St. Regis Dubai

A stone’s throw away from busy, noisy Sheikh Zayed Road, we wondered how relaxing a stay at St Regis Dubai could really be. As we entered the green, long driveway leading up to the elegant building, we felt more like we were in Provence headed towards a French chateaux.

 

The Welcome

@stregisdubai opened in 2016 on Sheikh Zayed Road, a haven of tranquility close to bustling #DowntownDubai. The valet opened the door for us after taking care of Bentleys and Rolls Royce’s in the driveway. When we entered the lobby, our eyes were drawn upwards with a grand spiral staircase, up, up towards a dazzling chandelier. It’s sophisticated, old world charm made us feel like we needed to brush up on our French… or at least speak in a French accent.

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Sweet Suite

Standout: The #Bentley suite with bespoke leather finishing, colours and wood veneers that combine the glamour of#Bentley with the grace of the @stregis brand.

 

Relax

Read through #fashion #magazines while lounging poolside in a stylish cabana in the Rooftop Garden. Yes, Dubai’s busiest highway is literally right next to this, but you can’t hear a thing!

st regis rooftop pool

Food-tastic

Australian full blood Wagyu steak at J&G Steakhouse is an absolute must-try. With a price tag that will raise eyebrows (about Dhs700 for this dish), you’ll want to finish your whole plate, but it will be worth every bite. Pair with a merlot to complete your decadent meal.

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Be sure to check out the gorgeous #interiordesign at cafe on the first floor – a parisienne cafe perfect for an afternoon tea, canapés and gossip with your girls.

st regis cafe

 

Spa-tastic

Hot stone massage at #IridiumSpa is absolute heaven.

 

Here’s #whattopack to embrace French elegance!

 

St Regis Dubai Hotel Afternoon Tea

 


Alexander McQueen pink shirt
2,795 AED – farfetch.com

Trench coat
365 AED – zaful.com

Pink tutu
230 AED – modemusthaves.com

Kristin Cavallari suede shoes
475 AED – nordstrom.com

Chanel purse
31,405 AED – designer-vault.com

Christina Debs diamond jewelry
38,480 AED – selfridges.com
Guest Post by Rupert Wright of Ashbright
Welcome
 
Paris holds no terrors for well-heeled travellers, who can check into one of the city’s eleven palaces such as ­ the Georges V, Plaza Athénée, Le Bristol or my favourite, Le Meurice. But for those on any kind of budget, finding a decent place to stay in the French capital can be a challenge. Bedrooms smaller than a bathroom, bathrooms smaller than a bidet, we’ve all stayed at one of them and lived to regret it. So, it’s with great pleasure that I have found almost the perfect Parisian hotel – and you don’t need to be a tech billionaire to afford it. The Bedford has been family owned and run for more than a hundred years, combining Swiss roots, French flair and English tradition. It benefits from strong leadership, attention to detail, and a staff eager to look after you. With just 140 rooms, it is large enough to intimate, but not so large that you are anonymous. It’s a 4 star, but deserves more.
 
The rooms
 
Parquet flooring; high ceilings; comfortable beds and pillows; keys rather than plastic cards; and best of all, real switches, that turn the lights on and off. The Bedford has sensibly ignored many of the technical traps that can make staying in a hotel room more challenging than setting up your own satellite transmission site. The result is a place that combines understated elegance with modern touches and old school service. Some rooms overlook the rue de l’Arcade, others look over a courtyard, but all are a decent size and a muted colour. There is air-conditioning too, which is a relief when the summer strikes.
 
Eating
 
Breakfast is a buffet in a glorious belle époque room, boasting stucco reliefs and a glass roof. Dinner happens here too, French cuisine and fairly formal. There’s also a relaxed bistro/bar that serves meals and cocktails.
 
 
Location
 
A stone’s throw from the Place de la Madeleine, the Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Gardens, and the Opera, this is one of the best areas to stay in Paris. (Marcel Proust used to live just around the corner). It is a lively area, with great boutiques, wine bars and an eclectic mix of restaurants, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Lebanese and French too.
 
Don’t miss
 
The Bedford knows that many people like to travel with their pets, so they are allowed to stay too.
 
 
HOTEL BEDFORD, 17, RUE DE L’ARCADE 75008 PARIS Tel. : +33 (0)1 44 94 77 77 Fax : +33 (0)1 44 94 77 97 More information at www.hotel-bedford.com
 
Rooms from €250; Suites from €450

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Sara Hamdan

Welcome to a magazine editor’s guide to luxury hotels and what to wear when you’re there! My work has appeared in: The International New York Times, Rolling Stone, Variety and CNN Travel. I’ve held editorial roles at VIVA Magazine, Dubai Magazine and Stylist Arabia.  Now, I freelance for the likes of Google, CNN and Savoir Flair!

Editing travel pages was always my favourite part of working for lifestyle magazines. I started this blog out of a love of beautiful hotels that provide the fairytale escape of a day as a princess where breakfast is a buffet and chocolates appear on my pillow.

PR queries, feedback and compliments? Email sara@holidaysinheels.com!