There are a number of options to get to Auckland from Dubai on a lie flat bed (search results from Skyscanner for travel 4 months in advance, just for comparative purposes):

• Emirates flies direct in under 16 hours but at NZ$6k per seat it’s a bit pricey
• Singapore Airlines stops off in Singapore will get you there in 18 ½ hours for NZ$3.3k
• Thai Airways stops off in Bangkok and does the trip in less than 30 hours for NZ$3k
• China Southern was very reasonably priced at NZ$2.9k with one stop over in their hub in Guangzhou taking 31 hours
• Etihad will get you to take a bus to Abu Dhabi then a stopover in Hong Kong – all up 33 hours and a shade over NZ$5k
• Air China stops off in Peking, taking 33½ hours for NZ$5.5k
• Korean Air takes longer – 37 hours with a stopover in Incheon but a reasonable NZ$4.3k
• Cathay was the cheapest though, less than 28 hours with a stopover in Hong Kong for NZ$2.5k.

In our case (because of Christmas) the search engines were bringing up prices for Cathay of NZ$3.5k pp. I reached out to my travel agent and was surprised that he was able to get it cheaper, coming in at NZ$6.3k all up.

So for our NZ$6.3k (£3.2k/US$4.6k) we’d get

• access to a business class lounge in Dubai
• lie flat beds for 7½hours on CX0738 in one of Cathay’s A330-300 Airbuses
• three and a half hours in one of Cathay’s four lounges in Hong Kong
• another lie flat bed for 11¼ hours on CX0199 in the A350-900.

I figured we’d have to get some sleep with all that lying down!!

So that was the plan… but the universe hasn’t met a plan it can’t derail.

Business Class Check-in Dubai

We rocked up to the Business class check-in at Dubai well and truly early. I figured to maximise our time in the Lounge (free food! free drinks!) we’d try checking in early. Understandably the lady at check-in said that we were too early, so we headed upstairs to watch the planes taking off and to do some work.

We settled for a small snack to tide us over, and then at the appointed hour we headed back down and queued.

We were second in line behind a slim middle aged man, and when they opened both Business class check-in desks we could overhear his conversation. He was apparently irate that he wasn’t able to get a boarding pass for his onward journey – the staff member had first said that it was because the onward flight was full and then changed her story, and that it was because it was too early.

Angrily realising that he was making a scene, he muttered “they’re two different things – which is it?” before heading off up the stairs towards the lounges. The lady serving us said that we’d have to get our onward (HKG-AKL) boarding pass from the transfer desk in Hong Kong.

I was a little uneasy – this was the first time this had ever happened so I wasn’t sure if it was an operational issue or something I needed to worry about. More importantly I didn’t want to worry Ange if it wasn’t needed. So we ensured that we wouldn’t have to collect our luggage in Hong Kong and recheck it and then headed up to the lounge.

Lufthansa Business Class Lounge Dubai

We had a few dirhams left from Dubai, so we stopped off in one of the many souvenir shops just after the security checkpoint and tried to find something worthy of what notes we had remaining. I eventually settled on a couple of toy camels which would use up most of my money, and then we made our way up the escalators and down a seemingly never ending corridor towards the Lufthansa Lounge.

Cathay don’t have enough business class passengers travelling from Dubai to justify having their own lounge, so they have an arrangement with a couple of other airlines to share theirs. Our flight was assigned the Lufthansa one and I was looking forward to showing Ange how Business class passengers were treated (my memories of the United Lounge at Heathrow top of my mind).

I must admit to being a little let down – the spaciousness and facilities from the United Lounge weren’t replicated here. Don’t get me wrong – the comfy chairs with USB and power points at each were better than sitting in a crowded and noisy terminal, but it proved to me that there were lounges and then there were lounges.

We’d made a point of getting there early and it proved a good idea. While there was a very good variety of food available, there really wasn’t a whole lot of it. As the lounge began to fill up we appreciated the opportunity that we’d had on arriving first to sample whatever we liked, as towards the end there wasn’t much of anything!

The food itself was simple but good and the staff were constantly in motion from the kitchens, replenishing the small plates.

We kept one eye on the Departures board at the reception and when our flight showed up as Boarding, we headed down to the gate. I was explaining to Ange as we went that we could afford to wait a bit longer in the lounge as the timings of loading would be dictated by getting all the Economy passengers on. She smiled and explained that she was keen on checking out the seat.

I grinned as we approached the gate and saw the snaking line of passengers waiting to board. Normally such a sight would fill me with dread for the impending wait, and I knew that’s what Ange would be feeling. But the Business class desk was empty and so we barely slowed down and then we were aboard.

Funnily enough, although the First and Business class passengers have their own airbridge, the Business class seats are split across two sections, one up front and the other after the Premium and Economy class airbridge joins the plane.

We were in the second section and so traipsed through the entire other Business section to get to our seats. It would have been quicker to just have used the Premium/Economy airbridge…

The Seat

The seat itself is in a herring bone layout which just means that it’s sitting at an angle. It’s laid out in a 1-2-1 formation and Ange and I were fortunate enough to get adjoining seats, but if you were travelling alone there’s plenty of privacy: the seats are angled away from each other.

The Panel

Tucked away is the command centre of the seat, the panel. Here you find a reading light, a phone/remote control which pops out of the panel and is connected by a retractable cord, the seat control, a UK power point and collection of audio and USB ports.

Cleverly tucked away was a little closet with a fancy set of headphones hanging inside. The inside of the door was mirrored so if you wanted to see if you had any spinach stuck in your teeth after dinner you wouldn’t have to get up to go to the bathroom.

The Amenity Bag

I’d told Ange about the amenity bags that I’d got from Air China and so she was quite looking forward to the goodies and so after an initial inspection of the seat when she couldn’t find them she looked at me quizzically and asked if I knew where they were.

I looked around and couldn’t find them so said that I didn’t know – maybe Cathay didn’t do them? Not long after that the customer services rep came through the cabin handing them out and order was restored.

So, what do you get in the amenity bag?

• travel socks
• eye mask
• ear plugs
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• mouthwash
• restoring mist
• lip gel
• moisturiser

The beauty products, Ange assured me, were a good quality brand (Jurlique) – I wouldn’t know…

The Food

We eat with our eyes. There are a bunch of scientific studies that indicate that food presented well is reported as tasting better. Further studies show that having food with decent cutlery actually makes the food taste better too. Even bearing those two studies in mind, I still think that the food in Business is better than that in Economy. But I’m open to it being all psychological.

