Admiral Plaza Hotel

You get what you pay for at the Admiral Plaza Hotel, and while it's one of the more reasonably priced options in the city center, there are some tradeoffs. Rooms and common space feel small and cramped, and the decor is dated throughout the hotel. The lobbies in the Admiral Plaza Hotel have the same old-fashioned decor that appears throughout the rest of the property, consisting of dark wood paneling, sober colors like maroon and brown, and lots of gray marble work. When details like sagging furniture throughout the lobby are added to the mix, it all feels a bit downmarket and tends to be crowded and busy. Those facts aside, there are some highlights, including the on-site Indian restaurant, The Royal Express, which is modeled after an ornate train carriage and is a well-liked feature with previous guests. Given its location and wallet-friendly rates, the hotel is popular with both business travelers and families who don't mind being removed from Dubai's glitzier waterfront neighborhoods. It's especially popular with South Asian travelers.

The Admiral Plaza Hotel is located in the historic Bur Dubai district, which has a handful of markets, restaurants, cafes, and forts that make for a fine afternoon exploring. However, it can be busy with both pedestrian and street traffic. The Meena Bazaar shopping district is about a seven-minute walk from the hotel, and the historical Bastakiya neighborhood is a 15-minute walk. Sites like the Dubai World Trade Centre are a 15-minute car ride away, and Dubai Creek is a 12-minute drive from the hotel. The Admiral Plaza is located in an older area of Dubai and it's not exactly the towering metropolis-like area that many guests may be seeking. Reaching the glitzier parts of the city will require a cab or a ride on the metro -- the closest station is on the Green Line at Al Fahidi, which is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It's a 20-minute drive to Jumeirah Beach Park, and a half-hour car ride to the Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort. Expect a 40-minute metro ride to the Burj Khalifa. Trips to the airport are easy from the Admiral, and take only 15 minutes by taxi or 25 minutes by metro.

The rooms tend to be on the smaller side, but are reasonable enough for a shorter stay. They don't always have great views, often looking out toward other buildings, an enclosed courtyard, or busy streets. While everything is clean, the style could use an update, much like the rest of the hotel. Decor includes thick, dark red curtains on the windows, dark wood furniture with plenty of nicks and scratches, and yellow-orange walls. Other rooms, mainly larger suites, have a gold and dark red motif, and include ornate rugs and an extra table and chairs, making them a bit more stuffy. Large headboards have small reading lamps connected to them, and all rooms have a work desk. Other standard features include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, electric kettles, and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are also on the smaller side and the mismatched blue tiling plus discolored grout and drop-tile ceilings make them look in need of an overhaul. It's worth noting that rooms facing the neighborhood's busy streets may pick up noise from traffic.

While the Admiral Plaza has a cramped, dated atmosphere, it offers similar features to most three-pearl hotels in Dubai. One of the hotel's highlights is its Indian restaurant, which resembles an ornate train carriage. It's an impressive sight, and serves all three meals as well as 24-hour room service. The menus are well-liked by previous guests. The hotel also has a second restaurant and a coffee shop. Pool tables are set up in the hotel's lobby, but the crowded, cramped atmosphere doesn't encourage guests to hang out and mingle. There's also a small pool and fitness room, including sauna and steam room. For guests needing to get work done, there is a business center with computers as well as free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. The hotel also offers a board room that seats up to 18 people, and a theater-style "Crystal Hall," which accommodates up to 75 guests. The multilingual staff and 24-hour currency exchange is great for guests coming from all corners of the world, and the hotel's babysitting service accommodates visiting families.