Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach — Hotel in Dubai

If I told you, FSJB is a five star resort; I’d tell you, you’re wrong. Why? Because it’s a ten star resort. That is; five stars for the resort and another five stars for their staff. Simply, this was the most outstanding hotel experience I’ve ever had. Those were similar words I’d used last year, where I thought to myself and was convinced - that nothing could beat my experience. However, this year, somehow they took it to another level, and this year; even more so - the staff made me feel special. |As soon as I arrived, I was taken inside to check in. It was so great to feel at home again. For some reason, I’ve found myself attached to this hotel and I wondered whether it’s the familiarity, maybe the elegant colours, no wait - as soon as I arrived at check in; it was the staff. The staff are the reason I feel the resort is the best I’ve ever been to, and in my life: will ever go to.|Check in was, as always smooth. A nice little welcome drink and towel were handed but so was the warmest welcome I’ve ever had in a hotel. Mariana; there aren’t many like her in the world. She’d previously helped make my solo trip last year the most memorable I’d ever had by organising a wonderful gesture for me. This year, I was so glad to meet her again, and she truly gave the warmest, most kind welcome I’d had. When you’re travelling alone, you miss home, no matter where you are. But then, people like her make you forget home, and remind you - that you are at home. As I was taken to my room, I was so shocked to realise that I’d been given my favourite ever room. I honestly never thought I’d see that room again! I’d often imagine in my head, “I wonder if I flew to Dubai, jumped off a parachute, and landed on that balcony and sneaked into that room to see that amazing view one last time..”, actually, that was just a dream, but for the next few nights, that room was a dream, I was living a dream! As I was walking down to the lift, I’d finally met someone I wanted to see after many years - Roxana! It was great to see her in her new role, one which she will no doubt excel in. A few years back. She assisted me to get some dates to take back home with me after I was panicking - it was my first time in Dubai that year and my first time ever travelling alone. I forever was thankful to her, but I’d never had a chance to thank her in person. Would I ever get a chance to say thank you to her? “I’m Roxana” and suddenly I said “wait…are you the same Roxa…”. Yes, she said. She instantly knew how much she’d helped me. I was so proud to see that she seems to be doing well for herself, and like Mariana; I felt like I’d already had two kind humans that would ensure I would be ok. After I was shown to my room, formalities were taken care of and when Roxana left, I thought to myself “I’m home, please don’t let this time fly back so quickly, I don’t want to leave”. |Unfortunately, when you’re in a place like this, you will enjoy it to the point, you’ll miss it as time flies by too quickly. On the first night, I’d decided to stay and enjoy the resort and had dinner at Jou Jou. It’s a new restaurant and I loved the outdoor seating. I’d enjoyed my food and felt relaxed, and Anastasia the manager was going around speaking to everybody. There was one gesture I was surprised with - and it shows how high standards are. After my meal, I’d ordered dessert and coffee, she’d taken my order. As I was waiting, I didn’t think much of it, but she’d felt the dessert and coffee took too long to come out. To me, it didn’t - I was enjoying just being back at the resort but standards were so high, she felt bad, even though I told her that nothing took too long at all. Nevertheless, she waived the dessert fee! I was now at a point where I thought “gosh, they really are genuinely nice people”. The next day I’d had a meal at Coya for lunch and again I was in for a pleasant shock. After ordering my lovely starters and mains, the really friendly waiter showed me a purple corn from Peru. He told me that he wanted me to try a mock tail made from it. The corn is boiled for 12 hours and cooled, it takes 24 hours to prepare. It was a kind thought and to my surprise, there was no charge for this. At this point, I thought, I don’t deserve all this kindness. But, when I asked for the dessert menu, I was told I’d be given a traditional Peruvian dessert, made from that type of corn. It was a lovely dessert, and lunch was a lovely experience, and yet again, I was not charged but definitely thought this employee, for his kindness deserves a lovely tip. I was now on my second day, and thought people around the resort, vibe so well. They seem to be so happy with the conversations and I was glad to be part of it. I thoroughly enjoyed my times on the beach too, and to my surprise, an employee came to me, shook my hand with two hands, and said “how is London?”. He recognised me from last year and we’d continued talking as if we were great friends. It was just being around great employees that I felt as if I was part of the hotel myself. I felt so good. I’d waited a year to come back, not knowing it would be more amazing than even, the last time. |One worry I had was that Suq, my favourite breakfast place because of the staff, was no longer in operation but Jou Jou was amazing! Some of the employees were still there and I was again, warmly welcomed with love and kindness, we’d instantly talked like last year, it was like I’d never left. I was surprised that they even remembered the items I’d liked on the breakfast menu from last year! The choices were great, and so beautifully presenters at the buffet. Whilst eating, one of my biggest moments happened. Ms Cornelia, possibly the greatest manager ever, anywhere - appeared and introduced herself. For a moment, I’d felt almost star struck because she runs everything so perfectly and I’d usually stand up and greet her but I got nervous! Instead I shook her