This place is good in parts. The bad parts being the admin/management side and the good parts being the F&B side.

My wife and I and our four-year old daughter recently returned from a six-day break here. I’d booked a sea-view club room as from the reviews they seemed best value. Got to the hotel about 2.00 a.m. on the 6th June to be told that we didn’t have a room as Thomas Cook had booked us in for six nights starting from that evening. After sitting around reception for over half an hour the duty manager was pleased to tell us we would be downgraded to a main building room for that night and be moved later in the day. Eventually, after my repeated demands I got this turned round so we were put in a tower room, again to be moved later in the day.

I suspect it was the hotel who were at fault because every time I asked who had made the mistake I was told the “system was down”, i.e. “we don’t want to tell you”. Thomas Cook, however confirmed that their e-mail to LRM reservations stated our room should be available from the 5th.

Anyway we were put into a tower room with a nice view of the wasteland to the side of the hotel and the roof of the Ritz Carlton and with no extra bed for our daughter so we all ended up in one bed. When the Thomas Cook rep. arrived at about midday to help me sort this out, I predicted that the Club sea view room we would be offered would have a marginal sea-view i.e. not front line but at the side of the building. Guess what was offered, a room with a view of the side of the Habtoor Grand and looking to the left, the sea. After a good deal of negotiating with the DM he offered to leave us in the tower building and move us to the garden/sea-view side the next day and he promised the butler would pack and move our belongings to save us any hassle. This was still day one and we accepted. We eventually got to the pool at two p.m. and when we got back to our room it hadn’t even been made up never mind fruit and canapes. We got ready to go for dinner and rang reception to have a foldaway bed put in. We dumped our used towels in the room entrance so the guy who put the bed in would change them. We got back from dinner to find the foldaway bed in the room and our towels still piled up. He must have wheeled the bed around them! I had to ring down for fresh towels.

Poolside was good with the water spritzers and cherry slush shots as described but never once was assistance offered with towels on sunbeds as described by others. I did see people reserving sunbeds with their towels only to see them an hour later in Wild Wadi.

Cleanliness was generally good but if you close the sliding door for the wc/shower (at least in room 1409) the outside of it has a load of dust balls stuck to it that must have been there ages.

The outside construction can only be heard if you are high up on the balcony of a Tower room, but I found the construction fascinating.

The F&B staff were excellent especially the Maya and the waiting staff in La Fornace. I did see a floor manager in La Fornace giving a waiter a dressing down (don’t know why) and felt he could have done this back of house.

So all in all we appear to have been the unlucky ones compared to most of the posters. We would have been quite happy to have been shown straight to our Club room on arrival and left in peace. Instead I had to fight tooth and nail (in the politest manner I might add) to get something approaching the holiday I’d booked for my family. The upgrade, when I finally got that concession was not offered graciously and I feel we lost the first day of the holiday. I’ll try elsewhere next time we are in Dubai.

P.S. Do you think the butler was there to even assist in packing to move rooms? No!

Thomas Cook were very good and refunded us one day of our accommodation costs which I assume they will try to recover from LRM.

Our first time in Dubai we booked for 7 nights in Le Royal Meridein Beach Resort & Spa for our anniversary. A brilliant choice for a peacefull break in a lovely well ran Hotel with beautiful grounds and right on i't's own strip of beach. We recieved a free upgrade to a tower room due to the occasion; and though the room was slightly late being cleaned it was worth the wait with a great wiew along the coast.

The main point to praise about the hotel is the staff who make you feel welcome from the start and are clearly experienced and well trained. We only ate in the hotel one evening as we enjoy exploring, but the meal in the Prime Rib resteraunt was delicious and the service top notch.

The pools, pool-bars and attendants could't be faulted either with the usual five star treatment. We would definitely go back to this hotel in the future given the chance .

We have just returned from our second visit, 7-14 June 2008 to this wonderful hotel. Our advice is to book Club Class where you get breakfast, afternoon tea from 3.30pm, "Happy Hour" free alcoholic drinks and canapes from 6.30 - 8.30pm plus dinner in the Brasserie restaurant.
Last year, we were allocated a free upgrade to the Tower. We loved it there. It is special!! Upon arrival this time we were given a room in the Club building, sea view, as we had booked. The room was bigger than that in the Tower and very comfortable. However, the following day we asked if it was possible to upgrade to the Tower as we had last year. Our request was dealt with immediately and we were speedily transferred to a lovely room in the Tower. Our packing was assisted by staff and overseen by a Manager. This upgrade was granted free of charge despite our offer to pay.
This hotel is wonderful. All the staff are happy, helpful and friendly. Nothing is too much trouble and we felt thoroughly spoiled. All our questions were answered promptly, any bookings we requested were carried out professionally with written confirmation delivered to our room. On our last night we booked dinner at the Burg via the hotel. A luxuary taxi arrived to take us, we felt like film stars! Although a wonderful experience, we prefer the Royal Meridien. When you arrive back after an outside trip the staff at the hotel door welcome you back with genuine warmth. It's like returning home!
The standard of food and drink is very high. We dined at the Brasserie every night as we felt no need to go to the other restaurants. There is something for everyone. One tip is to book your table time in advance.
Visits to the beach are special. You are offered a buggy ride through the gardens to the beach where your towel is laid out for you on your chosen sun bed. Staff come around with iced towels and fruit slush drinks to cool you. All very welcome as the sea temperature is 36degrees plus. The sea is like a warm, salty bath. Wonderful!!
There are more than ample sun beds throughout the hotel and no one is up at the crack of dawn to keep a seat. All beach towels are provided by the hotel amd can be collected from conveniently placed huts near the pools and beach. Beach guards keep a very watchful eye on all pools and beach. We counted three at each pool.
Rooms are kept spotlessly clean with fresh linen and towels daily. The 6' bed is a dream to sleep in! Everything is of the highest standard. Fruit of the day and canapes are placed in your room daily. Chocolates are put on your turned down bed. This is done at a time chosen by you.
Throughout the hotel cleanliness and fresh flowers is evident. Even the ladies cloakrooms have beautiful vases of roses in a colour to compliment the decor.
Potential visitors may worry about the extensive building work being carried out. Don't worry! You do not notice it once you are in the Royal Meridien. The manicured gardens and pools all face the sea. Yes, if you look back from the beach you can see cranes at work and building but it does not cause any inconvenience. Taxis are cheap and prompt. They arrive at the front of the hotel within seconds.
We love Dubai and will return again to stay at the superb Le Royal Meridian again. We recommend it highly.

Stayed here with my boyfriend for a week last september. It was fantastic.... The staff were so helpful, rooms were lovely and very spacious (We had a sea view room in the main building) The restaurants are great.... We particular enjoyed prime rib and the fish restaurant (can't remember the name). The sister hotel, Grosvenor House is also worth a visit... Cocktails at the top floor bar are definately worth a try. Will definately be going back to Le Royal Meridien... This time for 2 weeks!