As a Dubai resident I know the marina and its constant development very well so my initial thoughts when driving to Le Royal Meridien were that there would be cranes, bulldozers and huge clouds of sand rising from the surrounding construction site. And that all this combined would ruin my stay. Well, I’m happy to admit that I was completely wrong.
Dubai is rising so fast that in the past few months since I’d last been to the area the construction had given way to clear roads, defined pathways and a pleasant area to be in. Naturally once you drive up the pathway to the hotel this sense of definition soon gives way to luxury. The beautifully designed entrance way that leads up to the reception area with its smoothly designed and elegant lines complete with delicately coloured marble floors made me immediately feel as if I had entered into a palace. As soon as I met some of the staff they informed me I had a room in the ‘tower’ section of the hotel, where I would have my own private check-in, a cold towel and refreshments on arrival as well as some of the ‘fruit of the day’. This was a fantastic personal touch and the hotel employees performed their jobs excellently with many of them becoming known to me on first name terms over the 24 hours I was there.
The room was superb, stylishly decorated in understated wooden panels and felt like I had just stepped into someone’s ultra-luxurious front room. The video and DVD menu was a great touch with hundreds of films to choose from at the push of a button connecting you to room service, while the bathroom was stocked with a huge array of Hermes bath and shower products just in case you fancy a long soak at the end of a tough working day.
Once fully relaxed and after a long walk around the three swimming pool complex admiring the great setting next to the sea, I decided to venture into the property’s signature restaurant Maya – a real Mexican treat, recognised by many in the city as one of the finest eateries anywhere in the UAE. The service was as good as the food with top advice politely dished out by our server Ming and his team of homemade Guacamole specialists. If you fancy authentic Mexican in the Emirates there is no better place.
Once fed and watered it was time, as they say, to hit the hay and the bed’s extremely thick mattress was one of the most comfortable I have ever slept on. In around 2.5 seconds I was fast asleep and woke up to the noise of a tap at the door. I answered and in walked a keen member of room service with a sumptuous breakfast laid on an expansive wheelie table along with the day’s paper. Never before have I been pampered so much to perfection.
CEO Middle East
thoroughly recommends this hotel.
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