Habtoor Grand Resort Spa, Dubai

The Cranley Report®: Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa

Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa, Dubai

Hotel Address

Dubai Marina
PO Box 24454
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Cranley Rating

Habtoor Grand Resort

Photo 1 of 33. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Resort Hotel

Hotel Opened	2005 (Re-opened after the addition of two large towers
Refurbishment	Continuous programme, with rooms, restaurants and bars refurbished on a regular basis out of season.

Cranley Summary

The Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa is located on its own beach, in the fast developing Marina area of Dubai and is close to Dubai 's Internet City / Media City. The majority of the Resort was rebuilt in 2005, retaining only the 2003 refurbished Resort Rooms within the extensive grounds. The new building consists of two towers which house the Tower Rooms and the Resort's signature restaurant on the 25th floor. It also has a three storey central area where the lobby, some of the restaurants, bars, cafes and spa are located. The infinity pool is on the third floor terrace. The Resort has a number of different room options and some of the restaurants are located in the grounds, adjacent to, or overlooking the main pool. There is a business centre, a variety of function rooms and high speed internet connections in every room to cater for the business traveller. Guests should be aware that the development in the Marina is continuing and whilst the Habtoor Grand is furthest away from most of the building work, there may be some noise disturbance from the Marina for the immediate future.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Resort is located in the fast developing Marina area of Dubai, which is 28 km from Dubai International Airport. The Resort is situated on its own beach, next to the entrance to the Marina and overlooking the Palm Jumeirah. It is well located for tourist attractions, as it is only ten minutes away from the Wild Wadi, Ski Dubai and a number of shopping malls. For business travellers it is a 2 minute drive from the Internet and Media Cities and fifteen minutes from the Jebel Ali Freezone.

Airports
Distance	28 km
Airport Transfers	Complimentary for Club guests.

Cities and Sights
Distance	25 km
City/Sight Transfers	The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle bus which runs a couple of times a day.

Layout Description

The hotel is approached via an elevated drive with the reception on the first floor. The “Lobby Lounge” and the Al Dhiyafa restaurant are located at the back of the circular lobby. The remaining restaurants are located throughout the resort with three restaurants situated around the main pool with outside dining and another restaurant on the 25th floor. The more modern “Tower Rooms” are located in two towers on either side of the lobby and the more leisurely “Resort Rooms” are in the hotel grounds next to the swimming pool near the beach. The gym and spa are on the ground floor with the tennis courts and the children’s club located next to the swimming pool.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 Hours
Languages Spoken	Arabic, English
Payment Methods	All major international credit cards and cash accepted
Foreign Exchange	Open 24 hours All major currencies exchanged.
Taxis Arranged	Taxi pool on standby
Tours Arranged	A variety of 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, Snorkelling or Scuba Diving.

Guest Relations	Standard Services
Concierge Services	Standard Services
Medical Facilities	Nurse on duty between 08:00 and 18:00. A doctor can be called with 30 minutes notice
Parking	Complimentary valet parking

Cranley Comment

The lobby is approached by an elevated drive with guests entering the Resort at first floor level. The lobby is a circular, stylishly decorated room with an Arabian theme. It has an elaborate gold/bronze Arabian Oryx fountain as a centrepiece, set under a dome decorated with a desert mural. Around the fountain area are numerous sofas and armchairs for guests to relax in whilst enjoying a tea or coffee. The lobby stairs lead down to the spa and hotel grounds whilst the Al Dhiyafa restaurant is located at the back of the lobby. On either side of the lobby is a corridor that leads guests to the elevators of the two towers, where the majority of the hotel's rooms are situated.

Shops & Amenities

Description

Ladies Salon
Rivoli-Fine Watches
Pure Gold-Jewellery
Souvenirs
Carpet Shop
Beach Shop
Perfumery Shop
Diamond Lease- Car Rental
Jetset-Plane Charter

Cranley Comment

The hotel has several shops, selling a range of goods from jewellery to souvenirs, in a small arcade off the main reception area and there is a ladies beauty salon on the ground floor, close to the Underground bar. Near to the pool is a beach shop selling newspapers and beach/pool products. For those guests wanting more shopping, the hotel runs three times daily complimentary shuttle bus service to the Mall of the Emirates, Mercato Mall, Wafi City and five times daily to Burjuman Centre. Advance booking is recommended for these services.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	25
Total Rooms	446
Elevators	6
Rooms per Elevator	74
Total Staff	850
Staff per Room	1.9

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	Non-smoking rooms available
Room Service	24 hour room service
Laundry Service	Same day service. If collected before 10:00, it will be returned between 18:00 and 20:00. Express service available at a 50% surcharge for items required within 4 hours. 2 hour pressing service is available 24 hours.
Unique Features	Instead of a key or swipe card, room entry is made using a disc that is placed against an infra-red beam on the wall outside the room.

