Dubai where to stay?

[dav12643ies]

Have just got rid of all my Qantas ffp and booked bus returns to Lon with a 4 day stopover in Dubai,(July) as we have never been there before I was wondering if i could get some insights from members on the best areas to stay, and local transport eg trains v taxis, our thoughts so far was somewhere in between the Dubai and Emirates malls and close to the metro line so we could hop on the train or is it best to keep to taxis.
Thanks
Alan.

 

[markis10]

Taxis are easy and cheap, I would look at staying near the creek, there are some locales that are a bit out of the way.

 

[romney]

In July you will want to be outside as little as possible since it could be as hot as 50 degrees. So if you are planning to use the metro, you want to be very close to it.

 

[THE TRIMMER]

Stayed at the Pullman last year for 4 days,has mall attached next door,hop on hop off bus stop,monorail next door,close to airport & just a nice to stay.

 

[Pug1]

Have just got rid of all my Qantas ffp and booked bus returns to Lon with a 4 day stopover in Dubai,(July) as we have never been there before I was wondering if i could get some insights from members on the best areas to stay, and local transport eg trains v taxis, our thoughts so far was somewhere in between the Dubai and Emirates malls and close to the metro line so we could hop on the train or is it best to keep to taxis.
Thanks
Alan.

Dav,
we stayed at Hilton Dubai Creek and can recommend that hotel. If you can afford it book a room that entitles you to executive lounge access for its free inclusions of drinks and food. The sunset roof bar is great. Also did a day tour with Dubai Private Tour and they were very good. As someone else has pointed out taxi's are cheap in Dubai.

 

[winfred]

Dubai is a big place. Going from one place to another may take a long time. Taxis can be hard to get at times and being outdoor for even a short time will be quite punishing in July. I would plan my trip carefully and work out how to get to and from the places I want to get to. Getting to a destination from the hotel is easy but coming back may be a bit more difficult.

Hotels connecting to either the Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates are great options.

 

[Limewood]

Stayed at the Pullman last year for 4 days,has mall attached next door,hop on hop off bus stop,monorail next door,close to airport & just a nice to stay.

Ditto, real nice hotel, excellent service, the attached mall is huge.

We did a half day tour was excellent especially the museum and gold souk markets.

I also flew the A380 simulator did DXB & HKG, was a fantastic experience , landed it smack bang in middle of runny, cost about AUD$100.

 

[Pushka]

We were in July this year. I wrote a trip report in the travel section. It was unbearably hot. And Ramadan. The malls were deserted during the day and nowhere to buy food or drink. No alcohol able to be obtained in the Hotel until at least 7pm and that was in a Club room at the Intercontinental. Food was available though but we had to eat in the Club behind a screen so we could not be seen from the entrance of the club. We had a meal overlooking the Burj and sat outside at 7pm. By 8pm when they would serve alcohol I was too hot and dripping and just wanted to go back to our Hotel. I'd read on trip advisor that food and drink could be consumed in public malls but behind a screen but that was wrong and we saw nothing in the Dubai mall that was open. The trip to the top of Khalifa didn't open until 4pm. I think they've tightened up the restrictions recently. Women, even tourists were dressed in scarves ready to conceal their hair.

I've heard Iftar was excellent but I caught a cold and was done in by 9pm with the heat and drink issue.

Two hours by the pool was really draining. I have no idea how people work in that heat.

We had no issues getting taxis. We visited the indoor aquarium. I'd planned to visit the souks but it was just way too hot. My partner loves heat but even he said it was far too intense. Also bear in mind we are used to the heat as we live in Adelaide and have just had our hottest summer. But this was a whole new level with the Ramadan issue. I got dehydrated one day with my cold and being outside and not able to drink.

My thoughts? Get the best hotel you can afford (the IC was deserted they told us and they upgraded us to a 2 bedroom suite as a result). Make sure it has an excellent pool. Get the club service.

We might go back to Dubai but it will be in Winter.

I met some Aussie guys who'd completed the desert safari. They said it was excellent but again extremely hot. No belly dancing nor alcohol until late.

