The welcome
I’m hot and cranky by the time I arrive in the hotel’s lobby, so it takes me a few minutes to appreciate the inviting baked item I’m presented. I tuck the hotel’s signature Care Cookie – the company has been handing them out for 25 years – into my purse, and forget about it for several hours. From the moment I walk into the lobby, the staff are warm and friendly; even better, check-in is speedy. I’m in my room in about 10 minutes.
The neighbourhood
Why was I cranky when I checked in? Well, the approach I take via the interchange from Sheikh Zayed Road means I can’t pull up to the hotel’s proper entrance; my only option is to park several minutes away in an unpaved, outdoor lot, then make my way on foot, manoeuvring my rolling suitcase across the sand and a small pavement. Without clear directions to the lobby, I ask the way, only to find out I still have to make it up a steep, cobbled ramp to the front entrance. I later find out there’s a much easier way by foot, but it’s not clearly marked. Had I taken a different approach to the hotel, via The Walk from the north-east, the approach would have been seamless. The hotel is at the end of a long row of food-and-beverage outlets on The Walk, which is handy, but it also backs onto an overpass, lending a strange, dystopian vibe.
The room
My two-room suite on the 20th floor has a stunning partial view of the Palm Jumeirah to the right and a massive construction zone to the slight left: the Bluewaters Island project, which will house the world’s largest Ferris wheel, the Dubai Eye. There’s a massive kitchen, equipped with everything to make a basic meal. The decor is inoffensive: beige-and-blue, with marble accents. There’s an in-room Nespresso machine, but with just two complimentary pods (more are ordered and quickly delivered from room service). The beds and pillows, however, are a standout: among the most comfortable I’ve experienced in recent memory.
The scene
The hotel is heaving. The only time it feels full, however, is at the packed breakfast. Russians of all generations seem to love the place, while the less family-orientated made use of the beach and infinity pool’s large swim-up bar. There’s a relaxed vibe that’s hard to find in Dubai; while the atmosphere is mid to upscale, I don’t feel like I need a Louis Vuitton bag to blend in.
The service
The service is excellent over the entire two-night stay. On returning after 1am and finding all the food outlets closed, a staffer offers to phone other hotels for options, getting back to us with two suggestions minutes later. Each and every staffer greets me and does whatever they can to enhance the experience. Room service is timely.
The food
The breakfast buffet is quite lacking. Although it offers an extensive bread selection, and the requisite eggs, beans, tomatoes, pancakes and waffles, there’s not much else.
Loved
The bright Gulf views, Nespresso maker and infinity pool. There’s a big, gorgeous gym. I have one of the best massages of my life, in the Breakwater Wellness Centre. And that cookie, when I finally get around to eating it, is amazing.
Hated
I didn’t love the breakfast buffet. And Dh30 a day for Wi-Fi? Grr.
The verdict
The DoubleTree is a fun hotel that’s suitable for families, with roomy suites, a preponderance of pool deck chairs, a variety of water sports and that lovely pool.
The bottom line
A standard marina-view room costs from Dh930, including taxes. Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Dubai – Jumeirah Beach Road, The Walk, Dubai Marina(www.doubletree3.hilton.com ; 04 453 3333).
