Golden Sands Hotel Apartments

Inconspicuous and winding through backroads of Bur Dubai, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments are difficult to distinguish from the surrounding buildings. The various blocks, spread out over several streets, are rather charmless and drab. This is a functional place to stay, providing spacious, if dated, apartments for business and leisure travelers. You'll see details like overstuffed leather seating, mid-tone wood furniture, and bland abstract art in the few common spaces throughout the property. While there aren't many extras, most features are handy for those here on business or for longer stays, including a restaurant, gym, and multiple pools. As such, you won't generally see many people milling about and socializing -- in fact, it feels much more like living in a condo than being on holiday. The guests vary from block to block, some blocks are for very short vacation stays, whereas other blocks have long-term residents. 

Located along the anonymous backstreets in Bur Dubai, near Al Mankhool Road, the Golden Sands Hotel Apartments are in the heart of old Dubai. The location is not particularly attractive, but not unpleasant either. The streets are perfectly safe for walking around, but you will come across some busy main roads. There are nearby shopping malls, cafes, and restaurants, but not a lot of tourist sights. The closest metro stations are about 15 minutes away on foot. Otherwise, it's a 10-minute drive to the historic Al Bastakiya neighborhood and the Dubai Museum, and about a seven-minute drive to the Meena Bazaar shopping district. Those wanting a taste of the hyper-city style for which Dubai is known will need to head elsewhere. Expect a 20-minute drive to Dubai Creek and the financial district, and 30 minutes to sights like the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. The city's best beaches, including Jumeirah Beach Residence and The Walk, are also about a 30-minute drive from the apartments. Overall, this isn’t the most attractive location, but it's a good spot for easy access to the airport -- the latter only takes 10 minutes to reach by car or taxi.

Each of the 750 units at Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, which range from studios to multi-bedroom apartments, are a bit dated and have a generic look. Decor includes plaid curtains, patterned area rugs, plaid pillows, and mid-tone wood furniture from the early 2000s, making the apartments seem a bit old-fashioned. There are colorful abstract paintings on the walls, though they seem out of place with the more casual, country decor. Each apartment has plenty of closet and storage space for longer stays. Most apartments have a desk and chair with a vanity mirror, two couches, and a coffee table. While outdated in appearance, the rooms come with a flat-screen TV, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. There's also a washer/dryer plus full kitchens that feature full refrigerators, microwaves, and ranges, though there's no oven. Bathrooms are cramped, and have either tiled shower stalls or shower/tub combos, but frequently lack much counter space. They include a bidet, toiletries, and towels as well. It's worth noting that some rooms will pick up traffic noise from the busy downtown streets. 

Given the Golden Sands Hotel Apartments' low cost, the property predictably lacks many extras. While the hotel isn't within an easy walk to the beach, they do run a free shuttle, though the schedule is limited. There are three pools at the hotel, all of which are pleasant, but some of which are hemmed in by buildings and a far cry from the glitzy hotel pools found in other parts of the city. The gym is quite large, and includes modern cardio and weight-training equipment. Access is free, and it also has ping-pong tables and a racquetball court. Breakfast isn't included with room rates, but gets solid marks from previous guests and features a number of international dishes. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, and room service is available around the clock. In addition, guests can pay for access to the Executive Lounge, where there's free breakfast, along with computers and printing facilities. The property does have a tour desk for booking desert safaris, dune bashing, dinner cruises, city tours, and swimming with dolphins. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and parking is also free.