This is one of the top upscale hotels near Dubai International Airport. Notable features include a large, heated rooftop swimming pool, which has a hot tub and kiddy pool, poolside service with both alcohol and hookah pipes (rare for this neighborhood), and plane noise. Though it's a 10-minute ride to the airport, the hotel is a bit far from Dubai's usual tourist haunts and the surrounding area is not very nice for strolling. The rooms are large and modern; many have gigantic tubs and separate showers. Guests often prefer this hotel to the Best Western Premier Deira, which lacks an outdoor pool. Though the newer Hyatt Place Dubai nearby is perhaps a touch more stylish, it lacks the Crowne Plaza's spa. 

The Taj Palace Hotel certainly comes across well on paper; with a rooftop pool, five restaurants, and an on-site spa, this Dubai hotel is an impressive addition to the luxury Taj chain. Though while the architecture is impressively grand and rooms are super-spacious, the overall ambience can feel dated and conservative. Besides quick and easy access from the airport, the location doesn't offer much either, except for those doing business nearby. While this alcohol-free property is a reasonable choice for business travelers, vacationing couples hankering for somewhere special might want to look elsewhere, especially if they enjoy a glass of wine with their meal.