West Corniche Road - United Arab EmiratesAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -See the map
Amy AdejokunSection editor
Whether you want to arrive by boat or by helicopter, the Palace caters for it. One of the most expensive hotels ever built, and originally built as a palace for the Sheikh, The Emirates Palace, run by Kempinski, is the place to see and be seen when in Abu Dhabi. Smack-bang in the middle of a busy intersection, the hotel with its domed ceiling and turrets, is an impressive fortress. The enormous lobbies remind of Kubrick dimensions with a smattering of Middle Eastern luxe. The hotel is more of a tourist attraction than a cosy haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you like your upmarket facilities and your cappuccino sprinkled with real gold, then this is the place. The hotel attracts a wide-ranging clientele, from celebrities and families with young children, to couples on a romantic getaway.
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Location
6.11/10
Accommodation
9.70/10
Overview
9.90/10
Food and drink
9.90/10
Spa
Beach
9.20/10
To know
The hotel is planted right in the middle of a busy intersection close to the Sheikh's new palace in the diplomatic and business area of town. There isn't much to do in the immediate surroundings - across the road is the Jumeirah Etihad Towers with a large choice of cosmopolitan restaurants and a viewing deck. The airport is about half an hour away by car.
The mammoth hotel has a manageable 362 rooms and suites. They are all decorated in a similar style - a little bland and old fashioned. However, spacious and comfortable, the rooms were reasonably well-appointed despite lacking the wow-factor.
Every room comes with a 24-hour butler service, and all the expected mod-cons from a flat-screen television to an in-room safe and mini-bar. Every room has a balcony overlooking the palm gardens. There are three types of rooms: Coral, Pearl and Diamond. They all come in at 55m² and apart from a slight variation in the colour scheme of the rooms, there isn't much difference apart from the view. The Pearl rooms look out to the outdoor pools, the Diamond accommodation has views of the hotel beach and the Coral rooms have varying views. The suites, of which there are six different types, vary more greatly in space and décor. Opulent and completely 'OTT', they are symbolic of the Gulf's decadent tastes and are well worth a look-in if you have the budget.
Originally built as a palace for the Sheikh to conduct an annual meeting with leaders in the region, the Emirates Palace was turned into a hotel and opened under Kempinski management in 2005. For us, the hotel felt more like a convention centre than an actual hotel. Security guards watch your every move and the fact that there are no windows at ground level, makes the experience very close to that of being inside a fortress made of gold. However, despite the hermetic security and lack of natural light, the hotel does wins points for its upkeep - the hotel its very own gold-leaf artisan for when bits of gold fade or become unattached.
As a hotel, The Emirates Palace doesn't score very highly with us due to the lack of personal service and general atmosphere, which a building of this size just couldn't have. For the size, the hotel gives rowdy children plenty to explore, but for those who are on more a leisurely rhythm, there are also hotel buggies that ferry passengers between various facilities within the palace grounds.
There are two large outdoor pools, one with slides and the other a calmer pool. There is an Anantara Spa, a marina, a manmade beach, 10 restaurants and four bars. And anyway, if something is missing, the staff will probably be able to seek it out for you in no time.
While The Emirates Palace has a grand variety of restaurants - 10 in total - there is one crucial consideration to take into account before you book a table. Enquire about functions happening on the grounds close to the restaurant of your choice as there are often functions with terrible blaring music and advanced power point presentations. To avoid having to look onto a company's annual get-together while you're tucking into a seafood platter with your loved one, then sit inside or eat elsewhere.
Each restaurant has its own flavour and speciality, from seafood at Sayad's to French at Le Vendôme. Sayad's was our first choice during our stay and to stay in keeping with the OTT atmosphere of the place, we went with the seafood platter to share. Although consistent and diverse, the seafood was lacking in taste.
Atmosphere-wise, the service was very good, but we were sat watching a company's end of year function with loud music and flashing screens - not quite what we'd had in mind!
