Armada BlueBay

Armada BlueBay is housed in the middle of three blue skyscrapers, each part of the Armada group. Guests are welcomed into the lobby, which includes high ceilings, shiny tiled floors, white pleather sofas, light wooden veneer walls, and tucked away reception desks. The large floor-to-ceiling mirror on the one wall makes the room appear larger than it is. A traditional Arabic set-up with red cushions and Arabic coffee sits just outside the front entrance. Despite its fairly recent opening in 2014, the hotel is already starting to appear dated. The hallways are dark with beige pattered carpeted floors and wallpapered walls. Level 1, the hotel's all-day dining restaurant, resembles a canteen with unimpressive decor. The adjacent sports bar is a bit more lively, though still lacking in character. The best part of the hotel, the lively and character-filled basement restaurants, are all third-party owned -- though, still a major draw. Guests are mostly leisure travelers, and outpatients of the neighboring health clinic.

Armada BlueBay is located in a complex of three skyscrapers, sitting between a residential building and a health clinic. Its location has uninterrupted views of the park, lake, Marina, and Emirates Hills. Jumeirah Lakes Towers Park is six minutes on foot and includes a kids' playground, running tracks, and several surrounding restaurants, takeaway joints, bars, and shops. Business areas like Media City and Internet City are as little as a 10-minute drive to the north, depending on traffic. Dubai Marina Mall is a 12-minute drive away. The Walk, a strip of trendy shops along the Marina, is a 14-minute drive from the hotel. JBR Beach, a popular free beach in Dubai which has several restaurants, takeaway spots, and an outdoor market, is a 15-minute drive away. Downtown Dubai, including Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa, is slightly further out, taking at least 30 minutes by car. The Damac Properties Metro Station is a 13-minute walk away. Dubai International Airport is just over 30 minutes by car. The hotel offers a free shuttle to Marina Mall and JBR Beach.

The 350 rooms at Armada BlueBay are contemporary and slightly generic, outfitted in a beige and purple or beige and blue color scheme. The beige armchairs with pattered cushions, purple curtains, and wooden furniture are starting to look shabby and could do with a refresh. The Premium Rooms (from floor 10 and up) are fresher with a blue color scheme, though they still feature rather boring, generic interiors. Premium Suites feature separate dining and living rooms with a sleeper sofa, as well as an additional guest bathroom. Amenities in all rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, tea- and- coffee-making facilities, telephones, work desks, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Irons and ironing boards are available upon request. Bathrooms include shower/tub combos, hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, and generic toiletries. Bathrobes and slippers are provided. Just over half of the rooms have balconies, and all feature clear views of either the park and lake, the Marina, or Emirates Hills. Unusual for Dubai, there are no smoking rooms available -- though the faint smell of smoke in the hallways shows that not all guests abide by this rule. 

Features at Armada BlueBay cover the usual list for properties in this category. A buffet breakfast with both international and local Arabic fare is served each morning, though it comes for a fee. The same restaurant, Level 1, serves a buffet lunch and a la carte dinner -- again, with both international and local cuisine. The adjacent sports bar, Pictures, serves typical bar fare including barbecue Thursdays and happy hour drink specials. Nola (New Orleans style Jazz bar), Mythos (Greek Restaurant), and Axe House (artisan restaurant) are situated in the hotel's basement -- all are operated by third-party management.There is a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool with surrounding terrace featuring sun loungers, parasols, and terrace bar. Armada Women Centre and Spa, in the adjacent building, features mostly medical spa treatments (just for women) in large treatment rooms. The hotel's fitness center is quite spacious, though it has dated Real Fitness cardio and weight-training machines. Free towels and water are provided. The hotel's conference room, which can also be used for meetings, has capacity for up to 150 guests. Wi-Fi throughout, on-site parking, and a shuttle to Dubai Marina Mall and JBR Beach are free features.