Dubai Hotels

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

Soldato
Joined
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Glasgow
Last minute trip to Dubai is being planned for a fortnight. I'm a bit overwhelmed with hotels. I think I want to stay in the Marina as there are friends nearby and the Palm seems too quiet and like the idea of nosying at the superyachts and I'm reading there are plenty of bars etc in the area. I'm booking a hotel for 3 nights (though will be in Dubai for 6) and looking at Grosvenor House, JW Marriott Hotel Marina, or Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach. All similar prices. Realistically, won't be in the hotel for that long (plus, we arrive at midnight so the first night is wasted, but she's refusing a night at the Premier Inn at the airport!) but do fancy a bit of 5 star luxury. I usually stay in hostels and 1/2 stars so this is a bit of a luxury treat.

I've got the Atmosphere Lounge booked for the final night for cocktails, and will go to the Atlantis waterpark. Neither of us have any interest in shopping, I've been to a few Arabian countries (and lived in Abu Dhabi years ago, I remember when Dubai was a backwater town!) before so not fussed about the souks though do want to check out 'Little India'. We have friends there, so they'll show us around I imagine but good to have a couple of ideas of what I want to do. Like I said, last minute trip to a place I have no interest in going to but flights were a steal so it's rude not to.

So yea, anyone been to these hotels or suggest any other 4/5* for circa £300 a night?
 
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Haven't been to those hotels in particular but from experience, add a star to get the equivalent in Europe, ie 4 star will feel like 5 etc. Everything is super premium service because they're all competing for what you're looking for. My dad lived there for 7 years so visited at least that many times.

We stayed at https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/royal-mirage once, many years ago now so may be well out of your budget now.

Yas Marina is a bit out the way/on its own but that's your call. You may get some private beachfront hotels nearer the Burj Khalifa for a similar price and you can still have a night out at Yas. Shopping isn't of interest for sure but it's still worth visiting the Dubai Mall and the Burj if you haven't before. The Grand Mosque and Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi are worth a nose if they weren't there before.
 
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Most Dubai hotels are excellent and far beyond the standard of most. I like the marina, haven’t stayed there though, always stayed on the beach. The royal meridian, Sheraton, address etc. You’ll basically get a taxi anywhere you need to go anyway. Never stayed on the palm since it’s such a hike to get off it, equally not super quick from jumeirah beach, largely due to the road layout. Dubai is far better than Abu Dhabi, much more to do and much more focussed on tourism and entertainment now. You’ll have fun whatever you decide. Have heard lots of positives about Grosvenor House, may even have had a meal there.
 
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Stayed at Fairmont Palm in Nov, which is good because it's right at the "beginning" of the Palm. Was a very nice hotel, nice walk down the beach front as well along the other hotels etc, and 10 minute walk to "Nakheel" mall which has some food outlets etc inside. Would imagine the JBR Sofitel is similar
 
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We are staying at the Hilton Palm at the moment. As stated if you want a beach on your doorstep and a decent mall within walking distance Jumriah West Beach is good. There is also the monorail that takes you up to Waterpark. The main issue is getting in and out of the Palm because, at certain times of the day, traffic is bad. Traffic can be poor in general in Dubai, but the issue is worse because of the one-way system in the Palm. The monorail only goes to the bottom of the Palm, so to get around a car or taxi is generally better. It's not a huge deal, just make sure to check the traffic before journies.
 
Personally I quite like the marina area after staying on the palm a few times. Especially if you're going to be getting out and about from your hotel. The marina is particularly nice because you can go for a walk towards the JBR or around the marina itself.
Plenty of nice restaurants in the area as well.
 
daz said:
Personally I quite like the marina area after staying on the palm a few times. Especially if you're going to be getting out and about from your hotel. The marina is particularly nice because you can go for a walk towards the JBR or around the marina itself.
Plenty of nice restaurants in the area as well.
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Agree, having stayed at the Palm I preferred Marina/JBR.
 
Hard to go wrong in Dubai hotel wise, overall quality of hotels is so high. Even the palm we found ok traffic wise when we’ve been there. Personally we tend to stay at the Jumeirah Madinat hotels as location is good and the whole setup is hard to beat for kids.
 
Bit of closure. Stayed in the Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach for three nights. It was nice, and though it was good value at £671.20 for 3 nights, including breakfast for two. We arrived very late (around 2.30am) and the hotel staff were very welcoming and it was a welcoming big bed. The hotel is right on the main 'strip' which is great for taxis, and the nearby attractions. Traffic is awful, so we mainly got dropped off a few minutes walk away.
Room was lovely and clean, huge bathroom and could just about see the sea from the balcony. No mini-bar price list, so it didn't tempt me and they were quick to respond to requests for icebuckets each night. Breakfast was usual buffet affair with a few live cooking stations, and was nice. Pool was an infinity style with a nice view over the beach with a swim up bar. Nice to chill out there. Spent a few hours in the bar, and again, perfectly nice. Cocktails were grand, and roughly £12 each which is fair for a 5* hotel. I'd recommend it for the price, but it didn't blow me away. Just a decent standard, welcoming staff and good location.

As for Dubai itself.. It's not for me. I sort of knew that before I went, but happy to go and check it out. The total lack of culture, history and greenery bothered me. In other Asian megacities, you at least have something interesting going on at ground level but in Dubai there's nothing there. Traffic was wild. Though, did go to some nice places (11 Woodfire was amazing, Asia Asia was pleasant and had a good time at Terra Solis). Spent the final evening at the Atmosphere Lounge in the Burj. Great views, so-so cocktails but probably the worse service I had. It wasn't particularly bad, just not great for Dubai (and when you're paying £20 a cocktail, you want good service). For example, they weren't able to leave me a cocktail menu to look at after ordering as they'd "run out if I kept it"...

Overall, I went because the flight cost me £100 and she wanted to go and see her friends who live there. It was my first time meeting them, and we stayed with one of them for 3 nights which helped save the money. Oh, and the Atlantis Waterpark was great. Definitely get Fastpass!
 
Totally agree re: the culture etc but I thought you said you weren't fussed about the souks etc? For what little old culture/history there is, that's basically it.

Did you book the hotel for your 2.30am arrival? We arrived around that time before but being mid-20s and staying in a plush hotel we didn't bother. Just got some drinks on arrival and napped on the loungers outside before 'checking in' the next day lol.
 
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Russinating said:
Totally agree re: the culture etc but I thought you said you weren't fussed about the souks etc? For what little old culture/history there is, that's basically it.

Did you book the hotel for your 2.30am arrival? We arrived around that time before but being mid-20s and staying in a plush hotel we didn't bother. Just got some drinks on arrival and napped on the loungers outside before 'checking in' the next day lol.
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I suggested we get a cheap hotel for the first night, ideally at the airport but she said no and just wanted to get there. So, paid for the room although we booked in so late. Never mind!
 
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