Country Club Hotel, Dubai - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report

Country Club Hotel

Country Club Hotel, Dubai

Hotel Address

P.O. Box 118094
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

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Cranley Rating

Country Club Hotel

Photo 1 of 23. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category	Hotel
Awards Won	Player's Lounge was voted one of the Top Bars in Dubai by "Time Out" in 2007.

Hotel Opened

2005

Cranley Summary

The Country Club Hotel is located on Port Rashid Road in downtown Bur Dubai which is near the main business district of Dubai. The hotel is situated behind the New Gold Souk and is across the Creek from Deira. The shopping centre of Mall of the Emirates which has major shopping outlets, supermarkets and pharmacies is approximately fifteen minutes drive by car. Within a few minutes walk from the hotel are an array of electrical and computer shops, the Meena Bazaar with its gold, clothing, electronics stores and authentic restaurants ranging from Iranian to Gujarati. Dubai International Airport is approximately six kilometres, about a fifteen minute drive away and Jumeirah Beach a ten minute drive from the hotel. The Country Club Hotel has 102 guestrooms and suites all with modern up-to-date amenities, ensuite bathrooms and wired high speed Internet access. The hotel has several Indian restaurants, a number of bars offering live entertainment during the evenings, a rooftop swimming pool, a gym and separate ladies and men’s sauna and steam facilities.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Country Club Hotel is located on Port Rashid Road in downtown Bur Dubai behind the New Gold Souk and situated across the Creek from Deira. Close by is the business district. Mall of the Emirates, a shopping centre with major shopping outlets, supermarkets and pharmacies, is approximately a fifteen minute taxi journey away. Within a few minutes walk from the hotel are an array of electrical and computer shops, the Meena Bazaar with its gold, clothing and electronics stores and authentic restaurants ranging from Iranian to Gujarati. The Dubai museum is very close, approximately two kilometres away as well as Sheikh Rashid's original home that is now a tourist attraction. Dubai International Airport is approximately six kilometres, about a fifteen minute drive from the hotel and Jumeirah Beach a ten minute drive from the hotel.

Airports
Distance	6 km
Airport Transfers	Airport transfers on request. Taxi. Private car.

Cities and Sights
Distance	175 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi.

Layout Description

The Country Club Hotel is a modern four storey building with a laminated glass exterior. The hotel is set back from the main road with an area directly in front for taxis and cars to pull up. Underground parking is available on basement levels one and two and further parking next door at the hospital. The hotel’s reception area, restaurants and bars are all located on the ground floor. Walking past the reception area leads to the elevators serving all guestroom floors from one to four. The gym, steam and sauna room are located on the fourth floor and the swimming pool on the rooftop.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours.
Languages Spoken	Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Persian.
Payment Methods	American Express, Diners Club, Euro Card, JCB, Master Card and Visa Card. Personal cheques are not accepted.
Foreign Exchange	Currency exchange (buying only) is available at the front desk for residents of the hotel.
Taxis Arranged	There is a taxi desk located just inside the main entrance of the hotel where guests can request a meter taxi 24 hours a day.
Tours Arranged	There is a Travel Desk located in the lobby area. A variety of tours and activities can be arranged including: tours of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman; dinner cruises; safaris to the desert, Wadi Hatta or Hajar Mountains; a night at the races; camel riding; sand skiing; snorkeling and scuba diving.

Guest Relations	Standard services.
Concierge Services	Standard services.
Medical Facilities	There is a panel of three doctors on call with a typical response time of approximately fifteen minutes according to the hotel.
Parking	Complimentary valet parking is available. There is complimentary parking available on basement level two of the hotel for 44 cars and basement level one for 11 cars. There is a car parking area at the hospital next door for 100 cars which is complimentary.

