Not Gold, maybe gold-plated
Written: Apr 09 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, Able to cook
Cons: Bed somewhat uncomfortable, poor breakfast.
The Bottom Line: Not bad but there are many better.
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| vodkaboy's Full Review: Golden Tulip Dalma Suites |
"Suite" hotels seem to be on the up in a number of places. Calling the accommodation a suite can be a bit deceptive, though, as these are not necessarily where hotels give a bedroom and separate living room, but rather where the room serves as more than a place to just lay one's head! The idea is to be a bit self sufficient - the "suite" normally has cooking facilities and something in the room other than a bed.
I'd only stayed once before at a Golden Tulip hotel, which had been a comfortable hotel and good value, so I was happy to try their "suite" hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Arrival and Location
Normally I've stayed in hotels near the Corniche, in the centre of town, or near the airport. This hotel seems to be a bit away from the main part of the city. The taxi from the airport seemed to go past the Corniche a way then pulled up facing a parade of shops. However once I'd got my bearings I realised that it was not too far out.
The lobby area was quite small and dark. The reception desk was directly in front. To the left was a small lounge area. I was checked in quite quickly, the receptionist was fairly friendly, and I found my way round to the lifts.
The Room
As I walked in, my first impression was that the room seemed quite a good size. This thought was followed a nanosecond later by a second - it's freezing! Yes, the air conditioner was definitely working. I quickly turned it down (or is that up?) and the temperature in the room soon rose back above icey.
The room contained a full size double bed, a unit of drawers, a writing desk, a medium sized TV, two armchairs and a coffee table. There was also a small, round dining table with three chairs. The entrance hall also doubled as a kitchenette; there was a sink, two electric hobs and a microwave as well as a kettle.
The bed was not as good as I had hoped, it seemed a bit hard and it creaked, I wondered if it was going to collapse! Otherwise, though, the room was fairly comfortable and, if I was staying for more than a few nights, I would welcome the independence of being able to cook.
In contrast to the room, the bathroom was quite small. It had a sink, toilet and a shower stall. It was spotlessly clean, with plenty of towels. The shampoo and shower gel seemed to be good and were refreshing the next morning.
Food and Drink
There is only one restaurant in the hotel - after all, why encourage your guests to cook for themselves then spoil them with lots of choices of restaurants! The only meal I had here was breakfast and it was disappointing. The buffet was spread over a long table but there were just a few plates offering a very limited selection, mostly breads and salad and just a couple of hot dishes.
The restaurant staff welcoming but after bringing me a cup of coffee did not offer any more until I asked. Although the hotel was apparently nearly full, I only saw a couple of other guests at breakfast, so perhaps most people made their own breakfast in the their rooms.
Facilities
I used the hotel just as a place to sleep, so didn't get to check out any of the facilities. According to the hotel information there is a health club, with an outdoor pool, though I didn't see it, and also meeting facilities though I didn't see those either.
The hotel has the usual laundry facilities that you would expect, business centre and some shops, though there are dozens of shops in a small arcade opposite the hotel.
Summary
As a "Suite" hotel, this definitely offer more independence and the ability to cook for yourself. It also seems that the room is a bit larger with more furniture. However, if you don't want to cook or are here for a short stay, then the restaurant leaves a bit to be desired. The bed also seemed to be approaching retirement age. Overall, not a bad place to stay but there are much better places around.
Recommended:
No
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vodkaboy
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