Jun 2018
Desert Palm, Samāna Spa, & Rare: A triple threat close to town.
Having lived in Dubai for over ten years, I have been fortunate to visit Desert Palm on a few occasions (including a previous dining experience at Rare ), and have always been…
The archive
Hotel Reviews
41 stories · Page 2 of 5
Mar 2018
Intercontinental Fujairah: A property without an identity.
The great thing about having a husband who's into diving (even if you personally tried and failed epically) is that you get to visit a lot of beach destinations. In this instance,…
Feb 2018
Oberoi Al Zorah: A modern coastal visit.
Although it may not sound that way, it's actually been awhile since I've spent a night away from my villa. I'm not sure if it's some form of nesting, or just that I'm wildly…
Dec 2017
My Favorite Hotels in 2017.
Although more loaded in the front of the year, I was able to stay in some absolutely exceptional properties during 2017. And looking ahead, I'm hoping some excellent hotel stays…
Oct 2017
Manzil Downtown Staycation.
The Manzil Downtown in Downtown Dubai has been a favorite hotel of mine for many years (yes, I can remember before it was reconfigured and when it was called the Al Manzil). In…
Sep 2017
Marriott Al Forsan, not quite perfection in Khalifa City.
We've probably already established I am a creature of habit, and as such, my time in Abu Dhabi is primarily focused on Saadiyat or the main island. Thus, when an opportunity to…
Aug 2017
A to Za'atar's elements of a perfect hotel.
On average, I stay in a hotel at least once a month (and usually more nights than that). While the majority of my experience is in the GCC, I have been to a few other countries…
Aug 2017
Staying in a Airbnb vs. Hotel: Which is right for you?
On average, I travel to about five countries a year (some I've visited previously, and others are new). In most of these cases, I will be in one city for multiple nights. With so…
Aug 2017
The Langham Sydney: Intimate luxury.
Sydney is a city ubiquitous with a range of hotels, from well-recognized brands to smaller properties, and just about everything in between. For the start of our trip, we booked…
Aug 2017
The Old Clare Hotel: Hipster Sydney stay.
To finish our trip in Australia, I had been looking forward to our stay at The Old Clare Hotel in Sydney. Located near the central train station (less than 5 minutes walking…