Ascot Hotel, Dubai - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report®: Ascot Hotel

Ascot Hotel, Dubai

Hotel Address

Khalid Bin Waleed Road
PO Box 52555
Dubai
UAE

Cranley Rating

The Ascot Hotel (Left Side)

Photo 1 of 21. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Hotel

Hotel Opened

1974

Cranley Summary

The Ascot Hotel was the original hotel in the Bur Dubai area having been constructed in 1974. With its continual renovation program, the hotel comes across as a much newer, modern and well maintained establishment. It is now adjoined with the newly opened affiliate hotel, "The Royal Ascot Hotel". The two hotels are linked by a passageway located on the ground floor giving easy access to guests to both hotel’s restaurants and facilities. The Ascot Hotel is focused on the business traveller and unlike many hotels in Dubai; it maintains a quiet and tranquil environment during evenings. The hotel is decorated and themed on the Edwardian era and offers guests a choice of eighty guestrooms and suites spread over five floors all with modern up-to-date amenities. The common areas are comfortably furnished with upholstered sofas and chairs throughout and carpeted in deep green. The Ascot Hotel offers a wide range of cuisine in their Irish, Russian, Japanese and Oriental restaurants along with the Korean restaurant and Westend Coffee Shop in the Royal Ascot Hotel next door. Leisure facilities include a gym, separate steam and sauna for men and women and a roof top pool which are all available at the affiliate sister hotel “The Royal Ascot Hotel” next door.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Ascot Hotel is located in the commercial area of Bur Dubai just on the opposite side of the Creek from Deira. The hotel is six kilometres, approximately a fifteen minute drive from Dubai International Airport and six kilometres, approximately a twenty minute drive from the Jumeirah Beach Area. The hotel runs a daily shuttle service to and from the beach. In the immediate vicinity of the hotel are an array of electrical and computer shops, the Meena Bazaar with its gold, clothing and electronics outlets, pharmacies, supermarkets and numerous authentic restaurants ranging from Iranian to Gujarati. The Dubai museum is close by as well as Sheik Rashid’s original home that is now a tourist attraction.

Airports
Distance	6 km
Airport Transfers	Complimentary transfers provided

Cities and Sights
Distance	1 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi

Layout Description

The Ascot Hotel is set back from the main road enabling easy and safe taxi access for guests. On entering the hotel, stairs lead up to the lobby area and reception desk. Turning right, before the stairs, is a passageway leading to the affiliate hotel “The Royal Ascot Hotel”. Midway along the passageway on the left is the entrance to Twin Spice restaurant and further along on the left is the hotel’s tour desk run by Desert Link Incentives & Tours. Waxy O’Conner’s restaurant and pub is located on the ground floor. Located next to the reception desk is a small business centre and further along, past reception, are the central staircase and two lifts serving the five floors. The conference room and Waxy’s Sports Lounge are on the first floor along with a number of bedrooms. The remainder of the bedrooms are located on the second to fourth floors and the Russian restaurant, where breakfast is served, as well as the Japanese restaurant are located on the fifth floor.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	Open twenty four hours
Languages Spoken	English, Arabic, Russian, Hindi
Payment Methods	Major credit cards and cash accepted
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies exchanged
Taxis Arranged	Street taxis available
Tours Arranged	A variety of activities can be arranged through Desert Link Incentives and Tours located on the ground floor next to Twin Spice restaurant and include: Tours of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman, dinner cruises, safari's to the desert, Wadi Hatta or Hajar Mountains, a night at the races, camel riding, sand skiing, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Guest Relations	Standard services
Concierge Services	Complimentary beach shuttle service to Jumeirah beach at 10.30 in the morning with collection back at 14.30.
Medical Facilities	Doctors on call with a response time of thirty minutes according to the hotel.
Parking	Complimentary twenty four hour valet parking.

