I have just come back having spent a week there with my mother and sister. I thought it was great.
The deluxe room on the 35th floor had fantastic views over the sea. The breakfasts were fantastic. The pool is excellent (but get there early), but what blew me away was the service from ALL the staff, receptionists, door staff, waiting staff. NOTHING was too much trouble, and whats more none of it begrudging. (You would never get service like that in this country - even at the top!)
I like that part of Dubai, very futuristic, as though each skyscraper is trying to out do its neighbour. BUT the traffic is absolutey diabolical. The sooner the metro is built the better, pick your times carefully to go into the old part of Dubai.
I would definately stay there again.
Oh and save up and have afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab!

This property is right at the far end of Sheik Zayed road where most of the new building work is going on. On approach it does not have a 5* feel being penned in by other high rise buildings with main entrance tucked around side. The problem with the location is also everything is a cab ride away which means 20-30mins cab ride for 4-5 mile journeys to downtown for restaurants and shopping.

Inside it is well laid out, the rooms are well appointed although be wary of staying in room on the eastern side (looking towards downtown) because their is another tower block over looking the hotel.

Food in the restaurants is very good - the buffet breakfast is excellent and so is the Vietnamese restaurant. Staff are also attentive.

I stayed in the Shangri-la for 3 nights for business.

When I'd booked I asked for a twin room and was informed that they didn't have any- lo and behold on arrival one was available with two queen beds.

Also at booking we'd advised that we'd be arriving at 8am and the person on the phone told us that once we confirmed our flights to ring the hotel directly and advise them of our flight details to help us get early check-in. I contacted the hotel and noone could speak English enough to understand what I wanted to do- so when we arrived of course we had no room and had to wait for 6 hours until our room was ready.

At the check-in desk there were others furious with the service level they were getting as well.

We eventually got our room and it is was very nice. It looked out over Sheikh Zayed Rd with a nice view of the Burj Dubai tower. The beds were very comfortable and the mini-bar was well stocked. The bathroom was very nice as well, but one criticism is that the water pressure is very low so you can't have one of those great traveller showers that people look forward to.

There was construction going on round the front of the hotel and this made it a nightmare to get a taxi. We had to wait up to 30 mins for a cab and I'd expect a 5 star hotel to have a much better workaround when things like this happen rather than just wait and hope that a taxi drives past.

The staff were friendly enough but basic tasks seemed to take forever- it took almost 3 hours with no explanation to get an iron and an ironing board.

The laundry service was good and the staff at the pool area were fantastic.

At night the bars come alive and are a great place to hang out but be warned they do fill with prostitutes after midnight.

There are a few restaurants in the hotel which are always busy, we wanted to try the Chinese restaurant but after getting a rude waitress we decided to go elsewhere.

All in all it is a reasonable hotel for the price and a great looking property. It is very impressive to look at, however it has a long way to go service wise to be what is expected of a 5 star hotel- my experience of the service is motel level.

We're fairly regular visitors to Dubai but had never stayed at the Shangri La before (though are familiar with the excellence of the chain through experience of their hotels in Shanghai and Singapore). This hotel more than lived up to our expectations - superb, stylish room with sea view, fantastic service from all staff, great food and an excellent location midway between the Marina/Mall of the Emirates and the Creek. What could be bettered? Well the pool gets a bit congested and gentle pressure by the door staff to use a hotel car rather than the much cheaper and perfectly civilized local taxis should be avoided. Otherwise - absolutely excellent!