ST REGIS DOWNTOWN DUBAI · Hotel Tour & Review · Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 · PLUSH As Can BE!

[@robertjohansson3744]

This channel is constantly moving up my ranking of top travel channels. Keep it up!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@casandeepdash885]

I have been watching your videos since the past 1 year and honestly speaking they are the most unbiased ,pragmatic and structured opinions and scoring systems that i have seen. Lovely work. Big fan. Keep em coming!!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much for that!

[@jimhearsonwriter]

Ranking breakfasts... as if this channel couldn't appeal to me more! 🤤

[@tfft]

Ranking shower heads next! (jk... but I could do it... 😂)

[@jimhearsonwriter]

@@tfft I imagine best linens would come in first 😉

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

That breakfast ranking must have taken up so much of your time, but amazing to look into….absolutely LOVE IT! What money can buy…Dubai never seizes to amaze me 💫 Thank you for spoiling us with so much content this week 🙏🏼🥳

[@tfft]

Actually helps me quite a bit. Love to make things like that to put things into perspective. After doing this for some years now, sometimes it feels like you're on the edge of loosing grip on reality lol

[@siempre26]

Love how you try a lot of different foods and it’s not always steak & vegetables. Thanks for another great video!

[@tfft]

Usually try to stick to local flavors if the restaurant selection allows it. As much as I don't want you to be bored with the food I choose, I too, don't wanna be bored lol. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@Berzyberz]

Interior design of both the room and the common spaces are some of the most handsome I've seen. Thank you for the video, Kevin.

[@tfft]

Agreed!

[@duanebeamsley7695]

Kia Ora Kevin, what a stunning property!!! The Rooms are large, and the Pool looked incredible. The Breakfast looks AMAZING, and I really the idea of you sharing the breakfast comparisons of your other visits to the Hotels. Keep up the great Vids Kevin 🙂

[@tfft]

Thanks very much and glad you enjoyed the rankings!

[@druiz012]

Really excited for the video tomorrow. Have you thought about eventually making a few videos recapping 5 favorite first class, 5 favorite business class, top 5 business class seats, top 5 business class beds, etc. Just a thought. Since you've experienced so much.. lol

[@tfft]

Likely starting the end of this year there may be a monthly marathon video which is mostly the original videos strung together with insightful commentary in between. Each marathon would be a theme similar to how you mentioned or something like “my perfect Thai itinerary”, etc.

[@rasferrastfarian739]

Thanks Kevin - always a pleasure to watch!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@bhargavjsn9981]

Excellent video…. Special mention for the background score…. Loved it… keep up the great work 👏

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@tboy1236]

That breakfast ranking was so interesting. I’ve been to two properties based on your recommendations so it was interesting to see how you ranked them relatively, given eating is an important part of my trips

[@tfft]

I’m curious as to which hotels and do you imagine they’re ranked more or less correctly?

[@tboy1236]

@@tfft it was (a) Kimpton Maa Lai and (b) Intercontinental Phuket, both this year (2024). I tend to agree with your relative ranking, but in my mind I don’t think I had them quite so far apart. But that’s why that ranking table was interesting. So subjective

[@tfft]

Ah ok I gotcha. For those two, I think their buffet offerings were comparable, though Kimptons was a bit more premium and... 'on trend'... The biggest difference for me was the additional Kimpton a la carte menu. If it didn't have that, it likely would have ranked around 10 spots above the IC rather than 30.

[@tboy1236]

@@tfft That explains it then. We didn’t try their a la carte as there were so many buffet options to try. Perhaps that’s exactly why I ranked them closer in my mind. More broadly speaking, that was our first time at a Kimpton property and it opened our eyes. Lovely hotel. Thanks for the recommendation

[@tariareynolds9130]

I love this hotel! Stayed there last year and thoroughly enjoyed my stay.

[@tfft]

It's comfy one!

[@andrewoneall]

Love the breakfast rankings! Also, love the POV of "Does it live up to the brand" as part of the scoring. 👍

[@tfft]

Appreciate that!

[@jamesmartinDXB]

Nice one, Kevin. Spot-on with that review, I'd say. Do let me know when you're in town again. Happy travels!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@omarsaleem9324]

Thank you for adding breakfast scores! One of the hardest things to find info on around the web

[@tfft]

Glad it is helpful!

[@bsuper80]

Love the breakfast rankings….Caravelle Saigon is listed twice however

[@tfft]

Yah, the first two hotels with this have small mistakes. From the third hotel video, it's smooth sailing though. This is what happens when an idea goes from A to Z in the same day lol

[@keineahnung1508]

Great Hotel.I stayed there in 2019 when it was still the Renaissance Hotel Downtown.Everthing still looks the same, except the breakfast, it's defintly on a much higher level now.Thanks for your review.

