When you are heading for Dubai, what should be your primary concerns to design a fantastic vacation? If first is picking those splendid tourist attractions in and around the city, the next has to be picking up the right hotel.
We are here to have a classic face-off between two popular and iconic hotels from the swanky locality of Jumeirah in Dubai – Nikki Beach Resort Vs Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah.
This article is including factors like Location Advantage, Which is Cheaper, Ratings, Food Options, Rooms, Pools, Beach Access, Best for Kids, More Things to Do Close By, Value for Money for a more comprehensive understanding.
Our observation gives Mandarin Oriental Jumeira a little advantage over Nikki Beach Resort but you must go through the article to decide on your own.
Which is in the Best Location?
Both Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah hotels are tucked in the plush neighbourhood of Jumeirah Beach. This place is surely a hotspot for tourists as well as locals. Beautiful coastline certainly plays a major role in pulling the crowd here.
Nikki Beach Resort sits on the waterfront of Pearl Jumeirah, Mandarin Oriental has found a spot along the Jumeirah Beach Road. These spots have nothing much to differentiate as they share a single strategic location – Jumeirah Beach.
Why do we say that? Because the travel distance from one hotel to another is about 6 kilometres and it will not take more than 10 minutes to cover this distance. Honestly speaking, we don’t see any difference when it comes to choosing any one of these hotels for your vacation considering the location advantage.
To be more specific, here are the addresses of these two hotels:
- Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1, Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, Pearl Jumeirah, Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Verdict: Location-wise, these two hotels don’t have any significant advantage over one another. Both are situated in best-in-class localities.
Which is Cheaper?
Both Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah are 5-star properties. So, they never give a single chance to the guests when it comes to hospitality. Now, the question is which one is cheaper compared to the other one?
Rooms in these two hotels are more than enough to surpass your necessities. Each and every room of their rooms are aesthetically made to suit modern vacationing needs. Picking any one of these two hotels can never go wrong.
On the room rate front, Nikki Beach Resort looks more affordable and the standard room rate starts from AED 2,500 per night. On the other hand, booking a standard room at Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah will cost you a minimum of AED 4,500 for one night.
Note: We have a word of caution for you! Room rates are highly fluctuating depending on the tourist season. You can expect these mentioned room rates just to be doubled during peak season. So, book your room well ahead to save hundreds of bucks if you are really keen on staying at such luxurious properties without spending a fortune.
Verdict
Nikki Beach Resort is certainly cheaper than Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah
Which has a Better TripAdvisor Rating?
As we already have said, both Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah are highly appreciated by travellers for their outstanding service level, facilities and exceptionally well-maintained premises.
To give a very real picture of what guests think about these two hotels or what were their experiences, it is best to check out the star rating these two gems have secured on TripAdvisor.
We are bringing here those ratings for you:
TripAdvisor Rating for Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai
(on the basis of 2,644 reviews on TripAdvisor’s site)
Location – 4.6/5.0
Cleanliness 4.9/5.0
Service 4.8/5.0
Value 4.5/5.0
TripAdvisor Rating for Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah Dubai
(on the basis of 812 reviews on TripAdvisor’s site)
Location – 4.8/5.0
Cleanliness 4.9/5.0
Service 4.8/5.0
Value 4.6/5.0
As you can see, it is really impossible to put any of these iconic Dubai hotels behind the other if we consider the ratings posted on TripAdvisor.
Verdict
It’s a tie. Both hotels are really really good and we can’t just be one as the winner for this particular segment.
Which has Better Food Options?
A blissful accommodation can’t be possible without heart-warming and tummy-filling foods. Thankfully, both Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah understand this better than we do!
In each of them, you will heavily be spoilt with choices when it comes to having delicious food on your plate. Let’s check out the in-house options these hotels have for you.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah houses the following dining places along with bars:
- Netsu by Ross Shonhan (Japanese steakhouse)
- Tasca by Jose Avillez (Contemporary Portuguese)
- Sublimotion (magical culinary extravagenza)
- The Bay (Beachside Brasserie)
- The Mandarin Cake Shop (Cake Shop)
- Noor Lounge
- Beluga Bar (for Cavier)
- Sun Vibe (Pool Bar)
Nikki Beach Resort & Spa includes some of the best dining spots in town backed by a lounge, café and a beach club. They are:
- Key West (best known for muddled mojitos and beachfront-styled ambience)
- Soul Lounge (dining place with a plethora of cocktails)
- Café Nikki (an all-day bistro with tons of fresh and creative presentations)
- Beach Club (a luxury beach club with elements of dining, music, fashion, film and entertainment)
We can see that Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah comprises of much better options compared to Nikki Beach Resort when you are not ready to step outside the hotel and look for some decent dining options.
Verdict
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah is the winner in this segment.
Which has Better Rooms?
The standard room in Nikki Beach Resort & Spa measures a minimum of 55 sq. metres and is perfect for accommodating two people. You can choose from their spacious and well-equipped rooms, villas and suites. All their rooms are contemporary in style.