Club or Executive Facilities

There is a dedicated lounge for the exclusive use of Club Guests. It is open daily from 06:00 until midnight and children are allowed in until 18:00 after which it is adults only as alcohol is served. Male guests should note that shorts can only be worn during breakfast which lasts until 11:30.

Other facilities Club guests benefit from are:
Airport transfer by private car upon arrival and departure.
Full breakfast at Grand Club Lounge or Al Dhiyafa Restaurant from 06:00 to11:00
Afternoon tea at Grand Club Lounge from 15:00 to 17:00
Regular drinks at Grand Club Lounge from 18:00 to 20:00
Canapes at Grand Club Lounge from 18:00 to 20:00
Tea, coffee and soft drinks at Grand Club Lounge from 11:00 to midnight
Free internet for one hour per day; voucher will be available at the Business Centre
Daily international newspaper at Grand Club Lounge
Late check-out till 14:00

Cranley Comment

The Habtoor Grand has two distinct types of rooms; the Resort Rooms and Tower Rooms. The Resort Rooms were part of the original hotel and were refurbished in 2003, whilst the Tower Rooms are located within the two newly built towers. Tower Rooms tend to be more contemporary in design with an Arabian influence, whilst Resort Rooms have a more classic feel to them, with dark wood parquet flooring and furniture. All room types feature the same high quality amenities of LCD televisions/DVD players and luxury bathroom facilities. There are also Ambassador Suites, Presidential Suites, a Royal Suite and a Penthouse Suite located in the newly built towers with views over the Gulf. Where two children can be accommodated in a room, it is with one extra bed. A cot can also be added in each room type. Rooms do not feature tea/coffee making facilities, nor ironing boards and irons.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Tower	187	99 Sea 88 Partial Sea	Individually controlled air conditioning High speed internet LCD TV DVD Mini bar Safe Hairdryer Armchair and foot rest Desk/Dressing Area Chaise longue Bathrobe Slippers Scales Luxury toiletries	2 Adults and 1 child under 12 on existing bed	40

Cranley Comment

Guests enter the room using a small disc instead of a key or a swipe card. The disc is held against an infra red panel outside the room. There is a small hallway which leads to a corridor housing the wardrobes, with the bathroom opposite. The bedroom is brightly decorated with an arabesque touch, to give a middle-eastern ambience. Tower Rooms are equipped with a DVD player and LCD television and furnished with an armchair and footrest, chaise lounge and a desk/dressing table, where there is a high speed internet connection. There is also a minibar and ample drawer space. The Tower Sea View rooms have a balcony, whereas the regular Tower Rooms do not. The well appointed en suite bathroom comes with a separate rain shower and a deep bath, as well as a bidet and wc. The bathrooms have a sliding door and different colour schemes, including blues and greens. They are spacious and very modern in design, with a stand-alone circular glass washbasin as a distinctive feature.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Tower Family	33	Partial Sea	As per the Tower room, but with the added benefit of having a larger lounge area. One extra bed can be added to accommodate a second child in the room.	3 Adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	50

Cranley Comment

Tower Family Rooms are located on the sides of the towers and are fitted out to the same specification as Tower Rooms for bedrooms and bathrooms. Tower Family Rooms however, have a larger square lounge to allow for families of four to be accommodated. These rooms do not have a balcony.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Grand Club	77	44 Sea 33 Partial Sea	As per the Tower room with the added benefit of use of the Club facilities.	2 Adults and 1 child under 12 on existing bed	40

