Royal Ascot Hotel, Dubai - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report®: Royal Ascot Hotel

Royal Ascot Hotel, Dubai

Hotel Address

Khalid Bin Walid Road
PO Box 115160
Dubai
UAE

Cranley Rating

Royal Ascot Hotel (Right Side)

Photo 1 of 25. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Hotel

Hotel Opened	2007
Refurbishment	New Hotel

Cranley Summary

The Royal Ascot Hotel opened its doors in 2007 and is located in the heart of Dubai in the Bur Dubai area. The hotel is approximately a fifteen minute drive from Dubai International Airport and is close to all the major business and shopping areas of the city. The Royal Ascot Hotel is adjoined to its affiliate hotel, "The Ascot Hotel", via a central passageway on the ground floor offering guests a wide choice of facilities in both establishments. The hotel offers guests a choice of one hundred and eighty one rooms with each room having a city view, decorated and furnished to a high standard and fitted with modern up-to-date amenities. The Royal Ascot has a Korean Restaurant and a Coffee shop both located on Lobby level. In the not too distant future, the hotel will be opening their new Indian Restaurant "Planet Bollywood”. Guests also have access to the affiliate Ascot Hotel’s food and beverage outlets next door. The hotel’s facilities include a rooftop swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and steam and a large amphitheatre which hosts a daily evening performance by an international dance troupe. Also opening shortly is a one hundred capacity conference room offering state-of-the-art audio visual facilities. The hotel caters for the corporate and business traveller and maintains a quiet and tranquil environment during the evenings.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Royal Ascot Hotel is located in the heart of the city in the commercial area of Bur Dubai, on the opposite side of the Creek from Deira. The hotel's central location is seven kilometres, a fifteen minute drive from Dubai International Airport and five kilometres, a ten minute drive to the Jumeirah Beach area by the hotel shuttle bus depending on traffic. Major shopping centres like the Mall of the Emirates and IBN Battuta Mall are a twenty minute drive away. Within the immediate vicinity of the hotel, are an array of electrical and computer shops, pharmacies, the Meena Bazaar with its gold, clothing and electronics, the BurJuman Shopping centre and numerous authentic restaurants ranging from Iranian to Gujarati. The Dubai museum is very close, about one kilometre, as well as Sheik Rashid's original home that is now a tourist attraction.

Airports
Distance	6 km
Airport Transfers	Chargeable: Airport shuttle service Limousine service Airport meet & greet service Taxi

Cities and Sights
Distance	1 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi

Layout Description

The Royal Ascot is an eight storey building with underground parking available in the basement level. The hotel is set back from the road and adjoins an affiliate hotel “The Ascot” via a central passageway on the ground floor. The entrance level lobby area houses several restaurants, reception, a bar, the hotel’s gift shop, business centre, lounge seating areas and elevators to all floors including the rooftop pool and gymnasium. At the far end of the lobby area is an entrance into the hotel’s large theatrium.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	Twenty four hours
Languages Spoken	Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi & Tagalog
Payment Methods	All major credit cards and cash accepted
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies exchanged
Taxis Arranged	Street taxis available
Tours Arranged	A variety of tours and activities can be arranged through the hotel's tour desk run by Desert Link. The tour desk is located on the ground floor in the passageway connecting the Ascot Hotel and the Royal Ascot Hotel. Tours and activities include 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	Airline ticket re-confirmation Car rental service Complimentary beach shuttle service to Jumeriah Beach at 10.30 in the morning with collection back at 14.30. Twenty four hour valet parking Shopping information Chargeable airport shuttle service Postage & courier service
Medical Facilities	Doctor on call with a typical response time of five minutes according to the hotel
Parking	Valet parking available There are two basement car parks with spaces for one hundred and four cars.

