Tried & Tested: Delano Dubai
Some 30 years after its opening, the legendary Hotel Delano Miami Beach is now getting a little sister. The stylish brand is expanding into a completely different market in far away (but no less high profile) Dubai. The glamorous opening party at the end of November was all about the brand's credo: "Timeless Elegance." Sounds right down my alley… come along and take a peek behind the veil!
As experienced by LuxuryWise's Director of Business Development, Melanie Haass
The Hotel
After being turned completely inside out in just nine months, the former Caesars Palace Hotel started welcoming guests in October as the Delano, bringing the elegant chic of the Roaring 60s for its soft opening, and a breath of fresh air to the Emirates with its Miami vibes. I'm really looking forward to the hotel and the big launch party because (and this is it's hard to admit!) I haven't been to the bustling metropolis of Dubai for over ten years. What could be better to ease the winter blues than a revival trip? As soon as I look into the expansive lobby with high ceilings and start exploring my room I feel right at home. I love the minimalist, yet warm and elegant look. You can feel the high-quality materials in every detail, from the floors to the pillows.
The location on Bluewater Island doesn't sound ideal at first glance, but it turns out to be great! I can simply walk to the neighboring The Wharf Promenade and then in just 15 minutes across the glittering pedestrian bridge into the hustle and bustle of the JBR, the lively leisure district with its beach promenade. Another advantage of the location: the beach on the open sea with cleaner water than many lagoons or other less-open beaches in Dubai. About once every 20 minutes the sound of landing Cessnas creates a Maldives feeling.
The Rooms
Even the entry-level Rising Light category offers a generous 40 square meters (431sq. ft.) of chic space with some nice details. All rooms have a balcony, either with a Resort View, Beach View, or the brand new Garden View. When I listen closely I hear... nothing! Wonderful silence, not a sound from the corridor, from next door, or from upstairs.
There are plenty of highlights for comfort lovers – a bright marble bathroom with rain shower and bathtub, plus an extra toilet room with a sink. Tech-wise, the equipment is also way ahead. A Bose box for your personal playlists, a Nespresso machine for a caffeine boost, a Dyson for the perfect hairstyle, even a Steamery for wrinkle-free outfits. The latter has finally landed in my Amazon shopping cart, a long-cherished wish. The room also has a perfect variety of sockets: USB-C, standard USB, connections for all plug types, worldwide. The hidden mirror TV is a real design statement. For light-sensitive guests like me, an eye mask is fortunately part of my standard luggage, as the panels for air conditioning and light shine brightly at night.
My favorite? Clearly the Waking Eclipse Suite (pictured) with its open-plan, one-bedroom design – 73-76 square meters (786-818sq. ft.) of living, dining, and sleeping space, and a terrace with parquet flooring suitable for waltzing, if you wish. Two former rooms from the Caesars Palace era have been combined to create a light-flooded suite with a resort or sea view (but the resort view usually has a side sea view, too). The suite offers generous space for up to four adults, with a small partition wall and sliding doors between the living room and bedroom. If you need more privacy, you can simply book a connecting room.
A great alternative for families is the Breaking Waves Suite measuring at 77-80 square meters (829-861sq. ft.). It scores points with its angled charm and separate living room and bedroom. Ultimately the Penthouse Suite towers above all, but unfortunately I was unable to visit it. It's still an eye-catcher even from the outside since it extends over the entire floor of the side wing of the hotel and has an infinity pool with an amazing view of Dubai's skyline. Wow!
No matter which suite you book for your favorite clients: The cocktail bar set up with ready-made drinks from the Rose Bar is always a big hit. Cheers!
The Resort Duo
The large hotel of the Caesars Palace casino brand has become two luxurious new hotel gems. The elegant Delano Dubai and the neighboring Banyan Tree complement each other perfectly under the Accor flag and are also marketed as a pair. For your clients this means that they won't just have 250 meters (820ft.) of beachfront, but 500 meters (1,640ft.). So, today it's a lounger by the Delano pool, and tomorrow perhaps a trip to the pool area of the Banyan Tree. Between wellness and cuisine there's more contrast.
The Delano itself does not have a spa. But why should it? The Banyan Tree brand is a top player in the market for everything to do with wellness, and it's just a short walk across the beach. At the spa I discover the Rainforest Trail, which is quite mindfully designed. It's a first for Dubai, where guests can enjoy shower sequences, a steam bath, a sauna, and the cozy warm bubble baths in complete privacy. This is where my treatment-loving heart and troubled back enjoy the first part of perfect relaxation. For the subsequent massage, all I can describe is a purring ommmm and a big grin – Banyan Tree is just so good at that!
Sensory Impressions
How the stay feels
Yummy
No standard bubbles as a welcome drink at check-in, but a fresh smoothie shot made from apples, ginger, and celery.
Members Club Feeling
Thanks to few day guests at the pool, beach, and in most restaurants, you feel secluded and "among yourselves."
Smiling Staff
All are relaxed, smiling, cool hospitality professionals despite the stress of the opening party and full occupancy.
Safety
On a late evening stroll across the glittering pedestrian bridge towards the hustle and bustle of the JBR, I don't feel a bit insecure, even alone as a woman.
