Forget Five Star | Escape Dubai’s Hotel Babylon

by Frank | Oct 15, 2009 | Journalism, Travel

Originally written for the Times online

Off the beaten track | stay in the rooftop rooms of the XVA Art Gallery

Butler service, gold plated interiors, spectacular skylines and chauffeur driven sun kissed luxury is what Dubai is famous for and what keeps the city’s five star hotels occupied at nearly 90% capacity all year round.

But not everybody who visits Dubai craves the upmarket package holiday or the golden pomp of a self proclaimed ‘seven-star’ hotel, nor do they desire the no star, cockroach end of the Dubai spectrum.

Already a key stopover destination, the emirate is positioning itself as an Arabian Orlando and with the ambitious Dubai World Central on its way – the world’s largest airport and challenger to Heathrow’s supremacy as the transatlantic gateway – five star hotel stock is set to grow from 40% to a whopping 70%.

There is clearly an obvious need for more genuine mid-level options.

Happily, if you are in town for business, friends, family, or just to see what all the fuss is about, there are now some less publicised but excellent home grown alternatives. (more…)

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