Dubai Hotel recommendations

[shirt]

dazmanultra said:

Unlike a lot of restaurants outside hotels, a number of these have alcohol licenses (e.g. the ones at Pavillion at the Beach like Mezcaleria, Eataly, etc).

still technically part of a hotel, check the receipt. just the distances are getting larger and the boundaries blurred.

[Countdown]

Thanks all - now booked!

Despite the negative views I've gone with the Hyatt Regency - it just looked the best compromise in terms of budget. It's 6 days(5 nights) half board n a King Club Room for £2.2k including flights. Now just listing all the things we want to do It still seems strange booking a holiday without taking into account what the kids will need/want (the first time in 20+ years).

As this is PH what are the Desert driving experiences like? Also am i right in thinking that if we buy gold then we'll have to pay 20% VAT when we get back to the UK?

[shirt]

Countdown said:

p.s. We want to stay in Dubai itself rather than any of the other Emirates (which I know can be cheaper)

well technically you have achieved that just think its a strange choice given that you wanted to be close to things!

for desert drives, stick with operators who run an legit operation with requisite insurances and t&c's.

for self drive dune bashing, that means big red or noone.

https://www.bigreddxb.com/

for safari, arabian adventures is owned by emirates. they'll do the driving and it will be dune bashing in a landcruiser followed by the safari camp. a more sedate version can be had in classic defenders here:

https://www.platinum-heritage.com/heritage-desert-...

leave any other operator well alone. if you take one bit of advice from me, please let it be that.

[Countdown]

Thanks Shirt

[ChasW]

We did Dubai then Oman. Used Best At Travel. Their people are really knowledgeable and helped us make the right choices. We stayed at the One and Only Arabian Court in Dubai. Would recommend it.

[Countdown]

Just back after a balmy 6 days in Dubai where the average temp was 26 to a cloudy Manchester where it's 4 degrees

It was fun, flipping expensive but that's more or less what I expected. Hyatt Regency was very nice, couldn't fault the staff at all, a genuine 5 star place. However (as i think somebody mentioned) it's a bit out from the centre which is where all the main touristy things are, so we ended up spending a fortune on Uber.

went to the Dubai Mall a few times, the Souk a few times, Burj Khalifa (massively overrated), Emirates Tower (much better IMO), Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Qasr al Watan (wow!), Dubai Fountains on an Abra, a Yacht Cruise with BBQ around the Marina (idyllic) and the highlight of the trip ...Pizza Hut

Loved the cars! So many blingy Landcruiers, Patrols, Kincoln navigator, GMC Denalis, and obviously Bentaygas and FFRRs a-plenty. taxi drivers were complete kamikazes, I'm surprised there aren't way more fatalities and road rage! However Dubai overall incredibly clean and it also felt super safe.

In short - it was good

[Countdown]

Hi all - planning another trip to Dubai in September. Given all the useful hints/tips I got last time I thought I'd ask again

Budget is about £1500 - £2,000 each for 5 days. Ideally I'd like to go AI but not sure if that's achievable in that price. if not then I'm happy with H/B.

ideally I'd like a hotel with lots of pools and/or beach access, and easy access to the centre of Dubai (that was the only real downside last time). Also it needs to be on The Palm (or so I've been told).

All advice/comments appreciated.

[Road2Ruin]

Countdown said:

Hi all - planning another trip to Dubai in September. Given all the useful hints/tips I got last time I thought I'd ask again

Budget is about £1500 - £2,000 each for 5 days. Ideally I'd like to go AI but not sure if that's achievable in that price. if not then I'm happy with H/B.

ideally I'd like a hotel with lots of pools and/or beach access, and easy access to the centre of Dubai (that was the only real downside last time). Also it needs to be on The Palm (or so I've been told).

All advice/comments appreciated.

The palm is nowhere near the centre of Dubai. At the closest about 25 mins, furthest 45 mins by taxi. I would aim for either the marina or better still, jumierah beach road.