The Bed

The mere fact that you are fully reclined makes sleep possible for me. And that means a lot. The Cathay seat on the A330-300 has a cubby at the end of the bed where tall people put their feet, so that does restrict movement a little when you’re fully stretched out.

Apart from that, the seat/mattress is comfortable enough and the duvet is particularly nice. Even with the seatbelt on it is possible to find a couple of comfortable positions.

Hong Kong

Still a bit groggy from the flight, we made our way off the flight. Being very near the door for the Economy airbridge we were pretty much first off and headed towards the terminal.

I kept repeating “Transfer Desk, Transfer Desk” to myself so that I wouldn’t forget and end up on the streets of Hong Kong, but I needn’t have bothered.

A pair of Cathay staff were waiting for us just inside the terminal with a sign with our names on it. We identified us and they walked us to the Transfer Desk but I was a little worried that they had felt the need to ensure that we made it to the Transfer Desk.

We soon found out why.

“I’m very sorry sir, your flight is full in Business Class and you have been selected for moving to economy class.”

Oh wow I thought, this sucks – I guess this is what happened to the other guy in Dubai and why we weren’t able to get boarding passes printed.

“We’ll give you compensation for swapping you to Economy sir”. I look over at Ange – this was supposed to be her Christmas present!

Uh, is it possible to get us in business class on a later flight? I ask. The lady behind the counter looks uncomfortable and says that as it’s Christmas time all the other flights to Auckland are full. I’m tempted to say that’s fine, we’ll wait (expecting them to pick up the tab for a hotel room while we wait) but the fact that it’s only a week before Christmas makes me reconsider – getting home together in time for Christmas is slightly more important than travelling business class.

“We of course will offer you compensation” repeats the lady behind the counter, reading out some numbers. I plug them into my foreign exchange converter and it comes to $400. “That’s each” she says, beaming. I frown at her – that’s a bit of a slap in the face – bumping us down to Economy and then offering a pittance. She seems taken back, as if we should be very happy for the offer, and tells us that the amount they’re offering is the difference between the last minute Business Class fares on this leg and the last minute Economy seats.

One of the other staff at the Transfer desk comes over and asks how essential it is that we travel in the same cabin. I look over at Ange and she shakes her head – images of splitting the time in Business Class fleetingly pass through my mind.

What about Premium Economy I ask? Do you have two seats there? A quick look through the computer tells us that there’s nothing available there.

The team leader chats with our original staff member and comes over with a piece of paper. This is the amount we’re offering you she says and I look down. There are more numbers there than previously mentioned and I plug these into the Foreign Exchange app on our iPhone. My eyes widen. The original lady had put the decimal point in the wrong place.

The amount of Hong Kong Dollars that they are offering in compensation translates to close to NZ$8,000 – close to NZ$2k more than what we’d paid for the complete trip for both of us.

I nod, now understanding their reaction and ask if we can have a minute to discuss the offer.

Our first choice would, of course, be to do the Business Class trip, but if we rolled the dice and gambled on there being a pair of cancellations in Business class between now and Christmas, then we may end up stuck in Hong Kong, especially if there were no available Economy seats!

Better to take the money and run – a totally free Business Class experience from Dubai to Hong Kong might be worth the misery of Economy for 12 hours to Auckland. Maybe. I apologised to Ange and said that I guess it was only half the Christmas present I had promised, but she was good about it.

Begrudgingly we agreed. We were allowed in the Business Class Lounge while we waited, and at the last minute they would see if anyone was a no-show in Business Class. If there were two no-shows in Business, they would give us those seats, but otherwise they would give us envelopes with HK$ in them and two boarding passes for Economy class seats. They’d try to give us exit row seats.

The Wing: Business Class Lounge in Hong Kong

The circumstances tainted the lounge experience at Hong Kong, which was a pity. Cathay has four business class lounges at Hong Kong, and we were directed to The Wing, which was an airy, spacious collection of comfortable couches and work areas. In addition to the standard array of food and beverages that the Lufthansa lounge had offered in Dubai, it also offered a Noodle Bar where chef’s would make you your noodles to your liking.

If we’d been heading home in luxury, I would have been nudging Ange and saying annoying things like “this is more like it, aye?”, but as it was it felt more funereal. Like we’d won the reverse lottery.

As our flight time approached I started heading up to the counter at reception to enquire what time we should head down to the gate. I kept getting told to come back in twenty minutes. I guess they wanted to ensure they’d had every opportunity for someone to be a no-show and get them off the hook for the compensation payment.

The flight now said “Final Call” and as I headed up to the receptionist she beckoned me over and proceeded to count out the Hong Kong dollars, and to get me to sign a form to show that I had received the cash.

Beep! Beep!

Then we were sent downstairs where a golf cart was waiting to whisk us across the terminal to our gate. I’ve seen people using the carts before in other airports and always thought they were for those who were too confused to navigate the airport, or too large or old or had mobility issues.

It was a novelty for me to be on one: I loved it and had to take a time lapse of it: apparently they’re not allowed to take the carts on the travelators – my argument that it would make the trip quicker didn’t sway our driver at all. Maybe next time…

There was only a small line waiting for boarding – most passengers were well and truly aboard by that stage, and while we weren’t last on, there were only a few people behind us.

We had managed to get seats by the emergency exit, and on the Airbus A350-900 this means that there was room enough to really stretch out.

It’s a double edged sword though, as most people used that area as a waiting spot for the toilets. It also means that instead of an entertainment screen which is on the back of the seat in front of you, it folds away into the arm of the seat, and you can’t use it during take off and landing.

Food

OK, so there was no napkins or tablecloth like we got in Business, and the cutlery was plastic and not metal, and the presentation was in plastic containers, but the food itself was OK. Probably not quite as nice as in Business, but still perfectly edible.

Sleep Would Be Good

After the light meal, they dimmed the cabin lights and people tried to sleep as best they could. Dozing was probably the best I could do – I’m 6’4″ (193cm) and there’s usually no neck support on airline seats for me, but I was surprised that Ange wasn’t able to do better sleep-wise.

For her it’s the noise of the engines and sitting upright. We hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep on the first leg from Dubai (maybe because of the excitement of being in Business Class?) and so the next twelve hours were pretty hellish.

We’d gotten maybe two or three hours sleep on the Dubai – Hong Kong leg, spent three and a half hours in Hong Kong at the lounge and that was all after a full day in Dubai, so we were struggling with maybe three hours sleep over a forty hour period. I don’t know about Ange but I was pretty ratty towards the end there.

