Excellent Family Holiday - Five Star Service, Superb Food!

Having complained about recent holidays to Barbados and The Bahamas, at long last we received the service you expect from a five star hotel. Just come back from a 10 day stay in Dubai with a 3 and 2 year old (and husband!). Being spoilt in my youth, I am picky! but this hotel fit the bill. Lots of construction for this ever evolving metropolis, but see it for what it is - an oasis in the desert. Having spoken to repeat clientele and families desperate to join the long waiting membership list who are currently living in Dubai, they agreed, this is the hotel to stay at with young children. From super vigilant life guards at the 5 pools (2 for children fully covered from harsh sun rays), to ever attentive restaurant staff, expectional food and friendly environment, nothing was too much trouble for the staff at the Mina Seyahi. Highly recommended restaurant is the Dwoh at the Marina. We spent 4 our our 10 nights there savouring the fantastic seafood and sushi - to die for. I have to say my best holiday so far. Back to the motto of " the customer is always right" for this hotel - I can't imagine my 68 year incredibly fastidious father could find fault! Go for it - not cheap, but worth it!

Very impressed with Le Meridien Mina Seyahi

5th March 2005. Have just returned from a 10 day break at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi. Have to say before flying to Dubai was a little concerned about the extensive building work going on througout the City as well as close to the Hotel. Have to say though the building work did not affect us at all. Yes on every horizon there is a large crane, but work is carried out quietly and efficiently 24/7. The service and food at the Hotel was superb. The beach is raked over everyday, and a Life Guard and attendant are on duty all the time, if you move a muscle to move your Sun Lounger yourself, someone will come running to do it for you.

Plenty to see and do outside the Resort, fantastic shopping (if that is your bag) and plenty of interesting trips to go on. If your thing is just to 'chill' Dubai is the place for you.

All in all a fantastic place to stay whether you are just a couple or a family.

Great Hotel, if you like Dubai

We stayed there last week on a stopover from Australia to UK. I can honestly say that this hotel is first class. As mentioned by others, the breakfasts have to be the best in any hotel I've ever stayed in. Apart from the usual bacon, egg , etc combinations ther were extras like steak (at 8am!!!) chicken kiev and chicken in wine as items on each of the 3 days we were there. Also there were some unusual herby/eggy/chick pea dishes to try. Various cold fish, meat and cheeses with olives and feta gave other options. Staff very helpful and cheery. One little complaint is that sometimes they knocked on the door about 4 separate times between 4-6pm to check towels, mini bar etc. Usually when we were having a nap!!

The other poolside restaurants had good choices (all from same kitchen obviously) and some of the "specials" were good value e.g. the curry lunch or the chicken BBQ.

My only complaint is that I don't really like Dubai. There is just too much building work going on, there is nowhere to stroll to outside the hotel if you like cafe type culture and it really is just too warm in the summer. How many shopping malls does a city need?

And, if I'm waiting for my wife to finish shopping, I need a pub!!

The jagged concrete will cut your feet

Second time back to Mina Seyahi in October 2004 for my wife and I. It has greatly been affected by the off shore building of Palm Island. This lovely hotel has suffered because you are now opposite the massive construction works. Sadly, the beach now has shards of jagged concrete washed up. Wear something on your feet or you may be cut. As for the hotel staff, they could not have been better. We stayed on the 8th floor and delighted in the special attention. We can recomend Mina Syahi if you have no plans to use beach and can ignore the sound of reversing trucks. Do get out and visit the Gold Souk! Try drinking the Mint Tea with the locals though ladies should cover up bare shoulders and legs. The hotel have a shuttle bus and taxis are very good here.

Fantastic Hotel - Highly Recommended

I honestly found the hotel to be excellent. I stayed at the Mina Seyahi just before Christmas 2004 in a sea view room. The view was splendid (worth every penny) and the room was spotlessly clean with all towels and face cloths being changed twice daily at a minimum.

The cleaners and all the hotel staff (apart from the management) were expats mainly from India and Sri-Lanka. For me, it was these people that made our holiday so good. The coutesy and politeness of these people was faultless.

There are several pools at the hotels and the beach is lovely. Towels for sun bathing were complementary for all hotel guests. The pool at horizon bar was always warm and when in it, it did feel like you were swimming out to sea (see pics of hotel to understand why).

The quality of this hotel is much better than hotels such as the Jumeira Beach Hotel - that has become a 'package holiday' hotel, frequented by people who think they are far above their station - that hotel is to be avoided.

The food at the Mina Seyahi was brilliant; choice and quality was amazing. At breakfast, there must have been at least 50 different options to choose from.

