Our tour operator (Friendly Planet) booked us into the Al Manzil Hotel. We were greeted with juice & coffee as we waited for our key. The staff went out of their way at every turn to make sure we had what we needed throughout our stay and were given help with our plans, including transportation to and from some of the malls. (Hazel was especially wonderful)
The breakfast buffet, which was included, was fantastic, with local specialties, fruits & yogurts, waffles, omelettes, and many other hot and cold items. How about 6 types of juices, including mango or watermelon juice? And they served plenty of good coffee, that we Americans really needed to start our day. (although there is a Starbuck's adjacent if you are a serious coffee junkie)
Our room was in perfect condition, and our view was of the neighborhood and some of the skyskrapers under construction. You might think looking out on construction is a bad thing, but it was fascinating, considering the size and scope of the project. Looking out on the world's tallest bulding is amazing!
The design of the interior had a slight "W" hotel vibe to it, with an Arabic twist. The beds and pillows were very comfortable, and there was a great mini-bar, big flat-screen TV, writing desk, free internet service and robes and slippers. The glass-enclosed bathtub was more of a novelty for us, and the shower was a glass enclosure, as was the W.C. I wasn't sure I would enjoy this room design (when we previewed the hotel on the website) but we found it to be unique and enjoyable. Turn-down service included a chocolate covered almond-stuffed date and there was a complimentary plate of chocolate truffles when we arrived.
The pool was small and quiet, and we were able to enjoy a cold beer or lunch brought to us there.
We visited the beach hotels, and I found that they were more or less like going to Disneyworld. Huge, beautiful, but filled with tons of kids, and sunburned tourists, lots of shoppers, and they were just too crazy for me. I'd stay at the Al Manzil any time, and since taxi transportation is so inexpensive (and hotel shuttle service is free) I would choose this location again, even though the area is under construction. When the construction is complete, this hotel will probably be out of sight, price-wise, so stay there now, while you can afford it!
209 Reviews
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
2 Reviews




Location
Location
Location



