Travel designer Dominika Hüttnerová just returned from Dubai, where she stayed at Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Bulgari Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah resorts and Atlantis The Royal.
Her detailed trip report includes what’s new at these properties, along with her specific recommendations for Dubai holidays in this coming winter season.
Bulgari Resort Dubai
Bulgari Resort Dubai was the best property of my stay. It really suits my style and for me, everything was ten out of ten.
This was my first stay at a Bulgari property and I didn’t have any expectations. I was amazed. The hotel emanates a feeling of luxury and opulence.
Bulgari Dubai also provides real privacy and genuinely feels like a boutique hotel, which is so rare in the emirate.
Strong First Impressions & Superb Service
You don’t stand in a queue or wait for anything here. Upon arrival I was seated and given welcome drinks, while my butler handled all the check in formalities. I was given a Bulgari beach bag with my initials, then later Bulgari luggage tags with my initials.
Communication with my butler was easy, via a call or text. All the villa categories come with a 24-7 butler, who has their own space and working kitchen in the villa.
Overall the attentive staff have a very personal approach. It’s still formal, but so warm and welcoming. The overall atmosphere is very cosy and you never feel like a stranger.
Most impressive was the great sense of privacy, almost everywhere in the hotel. You do see other hotel guests but it never felt crowded and I could comfortably be in my own bubble.
Unique Location
There’s nothing much except for the Bulgari Resort Dubai on Jumeirah Bay island. This certainly helps in providing privacy and exclusivity.
However, you can’t really go anywhere without an Uber or car transfer. The Mandarin Oriental is definitely better if you want more convenient access to the city and different restaurants.
Rooms, Suites & Villas
The entire hotel is dominated by natural light. Rooms are bright and simple with great design.
You don’t have a feeling of being in a hotel room with a bed and two chairs. This was the hotel room that gave me the strongest feeling of comfort and home.
All rooms have good-sized terraces and even the entry-level rooms will be good for most couples. Suites and villas are both larger and cosier, which seems contradictory but shows the quality of design.
Food & Facilities at Bulgari Dubai
This was the only property I inspected to have a fully a la carte breakfast. It’s an all-day breakfast too, you can literally go for breakfast at any time, even 5pm if you wish.
There are two Michelin-starred restaurants on the property. I didn’t try two-star Il Ristorante – Niko Romito but all the feedback suggests an incredible experience.
One-star omakase restaurant Hōseki is currently closed for renovation, as the capacity will be increased from nine to 17 seats. It reopens on October 18th.
I liked the Italian beach restaurant La Spiaggia next to the swimming pool. There are good cabanas around the pool so you can easily change and go from pool to restaurant, without returning to your room.
The spa is basic but also very nice, with this simple and beautiful style that’s consistent throughout the hotel.
My only negative point is the gym, which is too small and could easily become crowded.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Dubai
This contemporary hotel is a long-time favourite of our clients. The location is excellent, on the beach yet close to downtown Dubai.
The service is outstanding. You feel the highly personalised approach from the moment you arrive. The staff always know how and when to approach you – it was faultless throughout my stay.
Overall this is a very strong choice for families and couples visiting Dubai, with very little to fault. Just be careful about your exact room choice.
What’s New at Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah is finishing off an extension. This will increase the size of the beach and they’ve just opened a new beach restaurant with its own cabanas, Casa Amore. It’s a restaurant brand originally from St. Tropez.
The hotel is situated next to the former La Mer South area. I used to live in Dubai and this was one of my favourite places to hang out. It was low key, you could just chill by the beach and enjoy some casual dining.
Now it’s been demolished and replaced by a new project, J1 Beach. This will bring fine dining restaurants, including Zuma, to the beachfront.
A promenade will soon link Mandarin Oriental with J1 Beach, which further increases the good dining options and places to go. You can walk on the promenade or use the resort’s bicycles.
However, even though J1 Beach is scheduled to open this month, it doesn’t look ready. It will be next year before it’s worth visiting.
Rooms & Suites
Rooms are elegant and modern, with beautiful little details that remind you that this is a Mandarin Oriental property.
Entry-level rooms would be big enough for most couples, possibly even a couple with a small child. However, I don’t recommend entry-level rooms as they are located on the lower floors facing Sheikh Zayed Road. You don’t get a good view and they don’t have a balcony.
It’s much better to be in rooms and suites on the higher floors. I stayed in a room facing the sea. Rooms with views over the city are equally impressive so it depends on your preference.
Rooms and suites are positioned next to each other throughout the hotel. This creates a lot of good interconnecting room options for families, up to four bedrooms.
However, it does mean the exact room and suite for your stay is paramount, as a higher category doesn’t automatically result in a higher floor and better view. I will advise you personally on this.
Hotel Facilities
The main outdoor space and pools really impressed me. It’s cleverly designed, so although everything is connected and it can look like one big space, everyone can find their own private space. Each pool has a different water temperature which I really appreciated.
I liked the fitness centre as well, which also has a great view over Sheikh Zayed Road and the city. They have scheduled classes and you can reserve a private training space if you don’t want to work out in the main gym.
Club Lounge and Dining
I really like The Club Lounge on the top floor, which has a great panoramic view over the city. Access is included for all guests staying in suites. For rooms, you can choose whether to add Club Lounge access, even for only one day if you wish.
It’s a cosy lounge that feels like a living room, with nice tables for two by the windows plus more private areas with sofas and lounge chairs.