Cranley Comment

On entering the hotel there is a small lounge area on the left side furnished with comfortable chairs and tables. On the right side of the entrance, a passageway links the hotel to its sister hotel "The Royal Ascot Hotel". Several stairs lead up to the main lobby area with the reception desk located on the right-hand side. Opposite the reception desk is a further lounge area with sofa’s and armchairs, plants and coffee tables. The reception area is decorated in an English Edwardian style and at the rear of reception are the lifts leading to all floors.

Shops & Amenities

Description

There are no shops in the hotel but the "Royal Ascot Hotel" next door has a small gift shop which is located towards the rear of the lobby, beyond the reception desk and next to Dae Fang Kum Korean Restaurant. The shop is open from 09.00 to 23.00 and sells everyday sundry items such as shampoo, toothpaste, cigarettes, papers, magazines, postcards, sunglasses and a number of small locally made gift items. The passageway linking both hotels has a travel desk run by Desert Link offering a number of tours and activities. Marco Karam located on the mezzanine floor in the Royal Ascot is a hair and beauty lounge offering hairdressing facilities, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials and massage treatments.

Cranley Comment

There are no shops within the hotel but as it is in the city centre there are numerous shops in the streets that surround the hotel. The hotel has a ladies-only massage that is available from 11.00 to 22.00 every day except Saturdays.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	5
Total Rooms	80
Elevators	2
Rooms per Elevator	40
Total Staff	120
Staff per Room	1.5

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	Designated non-smoking rooms
Room Service	Twenty four hours
Laundry Service	Laundry collected before 09:00 will be returned on the same day. Laundry collected after 09:00 will be returned the following day.

Cranley Comment

The Ascot Hotel guestrooms and suites are approached along carpeted corridors with original artwork on the walls. Outside the lift entrance on each floor is a lounge area with comfortable sofas and coffee tables. All the guestrooms and suites are well presented and have up-to-date modern amenities. Each guestroom features a desk, coffee table and two easy chairs and a twenty five inch satellite TV. From the Executive room upwards, all rooms feature a separate lounge area. Whilst the hotel is located in a busy shopping area, the rooms are very quiet with no noticeable road noise.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe Rooms	53	City skyline	Mini bar Satellite television Hairdryer Air conditioning with individual control Evening turn down service Fruit basket Daily newspaper Walk in wardrobe Voicemail Bath/shower (shower attachment) Table and chair Desk and Chair	2 adults	30

Cranley Comment

Deluxe rooms are all furnished in an English Edwardian style keeping in line with the ambiance of the hotel. The rooms are decorated in pale pastel yellow and have blue carpets and colour coordinating soft furnishings. There is a king size or twin beds, a desk/dressing table, a unit with a twenty five inch TV on top, a comfortable style arm chair and a coffee table set in a recess at the end of the room. The en suite bathrooms have shower over the bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive Room	18	City skyline	As per the Deluxe room with the added benefit of: Small lounge area with a twenty five inch TV Sofa bed on a ceramic tiled floor	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	40

Cranley Comment

Executive rooms are slightly larger than the deluxe rooms and whilst not designated as a suite, have a small lounge area which is furnished with a sofa that doubles up as a sofa bed. The rooms are decorated in pastel shades and furnished with a king size or twin beds, a desk/dressing table, easy chairs, coffee table and a twenty five inch TV screen in a cabinet. The en suite bathroom has a shower over the bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Junior Suites	3	City skyline	As per the Deluxe Room with the added benefit of: Separate lounge with: Sofa Armchairs Coffee table Twenty five inch TV	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	80

Cranley Comment

Junior suites are considerably larger than the executive rooms and have a separate lounge. The suites are designed in an Edwardian style keeping in line with the rest of the hotel, are decorated in pastel shades and have colour coordinating soft furnishings. The lounge has a sofa, two armchairs, a glass coffee table and a TV set on a tilled floor. The bedroom area is laid out and decorated as per the Deluxe rooms. The en suite bathroom has shower over the bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Suite	2	City skyline	As per the Junior Suite with the added benefit of: 2 sofas Dining table and chairs Larger bathroom Jacuzzi bath Shower cubicle Two sinks	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	80

