V-Flyer

We stayed at the Hilton Dubai Creek last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, this year we booked a couple of nights to the end our holiday so that we could explore the 'Creek' side a bit more.
To our surprise, we were upgraded to the 'suite', (hubby is VIP Gold) and very nice it was too. A 'welcome back' card and bowl of fruit plus comp wine, a separate living/lounge room, 2 bathrooms, study area and very large bedroom. The only thing to mar this lovely stay was a fire in the building. We had gone to bed about 1.30am to be woken up at 2.30am by a recorded message via the telephone saying 'there is a fire in the building, please evacuate' this continued for a while, and we then realized it was for real. Actually, it was the smell of smoke that really alerted us. Hubby looked out of the window and saw several fire engines. We quickly threw some clothes on and grabbed our passports. I also grabbed my handbag and stuffed my jewellery in it. (I had been to the famous Gold and Diamond Park a few days earlier and had bought a few trinkets [:w], no way I was going to leave them behind!). The smell of smoke was quite strong now as we left our room. A few people rushed past us, asking where the lift was, so we politely told them to use the stairs!
On the way down (we were on the 7th floor), several fireman passed us on the stairs, they were going up[:?].
Once outside we all congregated in the car park opposite the hotel.
We could see the smoke and flames which the fireman were trying to put out. Apparently, the fire started in the Verre restaurant kitchen, which then spread out onto the mezzanine terrace which happened to be directly below our room, albeit 7 floors up. Hence why we could smell the smoke strongly.
We stood outside talking with other hotel guests for about an hour, it was a very warm night and we were all wondering where the hotel management were. There was no 'roll call' to make sure that all the guests were accounted for, in fact no hotel staff at all. Eventually, we spotted a man with a yellow fluorescent bib, walking round talking to people. When we spoke to him, we found out that he was the executive chef who lived about 20 mins away. He explained that the hotel has a very limited night staff [:?] but they had now been called out. Shortly afterwards, two staff members brought out a large crate of bottled water and handed this out. About 4am they brought tea and coffee urns and cups etc and distributed them. About 4.30 they brought out a table and covered it with a white cloth. I thought, here we go, we're going to have breakfast now! But no, it was just to put the urns on. Around 5am, the 'management' decided to
allow floor by floor back to their rooms. Because the hotel had been waterlogged from the mezzanine level down to the lobby (3 floors) all the electrics were out. So, emergency lighting was installed on the stairs. They started with floor 1 & 2, then 3 & 4, then 5 & 6. B ut then it changed, they decided that guests on floor 14 would take longer to climb the stairs, so they went next, then 12 & 13,10 & 11, 8 & 9. etc. Yes, we were the last floor to go in. Floor 7!
Oh, the emergency lighting was a small candle in a tumbler placed in the corner of each stairwell! We eventually fell into bed, being dark and no electricity at 6am. Needless to say, we were not charged for that nights stay. We were amazed at the inadequacy of any health and safety measures at the hotel. As for the fire alarm, if you were hard of hearing, you would not have heard anything.
In the morning, we looked down out of the window and saw the charred bits all over the terrace. Quite an experience all in all.

Classybird

Oooh, I wasn't expecting that! I thought it would be a query about the hotel and I was mentally preparing a response. LOL!

Glad to know you were OK

Likewise!

Just goes to show how we all need to be vigilant when we stay at hotels

buns

Good to know you were unharmed.

There was a smell of smoke in the air last Sunday morning - was this when the event happened.

As a tip, my wife and I always walk from a hotel room to the fire escape twice upon arriving (to ensure we know where it is should we get woken up).

In general the standards of Health and Safety here are significantly lower than the UK. I work in a freezone that adopts international best practices - but it is still short of the UK.

Much of the problem is simply down to employers taking advantage of low paid staff that they do not train properly (if at all).

Something I found funny upon arriving was the large container of umbrellars next to the fire escapes (pretect you from the sun once outside). The fire escapes are also air conditioned to avoid people passing out with the heat when walking down many flights of stairs).

Wowee - just goes to show these things do happen. Glad you're OK and the jewels are too, especially!

Makes you wonder doesn't it, we may be H&S mad in this country but when you're in an emergency it may be something to be thankful for.

It actually occurred on Mon night 2nd Nov. Two Americans were in the bar still at that time of night when suddenly the bar staff disappeared. No word of warning, they just vanished. The two guys think that they were called away to help put out the fire, but they didn't know that at the time and so they carried on drinking until they could smell the smoke and realized something was wrong.
I must admit climbing back up 10 floors (20 flights of stairs all in all)was a bit of an ordeal for me. I'm not as young as I used to be! and it was pitch black on the stairs as the little candle hardly produced any lighting.
But having said all that, I do like the hotel. It is very convenient for shopping 'Creek'. We found the Karama market area. My goodness, there is a story there but I cannot tell it here [:w]. We sunbathed up on the roof top, the pool was refreshingly cool and the view is amazing. We will definitely go back there for a few days when we next holiday in Dubai. Would certainly recommend it.

Classybird

It's scary and just shows how important it is to check out where the fire escapes are when you first get to your room. It's something I never used to do but in the last 12 months I've been more aware of it and actually do it and can't believe I never used to do this.