Overall, my stay has been fantastic.
Don't let my 3 star rating fool you. The hotel is great. However, there were a few disappointing things I will address below which I felt carried weight and shouldn't be overlooked, hence the deduction of 2 stars.
Let's start with the positives:
You are very literally beach front on the palm. I started each morning with a sea swim (the sea water is warm, such a pleasant surprise).
Our hotel room was lovely. The bed is notably comfortable. The shower is also very nice. Cleaning staff did a great job each day.
The gym is on the 13th floor and has an INCREDIBLE view. All the machines were technogym which from my experience are thr best there are. Free bottles of water and light towels available too!
A lot of reviews addressed the lack of water at the pool and the extortionate price of water at the beach (40aed/€10 - not allowed bring your own). During my visit, to my pleasant surprise, they provided clean towels and fresh cold bottles of water at both the pool and beach for absolutely free. Perhaps it was due to the extreme heat during our visit (43°C).
Now for the drawbacks:
There was one thing that boiled my blood. Upon exiting the hotel at the main entrance on our first day I was greeted by a staff member asking me if I needed a taxi. He said that the Radisson hotel offered its own taxi service for its guests. Wow, fantastic, right? Guess again.
He proceeded to take our end destination and tell us it will be 80aed (€20). He assured us that the price would be the same as the local taxis.
Luckily, we have visited Dubai before and knew this didn't sound right. We crossed the road and got a Hala taxi instead. Our taxi ended up costing 43 aed (€10).
The hotel itself had literally set up a money racket at its entrance to try and prey on its own guests!!! It's crazy. I can't comprehend how corrupt and wrong this is. It made me so angry. Every single day I had to walk by these staff members and watch them manipulate and scam innocent people simply trying to enjoy their holiday.
Secondly, similarly, but to a lesser extent, they have a cute little cafe in the main lobby. You would think this would be a nice little regular for guests to stop by and get there coffee as they pass through. Turns out it's prices are extortionate. I got 40+ Iced Lattes throughout my visit to Dubai and the one I bought in the hotel lobby ended up being the most expensive of all (30aed/ €7.50). Even worse, one day my partner wanted a Redbull for her workout. I said I'd grab her one from the lobby cafe. They sold me a small can of Redbull (usually ~8aed/ €2) for 30aed (€7.50). Disgusting prices to charge your own hotel guests. No excuse for this.
We also had to use the hotel ATM and although I'm mindful of these machines fees, it charged me 24aed (€6) to take out 100aed (€25). I used 2 other ATMs on my holiday and neither had any fee at all.
There is a fridge in the hotel room. I reported to staff on the very first day that ours wasn't working correctly. The light came on but it was room temperature inside. After reporting it 2 more times they basically confessed that all fridges aren't cold and have been instead altered to be room temperature and that I shouldn't expect it to be cold. How crazy of me to expect my fridge to be cold. Its unfortunate that the hotel opted to cut costs here to save a little money as it ended up making a big difference throughout the holidays,not having cold drinks available in the room.
We had breakfast included.
It was a little underwhelming. It just about covered the very basics and was generally the exact same every morning. One thing that bugged me was that, during our 15 night stay, there wasn't a single morning where the coffee machine worked properly. It caused absolute mayhem for both the staff and guests every single morning. A fresh cup of coffee is a staple for me to start off my morning in good spirits. It was unfortunate that this simple part of breakfast was so poorly organised. There were always quite a number of dissatisfied guests...
Read moreOur experience was substandard at best. The price paid versus the service received was incomparable. Quite frankly I was minded to give a lower rating, however, I credit the 2 stars solely based on our interaction with Luis (Mila Manager). Despite not being the reason for our poor experience, he was attentive, respectful and solution minded. He embodies all the true values of hospitality and is an absolute credit to your establishment.
A short list of some of the of shortcomings faced are detailed below:-
Poor service/operational levels
We visited the adjoining Mila Beach Club, mainly due the convenience of it being located within site, however, it was anything but. We opted for a cabana, we were seated and payment was quick to be taken. After this the staff were not visible at all. Each time we would like to purchase food/drinks we would have to venture to the bar ourselves - missing many an opportunity to upsell to us.
When we did go to the bar, we were hosted by a stone faced bartender who could not even engage in a simple conversation or even smile. We almost felt like asking her for a drink was insulting. On top of this, the one time we were able to catch someone passing by to order we were then subjected to a 45 minute wait for our drinks (mind you, the bar is less than 10 metres away).
