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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

The Jumeriah Beach Hotel - Dubai!

38 replies

allthegirls · 20/08/2004 14:01

Has anyone stayed there? We are booked in to stay there in October.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me about the kids club, DD1 is 3 years and dd2 2 years. Is it suitable for their age group? Did you feel comfortable leaving kids their while you did your own thing for a bit?

OP posts:
deegward · 20/08/2004 14:19

Never been there, but just went into the web site (just being nosey) and wow &!!!!

Mosschops30 · 20/08/2004 14:25

Message withdrawn

DelGirl · 20/08/2004 14:27

I've been there, not stayed, just went for lunch when I was staying in Dubai. It is fantastic. I do know someone who stayed there who loved it and would definitely go back. Not sure what it's like for children though but Dubai is such a safe city. I loved it. Hope you have a great time. When are you thinking of going? I went in October and it was about 45/50 degrees, this time of year it's probably even hotter.

DelGirl · 20/08/2004 14:34

oops, you've already said October

NottsMum · 20/08/2004 15:15

One of my friend's is going back for the third time in October. She's got a 5, 2 and 3 month old and says the place is v. child friendly. I might be seeing her tomorrow so I'll ask what she thinks of the kids club and let you know.

sis · 20/08/2004 15:38

I haven't been but if I remember correctly, all the rooms at the Jumeirah Beach hotel face the sea so hopefully, you won't be facing the building site that is supposed to be Dubai for the foreseeable future.

Lowryn · 20/08/2004 15:52

You lucky mare!
We stayed at the Jumeriah Beach hotel in 2000 as part of our honeymoon. It was gorgeous and we would love to revisit it.
Next door is the Wild Wadi water park which stays open late but I would stick to the day time. The locals go in the evenings and we were made quite uncomfortable, as a woman in a bikini in an arab country is open to gawping and sniggering! It is odd to see a muslim lady in full dress go on a tube ride for us I guess.
All rooms look out onto the sea and you can watch the light displays on the Berj al Arab 7 star hotel.
The rooms are divine, although if you don't have a head for heights you may feel queasy looking down to reception!
Downsides are that it is very expensive to drink alcohol, food is quite dear too.
The sea is warm and bouyant (sp?)and the pools are excellent. I could go on all day.
Lucky you, I feel quite envious.

MABS · 20/08/2004 16:20

Have stayed there several times, it's great but usually v crowded with loads of kids. Now we always stay at the Mina a Salaam (6*)hotel which is next door and a bit less 'manic' You have full access to the Wild Wadi which is fab for the kids. The kids clubs at all the Jumeirah hotels are fantastic as are the private baby sitters. Am going out there end of next week again actually so any questions just ask away. I was there in June also. The Burj al Arab is NOT great for kids but the food is wonderful.

I would recommend the 'Premium Club' level which we always use as it is totally geared to families.

yes Dubai is a building site but I have never found it a problem at the hotels. It's def not a place for culture or sighteeing tho!!! Just tell me wot else you want to know ...

Tartegnin · 20/08/2004 19:53

We went for ten days with our daughter a couple of years ago when she was about 14 months. I don't think you'll be bothered by all the construction going on in Dubai, since the way JBH is set up is already in a developed area, and all the hotel rooms look out on the water and onto the Burj al Arab. We found the hotel fabulous for a little one, but the club was more geared to older children, so we didn't use it much for our daughter, except in a parent-supervised way. The family pool was perfect, though, and our daughter just wandered in and out of it. The beach is also great - clean and the water is warm and shallow. The water park is probably too much for your kids, at least mostly, but is a LOT of fun. We liked the restaurants, especially the fish one at the end of the hotel pier, but the buffet in the lobby was great for meals with the kids as you can pick and choose and there is a pretty decent choice.

Have a great holiday.

popsycal · 20/08/2004 20:03

my parents inlaw have just come ack from there afew days ago and thought it was amazing - by far the best hotel that they have ever stayed in and believe me, they have travelled quite a bit!!

Original poster
allthegirls · 21/08/2004 08:34

Thanks everyone!

Does anyone know how much we can expect to pay for a drink? A pint of lager and glass of wine?

