Oxana V.
Google
Palace Downtown enjoys an exceptional location right in front of the Burj Khalifa, offering stunning, uninterrupted views of the fountain show directly from the hotel. Access to Dubai Mall is excellent, and in terms of setting, the property truly excels.
That said, the overall service did not meet the standard expected of a hotel positioned as a 5-star luxury property.
Check-in was slow and somewhat disorganized. Due to an event in the area, arriving at the hotel was already challenging, and there was no bell staff in sight to assist. We were handed our room keys with verbal directions only, prompting us to double-check whether our luggage would even be delivered. Basic amenities such as combs and toothbrushes were not provided, and despite arriving close to midnight, the room was still not prepared as requested. We waited roughly 20 minutes for the children’s beds to be set up, followed by another delay for the toiletries.
Breakfast offered a wide variety of items, but the quality did not match the richness of the selection. Additionally, when trying to get a taxi, staff attention seemed heavily focused on a single guest, leaving us to approach a cab ourselves. These details, while small individually, collectively made the stay feel more effortful than it should have been.
The room design also showed gaps in convenience: there were very few accessible power outlets and none in the bathroom. The outdated hairdryer with its short cord further reinforced an experience that did not align with modern 5-star expectations.
In the end, Palace Downtown presents itself as a luxury property, but the hospitality and service delivery felt closer to a 3-star level, especially in contrast to its remarkable location and surroundings. With more attentive service and thoughtful details, it could truly live up to the setting it is fortunate to have.