Hotel Movenpick Jumeirah Beach

The hotel is located in the Jumeirah Beach area just across the street from the sea and 10 minutes' walk from the main boardwalk, where you will find a range of cafés and restaurants (most of which are chains that you will recognise). The airport is about 30 minutes' drive away (traffic-depending) and the main city centre, where you'll find the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall, is about 20 minutes away by car. The area is generally safe, even in the evenings, despite being a little way away from the town centre.

The Movenpick Hotels and Resorts is an upscale Swiss company with properties all over the world, from Tangier to Singapore. It is well-renowned for its high standards despite not being a top luxury brand. There are two Movenpick hotels in Dubai, the second one being in Bur Dubai.

The hotel has obtained Green Globe certification for its environmental efforts, which are reflected throughout Movenpick properties in general.

The hotel is a 23-storey pinkish tower, like most buildings that line Jumeirah Beach. Like most hotels in Dubai, the oversized lobby recalls a shopping centre atmosphere due to its high ceilings and clean lines. However, the touches of blues and greens and the cosy sofas help to soften the otherwise sterile decor. The unobtrusive scent of incense wafts through the lobby, reminding guests that they are in an Arab country, as the hotel itself is similar to the chain's other properties. The Jumeirah hotel is one of the trendiest places to hang out as it always has an event on around the pool, be it a Peroni party or a fashion show, there is always something going on here.

There is nothing flashy about this hotel, but it high a good range of high-standard facilities, like the clean and well-equipped hotel gym and spa as well as the hotel's four food and beverage outlets. If you are likely to want a spa treatment, do book plenty of time in advance as the spa tends to get very busy, especially during school holidays. The gym has a steam and sauna, both of which are free for guests to use.

The elevators, although there are three in total for guest-use, can be slow travelling up and down the hotel's 23 floors, so you may be left waiting a while before reaching your destination within the hotel.

With 294 rooms, the hotel is fairly large, so if you're looking for intimate boutique experience, it is probably not the best place to come. Although the room décor is pretty standard, with nothing really jumping out, they are comfortable and all have sea views, which is a great plus if you're after a bit of that holiday atmosphere! The smallest room is the Superior, at 35m², with the largest being the Royal Suite at 140m². In between the two there is the Executive Suite at 70m². All rooms have the expected mod-cons, such as an in-room safe (free to use), a bath tub, wireless internet connection (at a extra charge), complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, a mini-bar and a balcony. The entire hotel is non-smoking, so smokers will be relieved at being able to use the balcony instead of having to go to the main hotel entrance. The hotel has lots of connecting rooms, so do enquire about this at the time of booking. The Executive rooms consist of a separate sitting room and a more spacious bathroom. Guests staying here also have complimentary access to the business lounge, where food and refreshments are served throughout the day, as it is the case at most hotels in Dubai. Wi-Fi in this room category is also complimentary. The suites can accommodate three people, but the extra bed comes at an extra charge. The general décor is pleasant and fresh, with touches of deeps blues and turquoises that are in keeping with the rest of the hotel.

The hotel has four outlets altogether. The Layali Shisha pool bar is where it's at for partying, and there's always something going on here in the evenings! The bar here serves snacks and mezzes and closes at 1:00am every day. The Talk Restaurant and Lounge is the main hotel restaurant, serving an impressive buffet spread at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The advantage here is that the food if of a very high standard. The food is freshly prepared - among lots of different styles of cuisine, you'll find a sushi bar, freshly-baked pizza, a live pasta station and a rotisserie. Gusts also have the option of choosing something from an à la carte menu for something a little bit more special, and for private dinners, there is a separate dining room (seats 12 people), which must be booked well in advance. Guests can also be served food at the poolside cabanas (seat 8 people). Something we appreciated a lot was the hotel sports bar actually! Unlike most sports bars, which can be uncomfortable and cold, the Movenpick has made sure that everyone feels comfortable here despite the impressive number of screens all over the place. The couches are cosy and food and drinks are served throughout the day until 1:00am. For something even more casual, there is the lobby lounge against a backdrop of palm trees. The Falls, as the lounge is called, is open around the clock and serves organic juices, teas and coffees as well as a range of cakes and pastries.

Although there is nothing exotic about Dubai beaches due to the lack of coves and vegetation, it does the job on those sweltering summer days. Dubai beach life unravels along this long stretch of sand lined by towers of hotels. The beach is on the whole quite clean and there are a number of cafés and restaurants that line the beach along the Jumeirah beach walk. The area is generally safe, even at night. Drinking alcohol in open public spaces is however not permitted; you run a high risk of a hefty fine or even jail if you choose to break this law.