Location: This five-star hotel, spread across two towers, opened in 2012 in Dubai's Business Bay, near Sheikh Zayed Rd. A 10-minute taxi ride, or 30 to 40-minute walk, will take you to the city's downtown area, where Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa are located. The Business Bay metro station is about 10 minutes away on foot.
Check-in experience: Friendly, although longer than expected as a result of some confusion over the booking. Not what you really need after a more than 16-hour non-stop Emirates flight from Auckland, but no biggie either.
Room: I was put up on the 27th floor of the B tower, which had floor-to-ceiling windows and a great view over the city to the Arabian Gulf. The 44sq m room was palatial, by my standards, with a super-comfortable king-size bed and plenty of good TV channels. Weirdly, the door through to the balcony was kept locked "for your safety". Why build them if they can't be used?
Bathroom: Bigger than some hotel rooms I've stayed in, with a bath and a separate shower. Piping the sound from the TV through, so you can keep listening to BBC news while in the shower was a nice touch.
