One of the pleasures of travel is opening the door of your hotel room and getting a happy vibe immediately. There are no grubby marks on the carpet, and the blinds are clean and easy to open. It has a nice view with some luck, and all the goodies are there.
By that, I mean things like USB slots and power plugs on each side of the bed – excellent reading lights, a good sized TV that is simple to use, a desk if you are there for business, a safe, iron and board – plus tea and coffee facilities (always lovely to have a real coffee machine) with some real milk in the fridge if you prefer tea.
Hopefully, the safe is at shoulder height – nothing worse than getting on the floor to see how it operates. A well-stocked fridge is always appreciated – along with a couple of bottles of water replaced each day of your stay. Finally, the bathroom – a separate shower with rain and handheld options with controls away from the showerhead so you don’t get a cold burst; turning everything on is so much better than taking your life in your hands and stepping into a slippery bath.
You need good lighting, a powerful exhaust fan to clear the mirrors, thick white towels, and a shower door that works—there’s nothing worse than stepping out onto a soaking wet floor mat. One last pet hate: pump-action shampoo, conditioner, and body wash units. So, where is the lecture leading up to, you are wondering?
A few days ago, I opened the door of our room at the Manzil Hotel Dubai (now renamed The Heritage Hotel, Autograph Collection). My immediate reaction was to walk straight back to the foyer and find somewhere else to stay. Tired is the kindest word you could use for the room. The carpet and furniture were long overdue for replacement, and the walls needed repainting.
There was mould growing in the shower recess – where it had been leaking was patched up with piles of gap filler-type stuff. The aircon only seems to understand freezing. So why did I choose this hotel? We had stayed there years ago, pre-COVID, and immensely enjoyed the experience. We also often meet friends in the trendy Manzil courtyard. The hotel’s facade is quite lovely – you can’t help but be impressed with its ‘contemporary minimalism’ mixed with traditional Arabesque touches.
The famed Dubai Mall is a short walk away, along with a variety of restaurants on the glittering Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Boulevard. The hotel bills itself as four stars—3.1 is more like it right now, but hope is on the horizon.
The new operators—The Autograph Collection—are an American group of independent upper-upscale to luxury hotels within the respected Marriott International portfolio. Hopefully, the Manzil is set for a long-overdue major makeover.
Written by: Ian McIntosh