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel has a spacious lobby area that has marble floors and several seating areas with comfortable chairs and tables. The hotel entrance is through revolving glass doors. The first section of the lobby area has Tia Maria to the left and Aqua Bar to the right. Also found in this section are the hotel’s tour desk, an Internet station, concierge and bell boy desks. Immediately past Aqua Bar is Chelsea Café with the reception desk located immediately opposite. Walking past the reception desk there is a brightly tiled passage way leading to Players Lounge, Ghunghat and Qureshi restaurants and the lift lobby. Two lifts serve all guestroom floors including the hotel’s gym, steam rooms and changing rooms on the fourth floor and the rooftop swimming pool.

Shops & Amenities

Description

There is a unisex hair salon located in the lobby area, just past the reception desk.

Cranley Comment

At the far end of the lobby and beyond the reception desk is a unisex hair and beauty salon which is open Saturday to Thursday from 09:00 to 21:00. On Friday the salon opens from 16:00 to 21:00. As well as offering a full range of hair treatments including cutting, styling and colouring, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials, and tattoo services are available in the salon too.

Within a few minutes walk from the hotel are an array of electrical and computer shops and the Meena Bazaar with its gold, clothing, electronics stores and authentic restaurants ranging from Iranian to Gujarati.

A short taxi drive away are the Burjuman Shopping Mall and the Mall of the Emirates both offering supermarkets, pharmacies and major shopping and clothes stores.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	4
Total Rooms	102
Elevators	2
Rooms per Elevator	51
Total Staff	182
Staff per Room	1.8

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Late check-out is subject to availability and is chargeable.
Smoking Rooms	Smoking rooms are available on request at time of booking.
Room Service	24 hours.
Laundry Service	Available Saturday to Thursday. All garments collected before 10:00 will be returned between 18:00 and 20:00 the same day. There is a four hour priority service available between 08:00 and 20:00 for which a 100% surcharge is added to the standard charge.

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel has 102 guestrooms including 18 executive rooms and 12 suites all of which are spacious, air-conditioned and decorated in pastel and earth tones. Each room is furnished in a contemporary design, has dark wood furnishings and all have a desk and chair. All the rooms are equipped with modern up-to-date amenities including wired Internet access and have large floor-to-ceiling windows giving the rooms natural daylight and all with surrounding city views. There are six deluxe rooms available as interconnecting rooms with Executive Suites.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe	72	City	High-speed Internet connection IDD telephones Voice mail 24 hour cable television DVD player Tea and coffee making facilities Individual temperature control Smoke detectors Hair dryer Minibar Safe deposit box Desk and chair 24 hour room service	3 Adults or 2 Adults and 2 Children under 12	28

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel's Deluxe rooms are spacious, bright, airy and decorated in pastel beige tones with earthy coloured coordinating soft furnishings. The open plan rooms are of a contemporary design, have high ceilings, are carpeted and have deep coloured wooden furnishings including a large desk and chair. There are also two comfortable easy chairs and a coffee table. Deluxe rooms have a choice of beds available in either king-size, queen-size, or extra large twin beds plus an option of several rooms with triple beds making them ideal family rooms. All rooms are equipped with modern up-to-date amenities including wired high speed Internet access and all have an ensuite bathrooms with a bath tub and overhead shower.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive	18	City	As per the Deluxe Room with the added benefit of: More space Sofa bed Storage trunk at base of bed Iron and ironing board Larger safe deposit box	3 Adults or 2 Adults and 2 Children under 12	36

Cranley Comment

Executive Rooms are open plan and larger than the Deluxe Rooms. All the rooms are spacious, bright, airy and decorated and furnished in a contemporary design in pastel shades of beige and earthy tones. The rooms have high ceilings and large floor-to-ceiling windows giving the rooms natural daylight with views over the city. On entering the room, the hallway has a wooden floor, an ensuite bathroom on one side and a closet storage cupboard on the other. Each bedroom area is carpeted and has a king-size bed with a wooden storage trunk at the base and a dark wooden cabinet opposite with a television on top. The lounge area has wooden flooring, a double sofa bed, two easy chairs, a coffee table, a desk and a chair. All the rooms are equipped with modern up-to-date facilities and have wired high speed Internet access. The bathrooms have a bathtub with an overhead shower.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Suites	12	City	As per the Executive Rooms with the added benefit of: More space Separate lounge Guest bathroom Jacuzzi in master bathroom 27 inch plasma television screen 2 DVD players	3 Adults or 2 Adults and 2 Children under 12	44 to 56

