Having spent a fair amount of time in Dubai in the past for both work and pleasure and stayed in a number of different hotels, we decided on the Jebel Ali Hotel because of the all inclusive package. Prices in Dubai have increased over the years and this seemed to be the best option for a quick week of sun without any worry about cost.

The hotel is away from Dubai centre which was fine for us as we have 'done' Dubai already and just needed a resort type hotel where we did not have to concern ourselves about anything else. My first impressions were a bit hit and miss, we were probably a bit tired after a full on week at work and straight onto an overnight flight from London. This wasn't helped by our driver taking us to the Palm Court (also part of the same resort but more expensive) instead of the other side.

Thankfully we were lucky to have our room available first thing in the morning when check in is not until 2pm. The rooms themselves are very pleasant even if the outside of the building is a bit Seventies! Our breakfast location was the Ibn Majed which was fine for the breakfast buffet. A wide array of items to suit all tastes.....shockingly, one lady would fill about 3/4 tupperware containers with food everyday to take out with her! We tried an evening buffet here once which was ok.

The all-inclusive package is excellent and if you have done Dubai before like we have, then I think it is a must. Certainly, don't kid yourself that you are getting anything for free however I think we got our monies worth whilst the hotel would have made some money as well. All beers, both bottled and draft (Tiger, Sol etc) were part of the package as were all the cocktails (about 20 or more - excluding anything with champagne in or red bull). We also had a choice of four white and four red wines and a rose - all very drinkable. We got the breakfast buffet and a fairly decent lunch menu including salads and burgers at the beach bars. Dinner was a choice of themed buffet, or a la carte - steak (we're talking filet mignon here!), Italian or Asian. As mentioned by someone else, the Italian was ok. Steak at Shooters was great and the best restaurant being Asian at the White Orchid. Service was good at all locations with some really friendly and helpful staff.

On the sport side, we enjoyed the gym regularly and also played a lot of tennis - all part of the package. Would liked to have played golf but we weren't good enough!

Beach was lovely and clean and barely anyone on it - a quiet time of year that we really enjoyed...probably about 20 people on the beach at any one time, with around 100 loungers so no worries there. Weather was lovely, around 25 degrees every day, which was more pleasant than the Oct/Nov temperatures. The only difference being that the sea was very cold and the evenings you need a jumper/fleece. I thought the sea would be affected by the Palm being built next door but it was fresh and clean with a few fish swimming around.

My only gripe, and it is a personal one, is that on the last day of our holiday, alcohol was taken away from 5.30pm due to a religious holiday. Without wanting to sound too much like a heavy drinker, I was really disappointed by this. In spite of management protestations that information was delivered to each room the night before to inform guests of this 'sudden' change, we received no information at all. Even our friendly bar staff who we saw 2/3 times a day, made no mention of the enforced dry period even during the lunchtime on Friday as I ordered my second drink. The first I knew of it was when I went to the bar at 7pm, all dressed up for my last night in resort and with great plans for some cocktails etc, that I was informed that there was no alcohol. Sadly, management failed me on their ability to advise their guests, during a not so busy time, that this was about to happen. I could have been happier about this if I had had a chance to change my plans. This was our last memory of the hotel and left a bit of a bad taste. Bizarrely, they didn't empty our mini bar (?!) and the only reason I didn't touch it was because I was on AI and not prepared to pay any further...

However this should not affect your decision to stay here as the AI package is excellent however if part of your holiday is enjoying a good drink, just check before you book whether there are any impending religious holidays....this was the first time in 14 years that I had been in Dubai when this had happened.

not so good location, very expensive for the kind of breakfast they offer, pity,
also the watter of the sea is not so good in front of the palm.
good service from the housekeeping.

I had a 2 night stopover on my return from London to Melbourne. I flew via Abu Dhabi and wanted a stopover in Dubai, but due to a huge conference in central Dubai last week, chose this hotel for the cost and also travel time from Abu Dhabi airport.

I arrived at the hotel at about 8 am, and was given an early check in of 10.30 am, which was a lot better than the expected 3 pm
My room was on level 2 and had a sea view , which was a lot nicer than I had expected ( I just booked the cheapest room ) . (Many thanks to the check in staff)

The hotel grounds were very impressive - 3 pools, ( all different temps ) , 2 bars overlooking the beach, marina, great gardens with many flowers, birds and even peacocks .
Breakfast was included in my rate, and it was an extensive buffet .
I took the hotel shuttle bus to the nearest shopping mall, and then took the metro into central Dubai . The hotel shuttle bus did various stops in central Dubai, i just prefer to avoid the traffic and travel by metro .Special thanks to the lady at the guest relations desk for helping me plan my day into central Dubai.
Room service was prompt and delicious.I also had a spa massage treatment and used the sauna, steam room etc and had the whole place to myself. Excellent masseur and good customer service. I enjoyed the complimentary fruit kebab snack and drink after the massage.
My room was serviced twice daily by a very friendly guy , who always knew my name and every time he saw me asked me if I wanted my room cleaned or towels changed.
There were many other facilities and activities that I did not have time to use. The hotel was at 100% occupancy but there were no crowds , no queues and plenty of space.
I was pleasantly surprised at this resort . It is a long way from central Dubai, but the facilities it offers goes a long way to make up for this.

This was my fifth stay, after having been here for the first time in 1997, and I can state that also this time there are many pros, and namely:
The private beach, long 800 m, is very clean,with umbrellas and sunbeds well spaced, three swimming pools and an excellent service provided by the many and helpful beach and pool attendants.
Rooms are well equipped, quiet, clean and comfortable.
Restaurants, except one, are good, with a sumptuous breakfast buffet and plenty of very varied foods.
The hotel staff, once again with one exception, is efficient, professional and friendly without beeing intrusive.
Two computers are at guest's disposal, with no time limits and free of charge.
Prices are not particularly high.
Thus, my judgement about the basic things is absolutely positive, so at it had been in my previous trips.
However, I have found some negatives not present in the past, and here are a few ones even if acknowledge that most of them are not very important.
I had booked, receiving confirmation, a room with twin beds but after the check in (at 1 a.m. after a six hours flight and one hour of taxi ) I entered a room with a king size bed; but at that time...
In the room bathroom there is a bidet, but apparently the management doesn't know that this useful sanitary fixture requires also fitting towels with the relevant rack.
The staff at the reception is plentiful but neither very efficient nor very professional, apart from 2 or 3 persons.
Inside, there is one bar only which, even worse, doesn't open before 78 p.m.
The Italian restaurant, and I am sorry to say it, is just at the acceptability limits. In fact the spritz ( a very popular Italian aperitif ) is well done but served in a glass containing a mountain of ice cubes and therefore in a couple of minutes it becomes very watery,the spaghetti are overcooked and the pork escalopes are very tough.
And here is the most annoying negative. At the check in the receptionist has wanted my credit card to get from Amex the "authorization only " for a sum probably sufficient for the extra-room expenses, practically everything apart from the room : meals, drinks, internal shopping,etc.This request is very unusual and it might have been acceptable only ( thing not done), if previously mentioned in the two pages of the booking confirmation received at due time and detailing the hotel terms . And perhaps this is one of the reasons why the Jebel Ali is not any more a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
In a few words:this hotel is still a good one, but not so good as it was in the past.
Rinaldo Pellegrini