The hotel spa is one of the best in the city in terms of treatments. The Palace prides itself on its spa. The products used are of the upmarket British brand, Elemis, although the spa is technically an Anantara spa. There are seven treatment rooms and a large hammam. As the spa gets very busy, the guests should book at least 48 hours in advance - the spa is open until 10:00pm. Judging by the size of the hotel, the spa is tiny and could have done with a little bit more focus on making the area relaxing and just generally 'zen' as it felt a little cold.
The hotel has a one-mile manmade beach lined by a promenade linking the hotel to the marina. Just like a real beach, there are lots of sports activities and sun loungers, but the sea isn't doesn't have that same impact as a exotic lagoon.
Although the hotel is livelier during Muslim holidays and celebrations, it is also the worst time to come to the hotel. During our stay during a month of November, we ended up having to carry our heavy luggage all the way out of the hotel and to the road to get a taxi as the way for cars to the hotel had been barred for security. Also, November is the month that companies all over the Gulf have functions, so if you had imagined a quiet romantic stay at the palace, then book outside of functions and religious festivals.
Warning: Phone calls in Abu Dhabi from hotels are charged at an extortionate rate, so avoid making calls
anywhere (even local)! When we say extortionate we mean about £100 for 15 minutes - Easyvoyage tried and tested and needless to say that we weren't too happy when we got the bill!
The Sofitel Abu Dhabi is another one of our favourites in the city. Located right across the road from the cornice, it is in the heart of Abu Dhabi. The hotel is extremely well-appointed and adapted to the country without a tad of brashness but a little touch of French influence - Sofitel after all, is known for its upmarket French credentials. Staff will greet you with a Bonjour and the food is worthy of its native France no matter where the hotel is in the world. An ideal hotel for a business clientele, but due to its high standard leisure facilities like the spa and restaurants, the Sofitel would also be suitable for leisure stays.
This is a hotel with many assets: it has a good location, close to the village center, comfortable rooms and a myriad of bars and restaurants for celebrations and good food.
This hotel review is a translation from the French published on our French site Easyvoyage.com.
The Sheraton Abu Dhabi offers a very good comfort level, and a variety of restaurants in a compact space. An ideal hotel for a beach stop during a journey - alone or with a group - in the Emirates.
This hotel review is a translation from the French published on our French site Easyvoyage.com.
The Intercontinental Abu Dhabi hotel is certainly full of surprises. From the outside, it looks uninteresting and dated, but as soon as you have crossed the threshold, you will doubtless be impressed by the beauty and modernity of its various areas which are so different from one another. Luxury and comfort are present from the reception hall to the bedrooms passing by the large marina. Some of its restaurants are unique and quite magical both for the quality of their cuisine and their decoration. In short, whether you are staying at the Intercontinental or not, you have to try out its bars and restaurants!
This hotel review is a translation from the French published on our French site Easyvoyage.com.
Good places to eat (several famous restaurants), good places to visit (one club where you can see the young exiles)... Why shouldn't you stay there ? The rooms have no balcony : for once, the view won't be a big deal.
This hotel review is a translation from the French published on our French site Easyvoyage.com.
The first resort under the St Regis umbrella, The Saint Regis Saadiyat Island (not to be confused with The St Regis Abu Dhabi) is one of our favourite places to stay in Abu Dhabi. Not too far from the city centre and with a lovely beach, a lively holiday atmosphere reigns here. The lavish rooms are extremely comfortable and well appointed; the facilities onsite are of a high standard and the sea views and sandy beach earn the resort those extra points for the top position in our Abu Dhabi hotel hotlist. The hotel is the ideal place to stay for guests on holiday (as opposed to business) and attracts a wide-ranging clientele, from families to couples as well as groups of friends.