Cranley Comment

Executive Suites have a separate lounge and bedroom. Each suite is contemporary in design, spacious, airy and decorated and in pastel shades of beige with colour coordinating soft furnishings in earthy tones. The rooms have high ceilings and large floor-to-ceiling windows giving natural daylight and views over the city. The lounge has a sofa bed, easy chair, coffee table, wooden desk and chair plus a 27 inch raised plasma television screen. The passageway leading to the bedroom has a guest bathroom to one side with a walk in shower. The entrance area into the bedroom has a hallway with closet space. The bedroom has a king-size bed, a television cabinet with DVD player, comfortable armchair, coffee table and sliding doors leading out to a terrace area. The ensuite marble bathroom has a jacuzzi and a walk-in rain shower. There are six interconnecting deluxe room available with the suites.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The hotel offers a wide range of culinary options to choose from. There are two Indian Restaurants, Ghunghat and Queshi, a sports bar serving traditional pub food and the hotel's coffee shop the "Chelsea Cafe" which is open 24 hours serving buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as an international a la carte menu and is located on the ground floor opposite the reception desk.

Qureshi

Restaurant Type	Indian
Restaurant Capacity	Total 60
Opening Times	12.00 to 15.00 19.00 to 01.00
Dress Codes	Smart casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking area.
Children’s Facilities	High chairs.
Breakfast Options	N/A

Cranley Comment

Qureshi is a new restaurant at the Country Club Hotel which opened in August 2007. It is located on the ground floor and is decorated in a sophisticated style and includes a main restaurant area and a separate area with a tented design. The restaurant offers Northern frontier food and as well as serving traditional dishes specialises in kebabs served in a range of styles. The restaurant has an open show kitchen and for entertainment there is a live band playing music from the region every evening.

Ghunghat

Restaurant Type	North Indian/Mughlai
Restaurant Capacity	50
Opening Times	21:00 to 03:00
Dress Codes	Smart casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking area.
Children’s Facilities	Children are not permitted in the restaurant.
Breakfast Options	N/A

Cranley Comment

Ghunghat Indian Restaurant is located on the ground floor of the hotel towards the back of the lobby area and next to the elevators. The restaurant serves Northern Indian Mughlai Cuisine with its rich gravies, spices added to cream and butter, rice dishes cooked with meat and dressed with toasted almonds, pistachios, cashews and raisins. The restaurant is decorated in a sophisticated style and includes a bar and a central stage area. The stage area is surrounded with tables and chairs. On the far side of the restaurant along the entire wall is a raised platform housing a long leather banquette with tables in front overlooking the central stage area. Each evening Indian musicians and dancers perform under coloured spotlights, all projected onto three large raised plasma screens enabling a good view for everyone.

The Chelsea Cafe

Restaurant Type	International
Restaurant Capacity	32
Opening Times	24 hours.
Dress Codes	Casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking area.
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available. Children's menu available.
Breakfast Options	A buffet breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:00 offering continental and a full cooked breakfast.

Cranley Comment

The Chelsea Cafe is located opposite the reception desk and next to Aqua Bar in the main lobby area. The cafe is decorated with a marble floor and on the far side of the cafe on the back wall, is an ornamental water fountain. The cafe serves international cuisine and offers informal dining with an open bar, and an a la carte menu which includes a variety of sandwiches and light snacks, all of which are available 24 hours a day. There is also a cake and dessert counter serving a wide choice of ice-creams, cakes and pastries, also available 24 hours a day.