[@tfft]

Thanks for sharing ✈️

[@aaronshoe]

Ranking all of the breakfasts is great! Although hotel breakfasts are subjective and change over time, a list like that is useful as a datapoint for creating a bucket list or selecting between 2 hotels. Also, humans just love rankings, especially big rankings...

[@tfft]

Sure, but I mean, every video I've ever produced is simply a moment in time, so the same applies to breakfast rankings! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@ozzy-odyssey]

Amazing video on Kevin! I stay at the St Regis at least once a month and is my go to business hotel in Dubai and really enjoy the rooms and views. I would say it is definitely suited to business travellers compared to leisure travellers due to the location. I love your hotel content, why is it not as much lately?

[@tfft]

Frequency of hotel reviews hasn't changed at all. Since October of last year I've been averaging 3 per month, which will continue through the end of 2025. Note I do consider cruise videos as part of my "hotel" content.

[@jimmyjames6492]

Great property!!! Thanks for the info + video!!!

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@sithralas2010]

Hi @Flifloptraveler, love your videos, one thing i miss though is, you put so much effort and coin into making these reviews. I would love to have all your visits, summaries of reviews, scoring etc. on a website, which not only gives the people the chance to check your review abstract and link to video when looking for acommodations around the world but maybe in the future also an option for you to offer some merch ;-)

[@tfft]

I'd invite you to read the first line of my new intro: bit.ly/tfft_welcome But yes, I agree, but I haven't yet figured out how to bend and stretch time 😂

[@jbennison5672]

Como Point Yamu at number 1. I dont have the breadth of experience that you have, but it was certainly number 1 for me as well.

[@tfft]

Quite an incredible spot!

[@charliebrown5]

Thank You ✈️

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@harshmarwah4508]

Kevin will you record 4 hotels on my suggestion 1. Raffles Doha 2. Fairmont Doha 3. One & only za’abeel 4. The Atlantis Royal

[@tfft]

Sure! Please just make the $5800 check out to "Kevin The Flip Flop Traveller" 😂

[@Thesmellofrain-h6o]

Aesthetically, the St. Regis Dubai is soothing. Rather than being decadent it is both modern and blends natural elements with traditional style well. This location is very good.

[@tfft]

Agreed

[@theremix1108]

Great review. I'm a solo traveler to Dubai and am scheduled to stay here in 2 weeks. Like you said...I booked through Amex FHR and thought I got my money's worth. I may have to rethink this. I thought walking to Bur and Dubai mall was going to be a 10-minute walk in 110-degree heat. Will start looking somewhere else. Thanks for the review.

[@tfft]

Enjoy your trip 🗺️

[@sammuelmashegoana9586]

Thank you buddy

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@vontaylor472]

Very nice❤❤❤

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@presidentdoge6438]

Just stayed at this property but service was very lacking sadly, but the St Regis Suite was amazing.

[@tfft]

Thanks for sharing ✈️

[@LoicGottwalles]

You should try the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai. Incredible bang for your buck.

[@tfft]

Thanks for sharing ✈️

[@michaelj3282]

Great vid, and a not a rip off room price for here. Can you come to the Arabian Penninsula more often (if it rains every time), we could do with it!

[@tfft]

Haha you're the third comment to ask the same 😂. Keep in mind, I also brought the record breaking rains in April, so be careful what you wish for!

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Good video. Liked the pool and the food. I'd be happy enough there. But Dubai has no great pull on me. It's no Singapore.

[@tfft]

No it's not, but if you ask nicely, I'm sure Dubai would be happy to build you a Singapore near Abu Dhabi lol

[@sourmimosa]

No way this is your first St Regis?! More pleasee

[@tfft]

First on the channel

[@r9243j]

Really curious why No. 127 in the breakfast ranking was hidden

[@tfft]

Was a typo in this and the next hotel video. Was supposed to be Jumeirah Bali, but I was dreaming and wrote Raffles Bali. I didn’t want to do Raffles dirty like that 😅

[@markkaroo]

Kevin you advertise hotels better than hotels can...

[@tfft]

Haha, thank you

[@dandyohalloran]

I would like to head to Dubai for a few days, but I am slightly concerned by the Israel/Iran tensions.

[@tfft]

I'm not the one to dish out advise on the subject, but I think it's fairly safe to say that the UAE is the safest spot you can be in the region.

[@mikas2934]

Theres Raffles Bali in the breakfast list but I don't think I've seen a video? Does it include hotels that does not feature on the channel but you've been to?

[@tfft]

Yah, it was a typo which I blurred out, but sometimes KZbin takes hours (or this time, days) to process the blur. It was supposed to be Jumeirah Bali. The next hotel video has the same mistake, then after that, it's fixed. Impressed you noticed haha.

