Dubai City
by Agent Reporter Lora Bolton from Baileys Travel, Leighton BuzzardLe Meridien Mina Seyahi: I received a warm welcome to the hotel’s large reception area, which has a selection of bars and restaurants, and soon realised there were many repeat clients staying at the time.
Bedrooms are large and airy. Sea-view rooms have a large balcony with great views of the Arabian Gulf and The Palm Jumeirah island. Non sea-view rooms compensate by having floor-to-ceiling windows for the inland view.
My favourite restaurant at the hotel was The Dhow, a fantastic seafood restaurant in a boat moored on a walkway.
Other facilities include a kids’ club and separate pool for children, shaded areas and a spa and generally lots of space to relax.
Sample product: Kuoni Travel has seven nights starting at £1,236 per person, including breakfast, return flights and transfers in February 2008.
Best of the rest
Shangri-La Hotel: this is an impressive hotel, offering everything you would expect from a luxury chain with a spa, international restaurants and an infinity pool on the top floor with awesome views.Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa: for first-class accommodation near the Jebel Ali Free Zone, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina and Dubai Internet City, I suggest this landmark golf resort and spa.
Arabian Courtyard: well positioned opposite the Dubai Museum and within a short walk to the Dubai Creek, this hotel has wooden furniture, glass-walled lifts and hospitality to match.
At the beach
by Agent Reporter Jacqui Wieksza of Future Travel
The Fairmont Dubai: the service was very friendly, efficient and effortless. My room was on the 25th floor and was reached by a glass lift with fantastic views of the city. The room had all the features you would expect in a five-star property, as well as small touches including evening canapés to your room and a turn-down service.
The breakfast was out of this world and nothing was missing from the wide range of food available. There was also the Cascades à la carte restaurant, a selection of bars and excellent conference and banqueting facilities. The hotel has two swimming pools (sunset and sunrise), a well-equipped gym and ladies-only spa.
Sample product:Gold Medal has three nights at the five-star The Fairmont for £689 per person, including breakfast, flights and taxes.
Best of the rest
For families:
The Al Qasr: located at Madinat Jumeirah, it has a kids’ club and a private beach. Waterways link all parts of the resort and guests can use free water taxis. There is a souk with 75 shops and the hotel has four-bed family rooms.
For upmarket clients:
The Burj Al Arab: pure decadence – considered to be one of the world’s finest hotels.
Follow this with a stay at the One&Only Royal Mirage and Spa which has a wide choice of sport and leisure activities including tennis, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, diving and snorkelling and is set in 60 acres of landscaped garden.
In the desert
by Agent Reporter Debbie Doyle of First Choice, Shawlands
Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Resort and Spa: this hotel is 28 miles from Dubai city centre and is ideal for customers wanting to get away from it all and enjoy magnificent views of the sand dunes and all the comforts of being in a luxurious resort hotel.
It has a choice of restaurants, rooftop cocktail bar, 24-hour room service and a huge pool. Horse-riding and camel rides are also available and to top it off, the resort has a luxurious spa offering a wide variety of treatments.
Sample product:Emirates Tours has seven nights at Jumeirah Bab Al Shams for £1,209 per person, including return flights, transfers and breakfast in February 2008.
Best of the rest
Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa: the resort is set within 140sq miles of pristine, conserved desert.
Each of the 42 Individual guest suites has a private temperature-contolled swimming pool.
Further information
>>Dubai: city highlights
>>Dubai: on the beach
>>Dubai: in the desert
>>Dubai: future attractions
>>Dubai: getting there
>>Dubai: agent training programme