Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel

"How did it strike you on arrival?You’ll be blown away by the grand entrance to the hotel. The lobby is sleek and modern all while maintaining Dubai's sense of opulence. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Dukes Dubai attracts many English tourists (the brand has a well-known hotel in London), as well as Asian families and businesspeople. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Like the lobby, the rooms are new and modern with a touch of elegance. The views of the sea might soon be obstructed by the construction in the area. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?Like everything else in the hotel, the beds are still new and soft. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?The room features a coffee maker and super-soft robes that are perfect to slip into after a hot shower. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.A speaker connected to the living room TV is installed in the bathroom, so you could hypothetically keep up with your favorite shows while showering. The toilet has button-activated jets on the front and back. The products are all from Floris. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?The Wifi is free but can be a bit erratic and hard to connect to. It's generally fast once you’ve made it on, though. Room service: Worth it?Again, since this a new hotel, there are a few service hangups, including room (and poolside) service. Wait times can be a bit slow, and some items from your order might not arrive, but this is most likely a growing pain of a new property. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?The staff are all excellent, but extra credit goes to the manager, Andy, for being extremely knowledgeable about the property and surrounding area. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.Unfortunately, you’ll be sharing the amazing infinity pool with guests of two neighboring hotels. The beach is less than a 10-minute walk away. Bottom line: worth it, and why?The modern style of the hotel is refreshing compared to the over-the-top opulence of Dubai, and the British-style hospitality may be welcome to some American and UK visitors." - Laura Ratliff