Dubai Hotels: Which to Choose?

Dubai is one of the most exciting up-and-coming destinations for Brits looking for a long weekend getaway. It’s just 6 hours by plane, and there’s enough to see and do that it’s becoming the new favourite for short getaways - a fascinating alternative to hopping over for an NYC shopping trip. The big question is - which hotel do you choose? Dubai can be broken down into different districts, with each offering its own great accommodations and things to do. Here’s your handy guide to Dubai:

Jumeirah - ‘Jumeirah’ means ‘beautiful’ in Arabic - and that tells you everything you need to know about the area. Jumeirah is truly beautiful, located right on the waterfront with access to some of the emirate’s very best beaches. It’s one of the most popular districts for travellers who want to relax and chill out at luxury beachfront hotels. There’s a range of hotels here to suit every budget and interest. The Holiday Inn is a good budget choice, and offers a complimentary shuttle bus to Jumeirah Beach. At the other end of the scale is the Burj Al Arab, referred to as the world’s only 7 star hotel!

Downtown - If you’re visiting Dubai more for the sights and attractions rather than the beaches and waterparks, then the Downtown district puts you right in the heart of everything. This is where you’ll find the Burj Khalifa - the world’s tallest building - along with the Dubai Mall (the world’s biggest!), and the incredible Dubai Fountain, which is a bigger (and some may say better) version of the famous Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas. International chain hotels like the Radisson are good choices here, and the Radisson Blu is actually right next door to the Mall. Or you could stay at the Armani Hotel, that’s actually located inside one of the towers at the Burj Khalifa!

The Palm Jumeirah - The Palm Jumeirah is one of two palm-shaped manmade islands just off the Dubai coast. There’s not really much happening on the Palm itself - it’s mostly residential villas - but it does boast the world famous Atlantis The Palm resort which includes an aquarium, an adventure waterpark, and a ‘swim with the dolphins’ experience. It is, of course, also one of the most expensive hotels in the emirate! There’s a few cheaper hotels on The Palm, close to the resort, which may be better options, including the Sofitel with it’s beautiful Polynesian theme throughout.

Whichever hotel you go with, you are sure to have a great time exploring Dubai.