If you’re looking for any signs of recession in Dubai this winter, you’re not going to find them. Flights are full, malls are packed, highways are busy, and hotels are bustling. This is partly because of World Cup spill over and partly thanks to the thousands of Russian holidaymakers that are flocking to the Emirate.
Beyoncé might have ended her four-year live show hiatus by performing at the opening of Dubai’s newest hotel, Atlantis The Royal resort in January (the “most ultra-luxury five-star experiential resort in the world” has 795 rooms that start at £1,063 per night this month, the world’s largest jellyfish tank and a 90-metre infinity sky pool), but you can still find good value places to stay. These five stylish options won’t break the bank this winter, with rooms under £200 in February or March.
Rove Downtown
This expanding local chain now has nine locations in Dubai, including Dubai Marina, City Walk and La Mer Beach. But it’s probably the Downtown property that ticks the most boxes for visitors because it’s walkable to the Burj Khalifa tower and fountains, and Dubai Mall.
On site there’s a cinema, self-service laundry room, gym, roof-top pool and restaurant. Rooms are functional rather than luxurious but have everything you need, and many are interconnecting, so they’re good for families (there are also rooms set up for gamers). A relaxed 2pm check out is a boon if you have a flight later in the day. Doubles from £117.
Hilton Al Habtoor
This towering, canal-side property is a practical option if you have a flight arriving at stupid o’clock, as many flights do in Dubai, because it’s just a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport (though Jumeirah Beach is also relatively nearby).
Buzzy is a good word to describe it: the check-in area positively hums with activity till late at night, and music pumps by the pool, so it’s good for those who like a more energetic, almost cruise-ship, feel to their holiday.
The breakfast offering is expansive with various stations cooking eggs to order and turning out waffles by the dozen. Ask for a room with a Burj Khalifa view if possible. Doubles from £130.
Andaz the Palm
Points make prizes and if you have Hyatt frequent-stay “miles”, you could do worse than cashing them in to stay here. The property promotes itself as boutique style and while it’s not particularly small, it does do a pretty good job of managing to feel intimate.
The hotel shares its pool and beach space with the neighbouring Andaz residences, which is great if you’re here with small kids and looking for other toddlers to play with, but not so much if you value an adults-only space as it’s especially busy on weekends.
Rooms are sumptuously appointed, but book one with a sea view: rooms that overlook the other wing of the hotel are rather dark. There are several dining and drinking options on sight but for greater variety it’s just over the road from Nakheel Mall, and the clubby Aura Sky Pool Lounge, which is the world’s highest 360-degree infinity pool. Doubles from £191.
JA Ocean View
This hotel is in the built-up neighbourhood of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) where there’s more of a dense, big-city feeling than you find in many other parts of Dubai. From the outside, it’s definitely no looker, but rooms have been renovated to give a light, airy feeling with views out over Ain Dubai (the local equivalent of the London Eye) and the large beach down below, which is a good bet if you want some variety away from the property’s pool.
There are several dining options on site, and others just outside, plus there’s a spa, children’s play area, padel-tennis court and fitness centre. 8am check in or 4pm check out are available for a reasonable add-on when booking. Doubles from £192.
Al Seef Heritage Hotel
This is the ideal hotel for travellers who want to see a flash of the Dubai-of-old. It’s on Dubai Creek in the Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood, where the narrow streets were once the haunt of merchants and are today are lined with cafes, art galleries and independent shops.
It maintains its low-rise appeal, and the Al Seef hotel blends in seamlessly, its rooms preserving the building’s 19th-century heritage (wooden beams and shuttered balconies) throughout the 10 interconnected “bayt” houses while still feeling bright and contemporary.
The restaurant serves traditional Emirati and Middle Eastern cuisine and guests can use the facilities at the more modern Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef and Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Seef nearby. Doubles from £103.
Will Hide travelled as a guest of Travelbag, which can put together flight and hotel packages for Dubai