Mercifully, eventually, the cabin lights came back up and thoughts turned to breakfast. I find that sleep deprivation can be countered to a certain extent by maintaining blood-sugar levels, so I figured things would be better after breakfast. I hadn’t considered that every man and his dog would now need to use the toilets and decide to congregate right beside us. Sigh!

Arrival

Despite having an exit row seat, the emergency exit precluded a view outside, so we didn’t get to recognise landmarks as we approached Auckland, but they did have cameras in the body of the plane so that you could follow the progress as we got closer.

The hot breakfast of sausage and omelette made me feel almost human, and I guess the excitement of finally being home also added to the ability to think and operate.

Once we landed and taxied to the terminal, we waited to be allowed to depart. I tried not to think “if we were in Business class, we’d be off by now”, and instead concentrated on the fact that the Business class passengers would be waiting for the luggage at the same conveyor belt that we would be soon enough!

Getting Bumped

So this is the bit where I wax lyrical about how getting bumped from Business class was the best thing that could have happened and it gave me a greater appreciation for when I do travel in premium classes. Bullshit. I wanted to share the experience of travelling Business class with Ange plus get some sleep on the flights and I paid for it, so despite a getting sizeable chunk of cash back, I didn’t get what I really wanted.

I checked in with my travel agent to see what the story was. He told me that airlines overbook Business as well as Economy and they get to decide who they bump. It happens: deal with it.

I then did a little research and found some truly alarming stories of different airlines not being quite so generous with their compensation offers – in fact European Union law says that airlines only have to give a compensation amount equal to:

• For short-haul flights of less than 1,500km, you will receive 30% of the price of the flight.

• For medium-haul flights of 1,500km – 3,500km, or flights within the EU of more than 1,500km, you will receive 50% of the price of the flight.

• For long haul flights of more than 3,500km, you will receive 75% of the price of the flight.

  It is likely you will only receive a refund for the portion of your journey that was downgraded. For instance, if you booked a return ticket for £1,000, but were only downgraded on the return leg, your reimbursement may be calculated as a percentage of £500.

So, I must admit that after I got over the disappointment of getting downgraded, I think Cathay’s compensation policy was possibly the best I could have expected.

The post Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class Dubai to Auckland (Bumped!) appeared first on etrip.tips.

It’s important to compromise when you’re travelling with someone else, so when Ange suggested we break up our trip home to Auckland from London with some time in Dubai, I was all ears. I normally have one speed when travelling: trying to see as much as possible, but as we were attempting to get rid of jetlag, it kind of made sense to approach things a little differently.

The idea was to spend the first day catching up on sleep, the second lazing in the sun by the pool, the third doing the hop-on hop-off bus, the fourth the Burj Khalifa, with the fifth spent at a water park ……a gradual increase in activity.

We’d found some super cheap flights on Pegasus Airlines – Turkey’s answer to EzyJet which unfortunately got into Dubai’s International Airport Terminal 2 at 3am. Terminals 1 & 3 are on the south side of the airport while Terminal 2 is on the north side – with no public transport between the two.

We were a bit worried about there being no taxis there when we arrived but our online research indicated that this wouldn’t be a problem.

The fleet of taxis waiting at the taxi rank backed that up but one word of warning – the guy at the front of the line who directs you to your cab will offer you a special taxi – it’s only a little nicer but will definitely cost you a lot more, so bear that in mind.

Stick to your guns if you want the regular taxi and if you prefer a female driver be sure to let them know, they have slightly different coloured cars but the price is the same.

Day One

A very short cab ride later (most of the cost was due to the AED25 Airport pickup) we arrived at the Le Meridien which is basically opposite Terminal 1. We’d paid for two nights because we wanted to hit the bed straight away on arrival at 4am and couldn’t find anyone offering that much of an early check in. We were happy with our room and got a good catch up on sleep and some pool side relaxation.

Day Two

The next day we checked out and headed to our next hotel. The schedule called for lazing by the rooftop pool and The Savoy Crest Apartments certainly delivered the goods. We ordered food to have in the cabana area and were impressed with what we got.

Day Three

The following day we checked in to the Park Regis Kris Kin and then went out to start our tour of Dubai on the Hop On Hop Off buses. We spent all day on the buses going from Deira all the way out to the Dubai Mall and then beyond to the Palm before heading back.

You really get an appreciation of the city – both in terms of its size and character with its precincts of skyscrapers and otherworldly construction.

Day Four

Burj Khalifa

The following day was activity day – starting at the Dubai Mall for a trip up the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world. We could have splurged for ticket to the top but couldn’t justify the additional cost.

For the money we spent I think  it was good value. Going early there wasn’t too much of a queue and the views were suitably stunning. The ability to get outside on the viewing terrace was cool and there was even a VR experience which, while not running, showed that they were looking to expand the experiences available to visitors.

There was an undercurrent of trying to separate tourists from their money though. Photographers were everywhere taking professional photos of visitors and I can see why – it’s really hard to take good photos.

The subject tends to be in the shadow inside the building, while the outside is bathed in the harsh Dubai sunlight making the visitors in darkness or else the outside washed out and without detail.

I could see that they would want an arm and a leg for the photos so pushed (gently) past.

After departing the viewing floors through the gift shop and then descending in the lift and leaving, again through another gift shop, we headed back towards the Dubai Mall. As we made our way through the Mall we saw some pretty cool art (waterfall divers, colourful umbrellas and a replica moon).

An ice skating lesson featuring a harness for the jumps was taking place in the indoor ice rink, and there was an indoor souk compete with plastic camel.

We forgot that our Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket allowed us free entry into the Aquarium at the mall, but just the size of the glass wall was impressive enough!

Dhow Boat Tour

We then jumped back onto the Hop-On Hop-Off bus and headed back into Old Dubai. Our ticket did include a free hour long cruise up Dubai Creek on a Dhow, so we waited beside the dock in the sun for the dhow to make its way back.

We’d timed it well – and fifteen minutes later the dhow hoved into view. On board, we bought some nuts and a delightfully minty lemonade from Switzerland which reminded me of the Virgin Mojito I’d had at the Savoy Crest.

The cruise up and down the creek did not take long and apart from the call to prayer reverberating across the city and examining the other boats on the harbour, the hour passed without too much excitement. I must admit that it is a relaxing way of seeing the city from a different perspective.

Upon our return we elected to disappear into the souks on the northern bank of the creek. We were lucky that it was a holiday and so the aggressive touts were not in evidence, but the gold, spices and perfumes were still around and evidence of the days when this area was where the goods arrived from all over the known world.

