One&Only Royal Mirage - Residence

We originally went to this hotel 16 years ago when it was just the original hotel part ie before The Residence was even built. There were few hotels in Dubai and no Palm so it felt incredibly exotic. Now there are tower blocks all around it and the enormity and industrial nature of The Palm, complete with its clunky bridge and the tram bridge,makes it feel much less glamorous. However The Residence is still simply exceptional and I cannot think of a hotel with a more opulent, well kept and spotlessly clean interior. Rooms are wonderful, with every possible amenity (I loved the auto floor lights that came on when you got out of bed at night!). Staff are charming and cannot do enough for you. Particularly wish to single out Dibin who looked after us, Joel at the tennis courts who introduced us to the joys of Shuffleboard, French tennis coach (who even kindly let me win a few games) and Binu at the gym (forgive me for any misspellings!). All the restaurants were lovely but we liked the one at The Residence and the Curry one best! Afternoon tea which was included in our package, was a delight. Drinks were steep in price (welcome to UAE) and it???s always annoying to have to buy bottled water at meals but these are small gripes. There was loads of iced water everywhere during the day and the snacks and attention around the pool appreciated. The free schedule of sports and fitness events is not to be missed although no info re this on website and nothing about them in room (listed on board by pool cabana, but see also ones from other 2 parts of hotel). Gym wonderful and Hamman pricey but thorough. Dubai is one weird place and a lot of visitors will be shocked about how much building is going on and how built up it is. However the climate, in January, is wonderful and it is a very manageable flight from UK. Finally I asked who was running Hotel as I was impressed, turns out it is same person who was running it when we first came ! So Olivier Louis take a bow, you are patently a star!

There are many first class hotels in Dubai but if you want to feel like a valued guest, choose here. From the moment you arrive you feel welcomed and if you are a returning guest, they don???t insist on giving you the welcome talk, instead they allow you to settle back into your holiday and pick up where you left off. The Residence feels like a grand home that you are lucky enough to be a guest. The service is discreetly attentive, staff seemingly to appear just as the thought enters your head. Breakfast on The Dining Room terrace is a delight, buffet style for pastries and cereals but table service for hot options and all done with a lightness in keeping with the hot climate. Dinner on the terrace is a treat, looking across the gardens and pool to the twinkly lights on The Palm. The waiters here are attentive but not intrusive and the restaurant manager, whilst directing his waiters like a ballet, is friendly and chatty but highly prefessional. Also worthy of mention are the pool staff who not only work tirelessly to ensure you have a constant glass of chilled water, but also bring cool flannels, fruit and sorbets plus offer to clean your sunglasses several times a day. They also note your preferred place around the pool and will have towels in place If they see you heading in their direction. The beach is lovely and clean with beds and cabanas so spaced out you feel like you are the only ones there. There is some construction noise and diggers are visible working in the distance but thIs is Dubai. If the noise disturbs you, stay by the pool, where the gardens serve as a buffer. There are plenty of dining options spread throughout the three sections of the hotel plus you can take the hotel water shuttle to their sister hotel on The Palm. I would recommend you do this as you get a great view from the boat of the skyline behind the hotel plus Atlantis and The Palm. Not to be missed either is afternoon tea, what a treat! Served in The Library, a great excuse to eat cake in the afternoon plus the nicest, dainty sandwiches and silver pots of tea. If you have time, a visit to the hamman is a great way to cleanse your body and mind. I had the Rose Ritual, 50 minutes of cleansing, body mud and massage and came away with that light headed feeling you get from being totally relaxed. My husband also visits the barber which he highly recommends. In conclusion, this is an amazing hotel and never fails to deliver each time we visit and writing this review, I am excited at the thought of my next visit in March!

This fantastic Place is more than a Hotel... If you stay here ones, you will never ever leave! Great food, perfect location, wonderful ambience (pool, spa, restaurants,...) everything is clean and TOP - picko bello!!!! It???s a real one& only place... One of the best part is the excellent staff - they make all your dreams and wishes to become true! From the beginning to the end, the take care of you in a fantastic way! This is the place to stay in Dubai! A big thanks to Kevin and all the fantastic employees- we will be back soon!