Shannon Senekal
I had the pleasure of staying at this hotel recently and was quite impressed with several aspects of my experience. The room was wonderful, offering a beautiful view of the pool and lake. The breakfast selection was exquisite, featuring a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and meats. Despite being quite full in the morning, the staff quickly assisted us in finding seating.
While the morning staff at breakfast were notably helpful, I found the receptionist and concierge desk to be lacking in politeness and friendliness, which is crucial as they are the first impression of the hotel. In the hospitality industry, it's important to understand that a quick smile to new arriving guests sets a positive mood.
The hotel offers great facilities, with the exception of the golf course. We booked 18 holes but encountered issues with the availability of rented equipment, which was not as stated on the website. Additionally, the marshals on the golf course were overly aggressive in rushing us from the start, insisting that we 'hurry up' despite being within the intended time frame for completing the course. This behavior was particularly disappointing on such a special occasion as my anniversary.
Overall, my experience at the hotel was mixed. While the room, view, and breakfast were delightful, the interactions with staff and the experience at the golf course left much to be desired. I hope that the hotel management will address these issues to maintain the reputation of the JA hotel golf course."
Adonis Dungca
The resort has outstanding facilities and indeed a must-try for families opting for fun and relaxing getaway. We enjoyed the beach and water activitites for the kids. Our room and hotel areas are very clean and well-maintained. Our stay could have been perfect if some staff could have been a bit pleasant to us. The reception staff (May) who did our check-in process sounded very rude/ not pleasant when asked questions about outside food policy and late check-outs - which we understand. I was just asking questions, yet her answers were very sarcastic and not truly what you would expect to those who welcome guests in a hospitality setting. Furthermore, she has accused me of lying/not including kids in the reservation yet it was in mentioned in the original booking - her attention to details and personality needs some work. Despite this, the resort buggy drivers, housekeeping and concierge staff were really pleasant and wonderful. Overall, we had a good stay in the hotel but some staff needs some customer service/ personality training.
Nik Timofeev
I've had a great time at JA resorts. Lots of things to do: playing golf, horse riding, water activities, beach parties, chilling at the pool area.
Definitely will recommend it to my friends and colleagues.
Special thanks to Mohamed Samy for the help with the reservation.
Daniel W
I have too many things to say about this incredible place! We have visited twice and it is honestly one of our favorite places in the world. Truly an oasis in the desert, this beautiful resort is green and floral and like a little piece of paradise. There are many pools to enjoy and plenty of beachfront. There are activities for kids and our family was always entertained. The food is incredible, whether from the buffet restaurants or the a la carte restaurants…it’s delicious everywhere. The Lake View hotel is our favorite and is sparkling clean and smells amazing. Getting around the resort is easy with well maintained walking paths and free shuttles to take you anywhere you need to go. The service is wonderful and literally everyone on staff is very friendly and helpful. We were always greeted with a smile and taken care of in every way. I have nothing negative to say about this special oasis and I hope our family can return many times in the future.
Paul Zuther
Not 5 star standard, but ok.
The service in the restaurants is often very helpful and very fast. The grounds are well maintained and you can do a lot if you want to and might pay extra. The rooms are cleaned well. You don't have to worry about your belongings. No thefts etc.
The food / drink prices are high and sometimes the impression can arise that the hotel complex knows how to take advantage of its remote location in this respect.
What you need to know:
- the WiFi is sometimes very weak. There is absolutely no WiFi on your own room balcony. On the beach, the wifi varies greatly!
- The hotel has weekend guests and apparently also day guests who come for some “attractions” such as a small children's play area at the weekend. This means that the hotels in the complex are completely overcrowded from Friday lunchtime to Sunday lunchtime! This also applies to breakfast. So, if you are late, you are guaranteed not to get a sun lounger or other space but many completely overcrowded places. I admire the service staff here, who try to manage everything well.
- There is a shuttle bus to 3 shopping malls in Dubai. That's great, but the driver doesn't always drive to them despite advance booking. Then you only end up at the mall that the driver chooses. That's not acceptable.
- Due to the many restaurants, there should be something for everyone, but the quality of the food varies greatly. Partly you have to make a reservation in advance and sometimes the reception tells you you don't have to but the restaurant tells you you have to.
- Some accessories in the bathroom and other typical 5-star amenities that belong to a 5-star standard are missing.
Those who know 5 star hotels might be a little disappointed here. I would rate the hotel in the 4-star range.