Hotel: Four Seasons Dubai Jumeirah/ Stay Period: August 2024 (4 nights) / Program: Four Seasons Preferred Partner
We love Dubai!! We have visited Dubai several times and continue to visit whenever we can. Each time we try and experience a different hotel. Dubai draws polarised reactions but it’s perfect if you want sun and good food/drinks options together with a variety of shopping. If you’re looking for culture, then there are better alternatives in the Middle East for sure (e.g. Oman).
We landed at Dubai Airport at 8a.m from London Heathrow on our British Airways flight. Immigration was completely empty and in no time we made it into the arrivals hall, where our airport pick-up was awaiting us.
Four Seasons Preferred Partner Benefits
Before we review the property, a quick note that the hotel can be booked under our exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner programme. Booking under the rate, you can receive the following benefits:
- Upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
- Daily Complimentary breakfast for two
- $100 equivalent food & beverage credit for rooms and $200 for suites
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
- Welcome note and welcome amenity
Quite often, we can offer additional perks such as free night offers, higher credit, guaranteed upgrades, and more. Reach out to find out more.
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Location: Four Seasons Dubai Jumeirah
Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach Dubai is located along the famous Jumeirah Beach Road. This is approx 20-30min from the airport and about 20min from Downtown Dubai / Dubai Mall. There’s no metro station nearby so you’ll have to rely on local taxis or Kareem to get around, which are fairly reasonably priced by international standards. There’s a taxi stand right outside and the FS team will call you a cab once you need it.
I particularly like this location because you get the best of both worlds. You get to experience a beautiful resort with direct beach access and yet be able to reach Downtown Dubai fairly quickly. The roads between FS Jumeirah and Dubai Mall are also not very busy which makes it easy to travel.
If you’re a first time visitor to Dubai, you may want to consider staying closer to Downtown Dubai and we can suggest alternative hotels. If you’re in Dubai for nightlife, a hotel near Marina Bay or the Palm is likely a better choice.
There’s a limited choice of luxury properties in the vicinity as most of the luxury hotels are either in Downtown or closer to The Palm. The Mandarin Oriental is closest and located to the east of FS Jumeirah. The new-ish Bulgari Dubai can be accessed via an overbridge and the new Aman Dubai is under construction just off the beach.
Hotel Entrance and Check-in: Four Seasons Jumeirah Dubai
We arrived at the Four Seasons Jumeirah lobby and our luggage was swiftly taken away as we proceeded to the check-in area. The hotel was quite quiet at this time in the morning although there was a buzz of activity at the Shai Salon Tea Lounge right across the check-in desks, which serves breakfast during the quieter summer season.
We were glad to receive early check-in at 9am which was much earlier than the 3pm scheduled check-in time. This is again a great benefit of our Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefit and will generally be granted as long as there’s availability.
We weren’t offered a welcome drink from what i remember. Although there was a beautiful trolley kept in front of the check-in desk with Arabic coffee and dates. This was a miss and would’ve elevated the check-in experience. It is the small things that matter, after all!
Check-in was quick and efficient.. We booked the base category room (Deluxe City View) and received a multiple category upgrade to a Deluxe Partial Sea View Room. The check-in staff asked us if we’d like to have breakfast before heading to the room. We really appreciated this gesture as we had just come off a long flight and were rather hungry. Although breakfast is complimentary as part of FSPP benefits, it is not included on the day of check-in.
We had a quick breakfast, which we’ll review later, and then headed to our room. The check-in staff escorted us to our room and gave a brief tour of the resort.
Deluxe Partial Sea View Room: Four Seasons Jumeirah Dubai
Room
The resort layout is such that rooms are either facing the city (some with full Dubai skyline view) or the sea (with partial sea views or full sea view). The rooms with the best views are either the Dubai Premium Skyline rooms or the Premier Sea View rooms. Nevertheless, most rooms have decent views. In any case as a FSPP client, you’re quite unlikely to receive a room with a poor view. We’ll make sure of that!
We were on a high floor and our room faced the pool with beautiful views of the Persian Gulf.