I wouldn't bother with AI, it's not the same as in other countries, many things not included. I would look for HB and possible a club room upgrade. You might squeeze in the Mina A'Salam at that price. There are many others on that road too. Have a look at trip advisor on their map.

On the forums they are also very good at recommendations.

[shirt]

I’ll respond over the weekend. Seeing my business partner tomorrow who also runs a magazine catering to the hotel trade. Seems to be at a different hotel every weekend so will know what’s currently decent. Thread linked on t’other page prob still valid. Let us know what you liked / disliked about the previous trip and what you want to do differently.


I take it the palm stipulation is from the OH? What you do classify as the centre?

Edited by shirt on Friday 23 February 20:52

[hajaba123]

My standard answer to this, Grosvenor House in the marina- get a club room in tower 2

[Countdown]

shirt said:

I’ll respond over the weekend. Seeing my business partner tomorrow who also runs a magazine catering to the hotel trade. Seems to be at a different hotel every weekend so will know what’s currently decent. Thread linked on t’other page prob still valid. Let us know what you liked / disliked about the previous trip and what you want to do differently.


I take it the palm stipulation is from the OH? What you do classify as the centre?

Edited by shirt on Friday 23 February 20:52

Thanks Shirt

Her nephew and his wife stayed at The Atlantis for their honeymoon and raved about it so i thought she might enjoy it.

In terms of "Centre" I was thinking near places like the Dubai mall or Burj Khalifa ?

[Countdown]

Anybody have any views about Rixos The Palm - prices for mid September are approx £2k per person for mid-September.

[Royal Jelly]

Countdown said:

Anybody have any views about Rixos The Palm - prices for mid September are approx £2k per person for mid-September.

It’s a nice hotel, but it’s at the very end of the Palm Crescent, therefore (without traffic) a good 20 mins to get to the base of the Palm. With traffic, anyone’s guess.

The Palm Crescent hotels are all nice, as are the ones on the ‘trunk’, but they can vary greatly in terms of the crowd they’re aiming for. Let us know what you’re after and I can offer some suggestions.

[Countdown]

Royal Jelly said:

It’s a nice hotel, but it’s at the very end of the Palm Crescent, therefore (without traffic) a good 20 mins to get to the base of the Palm. With traffic, anyone’s guess.

The Palm Crescent hotels are all nice, as are the ones on the ‘trunk’, but they can vary greatly in terms of the crowd they’re aiming for. Let us know what you’re after and I can offer some suggestions.

Thanks RJ

"ideally" a very nice beachfront hotel for 6 of us ranging from 21 to 53. What I'm hoping for is lots of sunbathing, however my wife and kids will want to go into Dubai for shopping and sightseeing (probably mainly Dubai Mall). Hope that isn't too vague

I enjoyed it last February but the hotel wasnt anywhere near the beach or the centre of Dubai, and nightime traffic was horrendous!

[Prisoner 24601]

Rixos the Palm very good but it's all the way round the end of palm, so probably around 15 mins driving from the end of the palm, all the way round to 'the tip' so to speak (the end of the fronds). Nice enough place though.

Would you be venturing out every day? Or multiple times a day? If so, then the driving could start to drag you down.

How about Fairmont the Palm? Or somewhere slightly more obscure (lesser known brand) close to West Palm Beach? Or ever so slightly down market is Dukes the Palm Royal Hideaway.

voco The Palm Dubai looks good value?

Rove La Mer is apparently only a 3* hotel but is very well located within La Mer development. One of the best located hotels in Dubai. What you save in AI costs you could spend in the dozens of restaurants around there...?

[Prisoner 24601]

Countdown said:

Royal Jelly said:

It’s a nice hotel, but it’s at the very end of the Palm Crescent, therefore (without traffic) a good 20 mins to get to the base of the Palm. With traffic, anyone’s guess.

The Palm Crescent hotels are all nice, as are the ones on the ‘trunk’, but they can vary greatly in terms of the crowd they’re aiming for. Let us know what you’re after and I can offer some suggestions.

