A Glance Back

I have been to Dubai several time, but in this family trip I did several things for the first time.
Dubai keeps growing with new things, alluring visitors with its luxury and wow things.

We stayed in a luxury hotel, Movenpick Ibn Batuta Gate Hotel.
It was located about 30 minutes drive from Downtown Dubai, on the way to Abu Dhabi.
The hotel, the iconic gate and the shopping mall, all adopted the journey of Ibn Batuta, an old time traveler.
The hotel was a wow stay experience, with luxury and beautiful interior design.

I did desert safari several times in Qatar, but it was the first time I did in Dubai.
Dubai desert tour was more developed than Qatar.
More tour companies and more tourists.
There was a common desert camp, that most tour company use, which I think it's a good and efficient idea.
In the camp, all touristic activities, such as henna painting, camel ride, shows, and dinner were provided.
However, the desert itself, I think Qatar is prettier and quieter.

Dubai Park was just newly opened in mid December, just 2 weeks before we arrived.
We visited in promotion tickets that includes all 3 parks, but the park was so huge, that we got time only to visit 2 of them, Motion Gate and Bollywood Park. That was also many attractions were not opened yet that we got time to do 2 parks.
Motion Gate was a theme park celebrating Hollywood movies from several studios like DreamWorks, Sony's Pictures etc. Many attractions were not opened yet when we visited, like the main DreamWorks zone.
Bollywood Park was more ready to visit, I think all attractions were completed. While the ride attractions were not so appealing, the many dance shows were more enjoyful.
We also watched the musical Jaan-e-Jigar with additional pay in the spectacular place the Rajmahal Theater.
Though the act was in Hindi, we enjoy the wow setting and dancing on the stage.

We only had time to visit Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, and Atlantis in Dubai Palm Jumeirah, but didn't have time to go to Mall of the Emirates and old town.

Movenpick Ibn Batuta Hotel

Paid AED 3,376 inclusive all taxes, for 2 rooms, 4 nights (20-23 December 2016), without breakfast.
Breakfast was AED 120, but discount at AED 95 informed during check-in.

The huge hotel with iconic Ibn Batuta Gate, located outskirt from Dubai on the way to Abu Dhabi, in Jebel Ali area.

1. During the reservation, I asked the staff in charge of reservation to match the price with Agoda, but he said to me to just book with Agoda. However, after put a pressure on him by quoting Movenpick principle to match the price found on Movenpick website and added CC other email addresses to my correspondence with him, finally he agreed to match. Actually it was OK for me to book by Agoda, but he said booking by Agoda could not guarantee the two rooms for family would be connecting rooms.
Moreover, I just got the info by being Circle M member, I could get some discount on room, however I just got the info after seeing the brochure in the room, this info should have been given during the reservation so that I could have got benefit from it.
2. I booked a family room since we were four, and was informed and aware that the family room consisted of two rooms, but was surprised when arrived we were just given two rooms next to each other. It was indeed connected by a corridor, but when we arrived it was locked, took a while to open.
I didn't expect a family room was two rooms connected by a corridor, I expected two rooms with direct connecting door. When I claimed to the front desk, I was informed that the family rooms were like that in the hotel.
3. The swimming pool, the showers, amongst 4, only 1 was working. The pool should have been located on other side with better view of the gate. There was no jacuzzi facility in the hotel.
4. The sliding window for the shower room, better to be located inside the shower room, so that the person inside the shower room could open and close.
5. The lobby in front of the reception, in my opinion, was to cramped and small, I think for a 5 stars hotel, the lobby should be more elegant. I think the partition between the lobby and the huge space behind should be removed.
6. The view from the room window was ugly. Maybe hotel could plant some trees to cover the deserted area.
7. Check in experience (on 20 December 2016) was bad. No welcome drink, crowded (receptionists were overwhelmed) and the computer system was down. Though the city tourist fee was included in the booking price, the receptionist asked me to pay again, showing the information transfer between the staffs was not good.

I liked the design and the concept of Ibn Batuta story of the hotel.
Though the location is far from Dubai city center (30 minutes drive to Downtown Dubai), I liked it, it was near to Ibn Batuta Shopping Mall, petrol station and some smaller shops.
The equipments in the gym were good.
The bed was comfortable.
The TV channel choice was great.
The staffs (room boys and valet) were nicer. The receptionists could be better.

Dubai Mall

Visit to Dubai is not complete without visiting Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world.
Not only thousands of shops and restaurants, it has an aquarium and adjacent to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world and several hotels.
Moreover, the interior design is amazing too, with some has been trade mark or icon, such as The Water Fall.
The fountain is dancing hourly from 6pm.

Social House, a Restaurant in Dubai Mall

I loved this restaurant in Dubai Mall.
Nicely decorated, good location with the view of the fountain, good selection of menu, and the taste was good too.