Wow - what a great way to start off my trip to Dubai! Perhaps, my judgement is misguided as an American used to American properties, but the St. Regis Palm has been fantastic - let's dive in to the pros and photos!
Pros:
- Arrival experience was very 5-star - bellhop immediately grabbed my bags from the back of the "taxi" (it was a Tesla - don't know why the airport thought to direct me to the bougie line and everyone else to the other line), escorted me to an associate who happened to be the manager-on-duty to check me in, led to my room by one of the butlers, luggage delivered quickly, etc.
- Upgraded without asking to a Metropolitan Suite on the 5th floor with great views of Atlantis - unfortunately, the Andaz across the street blocks the views of Burj al-Arab
- Service very friendly and personable - check-in was a relaxed conversation about my travel patterns, all staff say hello in the hallways, butler asked if I wanted coffee or tea (I mentioned I didn't want coffee so I could go to sleep, and he suggested that I have some chamomile tea that he could bring)
- Late check-out wasn't an option - it was a requirement :-) - the MOD told me that I was going to be getting 4 PM, whether I needed it or not, before I even had the chance to bring it up
- Great modern design that still feels like a St. Regis to me - large windows, comfortable furniture, etc.
- Bed was great - very fluffy covers, smooth pillows, solid yet plush mattress
- Bathroom design was beautiful - the sliding doors were magnificent to look at
- Rainfall shower had amazing and powerful pressure - very relaxing
- Internet TV OS - though, the only app is YouTube (all I need)
- Most of the outlets were compatible with several plug types, including US plugs (though, voltage is of course, 240 V, which thankfully is compatible with most electronic chargers that I have) - one of the bathroom sockets had a 120 V option, which was great for my toothbrush charger
- At some point, one of the breakers must have tripped as my TV in the bedroom wouldn't turn on - Engineering came up quickly at 1 AM and ended up removing one of the photos from the wall to reset the breaker and then quietly replacing the photo - talk about service at 1 AM!
- Breakfast (free restaurant buffet for Elites) was divine - the pastries (especially the lemon cruffin) were melt-in-your-mouth, the made-to-order eggs benedict with salmon was delicious, and the choices were extensive (several Indian and Arabic dishes, as well) - breakfast service was friendly, though a tad low-touch in terms of beverage refills (though, when they were around, they wanted to talk about my travels, etc)
- Welcome gift of nice fruits waiting in my suite - I had the banana, which was perfectly ripe
- Turndown service performed by two friendly housekeepers - some chocolates were left on the bed - score!
Cons:
A note on the location: Okay, so I get why some people would argue the location isn't that great, but I actually enjoyed getting to walk through Nakheel Mall, and I loved having my morning walk in the adjacent Al Ittihad Park. Plus, taking the Monorail to see the lobby at Altantis (and the aquarium windows) was a wonderful way to spend the morning!
Overall, I would highly recommend the St. Regis Palm - what a great way to start off this journey!
Photos:
