This is our fourth visit to the Ritz Carlton Dubai - our previous visit being three years ago.

The reason we love it is because it is a relatively small hotel (for Dubai) and the service has always been excellent and personal. This visit was no exception. The Hotel's biggest asset is their staff - calling you by name and nothing was too much trouble. They are extremely well trained - professional and friendly without being 'over the top'.

Would we go back for a 5th visit?

Probably not. The rooms are looking rather worn and dated. Our room (515) had very dodgy plumbing with a poor shower and a hand held shower that squirted all over the place!! Lip service has been paid to updating the rooms by having flat screen TVs and on the club floor, a coffee making machine and kettle!! Our feeling (and we may be totally wrong) is that they were cutting corners - products not being replenished in the bathroom, night-time turndown service at 3pm in the afternoon (therefore only one service a day rather than 2). What surprised us most though was checking out. We paid our bill and 2 minutes later a gentleman was in our room checking our mini-bar to see whether we had taken anything and not declared it!!! The last time this happended to us was in a dodgy Bangkok airport hotel about 15 years ago!! it made us feel like crooks!!!

There are so many good hotels in Dubai and excellent service and rooms I think they need to pull their socks up a bit and invest a bit on money on refurbishment.

(4* rating because of EXCELLENT staff!)

I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai for three nights while on a business trip and was thoroughly satisfied. I agree with some of the other tripadvisor reviews that attribute a special charm to the hotel precisely because it is not housed in a gleaming modern space of glass and steel. I might describe it as a fusion of Middle Eastern and old-European style.

The beach is wide, sandy white and well-groomed. Lots of beach chairs on the sand as well as on the expansive green lawns and by the pool. My only complaint about the beach (which is applicable to all resorts in this area): this part of the Dubai coastline (Jumeirah Beach Residence) is not far from the base of the Palm Jumeirah, an enormous man-made island development that juts out into the sea; so the view of the sea is partially obstructed by a nascent skyline and a bunch of construction cranes (albeit in the far distance). I found this, at first, to be a fascinating view (and quintessential Dubai), but if your idea of vacation bliss is staring into the "infinity" of the sea, you might find this view to be a bit of an eyesore.

The swimming pool was the perfect temperature and I thought it was neat the way the pool branched out into various canals past overhead bridges, overhanging waterfalls and poolside bars (and even a water slide for kids). The swimming area is not huge, but never seemed to get crowded. There is a good-sized tent-covered playground which my 4-year old and 1-year old would have loved. Incidentally, the weather is notoriously phenomenal in Dubai at this time of the year--sunny and 80's during the day and low 70's at night. I turned off the room A/C and kept the doors to my balcony open at all times and was comfortable around the clock.

The breakfast buffet was above average--a mix of eastern and western cuisines (generally something for everybody). The outdoor seating was amid lush greenery and colorful birds. The real culinary highlight of my stay was the Lebanese buffet dinner: the grilled meats and seafood and the exotic desserts were particularly scrumptious and the Lebanese wine was surprisingly palatable. (I didn't make it to the French or Italian restaurants.)

The interior of the hotel features an enormous "sitting room" connected to the lobby with gorgeous wooden-vaulted ceilings and chandeliers, which lends a lot of atmosphere. The sitting room leads to a large wrap-around balcony area overlooking the sea with comfy seating and which always seemed to be empty (much to my delight). Wireless internet worked well in these areas and the lobby, but not throughout the hotel or the hotel grounds. The gym was nice enough, though some of the equipment is a bit dated.

My room (414?) was neither huge nor small and had a medium-sized balcony (big enough for table and two chairs) overlooking the pool area and the sea. I did notice (like other reviewers) that it seemed like a "long" walk to the lobby elevator. In reality, it was probably just a minute's walk, and if you wanted to access the pool area/beach, there was another elevator (in the other direction) that was closer.

TIP: the official website for the Dubai Government's Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing has a wonderfully detailed, downloadable, searchable PDF map of Dubai (although I don't think it is printable).

We went to the ritz-carlton dubai following 2 nights at al-maha on honeymoon in Sept. Our initial impression was one of wow...lovely driveway, attentive staff and elegant reception. Unfortunately we were a little early to check in and were eventually offered a coffee in the breakfast/lounge area. They didn't tell us we could order cake too...

Eventually got to check in and was somewhat underwhelmed by the room. Chintzy, sparse, empty box. Didn't say anything. Pool was partially closed but opened the next day.

As we were on honeymoon we were given a box of sweets and a card. Woo hoo. Now please don't get me wrong it was a nice thought but at our previous 5 star hotel we had fruit and nuts and champagne etc...even in the grand hyatt dubai we were given champagne, chocolates and a box of dates. It's not about what they gave us be we weren't made to feel particularly special.

First night had a meal in the italian restaurant (splendido) - divine food. Very quiet.

The next morning my husband was very quiet...wouldn't tell me why...the next morning I was the same as I had spent the entire night thinking about how miffed I was with the room. There was a patch in the ceiling of our wardrobe which had obviously had a leak at some point. A rather patchy looking repair on one of the tiles in our toilet which had something growing in the grout. There was mould in the sealant of the shower. The wardrobe door wouldn't close so the light was on permanently. It just wasn't up to scratch.

So after breakfast we approached the asst manager. Very apologetic. Showed s another room on another floor identical to ours. Offered us a room on the club floor but said they were the same and I didn't want him to think we were trying to upgrade for the sake of free snacks.

Anyhoo, after a call to emirates it became clear we couldn't move as they wouldn't wave a cancellation charge. No point in packing up to move to an identical room so stayed put. However, the asst manager was superb....he took my husband aside and offered to plan us a secret private meal with butler service...he was everywhere we turned asking if there was anything he could do to make our stay better (it started to get a little bit weird). Every night we cam back to our room to another surprise...flowers, chocolate dipped strawbs and champagne (not any old crap either), rose petals in the bath, on the bed, arranged a breakfast for us on our very early departure from the hotel. He was an absolute superstar. I felt special....that's all I wanted.

The grounds are beautiful. Most of the other hotels nearby have row upon row of sun loungers. Our hotel also had sun loungers in the gardens with beautifully manicured lawns and attentive pool staff. The hotel is completely dwarfed by the new developments surrounding it with only approx 140 rooms its one of the smallest in dubai.

So if you want a small intimate hotel with great service this is for you. But if the quality of the room is important to you there are many nicer and probably cheaper places to stay.

Truly luxurious and one of the best hotels I've stayed in. Can recommend it everytime.