Culinary Delights
The Delano can be booked with breakfast, half board, or full board. Anyone who has ever traveled with me – personally or vicariously – knows that I am not a morning person. Fortunately, neither is my boss! But I digress. While my normal breakfast is usually quite minimal, here on the large terrace with a view of the pool I'm happy to look beyond my espresso with lemon because the breakfast buffet is the real deal. From sweet to savory, everything is available and perfectly presented. There's also a special menu for omelets, benedicts, egg-cetera.
At lunchtime, the breakfast restaurant transforms into Tutto Pasta where Neapolitan pizza makes you feel like you've been transported to the Amalfi Coast. Thanks to the Dine-Around concept with Banyan Tree gourmets can get their money's worth. There are currently five restaurants to choose from, where guests with half board or full board can feast their way through to try a wide variety of cuisines. My highlight is the DJ brunch at the Demon Duck (pictured), the Speakeasy Bar & Restaurant. The selection of Asian classics with a trendy Hong Kong mix served family style is impossible to manage alone! My eyes were bigger than my stomach, but I just have to try everything. And then I find a poolside lounger for a comatose nap…
A very special attraction of the hotel complex is the newly opened Maison Revka. Known from Paris and Saint-Tropez, here the brand celebrates its premiere outside France. The elegant, French-Slavic restaurant with its sophisticated menu and opulent interior creates an exciting contrast to the clean-chic style of the hotel. As soon as I walk through the hidden door in the lobby, I feel like Alice in a vintage design wonderland.
But Maison Revka is more than "just" a restaurant here in Dubai, it is also the luxury brand's first beach club. For hotel guests, access costs the equivalent of around 60 euros. In addition to cozy loungers around the large pool, there are several plush cabanas, three of which are slightly secluded with their own plunge pools – a real highlight, even for Dubai! It's perfect for impressing discerning clients, especially from the GCC market.
The Service
The glamorous opening party is a prime example of the consistently top-notch service that I experience throughout my stay. And in all respects: 1,200 invited guests, various dance floors, entertainment areas, and catering from all of the hotel's kitchens – it's a mammoth logistical task that the team mastered on point and with flying colors!
In general, Delano's motto is "Inner Circle," and whoever checks in here is part of the game! Full attention is paid to everyone behind the Delano curtain – there will hardly be anyone coming in from the outside, unlike most other hotels in Dubai. In everyday vacation life, the Delano shines with small but ingenious details. For example, every evening instead of chocolate bedtime treats I find special gummy bears with names like "Deep Sleep" or "Happy Tummy" on my pillow. The minibar also surprises night owls with cures for the aftermath: there are eyepatches and a collagen drink for a freshness boost, among other refreshments and rejuvenators.
Starting with three nights in a suite, guests benefit from advantages such as priority check-in, late check-out (subject to availability), free transfers, exclusive amenity kits, pre-dinner drinks, and a personalized concierge service. For them, the cabanas by the pool are included, for everyone else the cabanas are available for a minimum spend of around 260 euros. But the super comfy sofa loungers with neck cushions and the cooling water loungers are just as good!
What we loved
- Cool(ing) service: The chic leather cooler bag with water keeps guests hydrated all day at the beach and pool free of charge.
- Fluffy Deluxe: Probably the softest hotel slippers ever, specially designed for the Delano.
- History meets design: The new and old pictures of the Delano story are a highlight for sentimentalists and nostalgics.
- Shopping dream: The boutique at Maison Revka, sinfully beautiful (and expensive) beach wear, luxurious tableware, decorative knick-knacks, and gourmet delicacies.
- Martini Magic: The best martini ever was from the Rose Bar – a strong drink with a sweet chocolate rim (pictured). If it wasn't eleven o'clock in the morning and I wasn't in the newsroom, I know where I'd be...
Not so much
- Unwelcome soundtrack: In room 306 (towards "Le Cantine"), you can hear the restaurant's generator when the window is open. So you have to sleep with the balcony door closed.
- Fridge feeling: Sure, nothing works in Dubai without air conditioning. But standing soaking wet in a "fridge" a.k.a. the private changing room of the Rainforest Experience is simply not a good idea.
- Be careful when choosing the Garden View rooms. Although they have direct pool access (no swim-up!), depending on the location you may be looking at the pool bar from behind.
- The Ain Dubai Ferris wheel right on the Delano's doorstep is still not running. Rumor has it it's "Coming soon!" We'll see...
In a Nutshell
Delano and Dubai have a new fan! I admit that I haven't been keen on flying to Dubai in recent years, but I've been proven wrong by the vibrant sunshine destination and especially by the hotel! Casual, high-quality service, stylish interiors, and a great location: lifestyle meets luxury, plain and simple. The Delano is quiet but close to the city, just a short walk away from the hustle and bustle. Then there's the beach – a real beach. No promenade, no crowds – just the hotel and the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf. Jackpot! Apparently this cool luxury brand has big plans for the next few years, but unfortunately no one wanted to tell me anything "ready to print." Fact: the legendary mother ship in Miami is currently being renovated and is due to reopen in later this year. I know at least one person who can hardly wait!
Trade Contact: Reda Dahmany, Cluster Director of Sales