I am a great fan of the Shangri-La group and so it pains me somewhat to write this review. The hotel layout is odd. A groound follr, rather cramped, reception / coffee shop area and small / medium rooms above. My room layout, with its curves and bends was not space efficient and quite confusing. I arrived around 01.00 after a long flight and was given a standard room, despite the fact that I get an automatic upgrade. A haggle over use of the Horizon floor followed. I thought I won until, safely tucked into bed (in my standard room) at 2.15 a.m. I was awakened by a note being pushed under the door to say that all priveleges were revoked, I was a 'normal' guest and would I please have breakfast in the coffee shop. Not long enough later I was consuming a very nasty colation of cold, soggy food from an understocked buffet in the rather odd ground floor cafe.
And so to the bar in the evening. First time I have ever been overlooked and then patronised by ANY staff in ANY Shangri-La that I have ever been in. Back to my odd shaped bedroom and up the next morning for yet another sub standard meal. Very happy to get to the airport.There are many, many better hotels in Dubai and this Shang needs to get its act together to compete.