Bars

Number of Bars	3
Bar Comments

The Country Club Hotel has three bars, each offering a form of live entertainment and a wide variety of culinary delights. Aqua Bar is located on the lobby level and is a cocktail and piano bar. Tiya Maria is a Filipino bar and lounge and offers live entertainment with a Filipino band and a dance floor. Authentic Filipino food is offered with an a la carte and combo menu available. Player's Lounge, also located on the lobby level is a popular eating and gathering place and recreates the atmosphere of a traditional pub with the best in sports, good old fashioned food and popular pub entertainment.

The Aqua Bar

Bar Type	Cocktail and Piano Bar
Bar Capacity	32
Opening Times	18:00 to 03:00.
Dress Codes	Smart/casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking areas.
Admissions Policy	No children allowed in the bar.

Cranley Comment

The elegantly designed Aqua Bar is located in the lobby area next to Chelsea Cafe. The bar is separated from the lobby with opaque frosted glass windows and has a bar area with half a dozen high bar stools. The remainder of the bar is decorated with sofas and chairs surrounding glass coffee tables and a large flat screen wall mounted television. Aqua Bar offers a classic and extensive cocktail list as well as Creole cuisine with fondues and light snacks. At the far end of the bar is a piano and during opening hours, a pianist entertains guests with a selection of jazz and blues piano music.

Player's Lounge

Bar Type	Sports Bar
Bar Capacity	80
Opening Times	12:00 to 03:00
Dress Codes	Casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking areas.
Admissions Policy	No children allowed except during the Friday Brunch at the Player's Lounge from 11:30 to 16:00.

Cranley Comment

The Player's Lounge is located off the lobby area and is a popular eating and gathering place. The Player's Lounge recreates the atmosphere of a traditional pub and serves a variety of English and popular International food selections with live cooking stations. There is a wide range of beers and spirits available from around the world. The Player's Lounge has eight raised 27 inch plasma television screens, seven cubicle seating areas for four people, each with its own personal 20 inch flat screen television, all showing the best in sports programmes. There are also three extra large pulldown screens which are used for showing special sporting events. The lounge has a bar area surrounded with high bar stools, further tables and chairs and a long banquette style sofa along one wall with tables. There is a pool table, a stage for performing artists and a DJ station. During Fridays, the Player's Lounge offer a Friday Brunch from 11:30 to 16:00. Children are welcome at the brunch and a number of children's activities are available such as face painting, kids corner mascots, cartoons and movies.

Tiya Maria

Bar Type	Filipino Club
Bar Capacity	80
Opening Times	12:00 to 03:00
Dress Codes	Casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking areas.
Admissions Policy	Adults over the age of 18.

Cranley Comment

Tiya Maria is a Filipino bar and lounge which is located near the main entrance to the Country Club Hotel on lobby level. The lounge serves drinks and an a la carte menu plus a choice of combo deals such as a seafood platter with a beer pitcher or a calamari platter and beer pitcher. The lounge has a seating area with tables and chairs, sofas and a bar area surrounded with high bar stools. There is a dance floor and a stage area where a six piece Filipino band play popular dance music nightly.

Business & Event Facilities

Wireless Internet

Wireless Internet access is available in the lobby and restaurant areas and is chargeable.

In-Room Services

High speed wired Internet access is available in all guestrooms and is chargeable.
All rooms have a desk and chair.

Business Centre

There are two computers with Internet access available in the small business centre located on the lobby level behind the Chelsea Cafe. Secretarial, fax, photocopying and scanning facilities are available through reception.

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel has no meeting or conference facilities.

Children’s Facilities & Clubs

Restaurant Facilities

See Restaurants

Children's Pool

See Pools

Babysitting service

The hotel has staff available for babysitting and require a few hours notice for this service. Babysitting is chargeable by the hour.