Dubai Metro

Rather than wait for the bus and go the long way back we decided to try Dubai’s Metro and head under the river back towards the Burjuman Mall and our nearby hotel. This went surprisingly well with the ticket machines easy to operate and the stations big, bright and clean.

When we came down the escalator to the platform we noticed that there were three sections marked out: the front of each train was the Gold section for people who wanted big comfortable seats. The Pink section was women and children only with an AED100 fine for any men caught in the section.

An older male tourist was amusingly right in the middle of it peering myopically up at the station map while being ignored by everyone around him. And then the last of the sections was the regular section.

The metro is automatic and before long we were getting off at Burjuman and grabbing a quick bite to eat at the local Tim Hortons (a Canadian coffee chain). A wrap for Ange and a burger for me, and another iced mint drink – we can’t get enough of it, we resolve to try and make it ourselves when we get back to Auckland.

We picked up our luggage from the hotel and headed out towards the desert to our next hotel, the Ibis Styles Dragon Mart. Travelling out of the centre of Dubai gave us a different view of the city – more in touch with how the locals live away from the glitz and glamour of the high rise skyscrapers.

Out near the outskirts the buildings were low slung one and two story affairs which carpeted the sandy landscape in every direction.

Day Five

The following morning we grabbed a cab and headed to our final hotel, Atlantis The Palm. We took advantage of the free access to the Aquaventure Waterpark and exhausted ourselves on the rides there.

Day Six

The following day we used up what remained of our three day pass on the Hop-On Hop-Off bus and did the Yellow Route which visited Dubai Marina.

And then after lunch it was sadly time to make our way to the airport. We grabbed a cab from the hotel to the nearest metro station and then decided to upgrade ourselves to the Gold section for the trip to the airport.

It turns out that the Gold section is at the back of this train so I take some hyperlapse video out the back windows and enjoy the view of the skyscrapers.

We’d just picked up someone who looks like a ticket inspector at one of the stations and as we pull away, Ange asks for the bottle of water and takes a swig.

The ticket inspector decides that second to turn around, spots the drinking and tells her that there is no eating or drinking on the metro and then repeats her admonishment to the rest of the carriage at a louder volume.

I then look up and notice above Ange’s head there is a sign saying there’s an AED100 fine for eating or drinking onboard. Ooops!

The train pulls into the airport without further incident and we manage to get all our luggage to the check in desk. Even more importantly we’re pretty much over the jetlag by day six of our stopover, and ready to face the next leg of the trip: Dubai – Hong Kong – Auckland.

The post Dubai for 5 Nights 6 Days: The ‘Beat Jetlag’ Stopover appeared first on etrip.tips.

There are four bus routes  servicing different parts of the city (red=historic, blue=modern, yellow= Dubai Marina, pink=The Palm) and, unlike some of the tours we’ve been on (Nice), the commentary is interesting and adds to the experience.

• Tickets: one day AED250, three days AED300, seven days AED350
• How often: every 30mins
• Runs from: 9:00 to 18:00 (depends on route: last access is usually 17:30)

In addition you get free access to the Dubai Mall Aquarium, along with a free hour long ride on a Dhow up Dubai Creek.

The seven day pass gives you even more freebies including a 60-minute Palm Jumeirah Cruise.

Best of all you can use the onboard WIFI to live stream or upload your photos immediately – always handy to get them off your phone or camera to free up space for more. Especially with the futuristic skyscraper shots you can take from street level!

City Sightseeing Dubai supported our Dubai trip by providing a complimentary three day pass. All opinions remain our own.

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I went on a cruise around the Med. The experience was tainted a little by the cruise ship operator who had set everything up to try to get you to spend more money. From the first step onto the ship where they attempted to get you to upgrade to a drinks package, or spend more to get an internet package which would allow you to use the sites you wanted to, it was a pretty consistent culture of up-selling.

Staying at the Atlantis The Palm was a little like that too.

We had arrived early to try and maximise our time there and the receptionist was all smiles as he checked us in. First of all he checked if this was a special event for us – an anniversary perhaps? I looked at Ange, sensing a trap. No, no special occasion, I said.

He looked disappointed and said he’d check to see if our room was available early and would we like to upgrade to an all inclusive package including all meals and drinks while we were there? I did the maths in my head and worked out the package was £100 so politely declined.

Aha, he said, passing over my check-in form. If you can just fill this in. I noted that it had the room number already filled in. I have an upgraded room available now if you’d like to pay a little extra, or you can wait for your room to be ready? I figured that if they had already written the room number on the form then surely it had to be available now. But I certainly wasn’t willing to pay to check-in early, so again, politely told him that we’d be happy to do some work in the foyer until the room was ready.

Ah, if you’d like to wait over there sir, I’ll see if the room is ready. A second later – ah yes sir, the room is ready now and if you’d like to head up we’ll send your luggage up immediately. On our way up to our room Ange asked me what all that was about.

I’d figured it out – if you want to check-in early the song and dance about upgraded rooms would establish whether you would be willing to pay extra to get into the room or not. It cost them nothing but allows them to get payment from people who were willing to pay to get in.

Room

We made the lengthy trek down the boulevard of high fashion shops towards the lifts and then up nineteen floors to our room. We were maybe three floors from the top of the building and had views back across the Palm towards Dubai Marina. Atlantis The Palm sits on a manmade outcrop of sand called The Palm Jumeirah which features numerous 4 and 5 star hotels.

I thought that a sea view would be better, but Ange noted that there would be nothing to see whereas looking back out at the city was certainly interesting. Hard to argue with that!

The room was quite spectacular. There was a solid desk, a balcony with table and chairs. The bed was separated from the bathroom by sliding shutters, so you could easily sit in the enormous bath while chatting with someone lying on the bed. A dual head (rain forest and handheld) shower enjoyed its own cubicle and a pair of robes hung behind the door.

We didn’t want to stay in the room for very long as we wanted to take advantage of the neighbouring water slide park: Aquaventure! One of the reasons for staying at the Atlantis was the deal that they had: free access to the theme park for guests! I didn’t know if that meant both days of an overnight stay, or just one, but I didn’t want to waste any time staying in the room!

The regular cost of the tickets was about £55 per person (USD75), so the £262 spent on the hotel room would be well worth it even if we only were able to go the one day.

Aquaventure Waterpark

On the way down the lift we got chatting with an Australian lady who asked if we were going to go on the “Leap of Faith”. We expressed our ignorance and she said it was one of the rides and that we shouldn’t let the name of it put us off – her six-year-old had done it, so how scary could it be?

