Choosing the best hotel in Dubai as a family (By a local)
Feeling overwhelmed trying to find the perfect hotel for your family in Dubai? You’re not alone. Here’s something nobody tells you before you start searching for a Dubai hotel, choosing where to stay in Dubai is completely different to booking a hotel anywhere else in the world.
Most cities have a centre. You find a hotel near it and you’re sorted. Dubai doesn’t work like that. It has multiple distinct hubs, each one feeling like its own city with its own vibe.
Pick the wrong one for your family and you’ll spend half your holiday in a taxi or traffic going from one end of the city to the other, wondering where all your time went. I’ve been living in and travelling to Dubai since 2013 and I’ve stayed in hotels across every part of the city. I’ve also helped more friends and family plan their Dubai trips than I can count. So not to worry, I’ll walk you through exactly everything you need to know with this Dubai hotel guide, to make sure you pick the right hotel for you.
Choosing the right hotel in dubai
1) Start first with planning activities
It’s best to decide what activities are more important to you because with traffic and travel, going from one end of Dubai to the other is tough! It will also cost a lot in taxis if you haven’t hired a car and Dubai’s traffic is no joke during peak hours.
In short, if you planning a city break with the main Dubai tourist attractions, you’re best staying close to Downtown Dubai and for a more relaxed beach holiday with your family you’re better off either Jumeirah, Palm Jumeirah or Dubai Marina.
If you’re having trouble narrowing down what to actually do in Dubai, my planner will help you decide what you to focus on:
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Dubai activities mini guide:
- Dubai Marina & JBR – Located in the south of Dubai, mostly a tourist area you’ll find lots of beach clubs, restaurants along the boardwalk-style area and lots of ‘fun in sun’ activities. Along with a large amount of nightlife.
- Palm Jumeriah – Similar to Dubai Marina, but quieter, more expensive and more exclusive. The View at Palm is located here, along with both Atlantis and Royal Atlantis. Ideal for those who love staying in resorts or want a romantic private escape.
- Downtown Dubai, Business Bay & Trade Centre – Located closer to the north of Dubai, this area is perfect for those who prefer a city break. Explore the many famous attractions such as Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. A lot of nightlife is located here too.
- Dubai Creek, Deira & Bur Dubai – Located in the north of Dubai, perfect for those who want to focus on the historical and cultural side of Dubai, including Shindagha Museum, Spice Souq & Gold Souq. Dubai Frame is also not too far away. Close to the airport.
- Al Barsha & JVC – Located in central Dubai, there isn’t many tourist attractions here except Mall of Emirates but due to it’s location it’s good for being able to split your time between visiting the north and south of Dubai. You’re also not too far from Miracle Garden, Butterfly Garden & Global Village.
- Expo City & Dubai South – Not many attractions here except Expo City. The area is very quiet and mostly surrounded by industrial sites. Close to Al Maktoum Dubai Airport.
Still not sure which area is for you? Try our free Dubai area quiz!
2) Selecting the best hotel type for your stay
Now that you’ve narrowed down the activities you’d most like to do, it’s time to think about what type of hotel you’d like for your stay. Do you want a resort hotel or a more affordable hotel that you’ll mostly use as somewhere to sleep? Not all areas offer resorts so if you want a water park, kids’ club and other amenities on site, that can also affect which area you’ll want to stay in.
Also some hotels are dry, meaning they don’t serve alcohol, so this is also another element to keep in mind.
Dubai hotels mini guide:
- Deira & Bur Dubai – Offers affordability, hotel apartments but lacks resort hotels. Hotels are catered to South Asian tourists with lots of Indian restaurants and overall geared to their tastes.
- Dubai Creek & Al Jaddaf – Mid-range hotels, luxury hotels and some resorts on the creek while still offering a mix of affordability compared to Palm Jumeirah or Dubai Marina. Also geared more to South Asian tourists.
- Downtown Dubai – One of the most expensive areas to stay in Dubai as it’s a small concentrated area with mostly luxury 5 star hotels close to the Burj Khalifa and no resorts. Caters to a wide range of tourists.
- Business Bay & Trade Centre – Offers more affordable hotels compared to Downtown but is still in very close proximity and no resorts but does have a good mix of 4 star & 5 star hotels. Caters to a wide range of tourists.
- Palm Jumeirah – One of the most expensive areas and mostly 5 star large luxury resorts. Caters to a wide range of tourists.
- Al Barsha & JVC – Ideal for those who want affordable hotels or hotel apartments and to access both North & South Dubai. No resorts and further from the sea.
