Miscellaneous Tips (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)- Hotel Reviews

I stayed at the Pearl Residence Hotel Apartments for 8 nights in November 2005 during my third trip to Dubai (and my parents' first trip there).

I'd previously stayed at the Orchid Hotel in Deira but this time, with my parents in tow, I wanted to find somewhere with bigger rooms and in a better location.

After considerable amounts of time researching on the Internet, I decided that the Pearl Residence apartments looked like the best value for money. In part, this was because the large apartments are spacious enough to accommodate 3 adults, with my parents having the large en-suite bedroom and me having a bed in the enormous living room (with a separate en-suite bathroom) - this worked out considerably cheaper than booking separate double and single rooms elsewhere.

The living room is well equipped with satellite TV, comfortable armchairs, a dining table, a coffee table and a very effective air-conditioning system (the air-con in the bedroom and living room are controlled individually).

As well as the large living area, master bedroom and two bathrooms, the apartment also had a fully-equipped kitchen with a large fridge freezer, a washing machine, a microwave oven and all necessary cutlery, crockery and drinks making facilities.

An excellent breakfast (including a choice of cereals, toast, omelettes, fried eggs, chicken sausages, fried potatoes, baked beans, mushrooms, curry dishes, noodles, fruit and cakes, fruit juices, coffee and tea) was included in the price and the extensive choice varied each day.

Maid service is daily, including a change of bed sheets and towels.

There is a safe deposit box in the wardrobe in the master bedroom.

There is a bar downstairs with a number of pool tables and games machines, and Internet access is available on a computer terminal in reception for a small charge (10 Dhs for 30 minutes).

There is a roof-top swimming pool, sauna, steam bath and gymnasium.

The hotel is located in Bur Dubai, just a short walk to the creek and just a short taxi ride to Sheikh Zayed Road. Numerous restaurants and shopping malls including the Bur Juman Centre) are within easy walking distance, while you'll never have any difficulty getting a taxi right outside the entrance - if there isn't already a taxi pulled up waiting outside, you'll be able to signal down a passing one in less than a minute! Not all taxi drivers are familiar with the hotel, so tell them that it's in the "Golden Sands area, opposite Silver Sands 2". Quite often, you'll still have to guide them in after several failed attempts to locate the hotel!

The hotel runs a free daily shuttle bus to Jumeirah Public Beach (leaving the hotel at 10:15am and picking up again at the beach at between 2 and 3pm). Even if you're not wanting to swim on the public beach, it's worth taking the free shuttle bus and then jumping in a taxi from there to whichever beach you want to go to (you'll save on the taxi fare that way!).

All of the staff were friendly and helpful, although at times they were a little too eager to try and convince us to sign up for an organised safari trip.

Be careful in the lifts - if there's more than 2 of you in there, the door WILL try to close before everyone has managed to get out. I nearly got trapped every single time I exited the lift!

An excellent choice of accommodation. Clean, spacious studios in a convenient location and relatively inexpensive in a city where budget accommodation is difficult to come by.

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