Barceló Al Jaddaf — Hotel in Dubai

I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction and disappointment following my recent stay at Barcelo Hotel Dubai. What was meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable staycation turned into an exhausting and frustrating ordeal, affecting not only me but also my family, including elderly parents who were under great discomfort due to the hotel’s multiple failures in service and hospitality.

We had booked six rooms at your hotel, expecting at least a minimum standard of coordination and comfort from a reputed 4-star establishment. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, our experience was far from acceptable:

Check-in Confusion: We were issued a key card to a room that was already occupied. This is a serious breach of guest privacy and security.

Room Allocation Chaos: Our six rooms were scattered across the floor, far from each other, making communication and coordination extremely difficult. We had to temporarily stay in connecting rooms during the day and later move to our separate rooms at night, which was extremely inconvenient and tiring.

Lack of Basic Amenities: Disposable slippers, vanity kits, toothpaste, toothbrushes – none of these essentials were provided. We had to request each item multiple times, which is not acceptable at a 4-star hotel.

Health Hazard from Smoke: The most distressing issue was the overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke from neighboring rooms. Despite four complaints to the front desk, the issue was only addressed after security intervened. This put my elderly parents’ health at risk and caused great stress to us all.

Cold Buffet Dinner: We were looking forward to the dinner buffet, but to our dismay, all the dishes were cold. It seemed the food warmers were not functioning, which completely ruined the dining experience.

Broken Bed: Upon finally getting to rest, I discovered that the bed in my room was broken. This led to another room change, adding to our already exhausting day.

Unhelpful Reception: Although Mr. Aftab eventually agreed to extend our checkout time, he refused to escalate the matter or let us speak with a superior, which was extremely frustrating given the severity of the issues we faced.

This stay was an absolute disaster, far below the standards promised by your brand. We spent a significant amount of money and had looked forward to this staycation for weeks, only to be left with stress, disappointment, and regret.

Given the extent of the inconvenience and distress caused, I am requesting either a full refund or a complimentary stayas compensation for this disastrous experience. I hope Barcelo Hotel takes full responsibility for the situation and takes corrective action, not only for our sake but also to avoid subjecting future guests to similar experiences.

Looking forward to a prompt and...

Edit: Stayed from 27-28June Pathetic Experience, Dirty Room, AC Leaking, Cigarette Smell, and No Peace

Kaouther Fezari Guest Experience, with due respect, what you replied is very absurd as firstly any neutral person can go to the sixth floor and smell the smoke. Secondly there is no strict policy regarding smoking because if it is intact there should not be any foul smell there. Thirdly, if it was a smoking floor, then despite preferring and booking a non smoking room i should’nt have been allocated a smoking room.

Housekeeping service if is available round the clock, then the balcony should not been covered in dirt like no one has touched it in years.

It is better that you should accept that there are things that you need to fix, otherwise once people will realise they will not return for a second visit.

I stayed at Barceló Hotel Dubai, and honestly, I couldnt wait for this stay to end. What I expected to be a comfortable, peaceful experience in a 5-star hotel has turned out to be a complete nightmare.

I booked a room with a balcony, thinking I’d enjoy some fresh air and a nice view. What I got instead was a dirty, dusty, and neglected balcony — thick layers of dust on the chair and glass railing that clearly haven’t been cleaned in weeks. It’s completely unusable, which defeats the whole purpose of paying extra for a balcony room.

Inside the room, the disappointment continues. The wardrobe has stains, the walls have marks, and the furniture looks old, cheap, and poorly maintained. The room feels neglected and unhygienic — far from the standards you’d expect from a hotel under the Barceló name.

To make things worse, water is dripping from the AC, creating a mess and making the room feel damp and uncomfortable. I’ve attached photos to show the actual condition, because words don’t do justice to how bad this is.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the entire hallway from the lift to the room smells strongly of cigarettes. Every time I walk in or out, I feel nauseated. It’s honestly disgusting and unacceptable in a hotel that claims to be non-smoking. I don’t understand how this is being allowed.

Lastly, there’s constant construction going on right outside the hotel — loud, disruptive, and absolutely non-stop. No warning was given about this at the time of booking. Between the noise, the AC leak, the smell, and the filth, it’s been extremely hard to get any rest.

I genuinely feel cheated. This stay has been a combination of poor hygiene, false expectations, and zero attention to guest comfort. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone — not for leisure, not for business, not even for a night.

Bottom Line: Avoid this place. Not worth your money, your time,...

I recently had the opportunity to stay at Barceló Al Jaddaf for 7 nights. While the overall experience was positive, there are a few areas that could benefit from improvement.

Strengths: • The staff at both the reception and breakfast areas were exceptional — consistently welcoming us with warm smiles and a positive demeanor, which contributed to a pleasant atmosphere throughout our stay. • Despite our late arrival on the first night, the check-in process was smooth, efficient, and hassle-free.

Areas for Improvement: Odor in common areas: We stayed on the 6th floor, where there was a noticeably strong cigarette smell in the hallway. As non-smokers, this was quite unpleasant and detracted from the overall ambiance of the hotel. Maintenance issues: Upon entering our room and switching on the lights, one of the bulbs exploded — with pieces falling approximately 10–20 cm from my partner’s face. We immediately reported the incident to reception, and while a housekeeper was promptly sent to assess the situation, we were informed that the repair would be handled the next morning. Unfortunately, despite staying for 9 days, the issue was never resolved. Cleanliness standards: While the hotel’s common areas were well-maintained, with a modern design and pleasant Arabic scents, the room’s cleanliness did not meet the same standard. There was visible dust near and under the beds, and the wooden furniture (such as wardrobes and doors) had noticeable marks that appeared to be grease or oil stains. Additionally, the bathroom — including the shower, toilet, and mirrors — did not feel thoroughly Barceló Al Jaddaf is a stylish hotel with impressive communal spaces and a welcoming staff. However, there is a clear need for improvement in room maintenance and cleanliness to align with the hotel’s overall standards.

Despite these concerns, I would consider staying again in the future, though I would ensure that the room conditions better reflect the quality and price expected for the type of...