Dubai's Palm Jumeirah, with its plethora of luxury hotels, is a popular choice for a hotel stay for residents and tourists alike. And with good reason, given that most of the properties come with fantastic views over the Arabian Gulf.
The National checked into Th8 Palm Beach Resort, Vignette Collection by IHG to see what sets this hotel apart from the others in this coastal slice of Dubai.
The welcome
Despite a busy entranceway, the valet staff swiftly take my car while my luggage is whisked inside. There is a flurry of guests waiting to check-in when I arrive at about 7pm on a Thursday evening.
After a short wait, my check-in is completed quickly, and I'm handed the keys to my suite.
The neighbourhood
Located on the West Crescent on Palm Jumeirah, the hotel is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city to offer a peaceful stay, yet close to enough to many of the must-visit landmarks. Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa are about a 25-minute drive away, while Dubai International Airport can be reached in about 30 minutes, traffic dependent.
The room
There are 15 categories of rooms on offer at the property, and I am staying in a one-bedroom suite with a kitchen, sofa and balcony. The space features soothing hues of white, grey and taupe, which complement the white marble flooring, while pops of colour come via art on the walls. Just by the entrance is a small bathroom, and the passageway leads to a fully equipped kitchenette.
This is also where I find a host of complimentary teas, a coffee machine and an electric kettle. Opposite the kitchen is a marble-top dining table, which can accommodate four to five people. An abstract black pendant light hangs above the dining area. The cosy couch in the living room faces a television with Chromecast capability. The balcony is spacious, furnished with two chairs and a table, and offers stellar views of the Dubai skyline.
The carpeted bedroom has a comfy king-size bed and is flanked by two side tables with reading lights and several charging points. The desk under the television doubles as a little dressing table.
Double wooden sliding doors lead to a sizeable marble bathroom, which features twin sinks, and a huge deep bathtub. Refillable bottles are filled with Karl Lagerfeld toiletries, the toothbrush provided is made of bamboo and toothpaste comes in recyclable sachets, all nods to sustainability. The space also features two cubicles – one that houses the toilet and other that has a head and hand-held shower.
A feature of the room that I particularly like are the labelled switches that control the lights, allowing guests to easily dim the lights and another button by the bed that allows guests to turn off all lights in the room without having to get up.
The service
All staff that I interact with are incredibly friendly, and ready to help without ever giving you the sense that they are hovering too long.
The scene
Muted colours feature throughout the property, as in the rooms, including in the lobby, which has several seating areas, a massive book shelf that is filled with coffee table books. The cosy cafe in the lobby offers a selection of teas, coffees and desserts, and there is also a shop that offers a selection of swimwear, sunscreens and other items.
Beyond the lobby and on the way to the beach and pool area is a giant chessboard on the ground, where I spot a number of guests stopping by for pictures. The pool faces villas other side of the water, and also offers views of Sheikh Zayed Road beyond.
There is a gym at the property, but currently no spa however I am told one will open next year. Adults and children staying at the property can enjoy a host of activities including water sports and basketball, table tennis and chess. There's a shaded pool for kids and a children’s club offering supervised play time and organised activities.
The food
There are two main food and drink outlets at Th8. The principal restaurant is Envy, which offers Mediterranean-style food and where meals are served buffet style. The sizeable breakfast spread offers an egg station, waffles and pancakes, sausages and baked beans, alongside fresh veggies, dips, baked goods, juices, fruits, cold cuts, cheeses and sandwiches. There is also the option to order a hot breakfast, which you can do so from your table. Despite being rather busy on the morning of my visit, my eggs still made it to my table pretty quickly, as did my pot of tea.
Dinner is also buffet style and offerings during my stay include peri peri chicken, vegetarian lasagne, pan-seared fish, beef bourguignon and biriyani rice. There’s also freshly baked pizza, nuggets, spring rolls, a live pasta station and a variety of salads. The restaurant's Saturday Envy brunch offers quite a spread, with everything from seafood and sushi to delicious desserts.
Fluid Beach Club is the second outlet and is the place to go for light bites, platters and a variety of drinks. There is also an in-house DJ at the venue. The hotel offers guests a half board option, but those dining at the hotel who have not booked that tariff can expect to pay Dh160 for breakfast and Dh190 for dinner.
Highs and lows
The service at the property is stellar. From the friendly waiters and bartenders at Envy, who give great recommendations and always have a smile to offer, to the incredibly helpful staff who came to fix a minor electric issue in my room at midnight, I am impressed by how swiftly things are taken care of here.
The only low, if I have to nitpick, is that the hotel can get quite crowded, making the restaurant quite noisy during meal times but I guess that's not entirely unexpected from a family-orientated property.
The insider tip
The location of Th8, the name of which is inspired by the eighth phase of the moon, makes it a great spot for star and moon gazing. There is a telescope at the property to facilitate this, and it hosts seasonal celestial events.
The verdict
The hotel is close enough to Dubai's major landmarks, yet secluded enough to feel like a true getaway. Plus, there are enough activities to keep families busy at the property.
The bottom line
Rates start at Dh417 for the deluxe room. Check-in is from 3pm and checkout is at 11am.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future
