Just returned from a lovely 10 day break in Dubai

Stayed first night at the Creekside which was really nice, booked on points.

We got a lovely room on the top (9th) floor. Breakfast at Nomad was also very nice.
The hotel is very modern and nicely decorated, the pool at "cu-ba" is also very interesting as it's on the 8th floor and has very nice views from up there. The mini bar is also free and the rooms have great Illy espresso machines which are also complimentary.

We then stayed 8 nights at Dar Al Masyaf villas booked through American Express Platinum deals so only had to pay for 6 nights! We also received an upgrade to a Gulf Summerhouse, although our room was at the back of the villa on the ground floor (our request for a high floor was ignored) so we didn't get any kind of water view The location of it was great though, just across the water from the Souk and in easy reach of the kids club/restaurants.

We asked for a late 4pm check out as this is advertised as a Platinum benefit, at first this was rejected as they claimed there was no availability, then on the last morning after they knew we were going to be at brunch from 12 until 4pm they said we could have a late check out at 2pm so pretty useless to us really

Incidentally, I bumped into a friend there who has a centurion Amex. They were on their honeymoon and got the room directly behind us (ground floor but with a sea view, also upgraded from basic room).
They did get the 4pm check out, apparently for Centurion this is a guaranteed benefit whereas for Platinum it's "subject to availability"

We then went to the creekside again to sleep for a few hours as our flight wasn't leaving until 3:00am on the Saturday, paid for it cash this time, but was given a room on the 3rd floor (first habitable floor), right at the end of the corridor where the room next door had been turned into a hair salon!!! This meant we could hear the sound of hairdryers next door constantly until about 8:30pm . Also I think it was on top of the kitchen for Nomad as there was a food smell in the room from time to time. As my daughter fell asleep during the cab journey on the way there and was out cold, it was impractical for me to complain and ask for a different room so we just stuck it out until around 9pm when we went for a meal at Blue Flame where I had what I think was the best steak I have ever had in my life! There prices were very reasonable too, about 25% less than say MJ's and the quality was much higher. Their wine was also very reasonably priced too ^^ They do cooking lessons too for 300 AED which we think we will do on the next visit. If you book there DO NOT accept room 325!!

In other news, I am just looking to book again for June or July and noticed that the T+Cs for Summer Flavours have been announced.

The prices seem to have been "adjusted" significantly upwards since the rates first appeared around a month ago, also the glitch which made it cheaper for choosing 3 adults instead of 2 seems to have been fixed, boo! Also the T+C say NO SIRIUS POINTS for summer flavours this year whereas last year it was DOUBLE POINTS

https://www.jumeirah.com/Hotels-and-...nditions-2013/