Regent changes hotel in Dubai (Voyager-Dec. 19)

[west23hill]

We received word this past week that Regent has cancelled the Raffles Hotel in Dubai and sending us to the Intercontinental Hotel instead.

We are unhappy to say the least.:( We are getting to Dubai a few days earlier than the cruise so that we can tour a bit.

The reviews of the Intercontinental indicate that it isn't up to the standard of the Raffles and the location certainly isn't as convienent to sightseeing.

 

Has anyone encounter this type of change from Regent?

Has anyone info about the Intercontinental--location, services, restaurants?

thank you

 

bev

[Travelcat2]

We have had hotel changes in the past as Regent contracts with different hotels. It seems as if they choose the Intercontinental when they are able to. The hotels are lovely -- maybe not as special as Raffles, but hope you enjoy it.

 

You will be boarding the Voyager after we depart in Dubai. The itinerary looks wonderful. Have a great cruise!

[Jayayeff]

We received word this past week that Regent has cancelled the Raffles Hotel in Dubai and sending us to the Intercontinental Hotel instead.

We are unhappy to say the least.:( We are getting to Dubai a few days earlier than the cruise so that we can tour a bit.

The reviews of the Intercontinental indicate that it isn't up to the standard of the Raffles and the location certainly isn't as convienent to sightseeing.

 

Has anyone encounter this type of change from Regent?

Has anyone info about the Intercontinental--location, services, restaurants?

thank you

 

bev

 

I don't know anything about Regent or their hotel arrangements but I do live in Dubai and am familiar with the Intercontinetal. It is a reasonably new property located within the Festival City development The Intercontinental Festival City and the Crowne Plaza Festival City are linked by a common podium so guests can access the dining venues, etc. of both properties. The hotels, and an adjacent office tower, are linked to the Festival City Shoppinig Mall and guests can either walk between the two or the hotels have a shuttle bus for guest use. The area is fine and one side of the complex is a marina with a promenade walk. Also on the Fesitval City site is the residential area of Al Badia and the Al Badia Golf Course, which is also managed by Intercontinental and has a lovely clubhouse with further dining options. Festival City is a short drive (7-8 minutes max) from Dubai International Airport and is also one of the start/end or pick-up points for the Big Bus Hop on Hop-Off sightseeing tours. Taxis are readily available from either the hotel or the Festival Centre and from the adjacent Business Bay Crossing (bridge across Dubai Creek) it is a easy to reach the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall area of new Dubai.

Whilst you may be disappointed in the change of hotels, the Intercontinental and Raffles are only five or six minutes apart and you can probably see one from the other so from a seeing the sights point of view there isn't a lot of difference in their locations...

 

If I can be of any further help, please post and I'll keep checking back..

 

Anne

[mcavanaugh]

I will second last posters comments. We stayed at the Intercontinental after a Seabourn cruise a couple of years ago. The room and service were fine. While we did have access to the Executive Lounge (and that always seems to make a difference) it was a lovely hotel. Maxine

[west23hill]

Thank you Anne and Maxine

You have rested our minds about the hotel change.:)

[Chesterfield]

We are disembarking the Voyager in Dubai on 12/19. For the post cruise stay we had choice between the Intercontinental and the Ritz Carleton. The Ritz Carleton was a little more expensive but we choose it since it was on the beach. Perhaps you could have the same option for the pre cruise?

[Jayayeff]

We are disembarking the Voyager in Dubai on 12/19. For the post cruise stay we had choice between the Intercontinental and the Ritz Carleton. The Ritz Carleton was a little more expensive but we choose it since it was on the beach. Perhaps you could have the same option for the pre cruise?

 

Good choice if you just want to spend time relaxing on the beach but for sightseeing it is way out of the city - a good 30 - 45 minutes drive from the city centre. If preference is for a Ritz Carlton over an Intercontinental then there is a new Ritz Carlton at the International Financial Centre (DIFC), a location that is very cose to Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa which is right on the Dubai Metro line for easy access by local transport.....

 

Anne