hand, seated (I’m sorry!) and enjoyed every moment speaking to her. I honestly wish London had more managers and humans like her. Someone who has a great aura and vibe, very approachable, and it shows within the hotel. The kindness they give in the hotel was one thing, but to also have a manager who has such a positive vibe and very similar to the rest of her staff, is rare. I hope she never leaves because she’s so inspirational. The best. |I remember going into the spa for a quick moment as I wanted to buy a candle to take home. At reception, I had a great chat and to my surprise, a massage therapist from last year instantly recognised me again,and I’d recognised her. Whenever I went, I’d felt great. I went to Shai Salon to buy a cake, and another member of staff recognised me and said “I remember you, you used to have breakfast downstairs (at Suq) at 7am. I loved how people kept talking about previous interactions with me, but I loved how they just warmed my heart even more. There was a lovely employee there who I’d not met before, from England and we spoke as if we were good friends. Everywhere I went, the staff made my day. |As I was leaving I’d promised myself that these kind of experiences in life are so rare, but so memorable. From the personalised dates box from Roxana, to the warmest welcome from Mariana including the very lovely conversation I had the next day with her, to meeting Ms Cornelia, I met three people who made me feel great. Along with that, there were many more who treated me so perfectly that words cannot describe how much I’ve gone through since leaving. I’ve had dreams about the place and the people, almost like “grief” or “loss” because I miss it so much. Missing the five star resort is one thing, but missing the five star employees is another. I hope to return again and wish nothing but the best for the people, who made my trip so perfectly that. Thank you to the world’s first ten star resort, for warming my...

So post my lunch today we were waiting for my driver to arrive and since I was all dressed up I would have liked to get some nice photos so whilst waiting for the car in the lobby, we decided to take some photos on the staircase, and so we did, and I noticed an older man kept starring and starring, whilst taking pictures a guy kept trying to speak to me asking for my snap chat and the older guy staring and hovering around me which I realized was apparently a security guard or head as he claimed to be which I found out later. The so called security head who apparently had nothing better to do in the day but stand just by the staircase staring the whole time we were taking the pictures ( and yes we did take more than a few only to realize they were all dark because of the sun reflection) I told my friend let’s take it on the other side the security decided to come and speak to us and say “ hi I was trying to be nice and friendly and allowed you to take a lot of pictures but this is against our hotel policy to use an iPhone to take pictures” this is the first time I have heard anything like this in Dubai ever. He told me if you want to take more than 2 pictures at our property you need to take permission from our pr team. I told him ok, how do I do that? Just because I knew he was being cheeky as he started his conversation by telling me he’s trying to be nice and friendly and I told him there’s no need to be nice and friendly we are not having some kind of party here to be nice and friendly I don’t need your friendliness. He was trying to get back by saying more than 2 pictures is no longer photos for personal use! 😂😂😂😂 so make sure ladies apparently your not allowed to use your own iPhone at four seasons jumeirah only apparently because I have taken so many pictures whilst my stay at the difc one. I decided to not let this man get away with it. And to teach him we don’t need his “help and friendly” behavior I told him take me to whoever apparently he needs me to get permission from to use my Own iPhone for pics. He takes me to a girl at the concierge and she herself said what their is no such policy iPhones are allowed to take only no camera and clearly I didn’t even have a camera! She called Tomas the front office manager who seemed so confused himself. He said did you take a picture of anyone else or with anyone in the background and we mentioned there was no one there! He had absolutely no stand and just said I don’t know what to say but that guy is the head of security so if he has an issue I don’t know how to check with the pr. So the girl from concierge was about to call their so Called pr and said she’s so confused why is he doing this and then the security guard says oh I already called them I checked with everyone they can not take more than 2-3 photos as then it’s no longer personal use. Well if that’s your so called policy so be it. Then why did you stand there starting at me taking my photos for so long and decide to come and tell me you were just trying to be nice and friendly? Where did your policy go then? 😂😂😂 so if security head is nice and friendly policy changes and hotel guest privacy is nothing for those minutes but when security head sees we are not giving him face he remember policy of not taking more than 2 photos 😂😂😂you know these kid of staff when they just feel they have been told off for the same what he called “‘nice and friendly” behavior feel they need to impose something just to show they can actually do something and anything at all to show they are working because he has nothing better to do 😂😂 love how the policy changes on his mood. He let us take all the photos because he was being nice and friendly and when my friend and I were taking pics there was a guy constantly asking for My Snapchat but as security he obviously just stood there staring and watching and then decided to come speak and say oh I let you take the photos as I’m nice and friendly but not more because my hotel has a policy as he saw we didn’t give him face his mood and...