Thanks RJ

"ideally" a very nice beachfront hotel for 6 of us ranging from 21 to 53. What I'm hoping for is lots of sunbathing, however my wife and kids will want to go into Dubai for shopping and sightseeing (probably mainly Dubai Mall). Hope that isn't too vague

I enjoyed it last February but the hotel wasnt anywhere near the beach or the centre of Dubai, and nightime traffic was horrendous!

Looking back on page 1 - i did try to tell you. Glad you had a good time anyway. Traffic is worse now than it was 12 months ago. It's like 2007 on steroids.

Sunbathing, pools, beach (fake), water park(s), restaurants, bars, located close to Dubai Mall with good access and egress = Rove La Mer!

[Road2Ruin]

Jumeirah Beach Road is usually a good location for mingling in Dubai, with beach, water park and malls to boot.
There are a few along there, at varying rates.

[shirt]

Echo the above other than I think 15-20mins is optimistic. I used to live on the trunk, The Rixos is prob 40min drive from getting onto the palm itself at peak hours. Isolated (albeit some decent restaurant options in nearby hotels) but perhaps one of the best hotels in terms of a view, the whole Dubai skyline is before you.

September is a tricky time to travel. Temps starting to cool but likely still around 40degC and the humidity can be atrocious. Hence the bargains to be had.

I would possibly refine what your party is looking for and then come back. There are some truly exceptional hotels in the UAE which can be sampled for not much money around that time of year. Sir Bani Yas, Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Al Maha etc. Very different from the Dubai stereotype and often priced £1-1500 per night. Most I’ve paid out of season for any of them is £200. Closer in and even cheaper you have Bab Al Shams.

But tbh shopping is only really worth it at sale time, the malls are overpriced otherwise, and always hellish. Dubai excels at 2 things for holidays - 5 star hotels and restaurants, book your trip around those. Rest is much of a muchness, beach included.

Lastly, this is complete anathema to me but I now gather there is a week long cruise starting/ending in Dubai and visiting Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Muscat. Again at that time of year it could make sense given the out of season prices, lower temps at sea, 24/7 AI, and day trips at ports of call.

[Royal Jelly]

Countdown said:

Thanks RJ

"ideally" a very nice beachfront hotel for 6 of us ranging from 21 to 53. What I'm hoping for is lots of sunbathing, however my wife and kids will want to go into Dubai for shopping and sightseeing (probably mainly Dubai Mall). Hope that isn't too vague

I enjoyed it last February but the hotel wasnt anywhere near the beach or the centre of Dubai, and nightime traffic was horrendous!

Any time.

Re. La Mer, the whole beach community of restaurants and bars has been bulldozed. Don’t stay there.

Given your criteria and age range, the Palm is definitely a good shout. Depending on your need to travel, the crescent may be a good fit, but I’d maybe look at Palm West Beach - so the western side of the Palm’s ‘trunk’.

A few good spots to stay along there, easy to walk up and down the beach to various bars/restaurants (you can’t really do that on the palm, as everything is nestled within the hotels themselves, and are much more spread out).

JBR (which is the beach that parallels Dubai Marina) has lots of hotels. Traffic can be a bit of a chore, but there’s lots to do, plenty to eat/drink, and close proximity to the Marina for a lovely walk/meal/beer in quieter surrounds.

Critique Marriott/Dukes/VOCO/Fairmont on Palm West and let me know how you feel about those - and we can figure it out from there if it looks right or not.

On JBR, there’s a Rixos there, and a lovely Address hotel on the other end. A load of older (but fine) hotels in between.

[Shiv_P]

Stayed @ Fairmont the Palm in November. Was excellent, and right at the front of the Palm, so no 4 hour drive to get to the end.
To get to Mall area took 20 mins at best and 1 hour at worst, very traffic dependent. However, there is the monorail which is an option and obviously not traffic dependent.

Hotel itself was excellent, particularly enjoyed the breakfast, easy access to beach, great swimming pools etc.