InterContinental Dubai Festival City Review
PUBLISHED February 14th, 2016 07:00 am | UPDATED June 3rd, 2020 05:01 pm
Post holiday fatigue – aka social jet lag – is that lethargy you feel, coupled with poorer memory and slower reaction times when you head back to work after a vacation or festive holiday.
Personally, I feel it because I take midday naps, sleep late, and wake up later to compensate for it – because too much good food and booze.
The best way I’ve found to combat this is simply to take a hotel holiday, which is basically an additional couple of days you spend lounging in a hotel, going back to your usual routine before heading home and back to work.
With an extremely good looking pool, a myriad of dining options, a gym, a spa, and other amenities located at Festival City Mall next door, InterContinental Dubai Festival City is literally an oasis in the desert. Plus, it’s a mere 10-minute drive away from the airpot, making it a perfect stopover for a recharge, especially if you’re booked on an Emirates flight!
At 46 square metres (almost 500 square feet), our Executive Rooms are stylish and spacious. It also came large glass windows with laods of natural daylight and a stunning view of the Dubai Creek. While I have no complaints about the bed, the pillows were on the flat side – not the plush and fluffy headrests I was expecting of a luxury property.
Dining-wise, guests will find a huge variety in the buffet line offerings of Anise, their in-house all-day dining establishment that covers Arabic, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Western, amidst everything else. The quality is decent; on par with what you would find in most five-star hotels.
Other dining options include Michelin-starred French chef Pierre Gagnaire’s Reflets, a must-visit for foodies, as well as the lobby level patisserie Choix (by the same man). Semi-fine dining restaurant Terra Firma Steakhouse is great for date nights while Vista Bar & Terrace is made for that glass of wine over sunset views.
Tip: if you’re taking our advice and headed here on a hotel holiday, be sure to book a room with club benefits. The extras – complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, cocktails, and other drinks – are more than worth it.
One last thing – the highlight of InterContinental Dubai Festival City is, without a doubt, the service. Friendly, warm, and efficient, the service level is probably the best I’ve encountered in Dubai; which says a lot for a city that prides itself on excellence, and having the tallest, the biggest, and the best.
Looking for more accommodation options in Dubai? See our review of Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City.
