I don't understand how this hotel got the 5 * classification and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World group.

It's not that bad - please don't get me wrong and if we were offered a cheap 1 week rate we would happily stay there again.

The problem is that compared to other 5 star hotels in Dubai and worldwide, it doesn't add up.

The good things are many - rooms are spacious, large beds, good large bathrooms, lots of closet space.

There is a wonderful big beach with lots of loungers and although plenty of guests - it was deserted and very peaceful.

The hotel is a series of low rise buildings - 3 stories for accomodation. Great balconies and very quiet.

Even the building set back from the sea (the cheaper ones) have good sun and look pleasent enough.

We really enjoyed the feeling of peace and quiet.

One small bit of bad news news is that the Jebel Ali palm is being built just off-shore and it spoils the atmosphere. We stayed at the Palm Tree because we wanted to get away from the noise and it's there as well.

No worries on that score really as we half expected it. The hotel is new very overlooked and that spoils the big beach / quiet feeling.

The other bad news is that the food is very poor, compared to other Dubai hotels. We've stayed at 3 others and this was the worst.

The outside restaurant had unhelpful staff and poor quality food in an unpleasent atmosphere. The buffet had the same. At one buffett we had to keep asking the server for more food as he was only allowing small amounts for each guest. We weren't the only ones unhappy and heard complaints that night.

The maitre-d and other staff were brilliant and I wonder if they have a problem with food supply/quality or are just unwilliing to provide quality food for guests.

The Jasmine lounge is a bit of a joke. Very small. No atmosphere.

To top things off I had a dispute with them over the final bill and it took an hour to sort out.

I'm pretty sad about all of this. I wanted this to be a great hotel and it didn't measure up to others in Dubai.

We were extremely pleased with our week holiday in Dubai and the Palm Tree Court.

We booked with Expedia and got a really good deal flying with Emirates, with transfers and getting upgrade to half board too.
Our room was part sea view, but enough to get that beach feeling, and ground floor but plenty quiet enough (I was 27 wks pregnant at the time and found the resort perfect for me). The bed was massive! And it was nicely decorated with a spacious bathroom and bathrobes/slippers.

The food was really good in ALL the restaurants - and the staff could not do enough to help. We especially liked the White Orchid.

The free shuttle runs into the Jebel Ali side of town and from there it is cheap and easy to get a taxi. Even a taxi back from Jumeirah area in the day is only 70 dirham so around £10.

There is a lot of building in Dubai itself, but it is an amazing place and they are doing so much there - you must go expecting that. The sea is also a bit cool for swimming in January!

We have said that we would definitely go back as there is more to see and do - you could go as youngsters, with a family or as retired as it suits all.
Dont go expecting to gamble though as this is illegal in UAE... also if you want to have a few pre dinner drinks suggest you buy in Duty free as is costly there.

This has to be the best hotel I have stayed at in the world. From the moment of arrival we were greeted with a cool drink and were sat down in the reception area and waited shortly for a member of reception to check us in. We were then driven by golf buggy (these take you all around the resort) to our beautiful rooms. We travelled with our 2 small children who had an interconnecting suite next to ours.

The rooms were spotless and the bathrooms out of this world with Elemis products too !

The kids club at the hotel was the best kids club and the organised activities were great, my children loved the kids club and it was great for them to get some respite from the 38 degree sun. The childrens club even provided evening entertainment, which included pirate beach parties with food and drinks.

Restaurants were all fantastic - we used them all, except the steak restaurant at the football academy, we never ventured that far.

Pool area was always quiet even though it was half term, pool attendants were by you regularly to clean your shades or offer a cooling face spray or cold flannel and you do need them.

The beach was stunning, very well looked after. You could hear noise from the Jebel Ali palm but it was very faint and in the distance.

Staff were the most friendliest and happiest I have ever seen in a hotel.

Its a great location being 20 mins drive from Dubai centre, its not in all the hum drum of the busy building works in Dubai, but still near enough to jump in a cab to go and do your shopping and sightseeing.

Wild Wadi Water park a must as is Lunch at The Burj - must be booked well in advance.

I loved this hotel and I loved Dubai. I have never been so hot in all my life.

Stayed at Palm Tree Court for 2 weeks, end November/beginning of December.

We chose this hotel after doing a fair bit of research and taking on board comments from this website. Primarily we were after a hotel that had large rooms that could accomodate 2 adults and 2 kids and offered a kids club. We also wanted plenty of space around the pool and beach areas.

The hotel is very clean, well serviced and attended by staff who pay close attention to detail.

The standard of restaurants is very good. The main restaurant it La Fontana where breakfast is served and a buffet evening meal. The choice in both cases is excellent. We eat lunch at the beach bar, dinner in the Italian restaurant, at Shooters (steak house) and the Sports bar. In all cases the standard is very good, service excellent and reasonable value for money. We also ate in Signatures on my birthday, no kids allowed, but hired a babysitter from kids club that cost about £5 per hour. We also eat in the main restaurant on the 8th floor of the Jebel Ali, again this was a buffet but we thought the choice was poor and did not enjoy it.

Alcohol is quite expensive - particularly wine - expect to pay about £25-30 for a bottle of Pinot that you would buy in a UK supermarket for about £6. Beer is about £4.50 a pint. We overcame this by buying a load of wine in Dubai duty free when we landed, which I think is a good tip.

Our kids only went to kids club twice, as they were fed up that there were no other kids that spoke English.... only French and Russians there.....

We hired a car and driver through the concierge that was charged at 80 dirhams an hour, all told it cost us about £90 for a full day. He waited wherever we went , we took in all the main sites and we found this option preferable to doing the open top bus with two kids.

We also did the dessert dune bashing through Alpha Tours, booked through our Virgin rep and I have to say the driver was brillian. I was really nervous about the suitability for the kids (aged 5 and 7) but he was adamant it was safe. In actual fact they enjoyed it more than the adults and kept asking him to drive faster and make more bumps!

All in all this was a brillian trip, would definately recommend this hotel and it certainly warrants the 5 stars.

If anyone would like to email any questions please feel free