Location & Arrival
I got to the Conrad Dubai at around 1pm. The taxi ride from the Dubai Creek took less than 20 minutes. I had stayed 2 nights at the Canopy Dubai Al Seef which I have reviewed.
The hotel is located 10m from the World Trade Centre metro station. The property was busy.
Staff was friendly although mechanical in the check-in process. Masks and anti-COVID-19 screens didn’t help either with the communication. I was given my keys and upgraded to a King Executive room.
Bellboy at the car and in the room was efficient, I tipped him. Tipping in Dubai is not common, but I always tip. You can refer to the Perfect Dubai Trip Guide.
No Gold Status welcome kit on the desk or on the table in sight. But a staff member brought a nice box of stuffed dates.
The Conrad Dubai King Executive Room
The Conrad Dubai King Executive room is corner room. It is spacious and ideal for a couple. It would get complicated for a family of 4, unless you opt for the 2 double bed option.
I liked the use of dark wood which allows to fend of the blinding Dubai daylight.
The bathroom is segmented and spacious. The shower flows directly into the floor and the bath is pretty big. A little bonus, it comes with an imbeded TV screen in the wall.
The bedroom is something else.
It shows signs of fatigue at the furniture level and amenities. The TV furniture showed signs of wear and the TV set could not be turned toward the bed to my liking.
The sofas were very uncomfortable and I thought I was being absorbed. A very unpleasant experience and not what I expect from a Conrad.
The bed was comfortable, so were the pillows. The nightstands could definitely use USB ports.
The electronic switch board was kind of usefull but I had to fight with the curtains when came time for bed. As I pressed the night curtain buttom, the east side curtains would open while the south side curtains would close. It felt like a comedy movie.
So I had to close the curtains manually. It was hard since this is all controled electrically. Not impressed at all.
The Conrad Dubai Pool
The Conrad Dubai has probably the best swimming pool in all of the city. Not only because it is centrally located at the beginning of the Sheikh Zayed Road, but also because its design.
Once you set foot around the pool area, you can’t help but notice 2 important things. The first one is the lush greenery all around the pool. The second one is the drop in temperature. The air was much cooler and pleasant then the suffocating hot September afternoon.
I would spend hours in the pool, choosing to go under the tree shade or grab a bit of sunshine. That’s a huge value for a pool in a hot country. Other luxury hotels have bigger pools, however most a totally exposed to the crushing desert sunlight.
The Conrad Dubai Executive Lounge
The Conrad Dubai Executive Lounge was a pleasant and quiet space.
The Executive Lounge is open from 6:30 am until 10:00 pm:
- Breakfast was served from 6:30 am to 11:00 am
- Afternoon Tea from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Family Hour from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Happy Hour from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Children under 10 years are not allowed during Happy Hour in the lounge. Dress code is smart casual, but of course it was not enforced. Many clients showed up in flip flops and what looked like dry swimwear.
My Conrad Dubai Verdict
Overall I was satisfied with my stay at the Conrad Dubai.
Although the room needs a furniture and amenities overhaul, the pool, lounge and location of the hotel are undeniable. I will stay again at the hotel with my family.
However, I won’t be paying for food which has been a big let down coming from a Hilton property in the Gulf. Food in the Gulf, particularly in hotels, is a serious matter and Conrad Dubai dropped the ball.
I hope this will change in the future.