Hi,

Just got back from a 3 hotel stay in Dubai for 3-10 August 2024
Unlike RetiringSoon's excellent comments on the Hilton palm, my hotels were quiet ( maybe slightly busier than i originally thought given Dubai in august and the Conrad got slightly busier on Thursday/Friday
Some general comments before hotel comments
Dubai & August ( very hot and humid ( with humidity the phone said 42- feeling like 53) Few days of hazy sunshine Take care of your phone whilst at the pool- one day the phone started to shut down due to overheating. Walking aorund dubai fountain ,you needed to change your shirt after 15mins ( found a starbucks for a cold frappucino)
All hotel pools were perfect tempreature wise ( quiet in the morning and got busier around lunchtime and afternoon)
All rooms very good, large,well appointed, quiet and with very good a/c for dubai summer ( housekeeping closed the curtains partway after cleaning to help)
Turndown service at all hotels very good
Breakfast in all hotels very good ( slight differences in some options between hotels but all breakfasts left me stuffed
Dubai mall busy (but good food court and air conditoned)
Very good experiences at all hotels so your preference will depend on location and what you want from a hotel. Depending on my needs i would be happy at all 3

Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah 2 night stay Sat 3 to Mon 5th
Main disadvantage is location for sightseeing and other restaurants if you want to dine out
( booked pearl club room )
Upgraded to suite ( huge at 115m sq with balcony) Faces Burj al arab
Rooms large but slightly plain.
Bathroom huge with a shower with 2 shower heads and a bench ( largest shower i have been in)
Gift shop selling essentials ( bit expensive)
Breakfast in restaurant was very good ( coffee was bitter on first day and better on second day). Breakfast in pearl club very good with an egg station and a large omellette
Drinks ordered via a QR code
Family pool quiet ( some people and kids throwing water balls) .Adult pool quieter. Beach quiet but water hot ( sand occassionally rough). Pool attendant brought towels with 3 bottles of water in a plastic bucket with ice . Later came round with fruit and offered to clean sunglasses
Afternoon tea in Pearl club excellent but evening snack ( a little poor on hot items compared to my last visit) .Drinks on request. Evening drink hours 6-8pm
Service very good. Late check out of 2pm with no issues
Gym good facing Burj al arab and water and cold towels
Welcome gift of some fruit
Waldorf Astoria DIFC
1 night Monday 5th to Tuesday 6th
Upgraded to premier suite ( 78sqm)-you notice the difference from 115sqm but excellent upgrade)
Escorted to the lobby elevators to check in on 18th floor ( entrance is luxurious and step above WA Palm)
Late check out of 2pm with no issues ( and offered later if needed)). Escorted by check in agent to room and shown around
Room very nice ( more european style paintings on walls rather than more middle eastern)
Drawers a bit shallow but space in cupboard
2 bathroom vanity sinks but space for toiletries seemed limited
Large shower
Bull & bear had a weekday business lunch ( 2 courses with tea/coffee for 125 AED). Own chilli butter came with bread
service excellent ( ie wiping the bread crumbs after the soup)
Pool on 18th floor -a bit small but was not busy . 23 loungers ( with headrests) so might be busier at different times. Great city views and though the pool is closed at night you can walk around it and it is lit in purple/blue. Pool bathrooms were excellent with cloth face cloths. Sauna had led lights in the ceiling
Gym good with water and towel on each machine ( with cold towels and water in fridge).pool attendant brought a bottle of water in a plastic bucket with ice
Welcome gift of date/chocolates
Chocolate provided at turndown
Bull & bear dinner excellent with a live singer ( 20% HH Diamond discount)
some coffee/snack places in the connected buildings on ground floor. Italian restaurant on ground floor close to hotel elevators
Office complex across the road had shops ( inc a waitrose supermarket)
Night control panel switches dark so cannot see them at night
peacock alley ( can get cakes and coffee to take to your room) and cigar lounge ( visited during the day) abosolutely beautiful
Breakfast at B&B excellent ( full english on the a la carte menu excellent) with a vitamin booster shot drink offered on arrival. Beautiful restaurant. Selection may not be as wide as other hotels but more than sufficient
Check in agent at half one as i walked back to the elevators offered a later check out so asked for 3pm with no issues ( left at 230pm)
only 12 rooms per floor or so as there is a corridor and door leading to residences
Main disadvantages- location ( need to walk outdoors to get to the office complex and the metro) -not a good idea in summer
Was more expensive than the Conrad ( c AED 1000 pn compared to AED 650 conrad)
The hotel and service is a step above in quality though

Conrad
4 night stay ( Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th)
Very solid upscale hotel . Location is excellent with covered walkway to WTC metro station ( for Dubai mall etc)
Got a corner room on 28th floor ( if you had a corner room on 44 or 45 you could see the top of the burj khalifa
Room was large and some nice middle eastern designs ( ie headboard)
Large deep drawers and good luggage storage space
Bathroom large with nice storage on vanity sink. Shower smaller than other hotels but still large
Welcome gift of small cakes ( got it on my last night also)
Afternoon tea had some wraps plus selection of 4 or 5 deserts
Executive lounge staff excellent ,remembering your name and offering to bring tea/coffee to your table ( even when you are at the machine)
Evening drinks from 6-8pm ( large selection of cold items, ie sweet corn, sliced meat , salad, then 2 main hot items ie chicken and rice, then some veg rolls plus poppadoms etc, plus deserts . Enough for a meal).They did have a very nice nonalcoholic cocktail ( Watermelon aide). Whilst the comfy seats in the lounge were generally taken during the evening drinks ,plenty of tables to sit and at other times of the day , no problem having the comfy seats
lounge open from 0630 to 2300 ( ideal for a tea after coming back from the Dubai fountain show)
Turndown service all evenings
Breakfast in main restaurant was very good with mango/berry smoothies in bottles alternating each day . Coffee ordered via the staff was very good. Never too busy. Box of small cookies available to help yourself at the entrance podium
Lounge breakfast very quiet ( lounge had actimel drink plus lime/mint drink). No egg station unlike Conrad HK or Conrad Tokyo but scrambled eggs etc available
Pool excellent with lots of greenery ( excellent tempeature). Sun began to rise above the hotel around 1030 so in the early morning you get more shade. Hotel got slightly busier on Thursday/friday and pool was slightly busier at lunchtime/afternoon than in the early morning
Gym very good with the spa attendants offering a towel and water when you come in ( lots of water and towels ( inc cold face cloths)
Drinks ordered via qr code . Lunch was very good ( 20% HH diamond discount for lunch and pool drinks)
Conrad Camel at AED 85 for sale. Also Conrad dubai tote bags for AED 50
pool has 2 machines which condense water from air ( then purify and filter). paper cups available or you can buy Conrad Dubai insulated bottles ( 500ml) for AED. bought a bottle and filled it with water at room temperature to take whilst walking round Dubai fountain and it kept it cool
Breakfast in the restaurant started at 0600 ( ideal for an early flight back to LHR as i had a quick breakfast, checked out at 0640, taxi at 0645 and was at DXB at 0700 for an 0920 flight ( no queue at check in/ exit immigration/security)
Quite a few shops/restaurants along the main road outside the hotel ( did not hear any noise)


The conrad location and rooftop pool and lounge facilities and service makes the conrad excellent value for money though the WA DIFC has better general service ( no lounge) but DIFC location in summer may not be the best if you want to walk and explore dubai.

Regards

TBS