Cranley Comment

On entering the lobby area from the main entrance on the ground floor, immediately opposite is a classical stairway leading up to the mezzanine level. Turning left from the entrance leads to Wellington's Bar, a lounge area and to a passageway linking The Royal Ascot's sister hotel "The Ascot". The passageway also houses Desert Link Tours which serves both hotels. Turning right from the entrance and set back, is a large L shaped wooden and marble reception desk with four elevators, two at each end of the reception desk serving all floors. There is a large lounge area with comfortable sofas, armchairs and coffee tables directly opposite the reception desk and located in the central area of the lobby. Westend coffee shop runs parallel to the lobby lounge along the front of the building. The opulent lobby area is decorated with marble floors, rich and vibrant colours in both fabrics and decorations and has an Edwardian feel and style.

Shops & Amenities

Description

The hotel 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 sundry items such as shampoo, toothpaste, cigarettes, papers, magazines, postcards, sunglasses plus a number of small locally made souvenir gifts to take home. The hotel also has a travel desk in the passageway connecting to the sister hotel "The Ascot" offering a number of tours and activities. Marco Karam is a hair and beauty salon is open from 10:00 to 20:00. The Salon is located on the mezzanine floor and offers hairdressing facilities, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials and massage treatments.

Cranley Comment

The Royal Ascot has a limited range of retail outlets within the hotel. However, there are many local shopping centres in the immediate surrounding district which are a 2 minute walk from the hotel. The larger shopping malls such as the Mall of the Emirates are only a short taxi ride away.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	8
Total Rooms	181
Elevators	4
Rooms per Elevator	45
Total Staff	300
Staff per Room	1.7

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	The sixth floor is a non-smoking floor
Room Service	Twenty four hours
Laundry Service	Clothing collected before 10:00 will be returned the same day after 18:00. Laundry required the same day and collected between 10:00 and 13:00, will be charged as express service rate (surcharge of 50%) and delivered after eight hours.

Cranley Comment

The Royal Ascot has a variety of room types ranging from Superior, Executive, One and Two bedroom suites and seven luxury Balmoral suites all with a city skyline view. The rooms are approached along spacious red carpeted corridors that are decorated in light pastel shades and have paintings of horses along all the walls. All the rooms and suites are well appointed, spacious, airy and fitted out with all modern amenities. The bedrooms have either a king-size or extra large twin beds and twenty seven inch flat screen TVs. Whilst the hotel is located in a shopping area, all the rooms are very quiet with no noticeable road noise.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior	119	City Skyline	Wi-Fi Writing desk & chair International direct dial telephone Voicemail message system Twenty seven inch LCD TV Satellite TV with fifty channels Keyboard for interactive TV on request Central air conditioning with individual temperature control Mini bar Tea and coffee making facilities In-room safety box Daily newspaper Fruit basket Fully equipped luxury marble bathrooms Combined bath and shower Dressing gowns Hair dryer Weighing scales Iron and ironing boards on request	3 adults	47

Cranley Comment

The rooms are approached along carpeted airy corridors with original artwork on the walls. Superior rooms have a small marble entrance hallway housing a large fitted wardrobe and shelves on one side and leading to the bathroom on the other side. The elegantly appointed spacious bedrooms are fully carpeted and decorated in soft pastel hughes of golds and earthy shades with colour coordinating soft furnishings. The bedroom is furnished with either a king-size or extra large twin beds, two easy chairs, a small coffee table, a cupboard with a flat screen TV on the top and a desk and chair with a mirror over. The marble bathrooms all have a shower over the bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive	27	City Skyline	As per Superior room with the added benefit of: A lounge area with sofa, chairs and coffee table A larger desk Extra wardrobes Trunk storage space at the foot of the bed Full length mirror	3 adults	50

Cranley Comment

Executive rooms are slightly larger than the Superior rooms and have light marble floors throughout. The entrance hallway has fitted wardrobes to one side and leads to the bathroom on the other side. The spacious airy rooms are decorated in pastel earthy hughes and have colour coordinating soft furnishings. The lounge area is furnished with a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table which stands on a colourful oriental style rug. The large desk houses a TV and has a mirror over and a desk chair. The bedroom area has either a king-size or extra large twin beds, a box storage trunk at the base of the bed and double fitted wardrobes. The bathroom has a shower over the bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
One Bedroom Suite	21	City Skyline	As per the Executive room with the added benefit of: Separate lounge area Dining table and chairs More cupboard space Two flat screen TVs	3 adults and 1 child	67

