Dubai is an incredible place. Incredible, in the sense that there is nowhere else like it on earth. Where else would you find a pristine sand beach, complete with camel and berber, nestled against a towering cityscape of glass and steel? Where else would you find a sea with a temperature more akin to a hot bath than an ocean? Only in Dubai.
This was our first visit to the city, but we were in good hands. Staying at the Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, we were just a stone’s throw from said beach (Jumeirah Beach Resort is a great spot if you fancy some natural air conditioning and a swim). On the other hand, a short twenty minute drive down the Sheikh Zayed Road would send us straight into the city’s business district and huge shopping malls. You could almost make out the 2km high Burj Khalifa on the hazy skyline from our 20thfloor Executive Suite.
The hotel itself is in a beautiful part of Jumeirah Beach. By day, there are plenty of air conditioned cafes to seek refuge in, and by night the surrounding streets and marina are lit up in the most beautiful twinkling lights. It is one of the safest cities in the world, but staying in Jumeirah Beach adds another layer of ease and security.
Inside, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach marries signature pared-back styling with a touch of Dubai’s opulence. The lobby is a hub of activity and, in the evening, a secret door opens up to the West Beach Bistro and Sports Lounge. Climb a floor and you are transported to the culinary creations of the Talk Restaurant and Soul Restaurant. The former rotates the menu every evening, offering buffet-style food from all different country of the world. It was slightly surreal scoffing on sauerkraut on Swiss German night, but the quality of food and attention to detail was perfect. The staff were more than helpful to every guest and it was a great balance between formal and causal.
Breakfast each morning was also served in the Talk Restaurant, again buffet style, but as we were staying in an Executive Suite, we also had the option of eating in the Executive Lounge on the 21stfloor. This offered unparalleled views of Jumeirah Beach below and The Palm in the distance. If you are a couple or a solo traveller, it is definitely a great place to relax, and also serves options of light snacks, beverages and afternoon tea throughout the day. We didn’t quite make it to the cocktail evenings (we actually managed to use the onsite gym in the evening which was an achievement), we have it on good word that these are great occasions too.
Now, for the room. If you are able to book into an Executive Suite, or even upgrade, then I would highly recommend doing so. With the sweltering heat and fairly elevated levels of noise, Dubai is certainly more of a “stay indoors” city than anything else. Our room was huge, and the different flowing sections from hallway through to lounge and then bathroom and bedroom certainly alleviated any potential feelings of claustrophobia. The bed was ridiculously comfortable (I would recommend leaving the blackout blinds open and setting a loud alarm so you can actually wake up each morning), and the bathroom was equipped with great amenities and a spacious bathtub. With two balconies, there is also the opportunity to catch some sun in the evenings, although this is a little difficult in summer where the temperature rarely strays below 35 degrees.
As for the extracurricular activities, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach also has a pool, the onsite gym, and a spa within its building. We were booked in for a couple’s massage on our second day, and the level of service and expertise was very high. It would definitely rank as one of the best massage we have had in a long while and was the perfect remedy after the late nigh seven hour flight in from London. The spa is a world away from the chaos outside and is a great place to relax and treat yourself. The pool is also a great benefit of staying at the hotel, but I should note that Jumeirah Beach can be a fairly noisy place at times. Rather than sunbathe to the orchestral sounds of hammer and drills, wait until post-midday when a lot of the construction workers seemingly disappear. This is not a fault of the hotel at all, as Dubai is a very busy place with a lot of people building up into the sky. Anyway, if it all gets too much, just head to your suite or spa.
Rooms at the Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach start from as little as 460AED, and you can save up to 25% on certain rooms if you stay for five nights or more and book in advance here.
