The one and only time I've complained (Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa (Dubai, United Arab Emirates))

Member Name: OllieCourts

Product:	Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Date:	04/07/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great golf course, nice beach

Disadvantages: Rude management, expensive restuarants

I stayed here on the basis of it being a 5* hotel. I'd previously spent a week at their sister hotel 'Hatta Fort' near the mountain range on the Omani border, a supposed 4* hotel, but had I not known the ratings I would have swapped those ratings round without a thought.

Jebel Ali's reception was large and welcoming, with friendly staff to carry your bags and a helpful young lady at the reception. We'd booked into a ground floor room and without trying to sound snobby, which I'm not, the room was worse than a 3* room. Basic facilities, smelt of paint, and you could hear every footstep from the hallway outside. It did have a patio area which was nice, but for the money we paid we didn't find it value for money, yet we kept quiet.

The restuarants in the hotel offer a la carte menus, where on one night we returned late from Dubai city to have a simple meal before bed. We paid well over the odds for an average meal (I can't remember which restuarant it was in, apologies) and to make matters worse we saw a member of the management shouting at a member of staff when he hadn't done anything wrong. I hate to see that and complained to reception as it was a horrible sight. They were apologetic and asked us to write down what our criticisms were, which i did, and declared if they'd offered me a return to Hatta Fort we'd take it in an instance, which they seemed genuinely upset at.

It's then, after they found out we didn't like our room and had complained about the management, that they upgraded us to the 'Princess Jasmine Suite' which was among the most expensive rooms with personal butler and your own stretch of the private beach. It's obvious where their priorities lie after being upgraded, as they treated us like celebrities upon being upgraded. I don't like complaining, but if I book into a 5* hotel this is what I expect, not a sub standard room below the high class!

I have to say throughout the stay the cleaners, receptionists, and general staff were all very friendly. I have no criticism of them, only the Arabic management. It seems they were very complacent with their hotel rating and therefore thought they were something they're not.
The location of the hotel is good if you are looking for seclusion, as it is a good 20-30 minute drive from Dubai, and the relaxing spa and private beach do make it a good place to relax. the hotel offers a shuttle bus into the city if you havent't hired a car. If you're in to golf then the course is great. We hired a buggy and clubs and played 9 holes, on which players such as Tiger Woods have plied their trade! The golf staff were very nice, and were always around giving us ice cold water and iced flannels to cool us off in the humidity. It's also the Sports Cafe where we oddly felt most comfortable. It was basic, yet nice, food but the manager was lovely and even sat with us for a bit telling us of his family in Bangladesh and telling stories, such a genuinely nice man. The Marina is also an attractive place, a nice walk late at night.

I hope the management have learn their lesson since we stayed, and this hotel runs smoother than it does when we were there. I definitely wouldn't class it as 5* in comparison to other's I've stayed in, but if you're looking to spend a few days away from the hustle and bustle of Dubai then it is worth a thought.

Summary: Not as good as its sister hotel in my opinion