The Retreat Palm Dubai - MGallery by Sofitel 5 Sterne

Honest Feedback on Our Stay (Midway Through Visit) We’re currently halfway through our stay, and unfortunately, we’ve encountered several disappointments. While we booked an all-inclusive package, it has become clear that “all-inclusive” no longer means what it used to. Many basic amenities and experiences that should be included come at an extra cost. Additional Charges for Basic Amenities Some examples of things that require extra payment but should reasonably be included in an all-inclusive stay: • Ice cream bar on the beach • Coffee shop snacks • Main menu items at the Turkish restaurant • Most activities and basic water sports • Mini bar (especially since alcohol isn’t served) Concerns During Our Stay 1. Lack of Entertainment & Activities – There are little to no day or evening events, making it difficult to find things to do, especially after sunset. 2. Inconvenient Rules & Restrictions – We were asked to leave a pool table mid-game because it needed to be cleaned, yet no alternatives were offered. 3. Food Quality – The main restaurant’s food is bland and heavily ethnic-focused with minimal western options. Many dishes seem pre-packaged rather than freshly prepared. 4. Extra Charges at the Spa – The spa experience felt more like dealing with a budget airline—unexpected additional fees at every turn. 5. Insufficient Sunbeds & Seating – There simply aren’t enough sunbeds for the number of guests. People claim them early and leave them unoccupied all day, making it difficult to find seating. 6. Air Conditioning Issues – The AC in our room doesn’t seem to function properly. 7. Service & Staff Attitude – While some staff members are friendly, a significant portion lacks professionalism. We had particularly poor experiences in the Turkish restaurant and Vibe restaurant at breakfast, where service felt chaotic and unstructured. 8. Limited Waterfront Access – The swimming area in the sea is quite restrictive, making it difficult for those who enjoy deeper or longer swims. 9. Noise Levels – Our room at the back of the property is very noisy due to road traffic at night and ongoing construction during the day. Final Thoughts Rather than focusing on extra charges at every opportunity, the resort should prioritize guest satisfaction and long-term customer retention. From speaking with other guests, it’s clear that many will not return—and unfortunately, we share that sentiment. We hope management takes this feedback seriously to improve future experiences. If our experience changes during the remainder of the trip, then we shall update our comments, but currently writing this review on the beach (no beds available) a gentleman and his family are having a heated argument with another family and the staff due to the lack of availability for sunbeds.

Amazing hotel! Amazing service! Mr Amgad is the best! He deserves to be a hotel manager for sure! The food was really good. The vibe is very family friendly. I love that there is no alcohol unless you buy outside or something, so no drink or tipsy people there. Thank you

Our second time staying here and love everything about it! The staff are amazing and went above and beyond to make our trip amazing. We were celebrating our 30th birthdays and were greeted with roses on the bed and a birthday cake. Reshal, Rajiv and all of the beach staff are so great - we can’t wait to come back!

This Sofitel hotel popped up on the search for Dubai hotels, it’s a 5 star Wellness hotel with one side having rooms overlooking the pool and one side overlooking the building site. The transfer is about 45 minutes from the airport but 30 minutes if no traffic, the location requires taxi everywhere as it’s on the Palm, I found local taxi the cheapest with the ability to tap to pay. I spoke with the hotel management about the noise all night from the two building sites which kept us awake! Beware which side your room is on, however the pool side is more expensive! On arrival lovely looking hotel and great staff to welcome you, the facilities to eat is Buffet. There is a Snack shop 5 minute away the supermarket sells food and alcohol. Beach is raked by the staff, sea water was cool, pool was lovely and warm. Hotel is very clean and rooms very nicely done, WiFi is good and you get it on the beech, plenty of sun umbrellas for the heat.

Das Hotel an sich, ist sehr schön. Nicht zu groß und mit direktem Strandzugang. Liegen und Handtuchservice i.O. Die Zimmer sind gut ausgestattet und die Betten sehr bequem. Das Housekeeping ist i.O. Und es gibt täglich frisches Wasser auf’s Zimmer. Essen gibt es ausschließlich in Büffetform, es ist frisch und schmackhaft. Der Service läßt allerdings sehr zu wünschen übrig. Kein geschultes Personal, aber schon sehr freundlich. Am ersten Tag in der Frühe, bediente uns Reshal aus Nepal an der Strandbar, die eigentlich noch gar nicht geöffnet hatte. Zusätzliche Absprachen wurden nicht so umgesetzt, wie besprochen. Die Rezeption war qualifiziert besetzt. Aber ich kenne bessere 5Sterne Hotels in Dubai …