We made our way past the aquarium and past more upmarket boutiques and security guards towards the entrance to the theme park. We got free towels and access for being guests, but had to pay for lockers. I elected to pay for small lockers to save money, and was a little nonplussed when the cashier merely made a note on her computer and then sent us in.

I expected a key or something but apparently all that was needed was the note on her computer to add the service to the barcode on the sticker around our wrists. Then when we got into the changing rooms I couldn’t get my selected locker to open until I realised that the blue-grey one I was attempting to open was one of the bigger ones and I should be trying to open a green one. Sigh.

Changed and ready to go, I strapped the GoPro to my head and we climbed the first tower. There were six rides on the first tower (we didn’t get to the second tower at all) and headed for one of the easier rides, The Stinger.

After that we did the Leap of Faith where there was a lengthy line. After maybe fifteen minutes we got the the front and I made Ange go first. She bravely went on it, though she was extremely apprehensive, and then it was my turn.

To tell the truth you don’t get to see much as the water sprays straight into your eyes (and that’s pretty much all the GoPro picks up as well!) but it consists of a near vertical drop followed by a section inside the shark tank and ends in a plunge in the pool at the end. You don’t get to see much of the wildlife and the you don’t spend much time able to see the initial drop so we decided we wouldn’t return to that one.

This is a video we took of what the actual ride looks like from a distance.

We went on all of the rides in the tower and my favourite was the one that went through the shark tank at a much more sedate pace. You could really get a good view of the rays and sharks and other fish as they swam in the tank around you.

This is what it looks like from the viewing window.

After a brief stop for lunch, we continued with our waterpark fun. After the rides end, most of them delivered you into an outer ring which was like a river with sections of rapids where photographers would take your photo and scan your barcodes.

This was in order to sell you the photos later. Funnily enough there were signs inside the park saying that you could get all the photos for the day for only AED 50 (£10), but that you had to sign up for the deal before you entered the park!

Without the deal, the costs were exorbitant. TripAdvisor reviews were scathing on the cost of them. Anyway, amongst the river section was a part which released a whole bunch of water like a surf wave and the figure eight inflated rings bobbed along, almost catching it like a surfboard. All great fun.

The park closed at dusk, which, in this part of the world was 6pm. We left and headed back to the hotel via the beach. As we approached, we saw a sea lion being packed away into a golf cart and driven off. As we got closer we noticed a sign saying you could pay to get your photo taken with the seal lion. Other paid upgrades on your experience were swimming in the shark tank and swimming with the dolphins, but we elected to pass on these and headed back to the room.

Food

After all that exercise we were ravenous, so we ordered room service. We weren’t too sure how big the meals were so we hedged our bets and we got a pizza, the kid’s salmon and a dessert to share. The pizza was a good option and they very kindly gave us two desserts, so we didn’t have to wrestle for the last morsel!

We’d been keeping abreast of the weather forecasts and when “Lightning Storm” started to show up we were a little worried. Apparently it’s dangerous going on water slides in lightning storms so we were naturally worried that the theme park would close if one hit. Relieved that that had not occurred we were therefore intrigued as to what the lightning storm would look like at our elevated altitude. While we were eating we left the curtains open to see if we could see the clouds rolling in.

The cloud wasn’t dramatic like elsewhere, and there was no discernible thunder, but lo and behold there was lightning in the clouds above the city back on the mainland. We watched between mouthfuls as a muted show was put on – no sizzling arcs of lightning strikes, just flashes of light behind clouds.

Spa

After dinner it was still early so we decided to check out the spa situation. I didn’t really want to parade through reception dressed only in a robe, so we decided to see if we could find another way to the spa. A quick word on the hotel layout: The Palm is built around an arch which frames the central trunk of the Palm majestically.

Under the arch is the reception lobby and two arms stretch out on either side, with the rooms built up on either side of the gap. On the top of the gap are more rooms. I had hoped we’d be able to go up from our room and find  way of going over the top of the reception area and down the other side. And so we headed out, dressed in dressing gowns and slippers. Ange delighted to actually find hotel slippers which fitted, and me with the familiar shuffle of a size 13 foot jammed into a size 10 slipper.

And so we went up a floor, then along to the end of the corridor. Only to find that, like our floor, the corridors from east to west wing did not join up. And the next floor didn’t either. In desperation we went to the top floor and again, no magical corridor alleviating us of the discomfort of traipsing through the crowds shopping at Luis Vuitton and Hermes dressed only in our gowns and swimwear.

So down the lifts we went, and along the shopping boulevards we traipsed, through the reception lobby and down the other side until we reached the spa facilities.

Like all the other spa facilities we’d seen in Dubai, these were split by gender. In the male ones was a very nice changing area along with a waiting room with comfortable chairs.

The facilities themselves were a jacuzzi, a steam room and a sauna with a common area with eight large marble chairs, each heated so that you needed a towel to lay on top of them so you wouldn’t burn yourself. There were a few other people taking advantage of the facilities but overall there was a good sense of privacy so that you could relax.

After our agreed time, I got changed and met Ange back in the lounge area and we compared notes. Apparently the jacuzzi in the male spa was nicer but apart from that they were much of a muchness. It would have been nice to share the experience but cultural norms prohibited this.

We headed back to the room and slept well – the exercise at the theme park and the spa’s heat making us nice and relaxed.

Breakfast

In the morning we ordered room service breakfast and split a continental breakfast between us. There was enough toast and fruit to ensure we both had enough and it didn’t break the bank. Our meals certainly came to less than the offered meal package!

 After breakfast we checked-out and the staff member behind the desk ensured that we could keep the room card (obviously disabling it so we couldn’t return to the room) so that we could still use it to go to the theme park and aquarium. I thought this was a brilliant step which instantly doubled the value of staying at the hotel.

The aquarium was about £20 each and an additional day at the theme park would be another £55 each meaning that we were getting £260 of access for our £262 room cost.

So we headed down to the aquarium and had a look around. The Atlantis theme was pretty cool, with almost steampunk styles with lots of brass. But the pride of place was obviously the fish tanks – and the big one the most impactful.

We saw someone swimming in it, laying out some floats presumably for some guest interactive experience, and having a human swimming around in the tank really allowed us to appreciate the scale of the tank and the sheer number of fish.

We decided in the end not to go back to the theme park and do the other tower, instead using up our Hop-on Hop off bus tours tickets, and we arrived back at the hotel, hungry but not willing to pay hotel prices for lunch.

Instead we found a burger caravan on the beach, just outside the hotel. A hidden treasure, which seemed to be run by an Indonesian family offering burgers and related fast food. We established that they took credit cards and then ordered, enjoying the sun and the view out to sea as we waited for our burgers.