Cranley Comment

The Royal Suite is decorated in pastel shades with colour coordinating soft furnishings all in a similar Edwardian style as per the other rooms. The spacious lounge has two sofas, armchairs, a coffee table and a dining room table that can comfortably seat six. The bedroom is furnished and decorated as per the deluxe rooms. The Royal Suite comes with a larger bathroom that benefits from a jacuzzi bath, a separate shower cubicle and two washbasins.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Chelsea Suite	2	City skyline	As per the Royal Suite with the added benefit of: Two bedrooms Extra sofa and arm-chairs Extra coffee table 3 x twenty five inch TVs Corner bar unit with two stools Guest bedroom with en-suite shower room CD player Separate WC	5 adults	140

Cranley Comment

The Chelsea suite is one of two luxury suites that feature a large lounge area and two separate bedrooms, both of which are en suite with the master bedroom bathroom featuring a jacuzzi bath. The lounge has a sofas, armchairs, a bar unit with two bar stools, a glass topped coffee table and a twenty five inch screen TV in a dark wood cabinet. The bedrooms have either king size or twin beds and are decorated in the same Edwardian theme as per the other rooms and both with TVs. The second bedroom en suite has a shower unit but no bath. The suite also has a separate cloakroom off the entrance area.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Windsor Suite	2	City skyline	As per the Chelsea Suite	5 Adults	140

Cranley Comment

Windsor Suites have the same layout and size as the Chelsea Suites and feature a large lounge area and two separate bedrooms, both of which are en suite with the master bedroom bathroom featuring a jacuzzi bath. The lounge has a sofas, armchairs, a bar unit with two bar stools, a glass topped coffee table and a twenty five inch screen TV in a dark wood cabinet. The bedrooms have either king size or twin beds and are decorated in the same Edwardian theme as per the other rooms and both with TVs. The second bedroom en suite has a shower unit but no bath. The suite also has a separate cloakroom off the entrance area.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The Ascot Hotel has a wide variety of dining options which include Japanese, Thai, Russian and Irish restaurants. There is live entertainment provided in the Russian restaurant with a band playing during the evenings, whilst the Irish restaurant has live sports events showing on a number of plasma televisions located around the bar.

Yakitori

Restaurant Type	Japanese
Restaurant Capacity	50
Opening Times	Lunch 12:30 to 15:00 Dinner 18:30 to 23:30
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Designated non-smoking area
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available
Breakfast Options	No

Cranley Comment

Yakitori Japanese restaurant is located on the fifth floor of the hotel. The stylish restaurant is decorated in a traditional Japanese style with clean lines, wooden panelling and windows with rice paper blinds. Japanese chefs ensure an authentic dining experience for guests. The restaurant is a local favourite for Sushi and Sashimi. Yakitori brings the flavours of Japan to Dubai with all its nuances intact. Sashimi is served with full ceremony on the customary bamboo plates with each type of fish matched with its own traditional sauce all carefully prepared by a master chef.

Troyka

Restaurant Type	Russian
Restaurant Capacity	110
Opening Times	Breakfast: 06.30 to 10:30 Lunch: 12:30 to 15:00 Dinner: 19:30 to 02:00
Dress Codes	Smart Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Designated non-smoking tables
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available
Breakfast Options	Buffet breakfast with a cooking station for eggs and waffles.

Cranley Comment

Troyka is an authentic Russian restaurant located on the top floor of the hotel and serves as the breakfast location for hotel guests. Breakfast and lunch buffets are a mix of international and authentic Russian cuisine. Dinner is from an a la carte menu with a number of traditional Russian dishes. The restaurant has wooden floors and dark wood tables and chairs surrounded with walls painted with Russian snow landscapes. During the evening there is a live performance by the restaurant's own troupe playing a mix of Russian folk music. There is a dance floor in the centre of the restaurant which is surrounded with tables and chairs. Added to all the good cheer genuine Russian Vodka is served.

Twin Spice

Restaurant Type

Thai & Chinese