Dubai - Jumeirah Beach Hotel

[DebbieH103]

Any opinions of this hotel? CASHIPman, I saw that you had booked this hotel for you 3/2005 Dubai trip (I don't remember reading a report of that cruise). Our cruise is the December 1-9 one from Dubai to Mubai. We are flying in on the new Delta flight from Atlanta. It gets in at 8:25, so we won't have that long, but we're going for the 4 pm checkout. The ship stays in Dubai until 7 pm on 12/2, so we'll do sightseeing from the ship. On November 30, we just want to enjoy the hotel and maybe the water park or beach. Everything feels a bit rushed. We couldn't leave any sooner than November 29, though.

[CASHIPman]

Hi Debbie...

We did stay at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and it's a great property. This was my 2nd stay there...the first being when it had just opened. The rooms are spacious and the service excellent. There are restaurants to suit all palates. If I recall correctly there's also a shuttle service from the hotel to the souk in downtown Dubai.

 

There's a car rental agency on the hotel's premises and we rented a car and drove to Al-Ain in the Abu Dhabi emirate. It was a nice way to spend a day and it was interesting to see something other than Dubai.

 

The hotel is adjacent to the Wild Wadi Waterpark.

 

The hotel is directly across the causeway from the ultra luxurious Burj al-Arab hotel.

 

I'd highly recommend the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

 

Here's my review of the cruise: Silver Cloud.

 

Enjoy, Debbie!! We certainly did!!

[DebbieH103]

Thanks, Craig for the quick response and interesting report.

 

I've read that not too many places in Dubai or Oman take USD and that it is best to exchange money at the airport. Was that your experience? Are those exchange places open at night, or should we try to exchange here in the US?

 

We have a couple of land-based trips before this one, but this trip is what has me excited. We just love Silversea, and unlike some, we do look forward ot the cabin. We're booked in a medallion, so I am anxious to experience that. We are going to be torn between spending time on the ship and seeing new places. I wish we had enough free time to go on the longer cruises.

[DebbieH103]

Also, I am not sure it will be that warm (more just pleasant than anything, I think) in December, so a waterpark may not be that great. I don't even know if they stay open, but anything that technical and huge has got to be worth and list going into for pics.

[duct tape]

We were just in Dubai on the WC and some friends stayed there for a few days. They thoroughly enjoyed the hotel.

[DebbieH103]

Thanks, Duct Tape. I have only read one negative review, and that was someone who's reservation got fouled up, so they probably started out sour.

 

Any thoughts on the money exchange?

 

Right now, I have only booked one way air to Dubai, as I am trying to decide what day to return from Mumbai. The best choice timewise is to go on Air India and connect to United, but I am wondering about the 2nd week of December in Chicago. This is the only cruise that leaves at 9 something in the am vs. 2 am or some such horror. I tend to overanalyze everthing, and I am anxious to just do somethig and put this on the shelf for a while.

[piri]

Debbie,

You will love this cruise. We stayed at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort pre cruise 2006, and just loved it. We really felt we were in the Middle East and not in a concrete , modern, resort. The weather in December was perfect. We swam daily in the Bab Al Shams wonderful infinity pool (have only before experienced infinity pools overlooking the ocean). This pool, overlooks the vastness of the desert!. Although able to swim every day, we were so comfortable sight seeing. GREAT WEATHER !

Had a wonderful Friday buffet lunch at the Burj. A MUST if you are there on a Friday and love lobster and crab. (The hotel however, is just SO over the top ,so much on the vulgar side it has to be seen .)

Our embarkaion on the Cloud was amazing. It went so smoothly and fast we could not believe it !

Our taxi drove up to pierside, several people arrived. We were told to follow. Were too excited to worry about our luggage and the next minute we were at reception desk with our glass of champas, with not a clue as to where our luggage went or how ! No security checks, no passport checks... amazing. We had early embarkation so were escorted straight to our suite where we dumped a bit of hand luggage, washed hands and headed for a tour of the ship followed by a great lunch in the restaurant.

We enjoyed Dubai as an innovative , modern city, with some fabulous architecture and great forward planning for when the OIL runs out. A super family vacation city.

I won't go into whats further in store for you on this cruise but just to say,

Muscat, Cochin, Sri Lanka and Mumbai wer ALL so wonderful , I can't wait to go back to this area.

Get excited and stay excited until December ! We of course were on the Cloud but the Whisper will be great and can't wait to sail her also.

Please ask any questions you may have. Cheers.

[DebbieH103]

Thanks for the wonderful post. I can't imagine not being excited. We loved our last Whisper cruise and loved our Wind cruise. The only thing I am worried about is that we don't sleep well on the plane. I can do pure adrenalin, but Todd will be jetlagged. Maybe I can bring sominex or something. We don't have a lot of points on Delta, and I didn't want to pay 10k for business class.

 

I love food from this region. Todd doesn't, and I will be more experimental then he will.

 

We do arrive on Friday but late. I think I should have booked arrival one day earlier.

 

We could have done this cruise for much less since verandah had 40% off plus the Venetian and the 2% onboard, but we elected for the Medallion and got a total of 27% off.

 

We loved Whisper and Wind, but we loved having internet in the room on Wind. I think Whisper is getting it in October. I typically use this from 6 to 8 am before Todd gets up, so it isn't like I am giving up my whole day. I love to send live commentary and pics.

 

This itinerary goes to Muscat, Khasab, and Fujairah (sp). I've seen some pics of some breathtaking scenery. So far, Todd is not interested in a desert safari, but I will see how that goes. I do plan to get him on one of the creek boats and to the gold souk and to see a mosque at least.

 

There is a historian coming on our cruise, and I am looking forward to that. I miss the production company shows, but we take advantage of some of the day activities and try to see the show at night since it is 40 min. There is already a 2008 cruise I am interested in back in the Caribbean, but I am trying to hold off booking in case I can't resist something else.

 

My in-laws just booked a 65 night cruise on Holland America all over Austrailia, China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Hawaii, Samoa and some other places. I wish they would discover Silversea, but they are not convinced. Oh, to be retired and free with $$. I can't imagine the incidentals on 65 days on a non-inclusive. If I had my way, I'd be on 3802-3805 on SS since I used to live in Guam and love this region. Sigh.

 

Anyway, I am rambling. Don't hide details for my discovery. I have been spending hours researching this trip.

 

All of you guys have not been commenting about the $$ exchange in Dubai. What do you think?

[piri]

Debbie,

 

The souks in Muscat are great. In my opinion far more fun and more atmospheric than Dubai. Buy lots of frankincence, mir, saffron, and pashmina to take home. Cheaper than Dubai. Bargain hard !

I found the traders in the Souk in Muscat so polite and helpful. For some reason (probably predudice) , I expected quite the opposite.

It is also a very pretty place. I could happily spend a week or two vacation there. Enjoy.

[scandun]

It maybe better to exchange some cash in your local bank, but they do take dollars in Dubai. The exchange rate is almost always fixed: 1 dollar = 3.67 dirham

[DebbieH103]

I bought a ton of curry and saffron in St. Lucia recently. I am not sure I want to bring any home. I haven't used any of what I bought because I never seem to have time to cook. I'm more interested in unusual things and also maybe gold.

 

I got my Cone Nast Traveler today. There is a 2 page mini-article on Dubai. They mention Burj al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Club Resort & Spa and Jumeirah Bal Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa.

 

They also are highly complimentary of Emirates, even in coach. They should be since it cost 3 1/2 times Delta from what I can see.