When they arrived they were worth the wait (though I think Ange got the better choice): I thoroughly enjoyed my classic burger (they added sautéed onions for no extra cost) while Ange did well with her BBQ burger. We finished it off with onion rings and a ginger lemonade. Delicious. Check out the menu.

Afterwards we returned to the hotel and collected our luggage and caught a taxi to the airport. The taxi bay was a chaotic area, with taxis swooping in, guests and luggage going one way, vehicles going the other, and a steady stream of luggage trolleys going to and from the reception area.

A small delay as we sought a taxi which accepted credit cards (we were trying to avoid getting cash out) was thwarted when none did and so necessitated a trip back inside to get more Dirhams out from the hotel ATM. Never mind – more to spend at the airport duty free shops, and then we were away.

Pros and Cons

Would I return?

There’s a whole other tower at Aquaventure we haven’t visited yet, so yes definitely. The hotel is a destination in and of itself, so it’s not near anything, but it has all the facilities you need and you don’t have to break the bank eating there either!

The post Review of Atlantis, The Palm: Dubai Hotel on The Palm Jumeirah appeared first on etrip.tips.

Ange had stayed in two other Ibis’ in the UK, Nottingham and Leicester City, so she was interested to see how this one compared. Her general consensus was “A lot bigger!” and with 251 rooms set over 7 floors, a cavernous foyer and large restaurant area, this Ibis is certainly very spacious.

Location

Everything in Dubai does tend to be on the larger size. Case in point, the Dragon Mart malls are the two huge shopping malls that cater to the local population adjacent to the Ibis. In contrast to the Mall of the Emirates, Mercato Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Burjurman, Dubai Mall et al, these two malls don’t have the designer stores and high end fashion stores. Instead they contain everything else that the local populace need. Everything from housewares, to carpets, including some of the most interesting lighting displays I’ve seen. The sheer volume of retail ensures that the mall taxi service of electric golf carts are always in use.

Being so far out in the dessert makes the Ibis a better option for staying if you’re going to explore some of the more action based activities that Dubai has to offer: it’s twenty five minutes by car to the Camel Racing, and about the same to the Welcome Sky Travels Desert experience.

Room

Our room is a good size, as is the bed. We overlook the highway and in the distance is the flight path for the Dubai Airport, allowing us a view of various jumbo jets coming in to land. The insulation is good though: no road (or airplane) noise gets through. A flat screen TV sits on the wall above a small desk, highlighting the fact that while this is not a luxury hotel, it’s still perfectly serviceable.

Dragon Marts

We headed off to have a look around and only get halfway through the original Dragon Mart before admitting defeat. It’s sharped like a Chinese Dragon and handy maps identify the general layout in order to navigate entrances and exits, there’s also a handy guide as to what sections sell what.

The tourist malls are multi level buildings with the shops clustered in antiseptic rows separated by huge aisles. Here, it feels more organic. There are back alleys and a wide range of shop sizes. I recognise none of the brands and I get the feeling that any price tags are mere starting points for haggling. There are more people shopping here and they are all locals – it just feels more real – less touristy and more authentic.

We then head to the second Dragon Mart – this one adjacent to the Ibis and with its very own entrance from the hotel. This one is a curious combination of a touristy mall and Dragon Mart 1.

Shops opening out onto huge aisles and multiple stories accessed by escalators greet us, and a scale replica of a red London double-decker bus takes children around the various toy stores on the ground level.

But the mall is strikingly empty and only half the shops have staff or are open. It’s almost as if everyone has decided to stay in Dragon Mart 1 despite the new mall opening.

We get halfway along the mall before deciding to turn back for dinner but apparently at the other end there is a cinema and food court.

The company which operates the malls have big plans – the precinct is earmarked for another four malls, all within walking distance of the Ibis making this hotel particularly well positioned!

Restaurant

The restaurant at the hotel offers a Middle Eastern buffet on Thursdays and a fish buffet on Wednesdays. The fish buffet looks like such good value I’m disappointed that we can only get the Middle Eastern offering.

But when we do head down we are truly spoiled for choice. There is a great selection of both Middle Eastern and Indian inspired dishes along with more Western desserts.

The staff are attentive and we enjoy the fact that there are not too many people dining when we’re there – more due to us being so early I think. I particularly enjoy the samosas and the deep fried fish bites, but the black forest gateaux is really the piece de resistance.

The next morning we’re back in the restaurant for breakfast and there are much more people there – and again the buffet has something for everyone. There’s everything you’d expect from a continental breakfast like: cold cuts of meat and cereals and breads, along with a non-pork selection of cooked meats like chicken sausages and turkey bacon.

My favourite is the omelette station, beside which is the waffle and pancake selection. I get the fried egg instead of an omelette and end up going back up for second helpings of waffles and pancakes with maple syrup. So good!

There’s a fleet of taxis out the front of the hotel and after we check out we find one that accepts credit cards and head off.

Pros and Cons

Would I Return?

I think I would – the Ibis is particularly attractive to people with business at the Malls or as a jumping off point for activities in the desert. So if any of that applied I would not hesitate to stay again.

The Ibis Styles Dragon Mart supported our Dubai trip by providing a complimentary stay. All opinions remain our own.

The post Review: Ibis Styles Hotel Next to Dragon Mart Malls appeared first on etrip.tips.

We try to check in early at the Park Regis Kris Kin and discover that due to a misspelling of my name that there is a slight delay in being able to gain access to the room. While we wait for the reservation to be sorted, we watch the bustle and flow of the other guests checking out and making their way to the ground floor restaurant for breakfast.

Given the handy location – equidistant between two Metro stations and handy to the Burjuman Shopping Centre, it’s no wonder that so many guests enjoy the 5 star Park Regis.

Eventually the reservation is found and we’re informed that the room is actually available immediately, so we head up without delay. Ange moves to take her suitcase but the staff are adamant about taking it up so we demur and allow them to provide us with the welcome service.

On the way to the lifts I notice that they had gone all out on the Christmas decorations – a very interesting choice in a Muslim country where a significant portion of the clientele seem to be from the Indian sub-continent. I guess a holiday season is a holiday season!

Room

We head to our room on the 13th floor and are pleasantly surprised. It’s a substantive size and includes an executive desk along with comfortable chairs and a table.

The windows provide views over the roofs of the neighbouring buildings and I’m fascinated by the patterns that the air conditioning units make – necessary in the summer when the temperatures reach 50°C (122°F)!

