Hotel Stay Arjaan by Rotana - Media City, Dubai.
The hotel is imposing as I see it in the distance. Refreshingly it is not a glass tower. Instead, old fashioned stone. As I drive up to the hotel, I feel a sense of Arabia. I am greeted and our bags are taken. Light fittings, doors, the floor and paintings all say you are in the Arabian world. Immediately I like the tasteful decor. There is nothing kitschy about it. After a brief and efficient check-in, we make our way to our room. Our room, one of 167 all suite rooms and apartments, is a Premium One Bedroom apartment.
The Room
Absolutely gorgeous. Space is well utilised with a fully loaded kitchenette and very practical access from the kitchenette to the dining area if you need to pass on dishes. Smart. The living room has its own balcony, while the bedroom too features a balcony perfect for a book! A bathroom ensuite with a walk-in shower and bath complements the guest toilet. Finally, the plunge pool. A very select number of apartments have their own private plunge pools, with views of the city. A nice touch like bath towels ready at the pool was appreciated, as was the extra pair of slippers for my daughter.
The internet, complimentary for in-house guests, allows a very generous connection to 4 devices. Very sensitive on the part of Rotana. With 2 TVs, including a 40 inch screen in the living room allowing for USB connection over and above 3 dedicated kids channels, my daughter was easily entertained.
Dining
Friday brunch is served in Arabesque, the all-day dining restaurant of the hotel. As the name suggests, Arabic dishes are the order of the day. I found it pleasantly unusual that the restaurant seats up to around 80-90 people at capacity. Very refreshing for an all day dining restaurant, considering that hotels tend to cram even more people into them. There was a range of fabulous Arabic dishes which just rose above the rest for me - the kibbeh, warm, fresh and moist. The Beetroot moutabel had a natural creamy sweetness about it that left me making another trip to the buffet! The Foul medames, part of a more than welcome station of breakfast items was probably my dish of the day. With all accompaniments like sumac, tahini, olive oil, onion, etc, next to it, it was nice seeing this dish served the way it is supposed to be served.
Recreation
The plunge pool afforded us immense privacy and convenience and I do recommend the room type. However, the lure of the outside pool was great for my daughter, so on our second day, we used that pool. It is set in a lovely garden area, a real haven in the city. The infinity end of the pool gives one a view of the sea. Lifeguards on duty were a reassuring aspect of our swim.
Finally, I also made use of the gym, well equipped for the size of the hotel, with the convenience of TV screens attached to each treadmill.
Service
This warrants its own mention. I had the pleasure of interacting with staff from various departments, from front desk to housekeeping to engineering to restaurant staff, and there was a thread that ran though all of them - warmth and sincerity. The team at Arabesque is a strong one. The restaurant manager, well spoken and suave, chatted with guests throughout brunch, leading by example; the same for the chefs. This is the type of engagement that adds a star to every property. The waiting staff, guided by Julius, worked effortlessly to make sure guests had a good time. John, Jenerose, Sujata, Santosh and Vikram all did their tasks with the right level of everything. It was a pleasure watching them connect not only with us, but more importantly, other guests.
Overall
The extra space afforded by the hotel apartment concept makes Arjaan by Rotana Media City a very desirable option. With the Dubai tram just outside the hotel, you are never far from the city's attractions. The Arabian ambience of the hotel is one of its many strengths. All too often, Western hotels open in the city with no connection to its location. Thankfully, this hotel is rooted firmly in Arabia. With a variety of rooms to suit every budget and family size, it is an ideal choice.
The Essentials
Arjaan by Rotana,
Media City in Dubai
http://bit.ly/1FmGTFU
971 4 436 0000
Rates
The hotel has 9 different room types, and over the weekend I was there, rates started at 199AED (their Summer promotion special) for a Classic one bedroom apartment.
Disclaimer: I consult at restaurants and hotels in an attempt to look at the entire product to take service levels to where they should be. I visited Arjaan Media City, Dubai Market as a guest of the hotel.
The Room
Absolutely gorgeous. Space is well utilised with a fully loaded kitchenette and very practical access from the kitchenette to the dining area if you need to pass on dishes. Smart. The living room has its own balcony, while the bedroom too features a balcony perfect for a book! A bathroom ensuite with a walk-in shower and bath complements the guest toilet. Finally, the plunge pool. A very select number of apartments have their own private plunge pools, with views of the city. A nice touch like bath towels ready at the pool was appreciated, as was the extra pair of slippers for my daughter.
The internet, complimentary for in-house guests, allows a very generous connection to 4 devices. Very sensitive on the part of Rotana. With 2 TVs, including a 40 inch screen in the living room allowing for USB connection over and above 3 dedicated kids channels, my daughter was easily entertained.
Dining
Friday brunch is served in Arabesque, the all-day dining restaurant of the hotel. As the name suggests, Arabic dishes are the order of the day. I found it pleasantly unusual that the restaurant seats up to around 80-90 people at capacity. Very refreshing for an all day dining restaurant, considering that hotels tend to cram even more people into them. There was a range of fabulous Arabic dishes which just rose above the rest for me - the kibbeh, warm, fresh and moist. The Beetroot moutabel had a natural creamy sweetness about it that left me making another trip to the buffet! The Foul medames, part of a more than welcome station of breakfast items was probably my dish of the day. With all accompaniments like sumac, tahini, olive oil, onion, etc, next to it, it was nice seeing this dish served the way it is supposed to be served.
Recreation
The plunge pool afforded us immense privacy and convenience and I do recommend the room type. However, the lure of the outside pool was great for my daughter, so on our second day, we used that pool. It is set in a lovely garden area, a real haven in the city. The infinity end of the pool gives one a view of the sea. Lifeguards on duty were a reassuring aspect of our swim.
Finally, I also made use of the gym, well equipped for the size of the hotel, with the convenience of TV screens attached to each treadmill.
Service
This warrants its own mention. I had the pleasure of interacting with staff from various departments, from front desk to housekeeping to engineering to restaurant staff, and there was a thread that ran though all of them - warmth and sincerity. The team at Arabesque is a strong one. The restaurant manager, well spoken and suave, chatted with guests throughout brunch, leading by example; the same for the chefs. This is the type of engagement that adds a star to every property. The waiting staff, guided by Julius, worked effortlessly to make sure guests had a good time. John, Jenerose, Sujata, Santosh and Vikram all did their tasks with the right level of everything. It was a pleasure watching them connect not only with us, but more importantly, other guests.
Overall
The extra space afforded by the hotel apartment concept makes Arjaan by Rotana Media City a very desirable option. With the Dubai tram just outside the hotel, you are never far from the city's attractions. The Arabian ambience of the hotel is one of its many strengths. All too often, Western hotels open in the city with no connection to its location. Thankfully, this hotel is rooted firmly in Arabia. With a variety of rooms to suit every budget and family size, it is an ideal choice.
The Essentials
Arjaan by Rotana,
Media City in Dubai
http://bit.ly/1FmGTFU
971 4 436 0000
Rates
The hotel has 9 different room types, and over the weekend I was there, rates started at 199AED (their Summer promotion special) for a Classic one bedroom apartment.
Brandon Stoltenkamp
Disclaimer: I consult at restaurants and hotels in an attempt to look at the entire product to take service levels to where they should be. I visited Arjaan Media City, Dubai Market as a guest of the hotel.
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