshly baked bread.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Bull & Bear Restaurant business lunch

To start I had the Waldorf salad, while Ford had the roast squash.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Bull & Bear Restaurant business lunch
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Bull & Bear Restaurant business lunch

Then for our mains, Ford and I both had the confit salmon.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Bull & Bear Restaurant business lunch

Then we could choose a dessert or coffee, and as tempting as the dessert options were, we can’t eat nonstop, so we just had an americano.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Bull & Bear Restaurant business lunch

What a lovely meal!

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC Peacock Alley

Also on the 18th floor was Peacock Alley, which is the signature bar and lounge that you’ll find at all Waldorf Astoria properties. It’s open all day, and was elegant and a nice place to sit and get some work done.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley

In the back of Peacock Alley was a cigar lounge, which even had a variety of cigars for purchase. I know this is something that my dad would love, so I’ll keep this in mind the next time I return to Dubai with him.

Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley cigar bar
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley cigar bar
Waldorf Astoria DIFC Peacock Alley cigar bar

We had drinks here our first evening before dinner, and you can find the Peacock Alley menu here. We had the Sean Connery and Frank Sinatra (as you can see, the cocktails have interesting names), and they were served with spicy cashews.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Peacock Alley drinks

The views of Dubai at dusk were pretty great too.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Peacock Alley nighttime view

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC pool & St. Trop

Also on the 18th floor is the Waldorf Astoria’s pool. For a city hotel this is a solid area, as there was a pool, hot tub, plenty of seating, and even a pool bar, named St. Trop. However, if you’re looking to oil yourself up and get a tan, this isn’t the hotel for you (both because the deck isn’t huge, and because the beams above the pool limit the amount of sun you’ll get, which makes this area more appealing to me, but others will disagree).

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC pool
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC pool
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC hot tub
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC pool seating
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC pool seating
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC pool view
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC St. Trop seating
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC St. Trop seating

While we didn’t eat or drink anything here, you can find the St. Trop pool bar menu below.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC St. Trop menu
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC St. Trop menu
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC St. Trop menu

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC gym & spa

The Waldorf Astoria DIFC has a spa, though we didn’t get any treatments, so I can’t speak to the quality of that.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC spa

There was also a 24/7 gym, which we used a few times, and appreciated.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC gym
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC gym
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC gym
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC gym
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC gym
Waldorf Astoria Dubai DIFC gym

Bottom line

The Waldorf Astoria DIFC greatly exceeded my expectations. Some readers had recommended this property for the great service and excellent Hilton Honors Diamond recognition, and I’m happy I listened, because they were spot on. The Waldorf Astoria has the best service I’ve experienced in Dubai, we got a generous suite upgrade, the breakfast was exceptional, and I loved being in DIFC.

If you’re going to Dubai and are looking for a city hotel rather than a beach resort, I can’t recommend this hotel enough. For that matter, the Waldorf Astoria brand is really growing on me, and I think it might just be my favorite points brand now. I’ve actually had more consistently great experiences with Waldorf Astoria than St. Regis, and have also enjoyed my stays in AmsterdamBeverly Hills, and Los Cabos.

I also just generally loved being in DIFC, so the next time I visit Dubai I plan to review other hotels in the area, like the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. If anyone has any other similarly good recommendations, I’d of course love to hear them.

If you’ve stayed at the Waldorf Astoria DIFC, what was your experience like?

Conversations (31)
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  1. Mike P Guest

    Wrapping up a 2 day stay on March 2023 & this all very much still applies. Diamond got the same great suite upgrade, breakfast is excellent & staff even decorated my room & left a small cake for my birthday. $3.50 cab ride to the Dubai Mall yesterday, so very close. Thanks for the recommendation Ben!

  2. Gaby Guest

    Hi Ben,
    How is the transportation from the hotel? Is there a metro station nearby?
    How is it compared to the Conrad?
    Thank you.

  3. Matthewsf Guest

    Ben-I’m a Hilton Diamond and Hyatt Globalist making my first trip to Dubai (and Abu Dhabi) later in the Summer and trying to decide where to stay among the ‘nicer’ hotels in each portfolio. (I’m eliminating the Garden Inns, Doubletrees, Hyatt Place/House, Etc.) While I’ll vet where I can stay whether I’m using points, free night certs, etc., my biggest question is location and accessibility. It may not make sense to stay at hotel X...