NOT worth the money. We arrived for check in at 3:00 pm and they left us for 5 hours waiting with an 8 months old baby tired and crying because our room wasnt ready. They never informed us about all this delay and for apologies they just sent us flowers.  Flowers instead of giving us a temporary room to have our baby to sleep and eat! Another day we asked them to book us a boat tour and they told us the pick up is from the hotel at 11:00 am.We woke up, got ready waited at the entrance and nobody came. The concierge told us they made a mistake and we had to be 11:00 am at the place with the boats! So Disappointing, i mean i’ve stayed in a lot of luxury hotels, Four seasons, Mandarin, Ritz you name it.I never had such a horrible experience.I had “do not disturb” button on because my baby was sleeping and for 3 days in a row they were calling the room and the phones ringing. I asked them not to call repeatedly but they just couldn’t get it! They kept ringing no matter how many times i asked them not to.The worst thing was that we left some bank confidential documents for somebody to pick up from the concierge, we gave them our name and room number, and when the person came to take the documents they claimed they never received them.Only after a lot of pressure and shouting they finally discovered the lost documents.The last day we had a luggage left to the concierge for us but when i asked them to bring the luggage they COULDN’T find it again! I mean I don’t know whats wrong believe me, i have never faced this kind of service in ANY 5-star hotel i ve stayed!I asked them to ask somebody to close a package that i had to send back to my country and obviously I don’t carry a tape with me and they never sent anyone, for anything you want, you must call over and over again, you cannot trust them , its like asking for something through the phone , telling you ok and the next second they forgot and when you call again, they are always like i apologise what was the think you expecting and then you have to start over again,i was staying almost a month at this hotel, the fifteenth day of my stay i asked the housekeeping to come and clean the room before the baby sleeps and a guy came in, it was me, the nanny and my baby at the room and he told us i cannot clean the room with you inside you have to all leave! And i was totally shocked!I called the housekeeping manager and i asked him honestly whats wrong with you guys, you forced me to leave the room otherwise you cannot clean? after 15 days i am staying here and everyday is the nanny there with the baby all day in the room and never was a problem for you to clean it what’s now?They just started apologising again, you know it’s sad because you pay all this money for a reason, for a service, for a hospitality otherwise what other reason to have to stay in a such an expensive hotel if they don’t make your life easier and just causing all this stress! And guys have in mind , we weren’t just an ordinary client we booked the Imperior suite of the hotel, which is one of the most expensive suite to stay and we booked it for a month!Imagine how much money we gave to them and we had a second room booked for our baby sitter also. We are regular clients of Four Seasons Group, most of our visits in Dubai we stay at the Four Seasons DIFC, and believe me you cannot compare it with this one, most people come to stay at this hotel because they think they can easily access reservations to the top restaurants hosted by four seasons but the truth is they don’t arrange any booking for you,there answer is always we didn’t find available sir and after you find an independent concierge they always manage to get us a reservation how is this possible? Basically to be honest the Front desk and concierge of the hotel is totally a mess! Its not a front desk to represent this kind of hotel either the money you are giving, if you consider you are in Dubai and you can give this money to stay in another super...