This Is The Most Economical Way To Land A Luxe Penthouse Suite
In a world obsessed with extravagant getaways, a new trend is quietly reshaping the landscape of luxury travel. Enter the Aparthotel – the savvy traveller’s ticket to experiencing opulence without the eye-watering price tag. Here’s one writer’s experience…
We ventured to the glittering metropolis of Dubai, a city synonymous with excess, to test this budget-friendly approach to luxury. Our destination? Cheval Maison The Palm – the latest offering from Cheval Collection, a name that’s become synonymous with upscale urban living with established residences across London, Scotland and, more recently, locations overseas.
The vibe
If you’ve never considered an apartment hotel abroad then now is the time to get wise. This is the most economical way of landing yourself a luxury penthouse suite equivalent – imagine gorgeous interiors, en suite bedrooms (yes, plural) and oodles of common living space, all for less than the price of a standard luxury hotel room. Plus, we loved the anonymity of the Cheval Maison set-up – like arriving at your own home but with the service and facilities of a top-class hotel at your fingertips.
This is the most economical way of landing yourself a luxury penthouse suite .
The location
Positioned on the Western trunk of The Palm, the location couldn’t be better – literally right in the centre of all Dubai has to offer. Taxis are easy to come by either from the concierge or via Uber, and a journey of no more than 30 minutes in any direction covers all the sites you might want to visit.
If the heat allows, though, it’s also a mere one-minute walk to the Nakheel Mall and 10 minutes from West Beach Boulevard.
What sets it apart
Truly, the space. For couples, the chance to stay in and snuggle or catch a break from the heat without being stuffed into a standard double. For families, the benefit of adult time away from the kids after bedtime. No stage whispering after lights out or watching the TV on dim (IYKYK).
Also, the freedom. There is no rush to make the tail end of the breakfast buffet when you can buy what you need from the local mall and wake up at your leisure. No timetables, no forced entertainment, no coach loads of tourists hanging around in reception each day. The onus may be on you to explore your destination – this isn’t a huge stay-put resort campus, after all – but that just makes the experience all the more exciting.
The rooms
The 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments are elegantly furnished and come stocked with all you might need when you choose to self-cater. Our ‘room’ featured 2 bedrooms with en suites, a balcony terrace, a spacious living room with a gallery kitchen and a separate guest toilet.
We genuinely felt like we were living like kings. Decor was soft shades of grey mixed with warm wood accents, furniture chic but also super comfy. The kitchen came stocked with everything we needed – basically a blank, yet highly provisioned, canvas for us to make our own.
We genuinely felt like we were living like kings.
The facilities
Cheval Collection offers a slick, modern set up. A concierge is based in the lobby to cater for your every need. Black Coffee, the in-house restaurant, offers 24-hour dining options, and there is an expansive rooftop pool and full gym set up on the top floor. Taxis swing regularly into the hotel drive and can be ordered with around a 5-minute wait time, which takes all the stress out of travelling around town.
Food & drink
Breakfast was included in our stay so we dined at Black Coffee each morning and breakfast was a delicious combination of a la carte and buffet. Even better, the restaurant offers room service – a nice little hotel touch that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from an apartment stay. That being said, should you decide to dine in, go for a Deliveroo – as the beauty of an apartment hotel is that you can order takeaway. Food in Dubai is always delicious and the choice of restaurants in this area is endless.
Things to do
The city’s biggest draws are the food, drink & beach scenes. At The Palm, experience the Matagi Ichigo Ichie night brunch at Raffles or Seafire Steakhouse in Atlantis. Potter out from Cheval Maison on foot to find Sushi Samba and Koko Bay for bites and Aura SKYPOOL for sky high poolside hangs.
Down by the Burj Khalifa, you’ll find the most incredible shopping at the Dubai Mall, or try a pit stop at Ce La Vie for the free-flow champagne brunch. The Dubai Marina offers the famous Traiteur Saturday Brunch Dubai, or visit Pearl Jumeirah for a day of beach clubbing at Nikki Beach. None of these are more than a short air-conditioned taxi journey from Cheval Maison – Dubai is truly your oyster.
The verdict
It’s official – we are Aparthotel holiday converts. Clearly, there is a place for lavish hotel resorts, but this beats a luxe fly-and-flop, hands down. Cheval Maison The Palm is set up to explore the city and with the savings that can be made on hotel rooms (& babysitters) you can enjoy some genuinely incredible days out.
With the savings that can be made on hotel rooms (& babysitters), you can enjoy some genuinely incredible days out.
How to get there
Cheval Maison The Palm is approx 45min taxi ride from Dubai Airport (DXB). Direct flights to Dubai are frequent from airports across the UK.
How to book
Apartments at Cheval Maison The Palm start from around £237 per night, but accommodation can be utilised for extended stays of several months.