Cranley Comment

The Chelsea Hotel offers limited facilities for children. Children are welcome in the Player's Lounge for Friday brunch from 11:30 to 16:00. There are organised children's activities during brunch such as face painting, a children's corner, mascots, cartoon movies and more. There is an outdoor temperature controlled children's wade pool located on the rooftop of the hotel next to the main swimming pool. Children six years of age and under stay free sharing with their parents but without an extra bed. Rollaway beds are available in all guestrooms at a nightly charge. Baby cots are available free of charge. The Chelsea Cafe offers a children's menu and high chairs are available.

Entertainment

Evening Activities

Ghunghat Restaurant

Ghunghat Indian Restaurant is located in the lobby area of the hotel and has live performances with Indian musicians and dancers with a Bollywood theme seven nights a week.

Player's Lounge

The Player's Lounge is located in the lobby area and has regular themed evenings such as quiz nights, ladies and eighties nights, party nights and more. There are live sports shown on numerous flat screen televisions, a live band six nights a week and a DJ and disco six nights a week.

Qureshi

Qureshi is the hotel's new Indian Restaurant which opened in August 2007 and is located off the lobby area. The restaurant has live music with a performing singer accompanying dinner every night.

Aqua

Aqua Bar located off the lobby area and next to the Chelsea Cafe has live piano music every night playing mixed jazz.

Tiya Maria

Tiya Maria is a Filipino bar and lounge located off the lobby area of the hotel. The bar offers live entertainment seven nights a week with a Filipino band playing popular dance music and a dance floor available.

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel offers a wide variety of evening entertainment in their various restaurants and bars. There are themed evenings, live music, dancing, live Bollywood themed entertainment, televised sports events and a pool table.

Beaches

Jumeirah Beach Park

Location	6 kilometres.
Description	Jumeirah Beach Park is a public beach open from 8:00 to 23:00. Visitors must pay a small charge to enter the beach area and sun loungers and parasols are available for hire. Visitors to the Jumeirah Beach Park should note that one day per week is designated as 'Ladies Only' day and they should check before visiting which day it is.
Private/Public	Public
Size/Frontage	The beach has a water frontage of about four hundred metres and is approximately twenty metres wide.

Facilities	Facilities include showers, toilets, snack bar, sun loungers and parasols for hire, a children’s adventure playground and a grass area with barbeques and straw parasols.
Safety	Lifeguards on duty.
Parking	There is a small charge to bring your car into the park or there is complimentary car parking available nearby.

Cranley Comment

The Jumeirah Beach Park is a public beach with a small charge for entry. The beach park has a large beach with lifeguards, sun lounger and parasol hire, toilet facilities and a snack bar for cold drinks and fast food refreshments. There is a grassed area and an area planted with trees, where barbeques are available for public use. There are football goals and beach volleyball facilities on the beach in addition to an adventure type playground to keep younger children entertained.

Pools

Outdoor

Opening Times	08:00 to 21:30
Temperature	The pool is temperature controlled to approximately 28c
Depths	Maximum 1.9 metres. Minimum 1.0 metre.
Size	6 x 12 metres

Facilities	Sun loungers and parasols.
Safety	Lifeguard on duty during pool opening times.

Cranley Comment

The outdoor pool is located on the rooftop of the hotel and is temperature controlled throughout the year. There is also a heated jacuzzi which is three metres in diameter and a small children's swimming pool which is also three metres in diameter. A lifeguard is on duty during pool opening hours. The surrounding area of the pool has a number of sun loungers and parasols available. There are changing rooms for both men and women with lockers, steam room, sauna, showers, toilet facilities and towels available.

Children's

Opening Times	08:00 to 21:30
Temperature	The pool is temperature controlled to approximately 28c.
Depths	0.80 metres.
Size	3 metres diameter

Facilities	Sun loungers and parasols.
Safety	Lifeguard on duty.