- Dubai Marina – Wide mix of large hotel resorts, hotel apartments, holiday lets and mid range hotels. Popular with both Westerners and Khaleeji tourists.
- Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) – Offers affordable mid-range to luxury hotels but no resorts. Located across from the other side of Dubai Marina and perfect for those who want to save money but still enjoy a beach holiday.
3) Proximity to transport & ease of driving
If you’re planning to use mostly public transport, this can also greatly affect the best area and hotel for you since some areas do not have a local metro stop and taking buses can create a really long journey time.
There are some areas I’d recommend using public transport instead of hiring a car too while others work well for hiring a car. If you’re planning to visit in summer, then I’d definitely hiring a car as even short walks to the metro can be difficult in the heat.
Dubai transport mini guide:
- Deira & Bur Dubai – Lots of metro stations nearby and many hotels and hotel apartments will be within a 15 minute walk to the metro or public transport option. Parking here is limited and I don’t advise hiring a car. The area is pedestrian-friendly but streets tend to be more crowded which can make it more difficult navigating with a stroller.
- Dubai Creek & Al Jaddaf – Getting to the nearest metro can be more difficult here, but hiring a car is great with access to the E44. The area is not very pedestrian-friendly.
- Downtown Dubai – Majority of hotels are far from the metro and access via Dubai Mall can still be quite a long walk. Hiring a car is suitable here but there can be traffic getting it and out of the area. The area is very pedestrian-friendly.
- Business Bay & Trade Centre – Many hotels are further from the metro and if closer to Downtown Dubai, you’ll be further from Business Bay Metro. I recommend to hire a car for this area and is mixed for pedestrians.
- Palm Jumeirah – Can be difficult to get on and off the Palm due to the island’s structure and the Palm Monorail isn’t always operating, plus, many resorts don’t have access to the monorail. I recommend to hire a car if you’re planning to spend time outside of your resort.
- Al Barsha & JVC – Hotels close to Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR) will have access to a metro but others further away from SZR are better to hire a car. Close to SZR is pedestrian friendly but outside of that is mixed.
- Dubai Marina – Dubai Tram serves nearly all of the area and is connected to Dubai Metro, many attractions are within walking distance so I don’t recommend a car for this area. Traffic getting in and out of the area can be very slow-moving too. Pedestrian-friendly area.
- Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) – Has a metro bridge into Dubai Marina for walking, the road layout can be a bit annoying for driving in and out if you miss an exit but can be worth hiring to hire a car if you’re planning to visit quite a few places outside of Dubai Marina. Pedestrian friendly area.
If you want a full guide to all the areas in Dubai, read my previous article, which goes into all the areas of Dubai in much more depth.
You may also find my Dubai’s public transport article also useful for planning your stay.
4) Most recommended hotels in Dubai by area
Last but not least, I look at the previous reviews for the hotels I’ve narrowed down. Below are some of the highest reviewed hotels by area along with many of the ones I’ve personally stayed in.
Hotel FAqs
What are hotel apartments?
Apartments have facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom but hotel apartments are connected to a hotel. You can enjoy regular room cleaning, in-room dining and other amenities that are typically only included in a hotel so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Dubai have many hotel apartments and typically range from a studio to 2 bed apartment. Some have a kitchenette rather than a kitchen and having a full kitchen with a washing machine with children is definitely convenient.
Do Dubai hotels allow pets?
Yes there are some pet-friendly hotels in Dubai and they provide basic items like water bowls and food bowls. Some even have doggy parks available on site for dogs to run around and go the bathroom but make sure to pack doggy bags to clean up when using the doggy park.
What are dry hotels and how can I tell?
Dry hotels in Dubai are hotels that don’t serve any alcohol and you will find them across Dubai. Based on experience, they’re usually smaller hotels and they’re not that common but you’ll have to check the hotel website or hotel description. One popular chain I’ve stayed in are Al Khoory Hotels who operate several dry hotels.
Are Dubai hotel reviews reliable?
It can sadly be common for reviews to be fake across the entire world and I’m sure you’ve experienced visiting either a restaurant or hotel to only find out the reviews don’t quite match what you expected. So make sure to read the reviews in detail before you book, genuine ones will tend to include more detail and I tend to distrust ones where I see a lot of the same staff mentioned many times. Usually this means the staff are pushing guests to do reviews and asking to include their name.
I hope these tips have helped you find the right hotel in Dubai for you!
Not sure which area to stay in Dubai? Take our FREE area quiz to help you decide which one is best for you as a family visiting Dubai.
Read more: Guides to help plan your Dubai visit