MABS we are staying in a club executive room, I think that gives us access to the premium club lounge. Is that what you mean by the premium club level?

Tartegnin, do you think the kids club would be suitable foe a 3 and 2 year old just for an hour or so? Only really want to use it so dh and I can go and be kids ourselves at the wild wadi occasionally over our stay!!!!!

OP posts:
MABS · 22/08/2004 15:25

Yes , club exec rooms give access to the premium leisure lounge. I would always use that one with kids , not the exec, as it tends to be full of businessmen reading papers!!

I would leave a 3 yr old in the kid club with no hesitation and you know what your 2 yr old is like and how close to turning 3 he is. There were certainly 2 yr olds in the club, but we hired a 'one to one' nanny for 2 hrs to keep eye on them They were ever so cheap and excellent. Fairly sure that children 3 and under can only be left at club in mornings only.

Glass of wine is £5-6 and similar for a beer. But don't forget that you get comp drinx during cocktail hours in the early eve. I lived on Moet for 2 hours each day !!!

Oct will be busy at JBH, have a look at any restaurants there that you particularly fancy and pre book with the concierge - they get full quickly. Wud recommend the fab Chinese at the neighboring Mina a Salam.

Oct will be busy also as usually there is a massive GITEX conference in Dubai wich takes up most hotels. Also check when Ramadan starts this year as, whilst it doesn't affect jbh, the shop opening hours are very different. Anything else, pls ask. I'll be back out there on Saturday for a week - least it's warmer than here...

Tartegnin · 26/08/2004 17:46

Hi Allthegirls - been travelling so sorry for the delayed response. I think it would be ok to leave them in the club for a couple of hours, but don't recall the club rules on the little one. I seem to remember that it had to be with a parent or that leaving them was on limited hours. I agree with the suggestion to take a hotel nanny instead or in addition to, so you don't have to worry. Alternatively, you could all go to the Wild Wadi and take turns on the rides. I recall there were places to hang out with a wading pool for the children and a big pirate ship to climb on - also snack bars with pizza and the like.

Original poster
allthegirls · 27/08/2004 08:37

Thanks Tartegnin, I think I will ahev a look in to hiring a nanny from the hotel. It will be nice to be able to have a nice lunch in peace and not have to worry whether someone is watching them in the kids club.
We will certainly take them in to the wild wadi with us sometimes but dh needs a little persuasion with some of the bigger rides ( I will have to drag him!).

Going 6 weeks today!!!! I am really looking forward to it!

Thanks for all the info everyone!!

OP posts:
hedghog · 19/09/2004 17:36

Sorry to resurrect this old thread! Can anyone recommend the cheapest way to book for the JBH (or maybe another Dubai beach hotel)? I have emailed the hotel for their rates and have tracked down a good price for BA direct flights, but I am wondering if it would be cheaper to either book hotel only via a UK hotel website (Travelocity, Opodo, Hotels.com etc) or to book through a High Street Travel Agent or Tour Operator or maybe through a Dubai specialist Travel Agent? I guess I'll just have to do a lot of shopping around but any recommendations or advice would be appreciated. Hoping to travel February half term with dh and ds 1 and 2. Thanks.

littlemissbossy · 19/09/2004 17:37

my friends booked this (I think) on lastminute.com

DelGirl · 19/09/2004 17:41

If it were me, I'd look to book direct with the hotel. Having said that though, I have seen some great deals for the JB hotel with flights too in some travel agents. Lunn Poly being one. I would think most travel agents are much of a muchness with price. As they say, it pays to shop around and the JB is well known. When I went (stayed with friends) I think my flight was around £200 with last minute.com. Have seen deals for around £500, flights & hotel but was in the summer when alot of locals leave the country as it's so hot!

KangaMummy · 19/09/2004 17:53

Ramadan starts October 15th

Original poster
allthegirls · 19/09/2004 18:50

Hedgehog, We boooked through the hotel directly. We did some shopping around and found they did the cheapest rates. It may be different now as apparently we have booked a special offer.

But if you book through anywhere else make sure you are considering whether the breakfast and airport transfers are thrown in. We got these thrown into the package when we booked directly!

