Personally Crafted Hotels to Choose from in Dubai
Dubai is a fantastic place for a vacation! Everywhere you turn, there are beautiful, picturesque views, exciting adventures, and unique opportunities waiting to be explored. You can tour a skyscraper and eat brunch at a restaurant near the top, eat dinner next to a floor to ceiling aquarium, and stroll through an indoor rainforest. And these are just a few of the many amazing activities to choose from.
No matter what your plans are for this magical vacation, you want to know that your hotel will measure up, too. You can spend all day sight seeing and exploring, but if you come back to a noisy hotel with dingy rooms and uncomfortable beds, it can be enough to unravel the whole trip. Luckily, there are plenty of luxurious hotels to choose from in Dubai that won’t let you down.
What are the best Dubai hotels? The five best hotels in Dubai are the Burj Al Arab, the Shangri-La Hotel, the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, the Bab Al Shams, and the Al Qasr.
Whatever you decide to do with the rest of your time in Dubai, you can rest easy knowing that you are well cared for and relaxed during your stay at any one of these hotels. You’ll find luxurious rooms, pools with incredible views, unbeatable dining options, and more at each one.
The Burj Al Arab
Number one is the Burj Al Arab, which has been rated not only the best luxury hotel in Dubai, but also the world’s most luxurious hotel. It has won numerous other awards over the years, including the Five Star Award from the Travel guide division of Forbes in 2018 and 2019, and the UAE’s Leading Hotel Award from World Travel awards in 2018, among others. If you’ve ever been there or even just seen the pictures, I’m sure this comes as no surprise. This absolutely iconic hotel is stunning and stands against the beautiful Dubai skyline.
The spacious hotel offers many amenities. There is a private beach outside, along with three swimming pools, and the Wild Wadi Waterpark. Inside of the Burj Al Arab you will find:
Depending on which suite you choose, you’ll get a full range of high-end services from a full size jacuzzi tub in the bathroom to a second level with a library and a cinema room! One even has a private elevator to move you between your lower and higher level separate suites. You’ll feel like royalty in any one of the rooms that they have available.
The restaurants and bars are world-class and offer everything from French to Mediterranean. The most popular choice is the Al Mahara, where you can eat while you watch colorful marine life swim in the floor to ceiling aquarium. The sea food they serve here is also very highly rated amongst travelers.
The indoor and outdoor swimming pools and fitness center have all of your exercise needs covered. You can run, jump, swim laps, or any other number of things so that you don’t fall behind on your routine while you’re away. When you’re done, you can head over to the Talise Spa to reward yourself and get pampered! And don’t worry about the kids, they’ll be safe and have a blast in the kids’ club while you’re gone.
The Shangri-La Hotel
This next hotel is also luxurious and peaceful, but it’s also a bit more affordable if you’re looking for a step down from the Burj Al Arab without sacrificing quality. It’s located on Sheikh Zayed Road, so it’s right in the center of many of the attractions in Dubai, like the shopping centers, entertainment, nightlife, and skyscrapers. You can even see the skyline, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, and the Arabian Gulf from many of the rooms. There is a large, curved swimming pool to enjoy outside, as well.
Inside of the hotel:
- 302 rooms
- 7 restaurants and bars
- CHI Spa
- Health Club / Fitness Center
The rooms have deep tubs, rain showers, and are carefully and thoughtfully decorated. You can pick one facing the skyline or the Arabian Sea for constant picturesque views. All of them are spacious and comfortable.
Of the seven restaurants, Shang Palace is the clear favorite of the guests. This award-winning restaurant offers authentic Chinese style dishes from Peking duck to Cantonese dim sum.
The fitness center and CHI spa have all of your personal care needs covered. The fitness center is impressive and fully equipped. It has tons of cardio and weight training machines, squash and tennis courts, and jacuzzi tubs. Once your muscles are worn out, you can move over to the spa and get a massage or a facial.
The one thing that this beautiful hotel is missing is a kids’ center, so it’s important to plan ahead if you’re bringing them with you.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
The Qasr Al Sarab is really unique because it’s located in the Empty Quarter of the Liwa Desert, as you may have guessed by the second half of the name. The pool outside will help you cool off from your time spent in the hot desert sun. It’s so pretty, it’ll look like a mirage as you approach from outside.
Inside of the hotel:
- 140 rooms
- 4 restaurants and bars
- Anantara Spa
- Fitness options
- Kids’ club
Each of the rooms fits the dessert theme with intricate mosaics and calming earth tones. They each also have a view of the desert. The Deluxe Terrace rooms have the best view because they have wide terraces that overlook the sand dunes.
The four restaurants provide authentic Middle Eastern cuisines with dining options from full sit-down dinners to cooking stations and buffets that are available all day. The Suhail is a gorgeous rooftop lounge and it is a favorite of many of the guests. You can also eat out by the pool, in the desert, or order room service at any time.
The Anantara Spa has gorgeous views of the dunes and includes a full range of services. Their Arabian-style treatments are inspired by local ingredients like desert rose and sand. They also offer steam rooms, a sauna, private yoga classes, two jacuzzi tubs, and treatment suites for individual or couples’ treatments with an additional layer of privacy.
