What chain hotel to stay in Dubai in Winter?

We are a couple and one youth child. Is Dubai a good option to visit in the winter/late December for about 8 days? Saw many vlogs about what to do or see and there is a lot there including many family attractions.
I have lots of Hyatt and Choice hotel points that I can use and some Hilton points too.
I don't have status with Hyatt though. What decent hotel we can stay there that offers bigger room and comes with free breakfast?
Thanks

Yes, it's a good place to visit. The first question is if you want to be in a more dense urban setting, suburban area, or resort environment. (I would suggest splitting an eight-day trip into at least two stays.) For the former, the Hyatt Places in Deira offer decent breakfasts, e.g., Wasl District, which is in the heart of the old city, moderately interesting for walking around. The HP in Jumeirah probably has the largest rooms. These hotels are very basic but have comfortable rooms and can be an OK value on points given that this is a high season. The Al Seef Heritage Hotel (Hilton Curio) is in a different area of the old city (Bur Dubai), but the most interesting probably, right on the Dubai Creek, with metro not far and water taxis to the Deira side. You won't get free breakfast without Hilton status and the rooms are small.

Business Bay is a centrally-located suburban-type area. Embassy Suites is scheduled to open later this year. The rates seem high, though I am not sure about redemption prices. Something like the Hampton Inn Al Barsha would be a good budget option that punches a bit above its weight for breakfast. It's in a dense area, not that interesting, but easily accessible, especially to the more southern and eastern Dubai attractions (theme parks, Global Village, Discovery Garden are some popular ones). Though the rooms are quite small. Toward the other end of the scale, the Conrad is excellent, on the main highway in the center of town. You might not find the immediate area all that interesting (I do), but it's right on a metro station and very accessible. Similarly, the Park Hyatt is excellent and you might be able to get it for a reasonable points rate. It's not centrally-located, but rather more self-contained with a couple of pool areas. Given the ease of taxis and the hotel's location accessible to the highway and close to the airport, it's not a bad place to be based though you can't really walk anywhere from there. I'd avoid the other full-service Hyatts (Regency Deira is nice but a terrible location).

If you want a beachfront stay, there are the Hilton and Hilton Walk (two separate connected properties, the latter with some larger rooms/apartments) in the Jumeirah Beach Residence area. I don't love this area, and it's hard to get to with traffic, but it offers a lot of attractions including "The Beach" which is geared toward families. You won't get free breakfast without Hilton status and I am not sure about redemption rates. Ditto for Hilton Palm, a beach resort with a lot of amenities. I don't love this area, either, but there are a lot of activities and the hotel facilities are in good condition. (I don't consider this time of year to be beach/pool weather, but plenty of people do, especially visitors from northern and eastern Europe, who will be out in force. )

There are no Choice hotels in Dubai.

If you reply with more details about your budget and the environment you're looking for, I can provide more specifics. There are also extensive discussions on the Hilton and Hyatt boards about all of those properties.

I can stay 5 night at a Hilton property that has good outdoor pool for the family and good Diamond benefits. The waldrof chains are super expensive on points and above 70k points a night. I can spend up to 70k points a night for 5 nights. I can do Hyatt property or an IHG property for rest of the 4 nights that are between 3 to 4 star on points.
Well, I will definitely see the old dubai like bur dubai, deira to see the hustle and bustle of india/ nepal and indian nepali food. But than with my wife and child, I would also like to stay in the new Dubai side to stroll around, to see the water, walk, have cool breezy walk aorund. We will visit the malls, go to attractions, not legoland since my child is now 10 and legoland seems to be for 4 to 9 range Thanks


update: booked 5 nights at Hilton Palm from late DEC. If after research that it will be over crowded , I will book another Hilton property. I will book the first 5 nights at a Hyatt . Most Hyatt there are are either cat 1 or cat 4 and 5. I am getting suite access gift from someone so that may help with better room and better room if I select a Hyatt property for the first 5 nights.
The flights to USA that I am booking leaves from AUH not DXB and they leave early around 2AM. Should I teak my last night booking since we won't be sleeping as we have to pack up, take the bus to AUH late night ? instead of booking 29-03. Should I book 28-02? That will save one night cost right and we get to enjoy full 5 nights?

You could possibly get the Conrad for 70K. (I just checked some random dates, 12/01-12/06, the base room with two beds is 278K for the five nights.)

