Coral Dubai Deira Hotel

Guests at the Coral Dubai Deira are a mixed bag of tourists and business travelers. The hotels only public spaces are its restaurants and apart from the Indian restaurant, which has ornate style and a color palette heavy on red, they are minimally designed. There is a pagoda complete with fountain in the 24-hour cafe, though it look a bit out of place. Families report that the pool is a big hit and is one of the only rooftop pools in the area. The surrounding streets also have restaurants and shops. For a short trip this hotel should be adequate, as long as proximity to sights west of Dubai Creek are not a priority. 

The Coral Dubai Deira Hotel is on the eastern side of the Dubai Creek, just a 12-minute drive from Dubai International. It is convenient for those interested in spending time in Deira, a busy commercial district and the oldest part of the city. This neighborhood has fallen out of favor in recent years, but is still a secondary destination for business travelers. Many leisure and business visitors prefer to stay to the west of Dubai Creek, along Jumeirah Beach or Sheikh Zayed Road. The Downtown Dubai complex, home to landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa -- the world's tallest building -- is off of Sheikh Zayed Road and a 20-minute drive away. It is nearly 30 mintues from Dubai Marina Mall and the Wild Wadi Water Park. The hotel provides a free shuttle to Al Mamzar Beach Park, about 20 minutes to the north. Jumeirah Beach is about a 20-minute drive to the south. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from a subway line and 15 minutes from another, though both walks are along some very busy roads. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the Deira City Shopping Center on a fixed schedule and some guests report that the shopping and eating surrounding the hotel is pleasant. 

The rooms at the Coral Dubai Deira are minimally decorated. Brown, maroon and wood are featured throughout and nothing is terribly stylized or modern. Bathrooms are quite dated with teal tile and flower vignettes on the walls, though some of the suite bathrooms have been updated. The Club Room we saw still had a wall-fastened hose hairdryer. Fruit baskets and newspapers are provided to rooms above the most basic level and there is free Wi-Fi throughout. Other amenities include robes and slippers, minibars, and tea kettles. Deluxe Rooms -- the entry-level category -- start at a spacious 33 square meters (355 square feet). The main difference between the room categories is size; Junior Suites and Executive suites have separate living rooms.

The pool at the Coral Dubai Deira is a favorite with guests and is fairly large for an airport hotel. Though the deck chairs, tile and even the pools themselves are dated, they are quite well-maintained. The view from the pool or hot tub is expansive in three directions. The hotel's Indian restaurant, Rasoi is well-known and has a great reputation, plus some seriously splendid red and gold decor. The hotel does not have a liquor license, which may contribute to its competitive price. The 24-hour Nafoora coffee shop serves coffee, juice, sandwiches and a salad bar, plus free tea in the afternoons for all guests. The hotel gym is reasonably sized with wood floors and windows, though the cardio and weight training machines aren't the newest models -- though the large changing areas, massage room, and wood sauna are pluses.