The Radisson Blu Residence Dubai Marina
Glamorous Dubai – Introduction
I spent my second day in Dubai exploring around the Dubai Marina and also a visit to the Burj Al Arab, therefore it made sense for me to stay at a hotel that was close to that area so I wouldn’t have to drive all over the place. Thankfully there are a lot of Club Carlson hotels in Dubai, and they are nicely spread out and therefore there are hotels all throughout Dubai and it really makes it convenient to explore different areas.
After checking out from the Radisson Royal Hotel, I took an uber to The Radisson Blu Residence Dubai Marina. The ride took about twenty minutes and I had an interesting conversation with the driver, and he actually let me know what else in Dubai is worth visiting/exploring. I arrived at the Residence at about 10:30, and the check-in was quickly processed and I was informed I had been upgraded to a two bedroom suite on the 9th floor. I redeemed my second free Club Carlson night at this hotel, so it was basically free (apart from the 10 AED tax).
The hotel’s lobby was gorgeous, but I sadly forgot to take a photo. My room was massive, featured three beds (a main bedroom, and a twin bedroom), three bathrooms, a full-sized kitchen, a big dining table, bar, and an open TV/Main room with a sofa and comfortable chairs. I think that from all of my hotel stays so far, the upgrade at this hotel was definitely the best. You have absolutely got to love the miles and points hobby, I mean it is seriously amazing. The fact is that I didn’t pay anything except for the 10 AED tax at this hotel, normal rates were about 900 AED (~$240 USD) for a regular room… I imagine a two-bedroom suite was much more expensive.
The kitchen was full sized and featured an oven, microwave, kettle, refrigerator, stove, cutlery, plates, cups, and all of the typical kitchen accessories you need for cooking. I honestly laughed at the fact at how well the room was prepared and that I wouldn’t be using 90% of the items in the room since I was out exploring Dubai the whole day, and just returned to the hotel to sleep and spend an hour at the pool.
A big bottle of complimentary water was included and located alongside of the free tea and coffee.
The refrigerator contained the minibar, which had the typical drinks and snacks. I didn’t even look at the price list for the minibar since I wasn’t planning on consuming anything.
I liked that my room had a nice balcony, however with 45 degrees C weather, I don’t think it is possible to spend any time on the balcony.
The guest bathroom was located right next to the entrance to the suite.
The long hallway led to both the main bedroom and the twin bedroom. Both bedrooms had their own bathrooms with all of the amenities. The hallway also had a large closet which featured a washer.
I didn’t go into the twin bedroom for anything other than to take a few photos. I think this two bedroom suite would be ideal for parents travelling with children, but for one person, this suite was definitely overkill.
The main bedroom was a bit larger than the twin bedroom and featured a large bed and desk. Both bathrooms of the bedrooms were about equal in size and both featured a bath/shower combo and the same amenities.
After exploring my suite, I was genuinely exhausted at how large the suite was and decided to tour the rest of the hotel. I spent about an hour by the pool before going out to explore Dubai and my brunch at the Burj Al Arab. There were two swimming pools along with a gym, the water was perfect in the swimming pools and I was able to cool down from the heat.
I should also mention that I don’t think I saw any other guest at the hotel, I don’t know if it was just super empty or what.. but literally I felt as if I was the only one.. it was a bit scary since at night you literally could hear a pin drop.
All in all, this Radisson Residence was amazing. My upgrade was awesome, but I think a bit too much. The staff were mostly friendly, and gave me some recommendations on nearby beaches and other attractions. The suite was very clean, modern, and had a nice overall design. If I find myself in Dubai again, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again – the atmosphere of the hotel was peaceful and relaxing, perhaps this is due to the fact there weren’t so many guests. Great hotel/residence!
