Starwood Preferred Guest - DUBAI: Dar Al Sondos Hotel Apartments by Le Meridien [Master Thread].

This hotel on award points is 3,000-4,000/night. (However noticed that other Le Meridiens in Dubai are not.) Is that a bargain, or is it not very nice? Anywhere near, or how far from the Convention Center?

This hotel on award points is 3,000-4,000/night. (However noticed that other Le Meridiens in Dubai are not.) Is that a bargain, or is it not very nice? Anywhere near, or how far from the Convention Center?

This property is about 2 1/2 miles north of the convention center. Check this and all of the other Dubai properties out in my Google Earth maps (http://www.journeysearcher.com/js/).

I don't know much else about the property other than what is stated on the hotel's website.

The location is great but there's tons of construction going on in front of it. Its in Deira, which is NOT new Dubai. check to see where your work/play will be. Its right across the street from city center.

If you're looking for a pretty good hotel the sheraton deira is ok. nice suite upgrades. Be careful of the internet rates though, sending this message (yup I'm there now) is costing me $25 a day in internet charges.

Has anyone out here stayed in this property in Dubai, UAE? How's the location?

I am intending to redeem my SPG points on this property. At SPG Category 2 (3,000 SPG points) it appears to be a good deal.

Thanks in advance for your response and comments.

I stayed here for one night last year during the summer. The hotel seems to be in an older area of Dubai -- there's a few small restaurants around, IIRC. As for the property itself, the facilities were mostly low-key. However, the rooms were clean and well-appointed -- and had similar features (washing machine, etc.) to the higher-category Al Sondos Suites in Deira.

Overall, I found it a good value -- but if location is important, there are some better Starwood options.

It is in Bur Dubai--walking distance to the Al Gubaiba bus station. Bur Dubai may be a bit better than Deira as the traffic in Deira with the construction of the new Metro can be horrific during business hours. If you use a few extra points to upgrade to one of the executive floors they have breakfast in the lounge and snacks/drinks throughout the day. There are also two computers with free internet and a printer in the lounge.

It is good if you like eating in as Spinneys and Carrefour (two grocery stores) are a few blocks away and the rooms have a stove, microwave, etc..

It is not a luxury property by any means but the rooms are quite comfortable and you can walk to a few things and the bus can get you around from Al Gubaiba if you want to go down to Jumeirah beach or anywhere else.

If you call them in advance, they have a shuttle which can pick you up at the airport. They charge 40 dirhams and the driver will meet you as soon as you exit customs and take you right to the hotel.

It is a great value in the winter when rates at other hotels can be very high. Less so in the summer or during Ramadan when the rates at other nicer hotels are much lower.

The shuttle is now 50 dirhams. However, I'm not sure if the rate is per person or per family.

If you call them in advance, they have a shuttle which can pick you up at the airport. They charge 40 dirhams and the driver will meet you as soon as you exit customs and take you right to the hotel.

I just stayed there three times in March. I got charged 40 dirhams for three one ways and they didn't charge me at all for two trips to the airport...so perhaps the fee is negotiable:)

I am intending to redeem my SPG points on this property. At SPG Category 2 (3,000 SPG points) it appears to be a good deal.

It does seem to be a good deal, did you end up staying at Le Meridien Al Sondos ?

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It does seem to be a good deal, did you end up staying at Le Meridien Al Sondos ?--

Unfortunately, no. :p I ended up at Holiday Inn Express Safa Park for a paid stay. Great new property. ^

The shuttle is now 50 dirhams. However, I'm not sure if the rate is per person or per family.

The airport shuttle is now AED 55 one-way per room. First time stay. Friendly and accommodating staff, clean and large suite-room, good location (close to my client's office), not far from the Old Souk and other local color shops and restaurants, rather than the big modern shopping malls that you find in many parts of Dubai and from Bangkok to Vancouver. Nice apartment hotel with very reasonable rate.

Does anybody else have any experiences with plat treatment here?

Also how much would a taxi cost to/from the airport? Just wondering if the 55 AED is much more than what a taxi would charge.

Does anybody else have any experiences with plat treatment here?

Also how much would a taxi cost to/from the airport? Just wondering if the 55 AED is much more than what a taxi would charge.

Hi GVA, if you want to stay in the Bur Dubai area stay at the 4 points by sheraton downtown Dubai, much better hotel. 55 AED sounds a little steep like 10-20 AED north of what a taxi charges.

Hi GVA, if you want to stay in the Bur Dubai area stay at the 4 points by sheraton downtown Dubai, much better hotel. 55 AED sounds a little steep like 10-20 AED north of what a taxi charges.

Thanks for the advice. Thing is I'm only seeking to use this place on my first night when I arrive in DXB around midnight. For 225AED+ I really don't think you can go wrong with this place - especially seeing that every other SPG property is around 500AED the same night. I'm moving to the Sheraton Deira the following day anyways.

... 55 AED sounds a little steep like 10-20 AED north of what a taxi charges.

