Middle East - Dubai Hotel?Which one?

I'm planning to head over to DXB with my parents in late June for a few nights. Though I have transited in DXB 40 or 50 times, I have never been to DXB.

I was searching for hotels in DXB. Tripadvisor recommends staying near the Dubai Creek and then taking the metro to the places that you need to get to.
(if you are not interested in nightlife and just want to explore the city).

I have looked at a few hotels in the Dubai Deira creek area and noticed that the Radisson Blu has good reviews. Are there any other better options ?

I have read on forums that some hotels are not exactly 'family friendly' .So I am doing my research before booking any.

My budget is upto 800 to 900 AED/night for all 3 of us, Including breakfast.
Airport transfers could be an added bonus.

Suggestions please!

Dubai is relatively compact, so there isn't really a "wrong" area to stay, regardless of where you want to visit. List the places you want to visit and see if they naturally cluster around a specific area. That said, taxis are ubiquitous and pretty cheap.

I've stayed at the Radisson Deira Creek a couple of times and found it ok, though not outstanding. They have a wide selection of restaurants and bars. Others will have their personal favourites. I assume from your budget that the three of you plan to share the one room ?

What do you mean by "family friendly" ? Are you trying to avoid some of the more earthy pleasures of Dubai ? :)

Personally, I've never bothered with a hotel car. Metered taxis are freely available at the airport. drivers will know all the major hotels and it's only a short trip - no more than 20 mins / 10 quid, including the surcharge for leaving the airport.

hth

I've tried the Radisson Blu, Hilton Creek, Media One, Royal Meridien and Al Manzil. The last two are in my opinion much better than the rest.

I wouldn't say that Dubai is relatively compact -- you should allow a good half hour with average traffic to drive from the creek (e.g., Radisson Blu) to the Marina.

I am not a big fan of the Radisson Blu; it's quite dated (used to be InterContinental). The Sheraton Dubai Creek across the street is a step nicer in my opinion. The Hilton Deira is also a bit better and close by. Or the Hilton Jumeirah Beach, at the other end of the city, is a nice (though also old-ish) hotel at a similar level. I like the amenities at the Hyatt Regency, though the location is not ideal, at the far end of Deira.

You are lucky in that late June is off-peak (due to the extreme heat). So you could possibly get the Grand Hyatt, InterContinental Festival City, Ritz-Carlton, Westin Mina Seyahi, Grosvenor House or a similar higher-end five-star hotel, or the Atlantis (which is not as nice, but is fun for other reasons) for around your budget (though don't forget the 20% taxes on top of the base rate). The ones in the previous paragraph should be significantly less at this time of year.

My favorite place to stay, however, is Madinat Jumeirah. It's a huge complex, though more than your budget (Mina A'Salam is the lowest-priced component hotel), although you can keep checking. Or the Emirates Towers, which is a beautiful hotel though not the most interesting location, is less.

PM me if you would like more information; I have stayed in dozens of hotels in Dubai and can give more specific advice if you need. Have a good trip.

Thanks for the replies everyone. By 'family friendly ' I did mean a place where
'earthly pleasures ';) are not very obvious. Personally I don't care what anyone does in thier own time. The problem is that I am staying with my parents and I'm trying to avoid as much embarrassment as possible. :( or maybe my friends have been telling me too many porkies .:D about some hotels in DXB.


Regarding booking the hotels, is it better to wait for a bit or do you suggest booking them now?

In which case, I would definitely stay away from the bar (Marbles ?) and the nightclub (Kubu?) at the Rad. They are ok venues, but I don't see why they are so attractive to single Russian ladies ... ;)

But I imagine your parents are not "2for1 Jagerbombs all night" sort of people ?

I am not a big fan of the Radisson Blu; it's quite dated (used to be InterContinental). I agree - I thought it was crap.

In which case, I would definitely stay away from the bar (Marbles ?) and the nightclub (Kubu?) at the Rad. They are ok venues, but I don't see why they are so attractive to single Russian ladies ... ;)

But I imagine your parents are not "2for1 Jagerbombs all night" sort of people ?

Only the occasional scotch/beer/wine sort of people.:D:D

In which case, I would definitely stay away from the bar (Marbles ?) and the nightclub (Kubu?) at the Rad. They are ok venues, but I don't see why they are so attractive to single Russian ladies ... ;)
But I imagine your parents are not "2for1 Jagerbombs all night" sort of people ?

I'll try to sneak out after my parents have slept.;););)

The problem with selecting a hotel in Dubai is there are so many to choose from ... I just checked and Tripadvisor lists 420 !

I only ended up at the Rad because it was the preference of one of the lads I was travelling with.

My usual "haunt" is the Jumeira Rotana and I only chose that because I used the same strategy as I do for 'daunting' wine lists: I scan half-way down the price list (Tripadvisor in this case) and look for good reviews.

Are there better places in Dubai ? Of course. Are there better places at a similar price ? Maybe. But I've stayed there six times in the last 18 months because I feel comfortable there, the staff are lovely and I've no reason to look elsewhere.

If you're likely to be out and about most of the time, a Holiday Inn Express may be fine and you can get an IHC friends & family rate of less than 50 quid a night.

Final thought: have you considered an apartment rental ? You could get something with 2 bedrooms for around AED700 a night all-in. Ok, so there won't be 24hr room service but there'll probably be a pool and gym, and you can get stuff at the local supermarkets for breakfast.

I've tried the Radisson Blu, Hilton Creek, Media One, Royal Meridien and Al Manzil. The last two are in my opinion much better than the rest.

At first I booked the Hilton Creek. Then canceled when I realized there wasn't a lot to do around the hotel itself. I rebooked at Al Manzil and am so glad I did. Near the Dubai Mall, the fountains and Al Khalifa. I would gladly stay there again. Reasonable prices and a great staff.

I'm currently staying at the Premier Inn, Investment Park which I got for
AED975.
For FIVE nights.
It's new, has a fine inexpensive restaurant and bar, a great coffee shop, free in-room wi-fi,a rooftop swimming pool and efficient,friendly staff that would put many high-end hotels to shame.
And very family friendly.
It's a little out of the way but no more than a cheap,short taxi ride from the marina and beach and frankly you have to take a taxi to go anywhere in Dubai.
It may not be what you're looking for but it does everything that it says on the tin.