I had been on a few press trip stays in Dubai at the W Hotel and in Ras Al Khaimah, so I decided to treat myself to a stay at the St Regis, Dubai The Palm for my final night.
In this post:
Location
The hotel is not located on a beach, but you do have access to a beach club. However, I did really like the location, which is near the Fairmont Palm and on the “trunk” of the Palm. It is situated next to the Nakheel Mall which can be accessed via the hotel. It is also by the Nakheel Mall monorail station which connects with the main metro system.
The hotel has two attractions in the same building: the View on the Palm and the Aura Skypool. Suspended 200 metres in the air, the Aura Skypool is the world’s first and highest 360-degree infinity pool. The hotel can arrange tickets for you. Sadly, I had bad visibility and weather on the day I had planned to do these, so I did not get the chance.
You will also be spoilt for choice when dining out as it is next door to the St. Regis Gardens, which houses 6 restaurants in its rooftop location.
Check-in
This was the second best check-in experience this trip after the Waldorf Astoria. It took a minute or two for a bellman to come to my Uber and retrieve the luggage, but once I had someone’s attention, they were very friendly and helpful. Reception was also extremely charming and could not do enough to help.
The outside of the hotel is fairly unremarkable, but the lobby feels luxurious and relaxed.
My room was not ready as I was early, but I was given a key to access the pool area. My room was ready at around the usual check-in time. I was given an upgrade either due to my Marriott Platinum status or booking through my GTC package which also included an upgrade. However, although my original category was a Deluxe Room and the upgrade was into a Grand Deluxe Room, in reality, the rooms are identical, but mine was on a high floor and had a partial sea view.
The bellman was very slow with my luggage, and it took nearly an hour, even after chasing it, although I was assured when I checked in that it would be sent to the room as soon as it was ready. I would expect much better from a St Regis. It was also slow when I checked out.
The room
I liked the style of the room, which I would call “quiet luxury” rather than some of the blingy 5-star hotels you tend to get in Dubai. It felt spacious and well-equipped, as you would expect with a St Regis.
As you walk in, there are two wardrobes and a dressing table area. As regular readers will know, I love a proper dressing table area. I have long hair and appreciate somewhere to sit and dry it. It had two sockets, which was handy. However, like the W Hotel, the sockets were very close to the countertop, which made it tricky to plug in my Dyson Airwrap, but it was just manageable. There were also two storage drawers, which were handy for storing makeup and hair accessories.
The robes were a little disappointing, as they were just basic towelling ones, albeit high-quality Frette cotton.
The bed was heavenly, which I have found at the other St Regis hotels I have stayed at, such as the wonderful one in Venice.
I also liked the desk’s style, which felt much more relaxed than the usual “business” style. The views were excellent, with a clear view of the Burj Al Arab, the downtown skyline, and the sea. It was lovely to sit on the window sofa with a coffee admiring the view.
As you would expect, there was a Nespresso machine and kettle with a small selection of tea. Bottled water was also supplied, but it definitely could have been more generous compared to other hotels as initially, there were only two bottles in the bathroom. Two more bottles were delivered with room service.
Bathroom
The spacious bathroom was the highlight of the room, with its deep soaking tub and plentiful toiletries. You could see into the bedroom but there was an automatic blind if you wanted privacy. It also had a large walk-in shower and separate toilet. I do love a bench seat in the shower, odd though it seems. Perfect for washing your feet or shaving your legs without worrying about slipping.
The toiletries were an odd mix of brands but it made sense as the brands were related to the products. For example, the SachaJuan hair products are from a luxury haircare brand, whereas the shower gel and body lotion are from Sodashi, a clean beauty range of 100% natural body products. I found their fragrance pleasant but quite subtle.
There was a drawer with a few bits and bobs as well, such as a dental kit and cotton buds.
Food and drink
Breakfast
This is served at Cordelia situated alongside the pool. The buffet here was pretty exceptional and on par with the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, which I rate highly.
The restaurant itself did not feel too “canteen” like for a buffet and service was swift and friendly.
As well as the buffet there is an egg menu as well which is included and brought to the table.
The buffet was both extensive and beautifully presented. The patisserie was particularly impressive with a donut wall, croissant flowers, a savoury Danish with cheese and tomato and New York rolls with pistachio. There was also a gluten free are in a separate space.
There were two salad bars, one with regular vegetables and an Arabic version with dips and cheeses. The charcuterie and cheese selection was high-end, including a wonderful truffled brie, smoked salmon, pastrami, smoked chicken, and fresh burrata.
For hot dishes, there were the usual breakfast favourites, local dishes such as shakshouka, spinach fatayer, and foul mesdames, and global favourites such as dim sum, gyozas, and Indian dishes.
Other restaurants and bars
There are not that many restaurants in the hotel, with just the Rüya restaurant and Cordelia, the breakfast/all-day dining option. Rüya is the fine dining option that serves contemporary Anatolian cuisine.
However, there are lots of restaurants a minute or two away such as those at the St Regis Gardens which is next door.
It is annoying that it carries the St Regis branding but you can’t charge to your room. I ate there at Signor Sassi which I loved. The restaurant serves classic Italian cuisine in an elegant but traditional Italian setting, but it is definitely not cheap, even by Dubai’s standards.
The black truffle pasta was a particular highlight and worth the price for the generous amounts of fresh truffle shaved on top.
If you fancy a drink in the hotel, there is the St Regis bar, which features live jazz, or the pool bar and terrace, which has shisha.
Facilities
Pool and beach
The pool is on the third floor and was very busy when I was there. I managed to get a lounger, but when I disappeared, I popped into my room. I came back to find someone sitting on my lounger, dripping wet, and had also stolen my towel even though I had personal items on the lounger!
The pool staff will set up a lounger for you, organise your parasol, and bring an ice bucket with water. The food and drink choices by the pool were decent, although a little pricey.
Kyma beach clubAlthough the hotel does not have a beach, guests have free access to the Kyma Beach Club. There is an hourly shuttle, or you can walk, as it is about 15 minutes away from the hotel. There is also another pool there, and the Club is adults-only, which I like. You do have to book in advance, though.
Gym
The gym is well equipped with modern equipment, including some more unusual machines such as a Summit Trainer, TRX suspension Trainer, and Air Runner.
Spa
The Iridium spa offers a good range of treatments, and the staff is lovely. I had credit to spend with my booking (see below), so I decided to go for a treatment since I could not use it at the restaurant I went to. The spa has a sauna, steam room, and treatment rooms. It felt luxurious and tranquil. If you were leaving for a flight, like me, it has everything in the changing rooms to get showered and changed before you go.
The Relaxation massage was excellent and just what I needed before a long flight.
Booking
I booked through our luxury travel agent partners GTC, which cost £412 a night and got the following included in my stay:
- Complimentary Breakfast
- USD100 Hotel Credit
- Room upgrade on arrival
- Early check-in and Late check-out on request.
You can also book directly with Marriott Bonvoy and use points, which range from 50,000 in low season to 71,000. Cash rates in low season start from £176, and in high season, they start from £350.
You can find more information and pricing for the hotel on the official St Regis Dubai, The Palm website here.
Conclusion
The hotel is ideal for those who want to get out and about with some sightseeing but have a beach and pool available for some downtime as well. The service was very friendly and professional nearly all the time, but the bell service was poor in terms of expedience. The rooms are stylish and well equipped as well as being very comfortable and quiet.
