Flying back from Zurich to San Francisco on Emirates, we ended up with a two-night layover in Dubai. We made the best of it by staying at the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah and taking a Gray Line tour of Dubai.
You can also read my reviews of Emirates first class lounge and flights:
- Emirates game-changer first class suites from Zurich to Dubai
- Emirate first class lounge at Dubai International Airport
- Emirates first class from Dubai to San Francisco
The hotel is located 26 miles from Dubai International Airport on the Palm Jumeirah. We used Emirates chauffeur drive service to get us two and from the airport.
Hotel Room Categories
The Palm Jumeirah has nine room types and seven for the suites. Guest staying in the Pearl Club rooms or higher have access to the Pearl Club. The Pearl Club is what is usually known as the Hilton Executive Lounge.
Our Accommodation
I booked the two nights for the Pearl Club Sea View king room using Hilton Honors points. We are Hilton Honors diamond members so we were upgraded to the Pearl Club Sea View suite upon arrival. Our suite gave us access to the Pearl Club.
Our suite measured out at 1,265 square feet and featured a living room, guest bathroom and a large bedroom suite. There are three LCD flat-screen televisions located in the living room, bedroom and bathtub. Our suite was on the top floor with a huge balcony overlooking the ocean.
I redeemed 104,000 Hilton Honors points per night for the Pearl Club Sea View king room. The complimentary upgrade to the Pearl Club Sea View suite would have been a substantial increase in points redeemed.
The Pearl Club
The Pearl Club is an exclusive oasis with stunning panoramic views of the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai skyline in a relaxed atmosphere. There is a nice selection of food and beverages in the Pearl Club.
Located on the 5th floor of the luxury hotel, the Pearl Club is a private oasis offering fabulous views and a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. Guests can meet and browse a wide selection of newspapers and magazines, catch up on the latest news or simply relax on the balcony while enjoying the panoramic view of the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai skylines.
The Pearl Club is one of the most exclusive spaces on the Palm Jumeirah and is available to guests who have reserved Pearl Club rooms, Pearl Club suites, Waldorf Astoria suites, Chairman’s Suite or Royal Suite
The Pearl Club is open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Dining
The Palm Jumeirah has six restaurants:
- LAO – LAO serves the best of Asian home-style cooking with authentic spices, sauces and cooking techniques.
- Mezzerie – Mezzerie offers breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets featuring international cuisine. Nightly-themed dinner buffets feature a rotating selection of international cuisines appealing to guests who enjoy a variety of dishes.
- Palm Avenue – A poolside oasis located in the heart of the hotel’s elegant grounds, Palm Avenue offers guests a chic, yet relaxed atmosphere serving inspired Californian comfort food.
- Peacock Alley – Peacock Alley overlooks the hotel’s beautiful central gardens and serves the finest teas, coffees and light meals.
- Serafina Bar – The Serafina Bar serves cocktails and small dishes inspired by Venetian ‘Bacaro’ cuisine.
- Social by Heinz Beck – Social by Heinz Beck offers a vast selection of innovative à la carte options as well as a special blind menu where guests share their culinary preferences and receive a dining journey of dishes created just for them.
As a diamond member, our breakfast was included. The breakfast buffet is located at Mezzerie and it has to be the largest breakfast buffet that I have ever seen. Just look at these options:
Dubai – Where “Old” Meets “Large”
Dubai is an amazing cosmopolitan city where the old of the Middle East meets large and modern. You can literally go back in time to being in the newest feats of engineering.
The Hotel Staff
In all of my hotel reviews, I say the same thing – hotels are just buildings and it’s the people that make the difference. I have to say that the people of the United Arab Emirates are a most humble and gracious people. They simply can’t do enough for you. This is true at the hotel, in the city and flying aboard Emirates. The staff of the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah from the front desk to housekeeping to food service treat you like royalty.
Final Thoughts
The Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels are the top-level Hilton hotels. Being a top-level hotel, The Palm Jumeirah truly delivers the service that you would expect from a Waldorf Astoria. We stayed on Hilton Honors points and were nicely upgraded to a Pearl Club Suite.
Our experience was excellent and the only downside was that we were only there for two nights. Next time we will stay longer.
