TRIED & TESTED HOTEL
Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, The Palm, Dubai B A C K G R O U N D It’s the third Taj property
in Dubai after the Business Bay and Jumeirah Lake Towers offerings, and is a full-service resort. The Taj Palm can pride itself on being one of only a handful of other Exotica brands globally.
W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? You’ll receive the ultra-luxury Taj experience here. There is a stunning infinity loop glass structure in the middle of the lobby and an intricate Design Diamond Flow Chandelier by Preciosa Chandelier overhead. A comforting jasmine and rose fragrance wafts through the property. The impeccably trained staff that welcomes us in the lobby ensure that the entire check-in process is fussfree and discreet. There’s a level of professionalism among the staff here that still stands out in a city dotted with several other high-end hotels. W H E R E I S I T ? It’s located at almost the very end of the East Crescent on the Palm, which means to get to it you need to drive past Atlantis, Sofitel, Waldorf Astoria and Anantara. Although the competition is fierce, for a property that was only a few weeks old when we reviewed it, there was a constant stream of guests checking in. R O O M S The six-storey resort has a total of 325 keys, including 258 rooms and 67 suites, all of which have balconies. We stayed at the Two Bedroom Luxury Suite Sea View – a palatial suite with a living room, two bedrooms with ensuite
bathrooms, a walk-in closet and a guest powder room. In addition to the king beds in each of the two bedrooms, the rooms are very well-appointed with large work desks, TVs that swivel to face you wherever you’re seated. Each bedroom, as well as the living room, has an attached balcony. A turn-down service meant that the rooms were ready with the curtains drawn and lights muted by the time we returned in the evening.
F O O D A N D D R I N K There are seven dining and bar options at the hotel. For lunch, we visited Roaring Rabbit, a gastropub – try the shepherd’s pie and butter garlic prawns. For dinner, we went to fine-dining restaurant Varq. A must-try is the excellent Varqi crab with tandoori shrimp and crispy filo and 24-carat gold leaf. Head up to the Raia Rooftop Bar and Lounge after dinner for a commanding
There’s a level of professionalism among the staff that truly stands out
view of the skyline of the city and the rest of the Palm. Buffet breakfast is served every morning at the Palm Kitchen.
BEST FOR ‘Bleisure’ seekers
DON’T MISS A meal at Varq
PRICE From Dhs775 per night for a Luxury Sea View room and Dhs4,475 for a Two Bedroom Grand Luxury Sea View suite
B U S I N E S S There are eight meeting rooms, each with a capacity to host between 12-40 people. On the CONTACT ground floor are two East Crescent Road, large ballrooms – The Palm Jumeirah; one has a capacity +971 (0) 4 275 4444; for 500 and the other tajhotels.com can accommodate up to 220 people. The Taj Club Lounge also has smaller private meeting rooms. Importantly, all the work stations in the lounge have a software that automatically deletes all login data, password and browsing history the moment you log off. L E I S U R E The property has a 70-metre
long pool, which Taj says is one of the longest on the Palm. There is also a 230-metre stretch of private beachfront that guests can access. A kid’s club called Popsicle is open throughout the day, while a gaming room with a pool table and console station offers entertainment to teenagers. Metres away from the Technogymequipped gym, is the Jiva spa which has nine treatment rooms and several relaxing spa options.
V E R D I C T The Taj Palm Dubai really does deliver the pampered luxury experience that you’d expect from an Exotica property. It has industry-leading levels of service, dining options and overall hospitality standards. Definitely worth a visit. Varun Godinho J U LY-A U G U S T 2 0 2 2
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