[@mikas2934]

@@tfft of course I noticed 😉. I had wished it was a sort of freudian slip hinting at a future video though!

[@tfft]

Nah, haha sorry! I'd love to visit, but $1200 hotels in Bali are just way too much of a risk for the channel, ROI wise.

[@mikas2934]

@@tfft i whole-heartedly agree

[@peterj.farnsworth2606]

Would LOVE a separate vid just on your Breakfast rankings (Cut & paste this section would be fine) so that I could bookmark that for reference and in time not delete this particular vid and then go, where did Kevin rank all those breakfasts? (I am just LAZY). Many thanks

[@tfft]

That would literally take me days to make lol.

[@peterj.farnsworth2606]

@@tfft No, just cut and paste your overview comments and this chart, and call it MY BREAKFAST MASTERLIST 3/4/5 min clip that we can all bookmark and keep for reference. Cheers.

[@tommykay7427]

Looks like make comment from the last vid has gone missing. No matter! We get a Quadruple-Kevin this week. All is good!

[@tfft]

Come again?

[@tommykay7427]

@@tfft Sorry. Typing like some one sleep deprived. :-/ I probably just forgot to click that "Reply" button efter typing in the comment. This one is still here. Even though it reads like a drunk person. Looks like you next serie is going to be even more epic than usual.

[@realman6ft6]

Breakfast ratings is a good idea but for those of us that are colourblind we can’t distinguish the different categories from the tables. Maybe separate them with a space and name the category.

[@tfft]

So, I made a tweak with small triangles to differentiate the categories, but those won't start until mid-September. Starting early October, I changed the format so it's clear for everyone! Thanks for pointing that out!

[@realman6ft6]

@@tfft thank you so much.. really appreciate it I know vlogging takes time.

[@madinaartsueva]

Kevin has ruined it 😁 It’s now nearly impossible to watch any other travel bloggers, after you have set such standards. This St Regis used to be Renaissance hotel. On the other note, if the science wants it, please come more often to Dubai. We like when it rains here (moderately) 😁

[@tfft]

Nooo, I hate having to photoshop blue skies into Dubai thumbnails 😂

[@Cpenrod21]

I like the breakfast ranking. But…what’s going on there with 127 hahahahah Really like this channel, husband and I watch videos every night. :-)

[@tfft]

Ah, did the blur finally 'start'? If yes, it was a typo, supposed to be Jumeirah Bali, but I guess I was dreaming and wrote Raffles Bali... It's wrong in one more video, then fixed- and thanks to both of you!

[@barisduvan1455]

I believe St. Regis used to be before 2021 in what’s now the Al Habtoor Palace

[@tfft]

Prior to 2018, yes.

[@SimplyRocco]

Wait, what 4 this week?

[@tfft]

Yup

[@Somedudeonyoutube01]

hi

[@tfft]

hi

[@wicked_smaaht]

How would you rate this hotel for a quiet night of sleep, say for a short layover in Dubai

[@tfft]

Well, I do believe there's a soundproofing metric in my Extra Bits lol. I wouldn't have a problem with it, but personally wouldn't spend that much for a quick transit night. For quick overnights in the UAE I stay at the Hyatt Place Al Rigga or the Andaz Abu Dhabi.

[@HOBBYTONY600]

I'm missing an important piece of information in the video. The hotel is a rebranded Renaissance.

[@tfft]

Well... apparantly you aren't missing it lol

[@k9killer221]

I know the quality of Dubai is top notch. But what category of tourist is Dubai best at catering for, does Dubai have a vibe that appeals to a particular cohort. or is it omni good?

[@tfft]

This will sound sarcastic, but it's not. If the thought of Dubai appeals to you, then it's for you. It's a very very love it or hate it type of town. Either you hate it bc it's "artifical" or you love it for the affordable luxury and things to do.

[@k9killer221]

@@tfft I'm in, and you don't sound sarcastic at all. I've passed through Dubai many times but never actually been there. I'm gonna spend a holiday there, I was about 75% convinced it's a top location just based on friends' opinions.

[@OK-Travels]

First second third!

[@tfft]

That's cheating

[@aaronshoe]

living in Houston/Dallas and realizing a soulless business district downtown isn't normal...

[@tfft]

Houston is actually the FIRST soulless business district I'd ever experienced. I had to double check that there wasn't some sort of imminent attack! Couldn't understand where all the people went! lol

[@FalseIdols]

If someone was too busy "feeding their falcon" to like a video of mine, I would totally understand 🤣

[@tfft]

You are more forgiving than I. Feeding their Komodo Dragon, now there's an exception I'll let slide.

[@Reznovcod1995]

I was missing this Hotels Reviews 🥹

[@tfft]

They didn't really go anywhere lol