Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa
This hotel was previously the number 1 ranked hotel in Dubai on Tripadvisor (as I write this it’s number 2) and this accolade is fully deserved. It’s located right on Jumeirah Beach at one end of “The Walk”, a promenade of shops and restaurants.The hotel consists of three buildings – the main hotel, the Club building and the Tower. We were in the Club building. Other reviews seem to suggest the best rooms are the Tower although you don’t then get the Royal Club service.
Our room was large and spacious and featured a balcony, although it was more of an inland view than a sea view. The staff were very polite and helpful. On the second day we came back to our room to find the bed covered in rose petals and towels arranged on the bed in the shape of two swan necks.
Breakfast was taken in the restaurant on the ground floor of the Club building, with a choice of indoor or outdoor seating. There was a large and varied buffet plus a chef would cook omelettes or pancakes to order (while you watched).
Afternoon tea was available upstairs in the Royal Club Lounge (which is actually two lounges) with a selection of sandwiches and cakes to choose from. In the evening these were replaced with various canapés and complimentary alcoholic drinks were available.
As you wander out the back of the hotel there is a choice of three swimming pools, two with swim-up bars. There are plenty of sun loungers around plus the pool attendants even bring round water sprays and sometimes cold flannels.
If you continue to walk away from the hotel you can walk down a path lined with pine trees and then you arrive at the beach. If you are lucky you might even be able to save a few minutes’ walk by jumping on the back of one of the golf buggies that ferry people between the pool and beach.
As mentioned above, there are many restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, including a Chinese restaurant “The Noodle Room”. There is also a Fish & Chip shop! What we did struggle to find though was a nearby supermarket or general store. This did create a problem at lunchtimes when it was difficult to get a reasonably priced sandwich or snack.