The Jumeirah Hotel Etihad Towers is one of those hotels discreetly hidden inside one of the city's numerous towers. Once you've actually found the hotel bit - because it's a bit of a maze in there if you come in a different way to the actual hotel entrance - it's all sweeping spaces modelled on something that looks like a lavish, slightly overdone, Shining film set. An enormous tower of luxe, very masculine lines, straight edges, angular, lots of black and white, the Jumeirah is one of those hotels that one learns to love due to the high quality finish and upmarket facilities. Although the hotel has a great pool at the back of the hotel, it isn't really one for the kids - a hotel more for business, and there are still few leisure guests.
The Shangri-La Abu Dhabi is a brand new establishment that will make others pale with envy. Its view of the distant mosque is an absolute spectacle. The resort itself is huge and luxurious in its every detail and in the many facilities it has on offer. The service is outstanding too. The interior decor and layout are a feast for the eyes, as they mix modern designer elements with traditional Arabic touches. The spa, restaurants, main swimming pool, 2000-ft canal and bars make for an exceptional and restful hotel.
A 'Small luxury hotel of the world', Desert Islands is a true haven of peace, totally isolated and very far from any kind of local life. It is the only hotel on Sir Bani Yas island with a huge nature reserve! Everything here is carefully thought through with great care and attention. It is ideal if you're looking to unwind in a magnificent setting, with a view of the sea! On top of that, the two possible activities here are sports activities and exploration of the nature reserve: wildlife enthusiasts will be delighted, beach lovers not so much.
This hotel review is a translation from the French published on our French site Easyvoyage.com.
The Jumeirah Hotel Etihad Towers is one of those hotels discreetly hidden inside one of the city's numerous towers. Once you've actually found the hotel bit - because it's a bit of a maze in there if you come in a different way to the actual hotel entrance - it's all sweeping spaces modelled on something that looks like a lavish, slightly overdone, Shining film set. An enormous tower of luxe, very masculine lines, straight edges, angular, lots of black and white, the Jumeirah is one of those hotels that one learns to love due to the high quality finish and upmarket facilities. Although the hotel has a great pool at the back of the hotel, it isn't really one for the kids - a hotel more for business, and there are still few leisure guests.
Part of the Viceroy group, which is well-known for the upmarket and contemporary standards of its hotels, the Viceroy Yas Island Hotel is no different. The only 5-star property on the island, the hotel straddles one of Abu Dhabi's main attractions, Ferrari World Formula 1 race track, and has become somewhat of a landmark in the city. Appearing in the distance out of the sand mist, the hotel, with its alien outer shell of purple LED lights, is hard to miss. A stylish hotel that has been decorated with a mixed choice of materials that borders on garish, but which receives full acclaim for its avant-garde architecture and beautiful rooftop bar and pool. An ideal hotel for a young flashy clientele looking to spend a short break centred around the race track.
The Intercontinental Abu Dhabi hotel is certainly full of surprises. From the outside, it looks uninteresting and dated, but as soon as you have crossed the threshold, you will doubtless be impressed by the beauty and modernity of its various areas which are so different from one another. Luxury and comfort are present from the reception hall to the bedrooms passing by the large marina. Some of its restaurants are unique and quite magical both for the quality of their cuisine and their decoration. In short, whether you are staying at the Intercontinental or not, you have to try out its bars and restaurants!
This hotel review is a translation from the French published on our French site Easyvoyage.com.
The first resort under the St Regis umbrella, The Saint Regis Saadiyat Island (not to be confused with The St Regis Abu Dhabi) is one of our favourite places to stay in Abu Dhabi. Not too far from the city centre and with a lovely beach, a lively holiday atmosphere reigns here. The lavish rooms are extremely comfortable and well appointed; the facilities onsite are of a high standard and the sea views and sandy beach earn the resort those extra points for the top position in our Abu Dhabi hotel hotlist. The hotel is the ideal place to stay for guests on holiday (as opposed to business) and attracts a wide-ranging clientele, from families to couples as well as groups of friends.
Good places to eat (several famous restaurants), good places to visit (one club where you can see the young exiles)... Why shouldn't you stay there ? The rooms have no balcony : for once, the view won't be a big deal.
This hotel review is a translation from the French published on our French site Easyvoyage.com.
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