There isn’t a full fitness center here like there was in the first two, but they do offer a good variety of unique and interesting fitness options. You can do guided aqua aerobics in the pool, take a spin class, and experience sunrise yoga in the sand dunes. With these options available, it’s well worth the trade-off. You can leave the kids at the club while you find your center and rebalance.
Bab Al Shams
This one is praised as a romantic Arabian getaway. It’s located just outside of Dubai and is a bit more intimate with just 113 rooms. Despite it being smaller than many others, you won’t have to miss any of the amenities of larger hotels. There are three temperature-controlled swimming pools outside, including twin infinity pools with a poolside bar and a kids’ pool, and beautifully landscaped gardens.
Inside of the hotel:
- 113 rooms
- 7 restaurants and bars
- Satori Spa
- Fitness Center
- Kids’ Club
While there are fewer rooms to choose from, the views more than make up for it. You can choose a room that looks out over the desert or the gardens, or you can upgrade to a suite with a private sun terrace.
Their most exciting dining option is the Al Hadheerah. It’s designed to look like a classic Arabian market in the open air, complete with henna artists, a falcon display, a camel caravan, belly dancers, and live Arabian music and dancing. Your authentic Arabian cuisine will be served with a side of wonder and amazement. This is a magical and unforgettable dining experience.
The Satori is an award-winning spa and will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The spa and treatments are all desert inspired and intriguingly exotic. You can choose from regular signature massages, facials, and body treatments to private cabana treatments with desert views.
If you want to get active before you hit the spa, there is a gym in this resort, too. It is compact, but it’s open 24 hours each day and you will find cardio and weight training machines, as well as free weights to use. There is a personal trainer available if you need one. You can also get creative with your exercise and go for a nature walk, test your skills in archery, ride horses, or bike ride.
The adorably named Aladdin’s Kids’ Club is a wonderland of activities for the little ones while you spend time in the spa, gym, or tan by the poolside bar.
Al Qasr
Last but not least is the Al Qasr, which translates to “the Palace.” If you’ve ever seen pictures, you’ll understand why. It is absolutely fascinating, inside and out. If you haven’t seen any pictures yet, take a minute to check out their website or search them on Instagram (although anything filtered won’t do it justice). This posh and beautifully designed resort is a sprawling scene across the sand at the Jumeirah Beach. The Al Qasr occupies two kilometers of private beach for the exclusive use of guests of the hotel.
- 292 rooms
- 8 restaurants and bars
- Talise Spa
- Talise Fitness Center
- Kids’ Club
Each of the rooms has a touch of elegant Arabian flair and a private patio. You can choose one with an ocean view for an even more picturesque stay.
There are some really great and popular dining options in this gorgeous resort. You can book a Friday brunch, enjoy live music and Lebanese by the pool, eat Thai surrounded by the gardens, or have a more laidback meal the North American inspired steakhouse, The Hide. The Koubba Bar also offers views of the Burj Al Arab from the terrace.
The majestic Talise Spa is tucked into the gardens. There are gorgeous relaxation areas for before and after your treatments. They offer a full range of services, healthy dishes for when you get hungry, a pool, and a private yoga studio.
The fitness center has all of the equipment you’ll need to stay on top of your fitness goals while you’re away from home, and they also offer fitness classes. You can take a Zumba class, Pilates, and more. The schedule for each group class can be found on their website in the Talise Fitness Center section. While you’re dancing away in the fitness center, your kids can enjoy Sinbad’s Kids’ Club by the pool.
What are the next best hotels in Dubai?
Now, we’ve covered the list of the top five, but maybe you want more options! Doing your research can help you find the one that best fits your personality, location choice, and individual budget. Here are more that are rated as the best hotels in Dubai to round out your options and make it a bit easier:
- One&Only The Palm Dubai
- Jumeirah Beach Hotel
- Raffles Dubai
- Armani Hotel Dubai
- Atlantis The Palm
- Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
- The Ritz-Carlton Dubai
- Palazzo Versace Dubai
- The Palace Downtown Dubai
What are some other ways to splurge once the hotel is booked?
Now that you’ve booked one of the best hotels in Dubai, you may be looking for some other ways to make your trip extra magical. Not to worry, there are plenty of options for exciting excursions and activities here! Whether you want a relaxing day of massages and facials or you want to experience life high above the skyline, you won’t be disappointed. Here are some visitor favorites:
- Rent a yacht with your fellow travelers to get a different view of Dubai’s shoreline
- Rent your dream car and take it on your adventures with you
- Get pampered at the Talise Ottoman Spa
- Enjoy a three-course lunch at the Al Maha Desert Resort
- Book a helicopter tour for yet another way to view Dubai
- Visit the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper
- Have drinks at Atmosphere on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper
- Search for treasures to take home at the Dubai mall
- Treat yourself and your travel companions to a fancy dinner
- See a show at the Dubai Opera House
Whatever activities you choose for this trip, you’re in for a vacation that is beautiful and unforgettable! And remember, whatever you don’t get to this time, you can just add it to your list for the next time you visit. After all, it’s nearly impossible to only visit Dubai once!
Resources:
https://www.shangri-la.com/dubai/shangrila/
https://www.anantara.com/en/qasr-al-sarab-abu-dhabi
https://www.jumeirah.com/Stay/Dubai/Jumeirah-Al-Qasr#DetailsExperienceCarousal
https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/luxury/articles/top-5-dubai-luxury-hotels
