During my recent trip to Dubai, I wanted to spend a couple days outside of the city just relaxing. The Waldorf Astoria is one of many resorts on the Palm Jumeirah, though being a Hilton diamond member, booking it over the other hotels seemed like a no brainier, though I was seriously considering booking the iconic Atlantis hotel as well.
Arrival and Check In
Waldorf Astoria Exterior
We ordered a taxi from the airport which took about 35 minutes and cost 45$. Before pulling up to the hotel, we were stopped by security and asked for our names to check we were actually guests at the hotel. Once confirmed, we pulled up to the front of the hotel where our bags were taken and we were directed to check in.
The hotel lobby was massive, with beautiful light fixtures, plenty of natural light, and comfortable seating areas. Here you’ll find the front desk, concierge, elevators, and a few of the hotel’s bars and restaurants.
We were brought some welcome drinks and chatted a bit while we were waiting for everything to be processed. The hotel kindly upgraded us to a one bedroom suite and offered us complimentary breakfast while the room was being cleaned. The hotel staff were fantastic and provided excellent service throughout our stay.
The Room
Once ready, a woman at the front desk offered to show us to the room. After a smooth ride up the glass elevator, we arrived at our suite.
We were given room 465, a one bedroom suite on the 4th floor, facing the front of the hotel. I’m not sure how the view compares to the back of the hotel, but I loved the ocean view and we had virtually no noise from the street. I figure the back of the hotel is less optimal with noise from the pool area during the day and a view looking inwards towards the Palm Jumeirah.
The door opens to a large entranceway leading to the living room straight ahead.
To the immediate right is the guest bathroom, and further down is the entrance to the walk in closet which connects to the master bathroom.
The living room was simple yet elegant, highlighting the main attraction which is the amazing sea view.
Most of the living room is taken up by a small couch with two armchairs surrounding a small coffee table.
At the opposite end of the room is a TV stand with plenty of drawers as well as a Nespresso machine and of course a large TV.
At the other corner of the room was bench beside an oval shaped desk which seems like it could be used for work or dining, though I didn’t find it comfortable to work on.
Several bottles of complementary water were provided.
Through the door in the middle of the living room was the master bedroom which was designed with some lovely wooden finishes and notes of ocean blue throughout. Again the design is simple yet elegant, and highlights the ocean view.
The bedroom featured a comfortable double bed with a bench at the foot, large armchair, dresser, TV, and a small desk and chair which I made into my workstation.
The master bathroom was my favorite part of the suite with a gorgeous bathtub, double sinks, a massive shower and separated toilet. I’m having trouble expressing how much I loved this bathroom, so I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves.
Both the living room and bedroom have sliding doors which open to the massive balcony with a single lounge chair at one end, and a bench with a small table at the other end.
We spent a lot of time on our balcony enjoying the view, however there is no privacy between our balcony and the room to the right. It was a bit awkward when we were both using the balcony at the same time.
Breakfast
Breakfast is held at the Mezzerie restaurant every morning.
The Waldorf Astoria provides an extensive breakfast buffet with a wide selection of Arabic, Western, and Asian dishes. The offerings included meats, fish, fruits and vegetables, eggs, noodles, Arabic dishes, waffles and pancakes, pastries and bread, as well as several types of juice and coffee drinks.
Unlike most UAE hotels, the Waldorf Astoria does serve pork products.
The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, but I much preferred the outdoor tables to enjoy the perfect morning weather.
Service at breakfast was excellent with the staff consistently checking to see if we needed anything and always offering to prepare things that weren’t available from the buffet and bring it to our table.
I enjoyed a long breakfast each morning, soaking in the sun and enjoying some tasty food and drinks, with the help of the incredible staff.
Amenities
Being a resort, the Waldorf Astoria has a lot to offer on site in terms of activities and food options. The hotel features a spa, two outdoor pools, tennis courts, kids areas, water sports, as well as a beach at the back of the hotel which faces the Palm Jumeirah.
The pool area was extremely crowded during the day and it took a while to find open lounge chairs. Once we found a good spot, we were brought complementary bottles of water in a bag of ice. One of the hotel staff helped clean off the chairs from the last guest and made them up for us with clean towels. The pool area was quite relaxing despite there being quite a few families around with young kids.
The beach was fine however, the sand wasn’t the best quality which was the case with other beaches I’ve visited in the UAE as well.
The hotel has a few restaurants, two of which we tried: Palm Avenue for lunch and Social for dinner. Palm Avenue is located next to the main pool and offers a California style menu. We ordered a few small dishes and the food was just okay. Our total came out to about 55$ for two of us. I did like sitting in this cool cabana on top of the pool though!
We ate at Social for dinner, an Italian restaurant owned by chef Heinz Beck. The restaurant is pricey, but the food was delicious, and service was the best I’ve had at any restaurant by far. Total cost for two of us was about 280$.
As a diamond member, I was given two free drinks to use at either of the hotel’s two bars. We checked out Serafina after dinner and ordered two cocktails, both of which were fine. We were also given some nuts and pretzels to go with the drinks.
The hotel also offers a shuttle a few times per day to the Mall of The Emirates which we didn’t make use of.
The hotel amenities were more than enough to keep me occupied over my two days at the property, but I imagine I would get bored during a longer stay.
Bottom Line
The Waldorf Astoria is a great option for those looking for a luxurious beach getaway in Dubai. For me, the highlights were the beautiful suite and the incredible service I received throughout my stay from every staff member. I would certainly come back again for a relaxing experience in Dubai!