Villa Rotana, Dubai - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report®: Villa Rotana

Villa Rotana, Dubai

Hotel Address

Sheikh Zayed Road
PO Box 118737
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Cranley Rating

Villa Rotana

Photo 1 of 6. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Apartment Hotel

Hotel Opened

2005

Cranley Summary

Villa Rotana apartments were built in 2005 and are located on the fashionable Sheikh Zayed Road and have been decorated in a modern design. At the centre of the hotel is an atrium with natural light through a glass ceiling. The ground floor has the Moka café which serves a full a-la-carte menu as well as buffet options. Accommodation comes in two types; a studio apartment and a one bedroom suite. The studio incorporates a kitchenette but without a washing machine whereas the suite has two rooms and guest WC, full kitchen, lounge and en-suite bedroom. Apartments are well appointed with facilities like LCD and plasma televisions as well as high quality furnishings and fittings. On the top floor the hotel has a full gym with changing rooms that incorporate sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi and there is also a rooftop pool with views over the Arabian Gulf and Burj Al Arab.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The apartments are located in the fashionable Sheikh Zayed Road area of Dubai near the emerging Buj Dubai building. Its location gives it easy access to the World Trade Centre, Jebel Ali and the new Internet and Media cities. Shopping is nearby with the Mall of the Emirates about 5 km away. The accommodation is also only a short drive from the Jumeirah public beach.

Airports
Distance	11 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi

Cities and Sights
Distance	8 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi

Layout Description

The hotel is a square design laid out over five floors. Past the lobby area is a large atrium with a glass ceiling to allow for natural light. On the ground floor are the business centre, Moka Café and function rooms. The apartment accommodation is on the first four floors with rooms having either an internal view over the courtyard or an outside view. On the 5th floor is the gym and health club facilities as well as the rooftop pool.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 Hours
Languages Spoken	English, Arabic, Philippine, Kenyan
Payment Methods	All major credit cards and cash acdepted
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies accepted
Taxis Arranged	Taxi are arranged on request
Tours Arranged	A variety of activities can be arranged including 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 or Scuba Diving.

Guest Relations	Standard Services
Concierge Services	Standard Services
Medical Facilities	Doctor on call with 30 minutes notice
Parking	Complimentary underground parking

Cranley Comment

On entering the lobby through a two floor high glass entrance, guests are immediately drawn to the modern design with chrome on the mezzanine walkway and the lifts and the modern glass floor suspended over pebbles highlighted by blue neon light. The reception desk is on the left with two receptionists.

Shops & Amenities

Cranley Comment

The hotel has no other internal shops or amenities but the Mazaya shopping centre is within walking distance and the larger Mall of the Emirates is a short taxi ride away.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	5
Total Rooms	118
Elevators	3
Rooms per Elevator	39
Total Staff	100
Staff per Room	0.8

Check-in Time	14.00
Check-out Time	12.00
Late Checkout	To 16.00 with no charge subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	Non-smoking rooms available
Room Service	24 hour room service
Laundry Service	Same day service if dropped off by 09.00

Cranley Comment

The two accommodation types are fitted out and furnished to a very high standard in a modern, trendy design. A lot of use is made of glass, chrome, granite and stainless steel. The designers have also used natural stone products and made a feature in both rooms using large grey building blocks for an internal wall in the bathroom or lounge, depending on the type of room. Rooms feature state of the art plasma and LCD screens. Bathrooms have granite counters with a white sink bowl on top. The bath is a combined bath and shower with a glass shower screen.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Studio	56		Kitchenette with sink, 2-plate hob, extractor fan, fridge, kettle, toatser, tea and coffee making facilities 20-inch LCD TV High speed internet Phone with voice mail Iron and ironing board Safe Bathrobe Slippers Private range of toiletries Scale Hairdryer	3 Adults or 2 Adults and 2 children under 12

Cranley Comment

The studio room consists of an en-suite bedroom and kitchenette. Within the room there is a glass desk and wardrobes with wood doors inlayed with glass, in keeping with the modern theme. The bathrooms are well fitted out and have the unusual feature of a grey stone-block wall which together with the granite counter gives it an earthy feel.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Suite	62		As per the studio with the added benefit of: 42-satellite plasma satellite TV 21-inch LCD Satellite TV in the bedroom Granite tops Ceramic hobs Oven/microwave Glass desk	3 Adults or 2 Adults and 2 children under 12

Cranley Comment

The suite comprises a full kitchen, lounge and en-suite bathroom. The fully equipped kitchen is separated from the lounge by a breakfast bar and work-counter. Opposite the kitchen, at the entrance, is a separate guest WC and near to that is a small laundry room housing a washing machine. The kitchen and WC have slate flooring. The lounge is decorated in a very modern style with one wall being the same grey stone walling as the bathroom in the studio apartment, while the other wall has a state of the art 42-inch plasma screen. The lounge has white tiled floor to distinguish it from the kitchen/entrance area. The lounge also benefits from floor to ceiling windows, 3-seater white leather sofa and red easy boy type chair. The bedroom is similar to the studio room with use of glass and wood to create a modern feel. The bathroom has the same amenities as the studio apartment but is slightly larger.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Moka Cafe

Restaurant Type	International Cuisine
Restaurant Capacity	58 (inside)
Opening Times	24 Hours
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking area
Children’s Facilities	High Chairs available. Children under 6 years of age eat free and 6 to 12 pay 50%.
Breakfast Options	Buffet

Cranley Comment

The Moka Café is at the rear of the entrance lobby in the atrium and has a full range of dinning options. The restaurant serves a buffet breakfast with a selection of hot and cold foods, a buffet lunch and dinner subject to occupancy levels and also has an al-a-carte menu 24 hours a day. The Café itself is in a unique location within the atrium, set in a courtyard environment that is surrounded by a European style building made of light stone with ornate stonework around the windows. The courtyard itself is set under a glass roof, giving it a brightness at day and views of the stars at night.

Bars

Bar Comments

Villa Rotana has no dedicated bars.

Business & Event Facilities

Wireless Internet

Available in all common areas but not the rooms

In-Room Services

High speed internet connections available

Business Centre

Located near the reception area, the business centre is a modern designed room with two private PC workstations with internet connection. The centre provides secretarial support, scanning, faxing, photocopying and printing services.

Meetings & Events

Villa Rotana has four meeting rooms (32 sq metres, 32 sq metres, 42.5 sq metres and 72 sq metres) that can accommodate from 12 to 75 guests depending on the configuration. The rooms have high ceilings with white marble flooring around the perimeter of the room and carpet in the centre. The sides of the rooms have dark wood panelling.

Children’s Facilities & Clubs

Restaurant Facilities

See Restaurants

Babysitting service

Babysitting can be arranged with apartment staff giving at least six hours notice

Beaches

Jumeirah Beach Park

Location	4 km
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, 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