 

[dav12643ies]

thanks for the advice guys particularity about Ramadan , was going to book hotels today but will do a bit more research over the next week

 

[markis10]

thanks for the advice guys particularity about Ramadan , was going to book hotels today but will do a bit more research over the next week

Ramadan like our Easter varies, next year it's the first two weeks of July while year after June, you might miss it. The heat doesn't vary though :evil:

 

[Pushka]

I remember asking on the Dubai forum on TA when Ramadan was for the next year. Boy. Did I get blasted. Fundamentalists state that Ramadan can only be dated when the new moon or full moon (can't remember which) has been sighted about two weeks prior.

 

[vetrade]

Yes, it can get unbearably hot as others have said - when we arrived in DXB at 3.00am last year it was 43 degrees C outside the terminal! I would not even consider using trains etc to get around - taxis are cheap and most places are strung out along either side of the multi-laned freeway so access is usually relatively direct. We even took a cab from DXB to Abu Dhabi which cost us 250 AED each way. At peak times like 8-10am travel times can blow out and it can be very difficult to get a cab and you'll likely be ignored if you try to hail one from the road - much better to wait outside your hotel and get the concierge to source one for you.

Regarding hotels, we have stayed at the Ocean View in the Marina Mall area - large, modern hotel with extensive food options available for breakfast. Had no complaints about the hotel itself although the pool was only average, but as a general comment I think we would stay closer to to the airport next time since most places you're likely to want to see will be up that end of the city. FWIW don't worry about hotels on the water - it will be so hot that you won't want to go anywhere near the beach..........but if you're after the views...............
Have also stayed at the Grand Hyatt and could definitely recommend it - great pools. There are so many very good hotel options that you will be spoiled for choice.

Afternoon Teas seem to be on everyone's "must do" lists in DXB and are probably something you will want to try but we wouldn't bother again. Traiteur Restaurant at the Park Hyatt is popular for Friday brunch - it was about $250 pp with champers for a buffet including lobster etc, but it's easy to over-eat. Probably would just go a la carte in future. To get in to the the Burj al Arab you need to be a guest or have a booking for afternoon tea etc. at the Skydeck Bar etc just to get in the front door. Didn't like the interior architecture of the hotel itself but a'noon tea was very nice - 7 courses and nice views, but our favourite, the Louis Roederer, was $AUD40 per glass! All the Malls are essentially the same so maybe just do the biggest, the Dubai Mall, and forget the others.

 

[Pushka]

Re Afternoon Tea. The charge includes a nice glass of French Champagne. During Ramadan that is exchanged for a nice drop of grape juice with no reduction in price. We cancelled.

The IC is near the airport. And as just mentioned don't worry about the river view/balcony etc etc. It's too hot to stay outside unless you are in water.

 

[Sprucegoose]

thanks for the advice guys particularity about Ramadan , was going to book hotels today but will do a bit more research over the next week

Don't go to any Muslim countries during Ramadan if looking for some activity or enjoyment

 

[Pushka]

Don't go to any Muslim countries during Ramadan if looking for some activity or enjoyment

Already outlined our thoughts about that.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I remember asking on the Dubai forum on TA when Ramadan was for the next year. Boy. Did I get blasted. Fundamentalists state that Ramadan can only be dated when the new moon or full moon (can't remember which) has been sighted about two weeks prior.

That was a shortsighted and unfair response. Things don't always go to plan. One year the Malaysian gov sent up an air force jet above cloud cover. The pilot confirmed he sighted the moon...........to break the fast and then Eid al Fitr (the celebration can commence). They usually time this to the Saudi timetable however.

 

[Pablo]

Stayed at the Pullman last year for 4 days,has mall attached next door,hop on hop off bus stop,monorail next door,close to airport & just a nice to stay.

Do you have Le Club status at all Trimmer? If so, did you get good treatment at the hotel and did you have club access?

 

[THE TRIMMER]

Yes I have platinum status,but I booked a club floor room.I believe that platinum gets you club access at this hotel. It is a very nice hotel, spotlessly clean ,service is fantastic & the offerings in the lounge are very satisfactory.also if you book a club room they offer complimentary airport transfers.As i said just a nice hotel without the hustle & bustle of the large hotels.