cheapy but good hotels, near DIFC

[z4chris99]

evening all,

looking for a cheepy but ok hotel for early May, have to go on a trip for my MSc and dont want to splash out.

The two ones they said are near are the Rotana Towers and the Emirates Towers, however id like to be by the beach/have a nice pool, as will book a few days off before and have some sunshine..

any reccommendations?

Cheers

Chris

[dxbtiger]

Define 'near'?

Taxis are so comparatively cheap here that I am guessing it is how long it will take to to get to DIFC?

[z4chris99]

yup. 30 mins is ok...

live/d down the road in oman but haven't been to Dubai this millennium

[thb]

With 30mins and a good wind you can probably choose any hotel in town.

However, the combination of cheap plus beach doesn't usually mix.

Uber cheap would be the Holiday Inn Al Barsha, then maybe use the difference for a couple of days beach pass at one of the super swanky places like the One&Only etc.

[mcbook]

I agree that you'd be better getting a cheapo place for the business part of the trip before transferring to a nicer beach hotel for the few days holiday. There are quite a few Holiday Inn Expresses around town which are good value and probably all within 30 mins of DIFC. The one near Safa Park is probably the closest and you should make DIFC in 10 minutes (if you're lucky) from there.

For the beach hotel it really depends on budget - you could go for luxury at somewhere like the One & Only, Jumeira Beach Hotel or Ritz-Carlton. Atlantis on the Palm also has good deals on from time to time. If you're not bothered about having a private beach you could go for somewhere a little cheaper like the Sofitel at Jumeira Beach Residences - the beach is just across the road.

[Asterix]

Loads of cheap(er) hotels opened up around Barsha and Media City/Knowledge Village - there's plenty to choose from. Just remember the headline price will not include certain taxes so there might be a little more to pay.

All within 20 mins of Emirates Towers.

[z4chris99]

cheers all good ideas.. next question.. I've got 6 nights in dubai..

whats there to do? not too costly.

what about bars? clubs? is it the same deal like in Oman where hotels only.

last time i went i was 8, and it was a desert.

[6th Gear]

Quad biking
Dune bashing
Desert Safari
Go up the Burj Khalifa / watch the fountains
Dhow trip to Dibba / snorkling
Deep sea fishing trip
Sundowners at 360
Beach
Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina circuit

[z4chris99]

Quad biking - have in oman
Dune bashing - have in oman
Desert Safari - have in oman
Go up the Burj Khalifa / watch the fountains - good idea
Dhow trip to Dibba / snorkelling - good idea
Deep sea fishing trip - costly?
Sundowners at 360 - good idea
Beach - tan
Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi - i think ours in oman is better
Yas Marina circuit - yes

[6th Gear]

Rattlesnakes - do you have that in Oman?

Fishing trip should cost around 400AED for a few hours. Cobone does deals from time to time.

[dxbtiger]

I wouldn't bother fishing, the Arabian Gulf is st compared to Omani waters

[6th Gear]

dxbtiger said:

I wouldn't bother fishing, the Arabian Gulf is st compared to Omani waters

I've caught some decent fish off the coast here. You do need to go a fair way out though.

[z4chris99]

what are the good places to booze?

[shirt]

z4chris99 said:

Quad biking - have in oman
Dune bashing - have in oman
Desert Safari - have in oman
Go up the Burj Khalifa / watch the fountains - good idea
Dhow trip to Dibba / snorkelling - good idea
Deep sea fishing trip - costly?
Sundowners at 360 - good idea
Beach - tan
Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi - i think ours in oman is better
Yas Marina circuit - yes

stay in oman then!

for a hotel i think citymax barsha is about as cheap as you can go without being able to touch opposite walls of the room at the same time.

[z4chris99]

I HAVE to go to Dubai for a uni course.