Hotels range from the costing under Dhs.100 a night to those with a published price, or rack rate, in the region of Dhs.11, 000 for a night in a standard Suite at Burj Al Arab. While the hotels at the higher end of the market offer superb surroundings and facilities, those at the cheaper end vary- you pay for what you get. Refer to the Index for a list of outlets (including restaurants and bars) that can be found at each hotel.
Hotels in Dubai can be split into ‘beach hotels' (grouped along the coast to the south of the Creek entrance) and ‘city hotels'. Most are located within a maximum 30 minute journey from Dubai International Airport. The larger hotels all offer an airport shuttle service as well as minibus service to the main tourist spots around the city. A taxi ride from airport to most hotels will cost around Dhs.40-70. Road transport in Dubai is usually quite fast and the majority of journeys will only take 15-20 minutes duration, costing about Dhs.20-25. With so many luxury hotels and resorts in Dubai there is no reason why you can't combine a stay in a central Dubai hotel with a few nights at a desert resort, refer to Bab Al Shams and Al Maha.
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) oversees a hotel classification system which gives an internationally recognized Star rating to hotels and hotel apartments so that visitors can judge more easily the standard of accommodation they will receive.
The DTCM also operates for an internet reservation system for Dubai's hotels on their Website (www.dubaitourism.co.ae).This enables guests to reserve rooms online and allows them a virtual tour of the hotel before they book. Alternatively, the DTCM Welcome Bureau at the airport offers instant hotel reservations, often at a greatly discounted rate.
Refer to the Club Facilities table for the list of facilities offered at each hotel. Remember that, as in anywhere else in the world, you can usually manage to get a discount on the rack rate or published price.
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