To add further insult to injury when our food was delivered it was cold and had to be returned for a fresh dish - in which we still had not received our drinks in this time! When we requested to speak to a manger to raise our concerns we were told ‘the manager is too busy for you’. However they weren’t ‘too busy’ to collect payment in the first instance. The staff continued to project their operational issues onto us as guests.
Patrons should be none the wiser if you are short staffed. Whilst we understand people are human and things happen behind the scenes which are far from ideal but if you as a service provider are unable to operate at sufficient levels where patrons can be attentively minded, you simply should not be open. It should not be verbalised by staff to guests that you are operationally challenged.
We voiced our concerns to the ‘Operations Manager’ and ‘Director’. Their titles would suggest some sort of specialism, but of what, I simply do not know. They failed to understand the gravity of the situation, empathise with our plight or simply even acknowledge our feelings on a basic human to human level. They were more concerned other guests did not hear our experiences.
Instead we had to spend an additional 2 hours engaging in a very unproductive back and forth, being threatened with security on multiple occasions. Our issue was one of principle, not money. One comes on holiday to relax and leave the problems of ordinary life at home, not to be subjected to the treatment we received at this place, being pressured and threatened.
Again, in the spirit of transparency, Luis was the only staff that went out of his way to validate us. Senior management should learn a thing or two from the people actually on the front line.
While the list of issues we encountered could easily have been much longer, these are the most notable ones. I urge senior level management to look in to these issues, offer and partake in refresher training and re-look at hospitality guidance. I wish I could say our issues were an isolated occurrence, however, on 3 separate occasions guests overhead our concerns or vice versa and chimed in to say they were experiencing similar issues. If management would like to reach out for a comprehensive discussion that is welcomed. All in all this was a regrettable stay which hugely impacted our holiday and we could not in good faith ever...
Read morePhenomenal Stay at Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah – A True Gem!
We recently stayed in Room 1133 at Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah, and from the moment we arrived, we were met with outstanding hospitality, warmth, and professionalism. This hotel exceeded our expectations in every way, and the exceptional staff made all the difference.
Outstanding Service from an Incredible Team
A special thank you to Mahmud, who went above and beyond to accommodate us. We arrived earlier than check-in time, and as my parents are elderly, he made it his priority to get us a room as soon as possible. His kindness, patience, and genuine care were truly appreciated and set the tone for an amazing stay.
Hamza, without a doubt, is the heart of the reception desk. He was there every day, always ready to assist with any queries, provide advice, and ensure that we had everything we needed. His professionalism, warmth, and dedication made our stay seamless and enjoyable. Hamza is truly the best person at reception—a rare gem!
Aimen, who showed us to our room, was equally fantastic. He welcomed us with such kindness, made sure we settled in comfortably, and provided great recommendations on things to do in Dubai. His friendliness and helpful nature were refreshing.
Exceptional Housekeeping – Lamin’s Perfection
The housekeeping service in Room 1133 was impeccable, thanks to Lamin. He maintained our room to the highest standard, ensuring it was always spotless, fresh, and perfectly stocked. What stood out the most was his attention to detail and genuine kindness—he didn’t just clean the room; he made sure we were comfortable and happy. His warm demeanor, friendly interactions, and commitment to excellence made such a difference. Coming back to a perfectly maintained room every day was a luxury we truly appreciated. Manjinder also contributed to this high standard, and we are grateful for their dedication.
Security & Transport – A Stress-Free Experience
A huge thank you to Ashraf, the limousine supervisor, who was a lifesaver. I had several issues with Hala Taxi services, but he always ensured I had a safe and reliable ride. He went the extra mile to make sure I reached my destinations without any stress. His care and efficiency made all the difference.
Bright and Robert at reception always greeted us with huge smiles and such a warm, friendly energy—it was impossible not to feel welcomed by them!
The Concierge team, Zouhir and Ishaq, were incredibly helpful and accommodating, always ready to assist with anything we needed.
Ajinkya, who checked us out, handled everything professionally, ensuring our departure was smooth and efficient.
And last but not least, Sufyan, who helped with our luggage, was fantastic—quick, kind, and incredibly helpful in making sure everything was taken care of.
The Perfect Hotel in the Perfect Location
Located on The Palm, this hotel is ideal for families—peaceful and not as busy as JBR, yet still in a prime location. The hotel itself is modern, impeccably clean, and beautifully maintained. The food, especially room service, was absolutely delicious.
Having previously stayed at The Rixos and The Westin, I can confidently say that Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah exceeded our expectations. Despite the others being 5-star hotels, we enjoyed this stay even more.
A massive thank you to the entire team for making our stay in Room 1133 so special. We will definitely be...
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