OP posts:
hedghog · 19/09/2004 21:51

Thanks for all the information - and so quickly too!
allthegirls, may I be extremely impolite and ask you what your room rate is at the JBH and for what room type. Are you there over October half term? How much are your flights? I've found BA flights for the four of us for £867 from Heathrow (outbound flight is a night flight though) which seems pretty good to me. The cheapest room rate I have found so far (through uae-hotelguide.com) is £1928 for 7 nights in a deluxe balcony room inclusive of service charge and government tax and breakfast. The hotel have quoted me £2476 incl of the taxes but excl breakfast!
Hope you have a fantastic time. Have you been to Dubai before and, if not, what made you decide to go there? Hope you don't mind all the questions. Thanks.

sis · 20/09/2004 20:50

This lot gave a very competitive room rate when I booked for the Jumeirah Beach Hotel for Feb 2004 (didn't go - had to cancel holiday at last minute ).

Original poster
allthegirls · 27/09/2004 09:55

Hi Hedghog.

Sorry I havnt checked this thread for a while. We have a club executive room for about £300 a night. We booked it through the hotel and all the taxes and breakfast is included. Also with the club exec the airport transfers aer included and also pre dinner drinks and canapes in the evening. Oh yes and all soft drinks and tea and coffee free all day in the lounges. I thought it was worth paying the extra for club exec as it was around the same with airport transfers anyway plus you get all the free drinks!!

We are off in 10days time!! 8th October. We are only staying for 3 nights as we are then off to Hong Kong for two weeks.

We are staying in Dubai on the way back too but are staying at the Le Meredien next to the airport. It is a hell of a lot cheaper but obviously not near the beach!!

We are staying in Dubai to break up the flight a bit for our daughters who are 3 and 2 it will also help with the jet lag.My Dad stays in Dubai quite often and he recommended it to us and he recommended the Le Meredien we are staying in.

We payed £600 per ticket but this takes us onto Hong Kong.

When are you planning on going?

Hope this answered some of your questions.

OP posts:
hedghog · 27/09/2004 11:53

Hi allthegirls, thanks for coming back about the Jumeirah Beach. I've booked our flights with BA leaving 9th Feb (evening flight) returning 16th for £876 - 2 adults, 2 kids. These dates partly coincide with half term week, although the children will miss 2 days school before they break up. I've also sent a reservation off for Premium Leisure/Club Exec Rooms at the Jumeirah Beach although I am awaiting confirmation of booking from the Travel Agents who are based in the UAE. The Premium Leisure Room is costing $356 (£199) per night incl breakfast for the adults, private transfers and the other benefits you mentioned. Like you, I decided it was defintely worth paying the extra for the Premium Leisure/Exec Club upgrade. Because these room rates are wholesale prices we have had to pay the full amount now - but hey what a great rate. 7 nights for 4 of us including flights £2,250!
Hope you have a fantastic holiday. Hong Kong sounds GREAT. I'd love to go there! What made you chose such an exotic destination with two little ones? Amazing holiday, I am sure you will have a truly memorable time and I can't wait to hear a trip report when you return. Be sure to post won't you.
Thanks for your help.

Tartegnin · 27/09/2004 13:23

If nothing's changed since we stayed there a couple of years ago, you also get to eat your breakfast in a separate restaurant, which is quite nice as it is much quieter than the large buffet downstairs. Also, the lounge served a nice afternoon tea with pastries. Be warned though, while we enjoyed the lounge during the day (great to have drinks on call with little ones), but at cocktails it wasn't so nice - no children allowed and very crowded and what I thought was pretty shocking behavior to crowd in for free drinks and snacks considering the price people were paying for the rooms! maybe that's all changed by now ...

dubaimum · 02/10/2004 18:44

Hi, I live in Dubai so if you want any specific info let me know, live across the road from Le Meridien, so know it quite well, it's true that Dubai is like a building site at the moment but don't think Jumeria Beach is affected, I think that you can see the Palm being built from there (not 100% sure though) Wild Wadi is great fun, but we only go when mil & fil are here to watch ds otherwise we would have to take it in turns to go on the rides which wouldn't be much fun. Still hot at the mo but February is a lovely time to vist,
Enjoy your stay