As you enter the room, the bathroom is located to your left and the bedroom to your right. Straight ahead is a spacious walk-in wardrobe with enough hangers and cupboard space to unpack clothes for at least a week’s or two week’s vacation. The staff had already neatly placed our luggage in the walk-in closet.
To the right was the bedroom with the signature Four Seasons bed and pillows. We also had a comfortable two-seater sofa and a large wooden desk which doubled-up as a work-area plus our dining table during in-room service.
In one corner of the room, there was a service cabinet. This included tea/coffee facilities, glassware, a fridge and a minibar.
Overall, the room was well appointed however did look dated, especially the curtains. It’s definitely due a refresh and I’m glad the hotel is currently undertaking a full refresh of the rooms and the suites.
Welcome Amenity
A little while later we received our welcome amenity which was a box of assorted dates. Whilst we love dates and they tasted nice, honestly it was below our expectations. Whilst it’s true that I had not communicated my welcome amenity preferences to the hotel in advance as I would do for all our client bookings, this sparse welcome amenity was rather disappointing.
Bathroom
The bathroom had a double vanity, shower area and a bathtub. I am a fan of double vanity and marble finishes and this was just perfect! Honestly, no luxury hotel should call itself a true luxury hotel if it does not have a double vanity. Full stop!
Four Seasons Jumeirah Dubai uses Diptyque toiletries which increasingly is becoming the norm and the standard across most Four Seasons hotels.
Beach and Pool Facilities at Four Seasons Dubai Jumeirah
After unpacking our luggage and taking a quick nap, we headed down to the pool to relax and unwind. There’s a a couple of different pool facilities at FS Jumeirah and preference will depend on whether you’re looking for a family friendly expeience or quieter adults-only pool.
Main Pool
The Main Pool at the resort features a stunning outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees. The main pool is ideal for relaxing, swimming, or enjoying the views of the Arabian Gulf. There’s a family-friendly pool area designed for guests traveling with children. This pool is a bit more shallow and perfect for young ones to splash around in.
Adult-Only Pool
There’s a completely separate Adult-Only Pool which is more suitable for those looking for a quieter and more serene environment, allowing guests to relax without any distractions.
Across both pool options, there’s private cabanas where you can enjoy added comfort and privacy while having access to amenities like food and beverages. These cabanas are great for a more exclusive and relaxing experience. During our visit, the cabanas were mostly empty although it would be advisable to pre-book during busier periods.
We headed straight to the adults-only pool. The pool attendant arranged our sun-bed in the signature FS style with the FS logo on the headrest neatly arranged. He brought out a little kit of ice-cold water, cold towels and some sunscreen as well. You know within the first 10-15min of arriving at the pool whether you’re going to get great or lacklustre service. It was going to be the former for us!
After relaxing in the pool for a bit, we decided to peruse the poolside menu and order a snack. There were quite a few options and we decided for a classic tomato pasta. It took a bit of time to arrive but was absolutely delicious and well worth the wait.
Every hour or so, the pool team passed by with some little treats. It’s always nice when hotels do this.
The sunset views by the pool are beautiful and created a fantastic glow around the pool and beach area. As the sun went down, the music from the Nammos Beach Club got louder. It wasn’t so loud that you could hear it in the rooms but you could definitely hear it by the edge of the pool.
Beach
Before heading back to the room to freshen up for our dinner reservation, I took a quick stroll around the beach. Four Seasons Dubai Jumeirah has a private stretch of beach that is exclusively available to guests. Its soft sand and ideal for sunbathing or simply enjoying the tranquil surroundings. On the beach, you’ll find comfortable loungers and cabanas.
There’s also a really cool art piece by the beach which can be viewed right from the hotel lobby. There’s a real fire lit at night and creates a beautiful glow during dusk and at night.
Gym and Indoor Pool: Four Seasons Dubai Jumeirah
Next day morning, prior to heading down for breakfast, we went to the gym for a quick workout. The gym is fully equipped with everything you need for a great workout whether you’re into cardio, strength training, or mobility. Four Seasons consistently has the best gyms of any luxury hotel chain and this one lived up to the reputation.
I may or may not have gone to the gym to nick some of the fabulous treats they usually have in the gym. Sometimes it’s homemade protein bars or nutritious power balls.