My colleague and I also found it steep. We used to stay in the Deira area, and taxi fare was always about AED30. Don't know the actual fare between the airport and Bur Dubai. The 4Points should be better but because of the lower rate, and the suite-room and location, we opted for the Dar Al Sondos Apartment this time. Our yearly client visit always coincides with the Shopping Festival during which the hotel rates are unreasonaly high.

Stayed at this property last week for a night.

First impressions were positive. I had put in my comments that I was arriving late and on what flight (to avoid them cancelling my reservation). Needless to say I was surprised when at arrivals a driver was holding my name on it - especially seeing that I had planned on taking a cab. Transfer to the hotel took about 25 minutes. They did not make reference to the 55AED charge for picking me up at the airport until checkout. Somewhat weird IMHO but I didn't mind as I figured the difference in price wouldn't have been that great.

The hotel is lost in a sideroad (by Dubai's standards). A supermarket is about 2 blocks down the road. There's a Four points not far away either for those into hotel hopping.

At check-in the agent was friendly and I was offered a fruit mix/punch quite a nice taste and touch to it bearing in mind how much I paid for the hotel (225AED). The hotel recognised me as a platinum member and upgraded me to an executive floor and room. A fruit plate and water bottles were awaiting me in the room.

The room was quite large and fully equipped. The room was of dubious cleanliness though and permanent urine stains were visible on the toilet seat.

The executive lounge is of medium size, although the breakfast options are very extensive (most I've ever seen in a lounge) with an attendant providing top-notch service (once again a contradition with the price they charge).

Overall a good stay. The service is great (better than the Sheraton Deira). Rooms need to be overhauled and cleaned up though. The location is a bit out of the way - although with taxis being very cheap in Dubai that's not at all a problem.

I stayed in this property for 4 nights in April. Agree with all views shared - I got a Gold upgrade. Room was clean and stay was quite pleasant. They offer free internet in the smallish lobby (2 PCs) which was very useful. I didn't mind the 55 AED for the shuttle since this was my first time in Dubai.

For the price, it's a good deal.

Thanks for the advice. Thing is I'm only seeking to use this place on my first night when I arrive in DXB around midnight. For 225AED+ I really don't think you can go wrong with this place - especially seeing that every other SPG property is around 500AED the same night. I'm moving to the Sheraton Deira the following day anyways.

I looked around and didn't find to much scoop on the Sheraton Deira. How was your experience there? I'm planning on staying there next month.

I looked around and didn't find to much scoop on the Sheraton Deira. How was your experience there? I'm planning on staying there next month.

The Sheraton Deira was good. The service there was definately personal (concierge knew me by name and addressed me by it the whole time). They were great in organizing excursions for me.

I was upgraded to a corner suite that was nicely appointed. The only problem for me really was that the lounge wasn't quite up to scratch compared to Dar Al Sondos.

Overall both properties have their advantages. If you are there for a limited amount of time, the Deira is good in being close to the creek and downtown (I walked back from the creek one night). Dar Al sondos is further out although with taxis being so cheap it doesn't make much difference.

The rate for late June is an eye-catching AED174 (about USD$47!), so it's quite difficult to pass on the LM Dar al Sondos.
As a Plat, I'd likely get Exec upgrade.
Does anyone know how much internet costs here per day?
I was thinking about using points at the HIX Internet City (Point Breaks rate), but at $47 I could get a stay credit toward the SPG free nights and also spg points.....
Here are other SPG rates for the same nights, all in AED (about 3.5/USD):
Dal al Sondos: 174
Sheraton Deira: 274
LM Sondos Suites: 310
4P downtown Dubai: 320
Sheraton Jumeirah: 466
Are any of these a "steal" that the LM seems to be?
Thanks!

4P downtown Dubai: 320
Sheraton Jumeirah: 466
Are any of these a "steal" that the LM seems to be?
Thanks!

Those 2 are steals in my opinion, but it depends on where is your final destination like office. 4P downtown has relatively short drive from the Internet City or Media city, but last few turns are going through the construction, so it is extra. It is not about extra 10 DHS, but more about another 15 minutes in traffic in the evening which might be OK for you, but I found those 15 minutes to be important for me.

The price may be eye catching but if you plan to sleep in past 8 AM the noise sure is ear popping. I just stayed at this property recently and I was surprised this is a Le Meridien property. It is a far cry below standards of the typical SPG property. The walls are fairly thin and you can hear the people above/below/next door. I even had the delight of (child screaming down the hall) noise wafting though the door. When housekeeping attends to the room above you, they are accompanied by the ever present screeching of vacuum upon tile floor. Such a nice way to be awaken from your nights slumber.

I give this place somewhere between 2.5 - 3 stars. Would have been lower but then price was ok (AED 350) and was available on short notice (walk up).
I think I would rather spend the extra AED 100 ($28) and go to a nicer property.

i have stayed at this hotel many times....i'm in dubai once or twice every month & this property is my hotel of choice when i can't get another spg or hilton hotel for under aed 500 (which happens quite often)....this is by no means a great hotel but for its price (i have stayed here for as low as aed 165 a night) its a steal....the rooms are big & clean....breakfast is great....there is free internet in the lobby....location is good....all these things put together make for a very decent stay....