Swiss comfort, care in Dubai

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 03/12/2006 8:01 AM  |  Life

Only 10 minutes from the international airport, the Hotel Mvenpick Bur Dubai is certainly a good spot to relax after a long flight. A 24-hour shuttle service will take you to a 24-hour buffet in the hotel restaurant. And since the Swiss chain Mvenpick is famous for its excellent food, you won't be disappointed.

Mvenpick Bur Dubai has 232 rooms and suites, an executive floor and a club lounge. All rooms have satellite TVs, video player, Internet connection, wi-fi and a safe to store luxury items you may have picked up the city's markets and malls.

The hotel has a rooftop pool and an evening bar. Soft lounge music drifts into the air while Dubai's skyscrapers form a perfect backdrop to the cosmopolitan guests mingling with a cocktail in their hands.

For businesspeople, the hotel is perfectly situated, close to the expressway that leads to Dubai's commercial district. For practical tourists, it is also very convenient because of the nearby shopping mall. The beach isn't within walking distance, but you can get there by taxi for about $5.

The international staff speak Russian, German, Hindi and English of course, and reminds you with their presence that you are in a place where everyone is a guest. While the guest book contained complaints about the unfriendly staff, I found them to be most friendly and helpful.

The hotel restaurants reflect the multicultural character of Dubai, offering Italian, Lebanese and, of course, Swiss cuisines. The latter includes cheese fondue and raglette, traditional dishes that are best shared with a group of people.

All restaurants offer children's meals, which is not usual in Dubai, and downstairs, there's even a kids' room with a trampoline castle, coloring books and children's TV programs -- so moms and dads can dine in peace.

For nightlife, the hotel has a pool bar, an English pub and a hotel bar. Going out in Dubai means going to hotels, and these bars certainly are a draw for tourists and expatriates alike.

When you finally decide to go to bed, you will discover a rather nice touch. Each time your bed is turned down, a flower is left on the pillow with a small card featuring an adage. Mine read: ""The only way to pass a test is to take the test.""

Mvenpick is certainly diving into the test head-first: They plan to open four other hotels in Dubai over the next few years.

-- Sren Kittel

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