In addition to the Embassy Suites, there's a DoubleTree Business Bay which is surprisingly nice, and also a new Hilton Garden Inn Business Bay which I haven't tried. Those all have decent outdoor pool areas and should give breakfast as Diamond. The Hilton Habtoor City seems to be around the same price and is OK as well. All of these locations are long-ish walks to the Dubai Mall and not on the beach. For that you'd need one of the JBR properties.

How is the Hilton Palm that I booked? location and feature? I booked it for 70k points a night and there were two other Hiltons like the WALK.
US citizens don't need any prior visa or anything and will get visa stamped upon arrival? Do they check /require anything else?

Pros: Good modern facilities, excellent Diamond treatment (large buffet breakfast including special Diamond Menu + lounge + drink vouchers + possible room upgrade), comfortable rooms, fairly wide F&B selection.

Cons: Busy, noisy, and crowded (though not more than the Hilton JBR). You mentioned a concern about getting a space at the pool, which could be an issue. Also if you plan to spend time out and about, it's inconvenient to get to and from this hotel. It has the annoying feature, common in Dubai, of disjointed road access. When you exit the hotel by car, you're just past the slip road to the main highway off the Palm, so you have to make a series of loops on small roads that can be subject to traffic. This is a minor nuisance. Besides the beach, there isn't much of a place to walk to (there is the Galleria mini-mall across the highway, which doesn't offer much). In general taxis and Ubers are easy and moderately priced, though you'd be facing a fairly long drive getting on and off of the Palm.

You can exit the hotel and walk along the beach to (poor and overpriced) restaurants and other hotels. It's very different from JBR (main Hilton, Walk, or DoubleTree) which is a lively environment with tons of (poor and generic) restaurants, tourist activities (e.g., rides, water sports, animations, tour kiosks, movie theater), shops, snacks, etc. I would suggest that you study The Beach (https://www.thebeach.ae/en) to see if this appeals to you.

Given that you have a long stay in Dubai, with plenty of time to explore, and what you've said about your preferences, I would probably stick with the Palm if I were you, though I particularly dislike JBR but that's apparently a minority opinion.

The first 5 nights upon arrival there, I will be staying most likely at a Hyatt property. We are a couple and one 10 yes old son. I have someone who told me will gift Suite or Club access. What property you think will be good? Looked at they are all either Cat 1 at 6K points a night or Cat 4 and 5 to 26K a night. Would be nice if they have Cat 3.
There is a Grand Hyatt at creek for 18k a night and Hyatt centric at 18k a night although don't think there is a use for club or suite access at the Centric. a Hyatt regency shows not available, another Grant hyatt or conrad or something says no room on those dates between dec 24 and 28th,

Centric is OK. It's in an area called La Mer, yet another beach-front activity zone. They were or are totally redeveloping this area, and I am not sure about the current status or what it will look like in December. Either way, it's moderately convenient and there are more semi-interesting areas in which to walk around than at any of the other full-service properties, though that is not saying much. If you need a full-service Hyatt, this is probably the best choice after the Park, all things (including price) considered.

I would avoid the two Regencies. The Deira property is older, but with comfortable rooms, great amenities, and a solid Regency Club, but the location is poor. Avoid the Healthcare City Regency for sure (you can read the reviews in the Hyatt forum).

The Grand might work. It's relatively isolated, near the airport (similar location to the Park that I referenced in a previous post) but easily accessible on the main highway. I believe the lounge is closed and they were offering alternatives -- last time I was there they gave breakfast and dinner in the restaurant. I don't know what the implications would be if someone gave you a club award gift. This hotel is also dated but has a huge pool and good restaurants. I would consider it as a decent value proposition with several downsides. If you get a suite it will be spacious and nice enough. There's also Andaz, not far from the Hilton Palm. It's probably higher on the price list and, since you'll be on the Palm anyway for your Hilton stay, probably not a great choice. The pool is excellent at Andaz and the rooms are characteristically very nice (though small), but there's not much else to recommend this property.

As I mentioned before, you might be better off just saving points and going for one of the Hyatt Places, either Jumeirah (not far from the Centric) or Wasl District (in downtown Deira). You won't be blown away, but these would be decent basic choices with at least free breakfast and comfortable rooms (as long as you don't care about shower water pressure). I'm staying at the Jumeirah location now. The service and processes are shambolic, but that's typical for any less-than-full-service hotel, and many full-service hotels, in Dubai.

