Shangri-La Hotel - Dubai, UAE: Carrying the prestigious name of Shangri-La, this 200 meter tall hotel has 43-stories and is the recipient of multiple awards since their opening in July 2003. Located on Sheik Zayed road, Shangri-La Dubai also offers 126 serviced apartments to those looking for a longer-stay. Shangri-La Dubai has often received good Dubai hotel reviews and we were here to inspect the hotel to see if it lived up to its reviews and the name it bore.

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First Impression/Lobby: The lobby at Shangri-La Dubai left a positive impression. The décor was done in rich colors like bronze, burnt copper and gold with the walls in a warm cream tone. There were rich rugs decorating the floor and adding elegance to the atmosphere. Plush sofas, pretty light fixtures, and bright flower arrangements brought about a tasteful atmosphere to the lobby.

Reception: The reception at Shangri-La Dubai was quick, but lacking in warmth. The impersonal welcome made us aware that we were in a hotel that valued the money we brought to the hotel and nothing more. Just forget feeling welcomed and valued.

The Suite: We had booked a one bedroom suite at the Shangri-La Dubai. The suite proved to be gorgeous in décor and comfortable. The living room was comfortable and spacious with a dining table for four, a cozy white couch, plush grey sofa chairs, a flat screen TV, and a pretty framed print that decorated the walls. It was a perfect suite for entertaining a few friends or hanging out after a day in the city or out by the pool.

The bedroom was separated from the living room by a door giving added privacy should you be entertaining, however, with only one bathroom, your guests may need to traipse through the bedroom should they need to freshen up.

Regardless, the bedroom kept with the same comfortable feel and offered a large comfortable bed flanked by bed-side tables. It was also fitted with a spacious and large work-table. The colors used in the bedroom were soft and welcoming.

The bathroom at Shangri-La Dubai had sleek black counters, a deep sink, a bath and a shower stand. The amenities were both adequate and luxurious.

Room Service: The room service at Shangri-La Dubai was quite appalling. Slow and consistently late, it had none of the professionalism demanded of a five-star hotel.

Housekeeping: The housekeeping really had us at our wits end; intrusive, unprofessional and untrained. We were beyond annoyed from being disturbed in spite of our ‘Do Not Disturb’ posting and at having our request for a turn down go unheeded one night.

Concierge: The concierge at Shangri-La Dubai was clueless when it came to giving us good restaurant recommendation. We were also taken aback one day to find ourselves in a hired car driven by a friend of the concierge instead of being put in a registered hotel car.

Restaurant: There are quite a few options of restaurants and bars to choose from at the Shangri-La Dubai. The Amwaj offering seafood, the Dunes Café offering all-day eats with live cooking stations, the Hoi An serving traditional Vietnamese cuisine showing French influences, the Marrakech serving Moroccan food in an open courtyard and the main restaurant, the Shang Palace, serving Cantonese cuisine. The Balcony Bar at Shangri-La Dubai is themed in old Shanghai style and offers coffee, cigars, wines and cocktails and you can also drop into the Lobby Lounge for small bites through the day, afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

Pool/Spa/Activities: The Shangri-La Dubai has a spa offering holistic treatment using Chinese medicines. There is also a fitness center with a fully equipped health club, a Tennis court and a large outdoor pool and Jacuzzi. The pool is large and flanked by comfortable pool chairs under towering Palm trees, it was a great place for a dip and a day in the sun.

Check-Out: The check-out at Shangri-La Dubai was slow, impersonal and quite below Shangri-La standards. We were very unhappy with both the attitude and efficiency.

Overall Impression: Though Shangri-La Dubai was a beautiful property with amazing décor and suites, the service offered made it below par and not up to five-star standards. The unprofessional attitude and lack in efficiency was a major problem we faced during our stay at the Shangri-La Dubai and we were quite disappointed with the hotel. We rate Shangri-La Dubai Between Bombastic and Not.

Address and Telephone Number
Shangri-La Dubai
Sheikh Zayed Road
P.O. Box 75880
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: (971 4) 343 8888
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