Cranley Comment

There is a small temperature controlled children's pool which is located near the adults' swimming pool on the rooftop. The pool is small and only three metres in diameter with a depth of 0.80 metres. There is no awning over the pool and hence no shaded area. Located next to the main adult swimming pool, the children's pool has loungers and umbrellas in the surrounding area.

Sports & Gym

Gym & Health Club

Opening Times	08:00 to 21:30
Description	2 x Treadmill 1 x Cross Trainer 1 x Upright cycle 1 x Recumbent Bike 1 x Rower 1 x Multi-press 1 x Leg curl 1 x Triceps 1 x Ezcurl bar 1 x Shoulder press 20 x Dumbbells (various weights)
Size	12 metres long 8 metres wide

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel's well equipped gym is located on the fourth floor. It is a bright, airy and spacious room with windows on one side looking out over the city skyline and floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the opposite wall. The gym has wooden flooring and offers a full range of up-to-date fitness equipment and has two mounted television screens. Personal training is available and there are changing rooms for both men and women with locker, steam room, sauna, showers and toilet facilities.

Golf

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Description

Opened in 1993 and extensively re-modelled in 2005, the course is set next to Dubai Creek, close to the city centre and Dubai International Airport. The championship course was re-designed by Thomas Bjorn and is set in undulating fairways lined with palms, attractive water hazards and shrubbery that give it a tropical and secluded feel despite being close to the city centre. The complex also features a nine hole floodlit par-three course. The course was voted in November 2005 as one of the top 100 world courses to play and hosted the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 and 2000.

Location	5 kilometres.
Holes	Two Courses: 18 Hole and 9 Hole
Length/Par	18 Hole Course: 6,839 Yards Par 71 sss 72

Facilities

The centrepiece clubhouse is designed in the shape of a Dhow, making this one of Dubai’s landmark buildings. There is a golf academy with high tech studio, double ended driving range, six PGA qualified professionals and a comprehensive pro shop.

Emirates Golf Club

Description

This was the first grass course in the Gulf region when it opened in 1988. The club features two championship courses; the Majlis and the Wadi. The Majlis was the original course and was designed by Florida based designer Karl Litten. The Wadi opened in 1996 and was re-designed in 2007 by Nick Faldo. Despite a number of new courses, it still ranks as one of the best in Dubai. It has hosted the Dubai Desert Classic fifteen times for the last six years in succession.

Location	20 kilometres.
Holes	Majlis 18, Wadi 18
Length/Par	Majlis: 7,185 Yards par 72 sss 74 , Wadi: 7,263 Yards par 72 sss 74

Facilities

Teaching academy, two driving ranges (one of which is floodlit), pitching and chipping areas, fairway and greenside practice bunkers. Several bars and restaurants.

Four Seasons Golf Club Dubai

Description

Opened in February 2005 the Four Seasons Golf Club Dubai continues to receive rave reviews about its design, condition and playability. This is a Robert Trent Jones II designed course, neighbouring the banks of the Dubai Creek and is only 2 minutes from Dubai Airport. The Four Seasons Golf Club provides a challenging round for seasoned golfers and assures recreational players a memorable experience. It features extensive use of water with 11 lakes and several smaller ponds with stunning views across the impressive Dubai Skyline.

Location	7 kilometres
Holes	18
Length/Par	7,250 Yards Par 72 sss 74

Facilities

Driving range
Practice areas

Spa

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel does not have a spa.

Special Needs

Communal Areas

The lobby area is wheelchair accessible.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The Country Club Hotel does not have any rooms adapted for guests with special needs.

Restaurants & Catering

All the restaurants and Bars are wheelchair accessible.

Cranley Comment

The Country Club Hotel does not have any rooms adapted for guests with special needs. Wheelchair access is available from the lobby level to the restaurants and bars.

Environment

Measures

Energy Saving

Cranley Comment

The Hotel has energy saving keypads which are used to turn the electricity on and off when entering and exiting guestrooms.

Country Club Hotel, Dubai, Report Details

30th August 2007

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