Cranley Comment

The entrance into the one bedroom suites lead into the separate lounge area. These spacious airy rooms are decorated in pastel shades and have light coloured marble floors. There is a large double cupboard for storage, a sofa and two easy chairs, a TV on a large cabinet which has draws and cupboard space, a desk and chair with a mirror over. From the lounge a door leads through to a small hallway which has fitted wardrobes and leads through to the bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom is carpeted and has a king-size or twin beds, a large chest of draws and cupboard housing a flat screen TV on the top, an easy chair and wooden case stand. The marble bathroom has a shower over the bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Balmoral Suite	7	City Skyline	As per the One Bedroom Suite with the added advantage of: Separate walk-in shower Jacuzzi	2 adults	69

Cranley Comment

The Balmoral Suites are decorated in pastel shades and furnished to a high standard. The large marble floored hallway has an ornate table and chairs and leads through to a separate lounge and dining area. The lounge is furnished with a sofa, easy chairs, coffee table standing on a rug, a large unit with a TV on top, dining table and chairs and a display cabinet. The bedroom has an entrance hallway with a fitted wardrobe on the right and leading off to the bathroom on the left. The carpeted bedroom has a king-size bed, chez longue, coffee table, large desk and chair and a cabinet with a mini Bar and TV on top. The luxurious bathroom has a large jacuzzi and separate walk-in shower.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Two Bedroom Suite	7	City Skyline	As per the one bedroom suite with the added benefit of: Larger hallway Two bedrooms Two bathrooms Two TVs Two safe boxes	4 adults and 2 children	139

Cranley Comment

The Two Bedroom Suites are the largest of all the suites. On entering the suite, there is a long marble floored hallway which is furnished with a decorative table and chairs. This leads straight through to a separate lounge and dining area which has a marble floor and is furnished with sofa and chairs, a cabinet with a flat screen TV on the top, coffee table and a four seater dining table. The master bedroom is located at the far end of the suite and is entered through a door into a hallway housing a double wardrobe and the entrance into the bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The bedroom has a king-size bed, a chez longue, coffee table, cabinet with TV on top, a desk and chair. The bathroom has a shower over the bath. The second bedroom is off the lounge area and has a king-size or twin beds, desk with a TV on top, desk chair, 2 easy chairs, coffee table and double wardrobes. There is a second bathroom off the hallway with shower over bath.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

Guests at the Royal Ascot Hotel have the choice of the restaurants at the hotel and the Ascot Hotel next door. This option gives guests a choice of six restaurants ranging from Japanese to Irish and the hotel will be opening a new Indian called Planet Bollywood in the summer.

Dae Fang Kum

Restaurant Type	Korean
Restaurant Capacity	120
Opening Times	12:00 to 15:00 19:00 to 23:30
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Designated smoking areas
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available
Breakfast Options	N/A

Cranley Comment

Dae Fang Kum Korean restaurant is located on the ground floor towards the rear of the lobby area and reception desk. The restaurant is decorated in traditional Korean style with wooden tables and carved chairs segregated into areas by wooden and glass panels. There is a private dining room in the restaurant which is used for larger groups and functions. The windows are framed with heavy wooden panelling and the general ambiance has a truly oriental feel. Kae Jang Kum offers a menu of savoury curries, steamed rice and spicy vegetable pickles accompanied by traditional majuang wine and ginseng tea. The restaurant specialises in dishes such as Korean barbecue and sizzling hot pot and offers an a la carte menu and a number of set menus.

Westend Coffee Shop

Restaurant Type	Coffee Shop
Restaurant Capacity	50
Opening Times	Twenty four hours
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Designated smoking areas
Children’s Facilities	There is no children's menu
Breakfast Options	Continental or American

Cranley Comment

Westend coffee shop is open twenty four hours and is located off the lobby lounge area to the front of the hotel. It is decorated in an Edwardian style keeping in contrast with the lobby and surrounding areas. The menu offers a variety of international and local dishes as well as snacks, sandwiches, salads and beverages.

Bars