I absolutely adore this hotel! My husband and I have been staying at the Emirates palace for around 13 years for just over 2 weeks at a time.
When the Mandarin Oriental took over (and Covid happened), we decided not to go back for a couple of years so that any changes could be bedded in, I wish we hadn’t waited.
The hotel, the changes, the staff are incredible.
To start with, the EP club is amazing, it used to be a room on the 5th floor that we never went to even though we paid for it, they have now moved it to the ground floor with an outside terrace which is what you want in holiday, to have the option of being outside. The canapés served are freshly cooked and incredibly tasty. Massive mention to Santosh who looked after us with so much enthusiasm, we couldn’t help but get tearful when we said goodbye, he made sure we had everything we needed during the day in the beach and into the evening, but that also goes for all the staff at the EP club, the beautiful manager Cianna (apologies if I have the name incorrect) manages her staff so well and you can tell they have so much respect not only for her, but the hotel.
The housekeeping staff should also be praised, the attention to detail not only when they clean the rooms, but the outside areas is to be commended, and always so polite.
The restaurants are very good, the staff helpful and attentive and should all be visited.
Only downside was on a few occasions we decided to sit close to the pool on the grass area (which we used to do for years), we had to get our own towels and water even after trying to get their attention, which was very frustrating, I don’t mind getting my own towels and water, but its a bit annoying when people sitting on top of the pool were treated so much better, we were seen by the staff, but it appears they just didn’t want to come away from the pool and they certainly avoided eye contact, so that did let it down, but we were lucky that we could go back to the EP club beach which others may not have had the opportunity.
Other than that slight misfortune, the hotel is a world class and we’ll be back next year!