Cranley Comment

Grand Club rooms have the same specification as Tower rooms, but with the addition of Club benefits which are detailed above, that are aimed toward the business traveller. Grand Club Sea View rooms have a balcony, whereas the partial sea view rooms do not have a balcony.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Grand Club Suite	37	Partial Sea	As per the Tower Room, but with the added benefit of being larger and: Separate lounge Two satellite televisions Two sofas Desk Club facilities One extra bed can be added to accommodate a second child in the room.	3 Adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	65

Cranley Comment

The Grand Club Suite comprises an entrance hallway leading to a small corridor housing the wardrobes and the bathroom entrance. The lounge and bedroom are separate rooms off the hallway and consist of a bedroom and lounge that are of a similar size to those in the Tower room. The lounge comes fitted with a three-seat and two-seat sofa set around a coffee table, a desk and a satellite television and DVD player housed in a cabinet. Grand Club Suites do not have balconies.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Resort	38	Hotel buildings	High speed internet Wireless internet Air conditioning Mini bar Safe LCD TV DVD Hairdryer Bathrobe Slippers Scales Luxury toiletries	2 Adults and 1 child under 12 on existing bed	35

Cranley Comment

These rooms have dark wood parquet flooring and wood furniture, bedding in a lighter colour and beige walls to provide a contrast. Resort Rooms are well appointed with good quality fittings, a LCD satellite television and a DVD player. The bathroom is smaller than the Tower room bathroom and has a combined bath shower with a toilet and bidet.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Resort Garden	52	Gardens/Pools	As per the Resort Room.	2 Adults and 1 child under 12 on existing bed	35

Cranley Comment

These rooms have the same specification as the Resort rooms, but with the benefit of having views across the gardens to the swimming pool.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Resort Studio	12	Gardens/Pools	As per the Resort Room.	2 Adults and 1 child under 12 on existing bed	40

Cranley Comment

The Resort Studios are similar to and decorated in the same style as the Resort rooms but benefit from being 5 square metres larger. Most of the rooms have a balcony or a terrace.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Resort Suite	2	Gardens/Pools	As per the Resort Room with the added benefit of being larger and having: Separate lounge Two balconies Bar Two satellite LCD televisions CD player WC Dining table for four 2 two-seat sofas 2 arm chairs Chaise lounge Jacuzzi Bath Separate shower One extra bed can be added to accommodate a second child in the room.	3 Adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	80

Cranley Comment

The Resort Suite is decorated in the same style as the Resort room, but with the benefit of having a separate lounge and WC. The lounge has a bar area with bar stools, a dining table that seats four, as well as sofas and armchairs. The lounge leads off to a balcony. The bedroom is a little larger than the Resort room bedroom and comes with a large en suite bathroom, that has a separate shower and Jacuzzi bath. The bedroom also has its own balcony.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Ambassador Suite	4	Sea	As per the Tower Room with the added benefit of being larger and with: Separate lounge/dining room Entrance hallway Separate bathroom Balcony WC 42 inch plasma screen TV DVD home theatre system Club facilities One extra bed can be added to accommodate a second child in the room.	3 Adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	140

Cranley Comment

Ambassador Suites are located in the newly-built towers and decorated in a modern contemporary design with an arabesque touch. These suites have a large lounge with dining table and large screen plasma television. Detailed wood Arabic panelling, which matches the design of the dining room chairs, separates the room from the hallway. At the end of the corridor is the master bedroom and opposite is the bathroom with a separate rain shower and large Jacuzzi bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Presidential Suite	2	Sea	As for the Ambassador Suite with the added benefit of being larger and with: Two en suite bedrooms Lounge area Separate television area Dining room Balcony Plasma satellite televisions Club facilities One extra bed can be added to accommodate a second child in the room.	4 Adults and 2 children under 12	250

Cranley Comment

Presidential Suites directly overlook the ocean and are situated at the top of the towers. The suites have two en suite bedrooms, with the master bedroom having a lounge and dressing area. In addition there is a lounge area, separate television area and a dining room. Presidential Suites are decorated in a contemporary Arabian design and equipped with luxury features. These suites also have panoramic windows offering stunning views over the Gulf.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Suite	1	Sea	Luxuriously decorated and furnished Three en-suite bedrooms with lounge and dressing area for master bedroom Dining room WC Lounge TV lounge Terrace with seating Club facilities One extra bed can be added to accommodate a second child in the room.	6 Adults and 2 children under 12	500