I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone.

I guess I should mention that Dubai is amazing if you have never been before. Make sure you visit the souks to get a real taste of traditional dubai life. If you are into designer fakes, Al Karama is the place to go.

If you want to email me about the hotel or to ask me anything, please feel free to do so.

Yummy breakfast buffet

This is a great hotel for everyone. We stayed at the hotel in July on a stopover for two nights on the way back from Brisbane. The staff were extemely helpful and the buffet breakfast was excellent, with loads of choice. The hotel has several swimming pools and we especially liked the one nearest to the hotel with the bar . Wild Wadi water park is just up the road and it is great for families. Getting to the main shopping centre wasn't too much of a problem as the hotel has a free shuttle bus.

Wonderful few days at this hotel

Spent 5 days at this lovely hotel and my first time in Dubai so didn't really know what to expect.

First let me say that building work is going on at the marina next to the hotel and at sea as part of the Palm project but as someone who sets high expectations of 5 star hotels this did not bother me in the slightest. I am a very light sleeper and you cannot hear any noise when in your room and you probably won't notice anything at the pool so I wouldn't let the work put you off this hotel. I don't think you'll find any hotels on this stretch of beach unaffected.

We stayed in an Executive Club room but spent the first night in a non club see facing balcony room on the first night due to a mix up. The rooms were almost identical except you have a separate shower and a CD player and have complimentary soft drinks and tea/coffee throughout the day and a free cocktail hour with canapes from 6 to 7 and 15 mins of free internet per day. You can also eat breakfast in the club lounge as well.

I wouldn't bother with the extra for an upgrade to an Executive Room next time as we didn't make it to cocktails on most nights if you go shopping late afternoon and you have to go to 9th floor lounge for your free soft drinks during the day - not very convenient if you're at the pool or beach.

Couldn't fault the cleanliness of the rooms or helpfulness of the staff and hotel had a nice atmosphere. If you go shopping late afternoon, you can eat at one of the food courts in the shopping malls instead of eating in the hotels on the beach which can be more expensive. The best restaurant at the hotel is the Italian, Ciro Pomodoro. The menu is extensive and food is very good, with live entertainment most nights.

The buffet breakfast is one of the best I've eaten and the choice is great, you certainly won't eat lunch if you have a hearty breakfast here.

So many swimming pools, I lost count

Had a family holiday for 5 days in February 2004 on a half board basis.

The rooms are of a standard basis and size, so do not expect anything grand.

The buffet breakfast is of high quality. Lots of swimming pools. One of the pool is angled such that it faces the beach and the sea level. From the pool area you will think that you are swimming out to sea.

The private beach area is great but do note that nearby building development work is taking place in the sea and elsewhere. However building work is taking place all over dubai.

As you are miles away from the city centre, you will use taxis frequently for your numerous shopping trips, even though courtesy shuttle buses are available.

Wish we could've stayed forever!!

Got a short break off the net for five nights last september which included half board. Couldn't fault this hotel at all the food, staff and all amenities were superb. Probably the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in on our travels. Wild Wadi waterpark a must, clean tidy and superbly organised.

Really nice hotel

I stayed at this hotel in January 2003 with my wife and young son for a week. We were on holiday with friends who have three young children and were recommended the hotel by Kuoni. We had originally planned to stay at a much bigger hotel just a few miles away but were told that it was very busy. From the start we were quite pleased with the hotel - and it got better. The hotel is ideal for families. The main pool is super and well located and just nearby (feet away) is the children's pool. A little further away, just by the gym, there's another pool in which you can have SCUBA diving lessons if you want. There were always safety attendants on duty at the main pools and all the staff were very helpful and pleasant. The hotel has its own stretch of beach which is beautiful. Fab sands, sun beds, etc. Water sports also available (usually for a small fee). We upgraded from a standard room to a much larger corner room. Okay so it cost us about £40 per night but it was worth it. Huge room for the three of us with a balcony and great views over the whole hotel and bay beyond. There were a few negatives: we had a power cut one night in half the hotel and that was a bit of a problem. The power was out for several hours and there was nothing anyone could do. Also the hotel is about 35 minutes from the city centre by taxi so for you keen shoppers (and you should be in Dubai), it was a bit of a drag. On the up side we were close to the Hard Rock Cafe and to Wild Wadi Water park - a must (and this is someone who doesn't like to swim!). Several restaurants, a fully equipped gym, a short walk from a small harbour with incredible boats serviced by very expensive cars; you know you are in an oil-rich state!

Would we go again - yes, we'd be delighted to. The only down side is that it is quite expensive - we'll just have to save up I suppose.