Every evening they serve two hours of free-flowing drinks, without any menu. The staff just make or bring the drinks you want, along with a changing set menu of light bites. There’s also a small buffet.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah had the best breakfast of my trip. It’s a buffet with a la carte options, everything really high quality. Guests with access can also have breakfast in the lounge.
I visited Tasca, the restaurant by famous Portuguese chef José Avillez. Definitely go up to Tasca to check out the open kitchen and Dubai skyline views, even if it’s just for a drink.
Madinat Jumeirah Hotels
I stayed at Jumeirah Al Qasr and inspected the other hotels in the Madinat Jumeirah complex.
Jumeirah Al Qasr is a very specific property. It can be convenient for some families but I don’t recommend it for couples.
Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf feels like the best option for our clients at Madinat Jumeiah.
Jumeirah Al Qasr
Jumeirah Al Qasr is inspired by a royal Arabian palace and the design is very traditional. It’s nice but certainly not to everybody’s taste.
Entering the hotel you see lots of gold. Blue carpets dominate the rooms. There’s a very strong smell of Arabian perfume which personally I enjoyed, but some people would get a headache.
Jumeirah Al Naseem is an alternative, a similar resort but much simpler in neutral colours. It’s the newest of the Madinat Jumeirah properties and feels more modern too.
The view from my room at Al Qasr was fantastic, looking over the canals towards Burj Al Arab.
However, the overall resort and atmosphere didn’t feel suitable for most of our clients. The breakfast room reminded me of an all-inclusive resort in Turkey, so crowded and noisy. It really wasn’t my vibe.
Maybe it can be suitable for a family on a first-time visit to Dubai, who want the convenience of Madinat Jumeirah and an Arabian Palace experience.
If you do stay here, I recommend taking an a la carte breakfast at the French Riviera restaurant, to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf
Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf offers a more private experience. Although it’s the oldest of the Madinat properties, it’s been recently renovated and feels newer than the others.
I can recommend the summer houses that are located along the canals. These are essentially villas.
The rest of the property is designed a little like Moroccan riads, with multiple rooms and suites sharing one large building, which has nice shared areas to hang out. A host sets up afternoon snacks here.
It’s a low-rise Arabian style mixed with some European sensibilities, in a more secluded and tranquil part of the whole Madinat complex.
You can get around on buggies or in gondolas along the canals, which would definitely be nice for families.
The advantage of all these Madinat properties is convenience, especially for families. You are directly connected to Souk Madinat Jumeirah, with its many dozens of restaurants and lots of things to do for children. And you enjoy complimentary access to Wild Wadi Waterpark next door.
There are several beach clubs nearby and I personally preferred Celeste, which is adults-only and has a great infinity pool.
Atlantis The Royal
This was our team’s third inspection of Atlantis The Royal. Petr Udavsky was one of the resort’s first ever guests from the Czech Republic and Stepan Borovec visited last year too.
Atlantis The Royal feels like a lifestyle property, a great place to hang out for a few days with friends, or a fun weekend with your partner.
The hotel spaces are stunning, the rooms are fabulous, there are many boutiques and restaurants. You won’t be bored or uncomfortable here, just be aware it’s a lifestyle property rather than a relaxing resort.
What’s Changed at Atlantis the Royal
A big important change at Atlantis The Royal is that almost everywhere is now open to non-resort guests. So there were a lot of outside guests all around the property, especially young people going to the restaurants and beach clubs. The lobby is very busy with people coming in and out.
You are experiencing a very happening place, but this does take away any intimacy and personal feeling.
For this reason I highly recommend getting a room or suite with Royal Club Lounge access. It’s definitely worth having this quieter place to hang out for drinks, afternoon tea, light bites and watching the sunset. It feels a little like a cigar lounge in style.
They are now opening a new, bigger Royal Club Lounge, close to reception.
Rooms
You can still feel that everything is very new here, especially in the rooms. I stayed in an ocean facing room, which Petr preferred because it’s very serene. Personally I would have enjoyed a view over the palm and city, as there’s a lot more to see.
Even entry-level room categories are very good here. Each is spacious, with a balcony. The marble bathrooms with gold details impressed me, as did the golden amenities.
The room isn’t something extraordinary, but you can tell everything is new and the subtle Arabian perfume smell is a nice touch.
The Famous Breakfast & Dining Options
I preferred to take breakfast in the Club Lounge. The main breakfast room is amazing, far beyond any breakfast I’ve experienced anywhere.
It takes about 20 minutes just to walk around and explore the options. The operations and organisation is excellent, so you don’t for wait for anything. It’s definitely a unique experience.
However, there are so many people and that’s not how I like to spend my mornings on holiday. I prefer a slow morning, just get a and have a coffee, rather than breakfast in such a happening place.
The dining options at Atlantis The Royal are legendary. Reservations are essential for the iconic Cloud 22 pool and there is a cost, even for hotel guests.
My highlight was Nobu at the Beach, which has an adults-only swimming pool and really nice cabanas, which feel like cosy rooms.
Your Winter Holiday in Dubai
There’s plenty more I can tell you about Dubai right now. I used to live in the Emirate and it was great to go back and see what’s new and what’s changed. And to inspect the different hotels too.
Contact me and I’ll advise you personally about a Dubai holiday.
Dubai Holiday?
Start planning with Dominika