    Ben-I’m a Hilton Diamond and Hyatt Globalist making my first trip to Dubai (and Abu Dhabi) later in the Summer and trying to decide where to stay among the ‘nicer’ hotels in each portfolio. (I’m eliminating the Garden Inns, Doubletrees, Hyatt Place/House, Etc.) While I’ll vet where I can stay whether I’m using points, free night certs, etc., my biggest question is location and accessibility. It may not make sense to stay at hotel X if it’s out of the way and inconvenient to get to. Any thoughts on which hotels are preferable for location, amenities (e.g. pool, executive lounge, breakfast buffet) access to sites and/or transit? While I tend to prefer Conrads over WA, this review was helpful. Maybe we split our 3-4 nights between 2 places if getting around is easy by Uber vs. walking. Thanks.

  4. Simon Guest

    Always enjoy these detailed reviews. Did you really roll your suitcases across that beautiful marble floor to get to the elevators!? I would have been terrified to scuff it. Or does the hotel have bellhops at the building entrance?

    One extra thing I would appreciate you mentioning, and which I think everyone struggles with, is when do you tip or not tip? Does Sanjay get a tip on the restaurant bill or is that billed...

    Always enjoy these detailed reviews. Did you really roll your suitcases across that beautiful marble floor to get to the elevators!? I would have been terrified to scuff it. Or does the hotel have bellhops at the building entrance?

    One extra thing I would appreciate you mentioning, and which I think everyone struggles with, is when do you tip or not tip? Does Sanjay get a tip on the restaurant bill or is that billed to your room? Do you leave tips for housekeeping or is that forbidden by WA at their hotels? Thanks!

  5. Sherm Guest

    A suggestion for your website layout: now there is so much horizontal bands (header, and multiple ads, and videos...), the usable space for reading is such a long horizontal rectangle. Meanwhile, your content is a vertical triangle, wasting a lot of precious space on left and right sides. For a long post like this, it is especially painful to scroll through all of them on a small widescreen that most laptops use nowadays. Is it...

    A suggestion for your website layout: now there is so much horizontal bands (header, and multiple ads, and videos...), the usable space for reading is such a long horizontal rectangle. Meanwhile, your content is a vertical triangle, wasting a lot of precious space on left and right sides. For a long post like this, it is especially painful to scroll through all of them on a small widescreen that most laptops use nowadays. Is it possible that you can place your header vertically?

  6. Donato Guest

    My eyes appreciate the amount of what appears to be marble. Are the floors in the bathrooms glossy marble? That is a safety concern peeve of mine.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Donato -- Indeed, it was that glossy type of marble. Personally I put a towel on the floor after showering anyway, since I'm a bit clumsy, and that solves the problem. But I do remember it being a bit slippery, now that you mention it.

    2. Donato Guest

      I wonder if there is a cultural difference ex-USA. I have noticed ex-USA marble and glossy marble look floors in bathrooms. I have not seen that in the USA, either legal reasons or I stay in lower class accommodations. The general rule is that glossy is slippery when wet. make no mistake, less slippery will never have the smooth finish and shine of high gloss.

  7. Rob Guest

    Thanks for a great review! During your previous visits (with Ford) to Dubai, have you always reserved a room with a king bed? I’m headed to Dubai with my partner in three weeks and not sure what we should do.

    Also, do tourists wear shorts there?

    Thanks again!

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Rob -- Yep, we've always booked one bed, and have never had an issue of any sort (though we generally stay at western chains that have training and policies regarding how to treat same sex guests). You'll absolutely see shorts in most places, though if you're looking to visit a mosque or select other cultural sights, you may have to wear long pants.

  8. Juan Guest

    What did you think of the hotel’s sense of place?

  9. JetSetGo Guest

    Stayed at Mandarin Oriental in Dubai pre-pandemic. Service was good and hotel room was quite lovely. It's on the beach but away from crowd. Straight shot to the Dubai Mall via Uber/ taxi. Spa is also quite pretty. I would recommend this hotel.

  10. Ian Snowley Guest

    Thanks Ben, you’ve definitely upped the anticipation for our forthcoming first visit to Dubai. We’re starting our visit by staying here - 1st WA for us (Impresario 4 for 3 rate), and the staff have already reached out for arrival info/preferences and the App is showing the same upgrade as you got which looks awesome! We’re also staying at Al Maha and the WA at The Palm, so it will be interesting to compare all three.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Ian Snowley -- Sounds like an amazing trip, enjoy!

  11. Sam Guest

    Highly recommend the FS at JB next time you’re in Dubai. Skyline view rooms are incredible (and less expensive than the sea view), you can see all of downtown and difc from the room. Very fun scene as well with Nammos attached. We sat next to Lindsay Lohan by chance at the other beach restaurant.

  12. Gary Guest

    I hope this is better than the Waldorf Dubai beach property it was a horrible experience no upgrade even though 50% empty iblack water in shower the morning before I left
    With no warning and the compensation they wanted to give was Italian buffet!!!!
    Always dreamed of staying there big disappointment!!!!!

