Mirage Bab Al Bahr

From the entrance onward, the staff were supportive, helpful, kind, and generous. Ms Grace from Cameroon deserves special mention because her hospitality was outstanding and she really is a gem of a person. There weren't many food choices, but whatever was served was mouthwatering. Thank you to Mirage and everyone there. See you again.

The pool staff, beach staff, and facilities were excellent, and I would happily give those areas 5 stars. Unfortunately, the reception experience brought the rating down to 1 star. At about 12:30 PM, my husband called reception for one bottle of water. Our checkout was at 1:00 PM, but Cathy said water wouldn't be provided because we were close to checkout, and that it would be chargeable. We had checked in at 12:00 AM and paid the full requested amount, so that response was surprising for a 5-star hotel. We eventually received two bottles, although we were 3 adults. My concern wasn't really the water. It was the attitude and the inconsistency. When I raised the issue, the same staff member then said she could provide water if we wanted, which made the earlier answer confusing. A hotel of this standard should offer more consistent and hospitable service.

The pool schedule really needs reconsidering, especially since it's almost summer. The kids pool runs from 9:30 -12:30, when it's already too hot, while the beach opens at 7am and the other pools at 9:30. A better summer schedule could be 6-11am and 3-8pm, so guests can actually enjoy the amenities at suitable times. Hospitality management also needs improvement. Most of the staff seemed uninterested and had flat expressions, with the lady at the kids swimming pool being the only person I saw smiling. The restaurant felt dark, almost like a dim room, and there was no music. The rooms had no bathrobe, the television wasn't connected to wifi and only had 5 movies saved. There was just one packet of tea and a kettle inside. These details, along with the strange pool hours, made the stay feel less welcoming.

Breakfast was a major letdown. The food didn't seem fresh, the choice was very limited, and the staff attitude was poor. For the first time in a so-called five-star hotel, we left breakfast hungry. Our room was also about 10 minutes on foot from the entrance, the lobby smelled unpleasant, and the reception staff were rude. There was a gym above us without access card control, so anyone could enter, even late in the evening. The noise disturbed our sleep. The towels were old and smelled bad, and the staff member who brought them was rude and unprofessional too. There was no valet parking either. We had to park ourselves and then go inside to find someone to help, which is odd for a hotel presenting itself as five-star. At checkout, the receptionist didn't ask about our stay, as if they already knew and didn't care. We stayed last weekend at Mirage Bab Al Bahr Hotel, expecting something based on its rating and photos, but it was one of our worst hotel experiences. Calling it a 5-star property feels misleading, and I regret not reading the reviews more carefully. This was our first and last visit. I don't recommend it, it felt like a waste of money and nowhere near a true five-star standard.