We’re impressed by the pillow menu allowing you to select the pillow combination that you prefer – you don’t get that sort of thing everywhere! The bed is big enough for three and is very comfortable.

The bathroom has Eco-botanics toiletries and a shower over a bath. A lovely marble vanity unit holds the sink but there is a background sound of Christmas music that comes out of a speaker in the ceiling. I go over to the main control unit for the lights and stab at buttons but can’t see how to turn the noise off. Oh well, hopefully it’s off when we get back from our Hop on – Hop off bus trip.

Restaurant

When we come back, we head up to the restaurant on the 19th floor. Half the floor is a restaurant and the other half is a wine bar, but the restaurant had been booked for a private function so we head to the wine bar.

We selected a window side seat with views out towards the Burj Khalifa but moved when we figured the table wasn’t really conducive to eating. Although it was a wine lounge, they still had a reasonably good menu, so before long we’d selected some starters and had a look around the clientele.

A pair of well dressed European couples were starting their night early with slightly impossible to ignore conversations comparing Dubai with Sharjah (one of the other Emirates, just north of Dubai on the other side of Dubai Airport). Sitting at the bar in identical t-shirts were three muscular men enjoying large glasses of beer. I couldn’t figure out if they were sportsmen or in security.

Ange orders the assorted Chinese dumplings and I have Aloo Tikki, potato fritters with coconut & tomato chutney.

For mains I order Jumbo Tempura Prawns, Ange has the Tandoori Prawns, and for dessert we share a date and fig pudding with butter toffee cream and caramel icecream.

Just after we got our mains a lounge singer and pianist set up in the corner and started crooning. A besotted bespectacled older gent chatted briefly with the singer between songs, but it was a little early in the evening so there were few people in the bar. Thankfully if any of the other patrons were smoking, it didn’t make it over to our side of the bar.

I was struck with one thought: the bar and restaurant offered views out all four directions, but I couldn’t figure why the hotel (built in 2010) had rooms that only faced in two directions, neither of which included views out to the Burj Khalifa (completed in 2009).

Ange went and checked out the spa facilities after dinner while I had a bath, and came back quietly impressed with the jacuzzi and sauna. The views from the rooftop pool were impressive too, she said.

When we returned to our room the music was still playing so I rang Guest Services and they gently told me that the volume dial was in the bathroom near the hair drier. I went in and there it was – clearly marked and big enough not to be able to miss. Ahem!

Breakfast

We got a good night’s sleep thanks to the blackout curtains and in the morning we went back up to the 19th floor for breakfast. We remembered the crowds at the restaurant on the ground floor for breakfast when we had arrived, but the 19th floor was almost empty when we got there at 7am.

I walked through checking out the offerings and had just finished telling Ange that I was surprised that there were no hot dishes when I turned the corner and saw them aligned in a row.

Apart from pork products there were all the hot breakfast dishes that you would imagine – including something called Monte Cristo which was like a cheese toasted sandwich (I found out later it was a variation of the French croque monsieur).

As we ate I looked down at a vacant lot near the metro station. Dozens of men played cricket down there, obviously getting their exercise before the day became too hot for physical exertions. I wondered how serious the competition was?

We made our way down to check-out and stored our luggage for the day with the bellboys. There was another slight delay while checking out and while the receptionist checked with the manager we finalised our plans for the day. On our return in the afternoon we collected our luggage and headed to the next hotel.

Pros and Cons

Would I Return?

Absolutely. The hotel is in a good location and has some great facilities. While the number of rooms and volume of guests makes for a slightly crowded foyer, it also provides a fascinating melting pot of peoples from all four corners of the world.

The Park Regis Kris Kin supported our Dubai trip by providing a complimentary stay. All opinions remain our own.

The post Dubai Hotel Review: Park Regis Kris Kin Near Burjuman Mall appeared first on etrip.tips.

We had a little trouble finding the Savoy Crest Hotel Apartments merely because they had moved buildings and Google Maps had both old and new locations. Our taxi driver was very helpful and drove us around the block looking for the right one even after we’d paid. Savoy have four hotels in the area and I hopped out at one to ask the receptionist which one was ours, only to be told it was next door.

The hotel itself is conveniently located within walking distance of the Burjurman Shopping Mall, which is well serviced by both hop-on hop-off buses, regional buses and the metro. Across the road from the hotel is a convenience store and the Al Fahidi metro station is a short stroll in the other direction.

Room

We were greeted with a glass of juice and a warm welcome and check-in took no time at all. A porter dealt with our hefty luggage so we only had to ride the elevator to the third floor. Our room was a good size and had a view overlooking the street. It featured a balcony, a kitchenette (with microwave, toaster, kettle, fridge) a lounge area with a couch and whisper-quiet air conditioning.

The bathroom had a full size tub with complimentary toiletries – my only concern in here was the toilet was a little low for a grown adult to sit on, even for Ange at 5ft 2, but good if you had kids.

Savoy’s motto is “a heartfelt welcome” and they go out of their way to make you feel at home. They also have very strong green initiatives: in the booklet they identified twenty initiatives, ranging from customer controlled hot water system which takes twenty minutes to warm up but obviously doesn’t heat the water when unneeded, to energy saving LED lights in all the rooms. They also have a 24/7 Green Educational in-house movie channel.

Facilities

After settling in, we headed up to the rooftop to check out the 24 hour gym, spa facilities and pool. The gym is enormous and they have spared no expense in fitting it out with all kinds of fitness machines. A friendly staff member shows us around and into the saunas.

The rooftop pool is incredibly inviting so we immediately went for a dip. A jacuzzi proper was situated at the far end with a sign saying 34C but we figured it wasn’t switched on as it felt a bit colder than that. We couldn’t find any buttons for bubbles either but we could have asked the pool assistant if we really wanted to get it going.

A canopied area with sun loungers complete with towels provided shade from the sun – not a problem in December but I’m picking in July or August it would be much appreciated by guests when temperatures soar. We settle in and order food from the restaurant and Ange does a bit of work while we wait for our meal. It’s an amazing spot of serenity in the bustling city, and a much appreciated respite from the traffic noise and chaos.

It’s not too long before the food arrives, Ange gets the chef’s salad – veggies cut up chunky style for dipping into the accompanying thousand island dressing mayo – and I get the club sandwich with fries. It really hits the spot. The mocktails especially are primo – in a country which doesn’t generally do alcohol, they are very creative with the alternatives. My Virgin Mojito manages to capture the refreshing essence of the mint while Ange’s Strawbery Milkshake was very satisfying.