  13. Daniel Guest

    I noticed that on the breakfast meats they don't offer ham is this because it's the Middle East? It's another way of intolerance on their part as a gay man Ben how do you feel supporting me so people that are so intolerant to the gay people and to people who eat ham or pork? There's all kinds of people here who get canceled for being intolerant or the perception of being intolerant I imagine...

    I noticed that on the breakfast meats they don't offer ham is this because it's the Middle East? It's another way of intolerance on their part as a gay man Ben how do you feel supporting me so people that are so intolerant to the gay people and to people who eat ham or pork? There's all kinds of people here who get canceled for being intolerant or the perception of being intolerant I imagine if you went to a city and they were very intolerant towards the gay people or the lgbtq community there would be backlash against it why don't you show any backlash against the Middle East? Thank you for your time

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Daniel -- Correct, you generally won't find pork in the Middle East. As someone who doesn't eat pork, that's one policy that works out for me, since I never have to wonder if there's bacon in anything.

    2. Donato Guest

      I totally do not condone any intolerance or discriminative behavior of any type towards a gay person.
      I do not see food choices as intolerant, at all. It might have to be a long skinny supply chain to support only hotels, not a good idea with perishable food. I am not familiar with Halal rules, it might contaminate other items and be a fiasco in the Food and Beverage department.

  14. Paul M Guest

    Thank you for the tips, Lucky! I hope to visit DXB and this is the exact type of hotel I want to stay at.

  15. Luis Guest

    Almost $15 USD for Heineken???? Are things usually this expensive in Dubai or is this WA just really expensive for F&B?

    1. John Guest

      Alcohol taxed through the roof in Dubai $15 seem about average

    2. Steve Diamond

      Was going to say the food prices seem very reasonable for a hotel of this class but that beer price is insane. Makes sense UAE taxes alcohol extremely high.

    3. GLCTraveler Guest

      Best to hit the Dury Free before leaving the airport for you favorite in room or poolside drinks to soften the shock!! Then your dining beverages can average out things.

    4. RichM Diamond

      And $18 for a cider! Although Thatcher's Gold is excellent cider.....

  16. Malc Diamond

    "... though as you can tell, there are fewer than a dozen rooms were floor." Is there something missing here?

  17. D3kingg Guest

    Outstanding review Ben. I’m certainly going to switch over to this hotel for 80K pts per night plus the 5th night free. I’m currently booked at the Conrad Dubai this fall for 55k pts a night. Even better if I get the AMEX Hilton Honors Aspire. When will I ever have the opportunity to stay at a Waldorf Astoria ? The Waldorf NYC is delayed indefinitely and the hotel will be an afterthought. Focus will primarily be on selling luxury residences.

  18. Andrew Guest

    I stayed in the Conrad Dubai a few years ago, and that by far exceeded any hotel experience I have had. You should give it a try.

    1. Jason Guest

      The Conrad Dubai is every bit as nice as this, but doesnt have the walkability to the Downtown area. Getting a cab is easy though. Where the Conrad outshines this is definitely in the pool setting. The pool setting at the Conrad was spectacular. I've stayed there a number of times and loved it every time.

  19. Mike Guest

    You love the Waldorfs now I disagree with your Amsterdam Waldorf assessment but it's true this one is super nice.
    The base rooms are also super big and luxurious (though to be fair, common in the ME for this to be the case)

    The breakfast is one of my favorite anywhere in the world, and agree the service is really 10/10. When we arrived, they greeted us by name when welcoming us out of...

    You love the Waldorfs now I disagree with your Amsterdam Waldorf assessment but it's true this one is super nice.
    The base rooms are also super big and luxurious (though to be fair, common in the ME for this to be the case)

    The breakfast is one of my favorite anywhere in the world, and agree the service is really 10/10. When we arrived, they greeted us by name when welcoming us out of the uber (they didn't arrange it, so it's not like the Ritz Paris or others where they know which car has which guest) which I can't remember any other hotel doing -- we had never stayed there so they just found our pictures or something.

    The breakfast is my favorite anywhere in the world (at least for hotel breakfasts, free or paid).

    1. Mike Guest

      supposed to be a laughing emoji between "Waldorfs" and "now" in the first sentence, but the blog doesn't like it I guess :)

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

John Guest

Alcohol taxed through the roof in Dubai $15 seem about average

2
Juan Guest

What did you think of the hotel’s sense of place?

1
Steve Diamond

Was going to say the food prices seem very reasonable for a hotel of this class but that beer price is insane. Makes sense UAE taxes alcohol extremely high.

1
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