Dec 12, 2018, 6:51 am
Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai [Master Thread]
Dec 21, 2018, 11:37 pm
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,754
PS
I dont think foods are a la carte, but more like a meal plan you purchase. The property is available thru a lot of selling agents in Chinese market, on sites like Taobao and the like, pricing is in components.
I dont think foods are a la carte, but more like a meal plan you purchase. The property is available thru a lot of selling agents in Chinese market, on sites like Taobao and the like, pricing is in components.
Dec 21, 2018, 11:52 pm
#332
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 7
Spoke to hotel who advised all bookings with confirmation of food and beverage included are indeed included but the new points rate seems to be Room Only. Shame really but it must be the trade off of the extra few months to book at lower rate and hotel is quoting Marriott Migration however hard to see why thats the case. Its a great property however and I would recommend very highly.
Dec 22, 2018, 3:09 am
#333
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ireland
Programs: BA Gold,Amex Centurion,Marriott LT Plat Prem Elite +AMBASS,Hilton Diamond,Priority Club Plat,VS Gold
Posts: 371
They had a system migration to the Marriott system about 11 days ago. I was in fact just leaving the hotel was taking place so I can confirm it was happening. It was moving the hotel and all the hotels in Dubai it seemed to the Marriott reservation system.
Dec 22, 2018, 5:30 am
#334
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 179
Now I'm really conflicted if its worth going there for 5 nights. The notes about subpar food is disappointing as outside of staring at the desert from the pool for five days all you do is eat.. I do have a reservation under the old booking system..
Dec 22, 2018, 5:30 am
#335
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
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Dec 22, 2018, 6:38 am
#336
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ireland
Programs: BA Gold,Amex Centurion,Marriott LT Plat Prem Elite +AMBASS,Hilton Diamond,Priority Club Plat,VS Gold
Posts: 371
I enjoyed the food when there recently and found it while not up to the same standard as my previous trip still to be high. The property did indicate they were going working on the food side of things a bit more. It is well worth a visit and I look forward to returning later this year.
Dec 22, 2018, 6:39 am
#337
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,026
I think 5 nights is overkill. Maybe 2-3 at most. The food gets a little samey after a while since you are having all three meals in the same restaurant.
Dec 23, 2018, 6:10 am
#338
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 179
Well it seems like the decision has been made for me... I had two reservations one that I made a month prior (under the old all inclusive) and one I made last week (no all inclusive), I made these as they were only one night apart and I was trying to finalize my flight and cancel the one that I didn't need. After reading about how the new bookings no longer have all inclusive I went ahead and cancelled my 2nd reservation............but it turns out I mistakenly cancelled my first one (all inclusive)............I had two tabs open and didn't immediately realize which one was which.......I called Marriott immediately since I realized the dates on the cancellation were the ones I wanted.....The agent was able to rebook me with award points but not all inclusive, they sent a note to the front desk which responded later that day and they won't be extending any courtesy or willing to reinstate my all inclusive package. I guess lesson learned, for something I was planning for months this truly turned out to be a significant disappointment.
Dec 23, 2018, 7:46 am
#339
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
Well it seems like the decision has been made for me... I had two reservations one that I made a month prior (under the old all inclusive) and one I made last week (no all inclusive), I made these as they were only one night apart and I was trying to finalize my flight and cancel the one that I didn't need. After reading about how the new bookings no longer have all inclusive I went ahead and cancelled my 2nd reservation............but it turns out I mistakenly cancelled my first one (all inclusive)............I had two tabs open and didn't immediately realize which one was which.......I called Marriott immediately since I realized the dates on the cancellation were the ones I wanted.....The agent was able to rebook me with award points but not all inclusive, they sent a note to the front desk which responded later that day and they won't be extending any courtesy or willing to reinstate my all inclusive package. I guess lesson learned, for something I was planning for months this truly turned out to be a significant disappointment.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...rong-stay.html
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Dec 23, 2018, 8:21 am
#340
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 539
I made a points advance reservation for this hotel about 5 days ago (for next Thanksgiving). I'm assuming that I'm going to be subject to the Room Only rate, and not get the all-inclusive package? As a Plat, I would at least still get free breakfast, right?
Dec 23, 2018, 8:43 am
#341
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 149
My reservation suddenly cash instead of points in app. I called and rep said looks like cash the whole time. However, my confirmation does say points. Rep called hotel and hotel confirmed it’s points (says system merge makes everything wonky). Hotel also said breakfast and dinner included but did not mention activities so I’m not sure if I’m getting the all inclusive rate or not. This reservation was made November 20
Dec 23, 2018, 12:29 pm
#342
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,788
Yeah, throws my plans for a loop. Was hoping to book this for a vacation later this spring using my Ritz certs. Not worth going here and burning the certs if it's room only.
Dec 23, 2018, 4:03 pm
#343
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,754
My speculation is, hotel feels the flood of redemption which they DONT get proper reimbursement from Marriott Reward, probably not even enough to cover the food cost as it is the variables they have to cover while the fixed of the room cost is low i.e. only maintenance - because if they have 95% occupancy, they will get FULL rack rate reimbursement from Marriott on redemption. I cannot envision this resort would ever get to 95% and above occupancy... That is the rub, and the reason behind cutting the full board from redemption, as well as now charging fees on some activities.
The quality on the foods goes down also is the direct result of the point redemption. Bet they now have seen multiple times of point redemption than in the past when it was under SPG (they did reduced level multiple times in the past, but still twice or thrice of what it is now essentially is only 20K or 30K SPG pts.)
I am glad the current changes have made the decision for me as it has been the foods that attract me to this property, not its surrounding, and only a little bit of the activities but not the now chargeable sand blast. So now I dont need to figure out how to incorporate Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi together given the current ongoing embargo. However I feel bad for those have high hope on their trips then meet with this reality.
Dec 23, 2018, 4:05 pm
#344
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,754
My reservation suddenly cash instead of points in app. I called and rep said looks like cash the whole time. However, my confirmation does say points. Rep called hotel and hotel confirmed it’s points (says system merge makes everything wonky). Hotel also said breakfast and dinner included but did not mention activities so I’m not sure if I’m getting the all inclusive rate or not. This reservation was made November 20
Dec 23, 2018, 6:52 pm
#345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
My reservation suddenly cash instead of points in app. I called and rep said looks like cash the whole time. However, my confirmation does say points. Rep called hotel and hotel confirmed it’s points (says system merge makes everything wonky). Hotel also said breakfast and dinner included but did not mention activities so I’m not sure if I’m getting the all inclusive rate or not. This reservation was made November 20