When we were informed that due to renovations taking place at the Al Qasr Hotel, we were being moved to the Al Naseem hotel, we were excited to try another of Jumeirah's Madinat properties. Having previously stayed in the Mina A Salam and Al Qasr hotels, we had no doubts about the high standard offered by Jumeirah.
After being greeted by friendly, yet courteous staff who opened the taxi doors and ensured we weren't encumbered by our luggage, we were shown to the check in desk.
Nothing could have prepared us for the surprise upgrade from an entry-level room to a sea-facing suite that we were given. After a brief tour of the rooms (and I say rooms as there were several!), we braved the heat to simply stand on our generous balcony and take in the view of the Arabian Gulf.
I had emailed ahead to say we were celebrating our daughter's exam results and to our surprise, the hotel had prepared a beautiful chocolate cake iced with our daughter's name, complete with handwritten card and plates and cutlery. This was a beautiful touch and exceeded our expectations. A generous bowl of fruit and a box of luxury chocolates were also waiting for us - such a treat!
Luxury oozed from every direction in the spacious rooms which included two bathrooms, a master bedroom that in itself was the size of a small apartment, a raised table area with high seating, sofas, a desk (complete with i Mac computer for our use) and the extra rollaway bed we'd ordered for our daughter. Three people, three large suitcases and plenty of hand luggage baggage didn't make a dent in the spacious accommodation.
The master bathroom was the next level with a freestanding bath, a mosaic-tiled shower with seating, toilet, bidet, walk-in wardrobe and double vanity. There were piles of towels and high end toiletries a-plenty which only added to the luxury.
The bed was mallow-soft with more pillows than I could count, ensuring we both had truly deep and restful sleep.
Though it was a shame to leave such lovely surroundings, we'd booked breakfast for the three of us. Walking through the hotel was a delight as every corner revealed another beautiful artwork - making it feel more like a gallery than a route to the breakfast buffet.
The breakfast offering was amazing encompassing Middle Eastern fare, western favourites as well as fresh fruit, breads, pastries and even ice-cream if you desired! As a vegan I was spoilt for choice and everything was clearly labelled with known allergens. Staff showed you to a table (many of which has views of the Burj al Arab hotel) and took orders for coffee/ tea and pretty much anything else you wanted from the buffet!
The staff are worth more than the mention in this review as they were always on hand with anticipatory service and a genuine smile. No member of staff ever passed us without stopping to greet us. This made what was already an exceptional stay, even more memorable.
Part of the Al Naseem hotel was shut for renovations at the time of our stay, but you wouldn't have known there was any work going on. I do wonder what improvements could be made to such a beautiful hotel, but am excited to see the finished results nevertheless.
The outside areas were kept beautifully maintained and groomed. The beach was clean and it was reassuring that staff were on hand to take your room number when you set foot on the sand. This ensured only those staying on the properties were able to use the private facilities. Beach bags, SPF lotion, towels and iced water were supplied as well as life guards to ensure our dips in the warm waters of the Gulf were safe. The pools were also patrolled by life guards, which was reassuring.
A highlight of our stay was a visit to the Turtle Rehabilitation facility where a marine biologist took time to tell us about the programme and to let us feed the turtles. Magical.
There wasn't one thing I would change about our stay in Jumeirah Madinat Al Naseem Hotel, aside to stay longer. The surprise upgrade to the suite, was the icing on the cake. We can't wait to return to any of the stunning properties within the Madinat Jumeirah.