Room Types at Nikki Beach Resort are:
- Covet Room
- Luux Room
- Signature Suite
- Ocean Luux Suite
- Ultra Suite
- Ultimate Suite
- 3-Bedroom Ultimate Villa
- Garden Villa with Private Pool
- Beach Villa with Private Pool
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah is more into creating a stylish urban beach resort overlooking the city’s fascinating skyline and clear azure water of the Arabian Sea. All rooms are wisely designed to reflect a soothing contemporary style. The minimum area for a standard room is 55 sq. metres and it goes up with each higher category.
Room Types at Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah are:
- Superior Room
- Deluxe Skyline View Room
- Deluxe Sea View Room
- Premier Sea View Room
- Club Superior Room
- Club Deluxe Skyline View Room
- Club Deluxe Sea View Room
- Mandarin Panoramic View Room
- Panoramic View Family Room
- Junior Sea View Suite
- Skyline View Suite
- Sea View Suit
- Premier Sea View Suite
- Mandarin Sea Front Suite
- 2-Bedroom Premier Sea View Suite
- 2-Bedroom Sea View Suite
- 4-Bedroom Sea View Suite
- Presidential Suite
- Royal Penthouse
Mandarin Orient Jumeirah surely has a quite an impressive range of rooms to fit every budget and mood. Although suites here are way costlier than at Nikki Beach Resort but many holiday-makers want that kind of luxurious accommodation.
Although rooms in these two hotels are really good, just that Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah comes with better room options.
Verdict
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah wins this segment.
Which has Better Pools?
Both Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah hotels house outdoor pools. The outdoor pool in Nikki Beach Resort a stunning view of the Arabian Sea while the one in the Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah overlooks the beach and the sea.
Outdoor pools in these two luxury hotels come with a hint of green that makes your rejuvenating session even more refreshing. Pool areas in these properties are simply gorgeous and you would love to spend hours by the water.
Verdict
It’s a tie.
Which has Direct Beach Access?
Sitting along one of the most picturesque coastlines of Dubai, Jumeirah Beach, both Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah make it an absolute point to offer guests direct beach access. You can visit the beach anytime you feel like it.
The beaches in front of these hotels are very clean and bathing in the crystal clear water of the Arabian Sea adds more fun to your tropical holidays. Both hotels know what you can look for while relaxing on the beach and they made all of them available for you right there.
Verdict
Both have direct beach access so no definite winner here. It’s a tie.
Which has More Things to do Close by?
If you wish to stay close to the sea and not at all far from the most beloved tourist attractions in Dubai, Jumeirah Beach is one of the best places to choose from. Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah come under this beautiful and dazzling neighbourhood. So, both these hotels share common “things to do”.
Be it the places you can visit or things you can do close by your hotel, your options are limitless. Whether you stay at Nikki Beach Resort or Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, there will be no regret because you are choosing the same locality.
The driving distance between these two hotels is about 10 minutes and it’s, all the same, coming from Nikki Beach Resort or Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah.
Verdict
It’s a tie.
Which is Better for Kids?
Travelling with kids can be a little cumbersome because you have to arrange for their needs during the whole trip. Ensuring their safety and keeping them engaged is something extra. But when you are picking Nikki Beach Resort or Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, you have nothing to worry about.
These hotels are well capable of keeping your little ones happy. They have designed playrooms and playgrounds so innovatively that your kids will not just have fun there but also learn new things. You can also ask for tasty dishes specially curated for kids.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah has even created a Kids Club to engage a large group of kids who can enjoy each other’s company and have fun together.
The most exciting factor of staying in any of these hotels is the pristine beach which is probably the best playground for all kids across the world! We bet, every kid is going to have a blast – be it Nikki Beah Resort or Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah.
Verdict
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah wins this round with a very slight margin.
Which has The Best Facilities?
Facilities offered by these two beautiful luxury hotels are at per always. Inside your hotel premises, you can sign up for some special brunch or take part in a yoga class or rewind your inner self in the spa. You can even throw a fabulous party or host a wedding in these hotels.
Facilities offered by Nikki Beach Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah are more or less the same just that the latter puts some extra effort to make things grand for you. No wonder, why it charges extra.
Verdict
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah wins.
Which Hotel Offers Better Views?
Both hotels offer the best views of Dubai’s spectacular skyline and the Arabian Sea. If you look at the views from each of the hotels, there is not much to differentiate.
Verdict
It’s a tie.
Which Hotel Offers the Best Value-for-Money Experience?
We reached the last and most important segment of the post. Which hotel offers the best value-for-the-money experience? We would like to go for Nikki Beach Resort. Staying at this hotel comes much cheaper but the experience is unforgettable.
Nikki Beach Resort is also affordable to a wide range of potential customers, particularly foreign tourists. This hotel makes luxury holidays very much possible within your affordability.
But this doesn’t imply that Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah is out of your reach. If you book well in advance and choose your travel dates judiciously, you can save hefty on your stay at this world-famous hotel.
Verdict
Nikki Beach Resort is our pick.
Conclusion
We furnished our observation. We tried our best to offer you an unbiased evaluation but you have to take the final call because travelling is more of a personal experience made of personal goals. You are the best to judge which hotel among the mentioned two will be the perfect one for you or your family.
Thanks for reading! Make sure to come back for more on Dubai & Abu Dhabi. Also, follow us on Pinterest and Subscribe to our Youtube channel too.