The cat 1 Hyatt place Jumeirah is not talked about a lot online where as the Hyatt Centric Jumeirah is praised and talked about a lot online and somehow it is considered a Cat 4 AT 18K points a night. Looks like I should go for the one in Deira or the Hyatt place jumeira both at 6k points a night. The club access or suite upgrade gift is of no use at these two basic Hyatts right?
How is the breakfast? basic or buffet type and a basic pool is there? The Deira one is in old dubai near Bur Dubai and where lots of south asians like Indan and Nepalis live and lots of those food options?

Both of these Hyatt Places have relatively large breakfast buffets. They're not great quality-wise, but they have some local hot and cold specialties, fruit, pastries, cold cuts, egg station, etc. Both also have pools, and Jumeirah has a pool bar. Correct that upgrades won't provide anything. I am not even sure if they have suites. I have never been provided one in probably over 20 stays as Globalist. Jumeirah has a few "pool view" rooms on the lowest floor with balconies, though no table or chair on the balcony (at least in summer; possible that they put something out in milder weather).

The Wasl District is in Deira. "Old Dubai" consists of Deira (the north side) and Bur Dubai (the south side). They are divided by Dubai Creek, which offers lots of boats, ranging from "taxis" costing a couple dirhams taking you between a handful of stops on each side to private charters costing not much more and which can take you on longer customized tours. This is an activity that I would recommend. Both sides are fairly large but walkable in December. For example, you could walk from the Hyatt Place through the Gold Souk and take a boat to Al Seef on the Bur Dubai side (which is the location of the Al Seef Heritage Hotel I mentioned earlier).

There are lots of South Asian restaurants from all regions, plus plenty of African, Filipino, Chinese, Arabic, and other restaurants, many of which are delicious. Ravi is a famous Pakistani chain with good food, and I like Calicut Notebook, a restaurant featuring Kerala cuisine.

Hello

I can't comment on the Hilton situation (I am a Marriott guy) but visiting Dubai late December is a very good time to visit in terms of temperature etc. You only need to bear in mind that from around the 20th December most of Europe will be on school holidays, so expect a fairly good occupation rate in hotels. Especially on the weekends pools might be crowded when the staycationers com in.

mecabq
Only found 2 award nights at the Grand Hyatt from Dec 23 although I was looking for until 29th. It looked great in the videos I watch and good family pools and may get good suite or club benefit . From Dec, currently reserved the Hilton Palm until Jan 2nd. I am having a 2nd thought about the Hilton Palm. good value at 70k a night and the beach and pool but we can be screwed if the whole common area including breakfast area and pool are going to be over crowded from late DEC. Any other Hilton property you recommend that has nice family pools and good diamond benefit but at a better location and easy access to taxi/uber or train and affordable western and indian/pakistani/chinese food options around? Thanks

I think the Palm is probably your best bet given all of the preferences you've mentioned. True that it might be crowded and noisy, but that will be the case for any five-star family-friendly property (e.g., Hilton Jumeirah) that time of year. You could probably have a more sedate experience at the Waldorf-Astoria Palm, but I am not sure that would be better overall from a value perspective. The Business Bay properties (DoubleTree, HGI, Embassy Suites) might be quieter but with far fewer amenities, albeit at a lower price (at least cash, I am not sure about points). To answer your question, I don't think any other Hilton has a better combination of location and services that you're seeking.

The Palm does not have a lot of casual South Asian restaurants, but these are not difficult to find in Dubai. One pretty good one not far from there is Gharana at the Holiday Inn Al Barsha. It's a hotel restaurant, so not that casual and cheap, but very good and moderately priced. The JBR area where the main Hilton is doesn't offer anything I would recommend anyway.

Visiting Dubai over Xmas and New Year means you'll be part of one of the peak seasons of Dubai (if not 'the' peak season) as many Europeans will fly in for sunshine during the winter. I think between 20th Dec and 6th of Jan you need to expect a very high occupancy, maybe not 'overcrowding'; just to manage your expectations. This will especially apply to medium to higher priced properties suitable to families which are often part of say TUI package holidays but even the O&O properties will be also quite 'full'.

DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai M square Hotel & Residences This hotel is in old dubai, Bur dubai, Al Karama area and you are not very far to the attractions and also dubai mall?