One little known fact is that most Four Seasons have a daily activity schedule which is complimentary for guests and rotates per day of the week. It’s usually a good idea to ping the FS team on the app in advance and ask if they have complimentary activities.
FS Jumeirah had an activity schedule and we decided to sign up for a one hour yoga session by the indoor pool. This was a great idea as the yoga was fun and relaxing.
The hotel also has a luxurious spa offering a variety of treatments. We didn’t sign up for any treatments during our short visit. The spa also has beautiful relaxation areas, saunas, and steam rooms, so you can unwind completely.
Other Amenities: Tennis Courts & Kids Club
The hotel has a couple of tennis courts with tennis coaching available. This is a great facility for tennis players all year round, except probably during the peak summer.
The hotel has a fantastic kids club, which is open from early morning till late evening. Lots of toys for kids and even playstation option for slightly older kids. We did nip in quickly to take a look and it seemed that the kids were having great fun.
We didn’t focus too much on the food and beverage options as we didn’t get a chance to try them, however there are a number of options on site as well as in the Restaurant Village across the road. Famous and notable restaurants include Nusr-Et and Coya.
Drinks at Nammos
Right next door to the hotel, and accessible through the hotel corridors, is the famous beach club Nammos. We visited one evening for drinks and thoroughly enjoyed it. The vibe was relaxed with lovely music playing and lots of people just enjoying with friends and family.
Breakfast at Shai Salon Tea Lounge
During the summer period when occupancy is lower and hotel is quieter, breakfast is served at the Shai Salon & Tea Lounge, right by the entrance/lobby. During the rest of the year, breakfast is served at Jou Jou Brasserie.
The breakfast options were buffet style with an a la carte menu. I must say that the buffet options were fairly limited for a hotel of this standard and in comparison to vast spreads typically available in Dubai hotels. This may have been due to the fact that Shai Salon is a makeshift breakfast restaurant. Having said that, the quality of the food was quite good.
We did however ask for a number of Indian options off the menu and these were made to order for us without hesitation. We had off-menu items each day and each time the staff and chef made to our requests
The service was flawless. The staff were attentive and made a lot of effort to interact with the guests and have a nice chat. After our first breakfast service, they remembered us the next few days proactively offered us off-menu items. This is what makes Four Seasons stand out from other luxury chains and why I highly recommend Four Seasons as a brand.
On our last day, as we had quite an early morning flight back to London, we ordered in-room breakfast the prior night. As a FS Preferred Partner booking, breakfast is fully complimentary either in the restaurant or through in-room dining. We fully took advantage of this. Needles to say, we ordered way too much and struggled to finish it all so early in the morning.
Service
I need to dedicate a section to write about the hotel service, because it was top notch throughout our stay and just what you’d expect from a Four Seasons property.
- During our check-in, the front desk acknowledged our overnight long-haul flight. They proactively offered complimentary breakfast prior to checking into our room. This was much appreciated as we were quite hungry and desperately in need of coffee
- Late at night I was madly craving a hot pot of karak chai. All the local restaurants were closed and concierge team could not find any cafe to deliver. They coordinated with the in-dining room team and delivered a piping hot pot of karak chai. This was really appreciated! In fact next day at breakfast, the staff noted my love of chai and offered to prepare a fresh pot for me
- Turndown service was perfect, noting our preferences for still (not sparkling) water, neatly organising loose cables with cable clips, etc
- The breakfast staff remembered our preferences for drinks and suggested several off-menu items that the Chef could prepare for us. The chef also came over once to say hello and suggest some options. The staff was quite friendly and we had a few conversations about their experience working at Four Seasons. These sort of moments create a connection between the hotel and guests and make a stay memorable
Overall Thoughts
Competition between luxury hotels is quite high in Dubai. probably one of the highest in the worlds. A hotel has to do everything right and perfect to ensure an amazing stay for the guest. I think FS Jumeirah hits the sweet spot between a beach resort and a city hotel. Whilst it’s not a hotel I would recommend for first time visitors to Dubai, I would certainly recommend it for guests who want the bit of both worlds i.e. a hotel with easy connection into the city, and beach facilities.
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