The Palace Hotel - Adults Only

The breakfast buffet had an enormous range, and the staff even let us stay a few extra hours. We also had a great welcome at reception, where everyone was warm and professional. The hotel feels regal, with history you can see and smell, and the room was generally clean. Its location is fantastic, with plenty to do nearby, and reception arranged a golf cart to take us to places like the king's train. There were some drawbacks. The bathroom needs more cleaning and maintenance, and the internet never worked. A man in a grey suit at the gate seemed to follow me in and out. The princess room was small, though I was fine with that for the price. I knew there was no private beach, but we were turned away from every beach nearby. Still, it was a very good stay, and I’ll come back.

The pool being open around the clock was a real highlight. We went for a late swim and enjoyed the lovely weather. The hotel itself is peaceful and cozy, right in the middle of Al Montaza Gardens. Everyone we met was kind, from the receptionist to the rest of the team. They even surprised us with a cake for our anniversary, and staff members came by to congratulate us and wish us well. Those thoughtful touches made the stay memorable.

We ended up moving to Rixos and had no regrets. The hotel charged about what Rixos did, but gave us roughly half the service. We waited 40 minutes at the restaurant just to get water, then nearly an hour for food, which was average at best. They also seemed to add a charge for everything, including parking and upgraded breakfast juice. The stay was a big disappointment from the start. I called to ask about the rate, but when I arrived it had doubled. The only explanation I got was that it was because I had a US passport.

The view over Al Montazah was lovely, and the staff were professional and kind. It was one of the nicest, most luxurious stays I’ve had in a while, and the team made it unforgettable.