I’m glad that I agreed to compromise on pace for Dubai: sleep on arrival, first day laze by the pool. We have the place to ourselves, apart from a mother and child who use the pool – the lifeguard happily throws an inflatable ball backwards and forwards to the kid causing much merriment.

Restaurant

We head back down to the room and then have an early dinner at the restaurant on the ground floor. No need to worry about booking, we pretty much have the place to ourselves again which prompts attentive service from the waiters. The menu is quite extensive, with a lot of Indian and Asian options.

We both go for Asian noodle dishes – prawn and fish – and follow it up with a chocolate brownie for me and Umm Ali, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert, for Ange – she says it’s a bit like a cold bread and butter pudding and delicious.

Breakfast

Attempting to conquer jetlag we hit the bed early and sleep soundly. Breakfast next morning is included with our room, which is a buffet style affair in the ground floor restaurant and includes an extensive range of Western and Middle Eastern eating options.

In keeping with its 4-star facilities, the Savoy offers an omelette station which I took advantage of.

Ange sampled the toast and jam and was delighted to find a stock of Anchor New Zealand butter – very timely since we were on our way home.

Pros and Cons

Would I Go Back?

Definitely, especially for a lengthy time or if I had business in that area. It had a real apartment feel, especially with the convenience store across the road and I think you could set up a comfortable base here. The recreational facilities are certainly in line with what you’d expect from a 4 star hotel.

The Savoy Crest Hotel Apartments supported our Dubai trip by providing a complimentary stay. All opinions remain our own.

The post Dubai: Savoy Crest Hotel Apartments Review appeared first on etrip.tips.

The worst thing about airports which can operate all night (the ones owned by people who can afford to ignore the complaints of the citizens living on the flight path), is that you can arrive on a combination of cheap flights in the middle of the night. Too early to check-in late and too late to check-in early.

A search for hotels by the hour in Dubai had failed to satisfy and so we resorted to paying for two nights at the Le Meridien instead, reluctantly making the decision that airport proximity and the ability to get some sleep straight away would make up for the time paid for but un-utilised.

The Le Meridien, a 5 star Dubai hotel, is perfectly located for this, being over the road from Terminal One and a swift taxi ride (AED37.50, most of that being the airport flagfall of AED25.00) from Terminal Two, where our cheap flight from Istanbul had touched down at the ungodly hour of 3am. Following a relatively painless luggage collection and visa on arrival, we managed to walk into the hotel at 4am.

I was surprisingly coherent despite the lack of sleep and we were warmly welcomed by the receptionist. I had emailed ahead to make sure that they didn’t give away our room because we were late checking in and been assured that they would make a note of that, so I was confident there’d be somewhere for us weary travellers to lay our heads. Instead we were told that they had upgraded our stay to the Royal Club!

The Royal Club was a separate building adjacent to the main hotel which had been built three years ago. It had its own reception and so we headed through the original building, marvelling at the classic decor while following the very chipper bell boy with our luggage on a trolley. He kept up a running commentary the whole way and let us know how our upgraded room was so much nicer and more expensive than our original one was. I kind of had to take his word at that but resolved to check it out at a later date.

The Room

The room itself, when we finally got there, was very impressive – we were on level eight. It was very large and was decked out in a Royal purple and white decor.

The bed was enormous: a California King apparently, and there was both a jacuzzi bath as well as a power shower which had both a rainforest and hand held nozzle as well as four additional outlets. Decadence!

The luggage was stored in the “cove”, an alcove/walk in wardrobe with independent lighting. All in all the room was 50 square metres and the bellboy made a point of showing us where all the controls were for the chargers, lights and air con.

I eventually tipped him and sent him on his way and we set to the important decision-making of whether we should order room service or whether we’d be able to sleep on empty stomachs.

Eventually food won and so we ordered scrambled eggs and a fruit platter. I was pleasantly surprised when it came with a free bakers basket (toast and rolls) and a staggering selection of honey, jams and marmalades. Between tired bites we muttered to each other that we could get used to this level of comfort.

The windows faced north east, halfway between the airport and the city centre, so not much of a view of Dubai proper from here. But we were glad the curtains were thick, allowing the room to achieve some semblance of darkness even though the dawn was not far off. We slumped into bed and got some well deserved zzz’s.

We woke in the early afternoon and tried to stay awake as long as possible, figuring that would be the way to rid ourselves of jet lag. Ange had some work to do so I headed down to the pool on level five and had a look around.

In the distance to the north, a steady stream of jets could be seen taking off, while opposite that you could make out the skyscrapers of Dubai’s city centre. There was only one other guest enjoying the pool loungers around the pool and there were two staff members  there, a waiter and a lifeguard, both a little superfluous, but determined to ensure that should anyone need food or drink, or rescuing from the pool, that they would be on hand to perform those services.

I reported the layout to Ange and she said she’d finish up and head down in half an hour. It wasn’t really hot enough to swim and there was a slight breeze but it was perfectly pleasant. After we’d tried to get some sun, we headed back to the room for some more food.

I find it’s easier to keep sleep at bay by raising your blood sugar level with food. Totally ruins your waistline though. My club sandwich with fries and Ange’s spaghetti bolognese gave us a second wind. Large portions too! The meal came with a complimentary fruit basket which made maintaining blood sugar levels during the evening a bit more of a healthy option.

Ange had suggested that jacuzzis and steam treatments were good for relaxing the body and allowing us to get to sleep despite what our body clocks were telling us, so I elected to try out our jaccuzzi bath.

There was a 40ml tube of sage body wash beside the bath and I called out to Ange to check how much I should put it. Not hearing a response I shrugged and put the whole lot in. It took a while for the tub to fill and when it did there was a small array of bubbles under the tap. Very conservative.

I gingerly sank into the water, enjoying the heat on my tired muscles. Then I reached over and hit the jacuzzi’s “on” button. Leaning back, I closed my eyes and let the jets pulse the water up and down my back. Delightful. I heard Ange come into the bathroom and gasp. 

Opening my eyes I saw why. A layer of foam about 10cm (4″) thick of white soapy bubbles frothed on the surface of the water. The agitation of the jacuzzi’s jets had worked up the sage body wash into a lather. A short but high spirited foam fight ensued, ending in me being covered entirely with foam. Good times. Good clean fun.

The next day we checked out and took a taxi to our next hotel, body clocks not quite in sync with Dubai, but certainly not staggering around like the undead.

Pros and Cons

Would I Go Back?

Absolutely! The hotel is close to the airport, and has everything you might need to help you relax on the way to or from the airport.

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