Grand Millennium Dubai

Shiny, metallic, and modern from the outside, the Grand Millennium is classic and calm on the inside, with a colorful lobby full of fresh flowers and clusters of velvet armchairs, soft couches, Roman-style statues, and Arabic-inspired trinkets. Each of the restaurants is decorated according to its theme: Toshi Japanese restaurant is sleek, with of a lounge area of couches and love seats, neat rectangular tables, sweeping views of the city through many glass windows, and Japanese characters written across the ceiling; the Atrium’s centerpiece is an oversize gazebo held up by Roman columns, with a beautiful chandelier hanging above and several metal trees and lamps surrounding the outer tables. The Crystal Bar, with live jazz music, is wood-paneled and adorned with chandeliers, while the Belgian Beer Café has a pub-like atmosphere with simple, bench-like wooden tables reminiscent of a European beer hall. The pool, though shaded, has panoramic views of the surrounding city from its roof deck perch. With its many facilities, restaurants, and apartment-style room options, the hotel is popular with both business travelers and families.

This hotel is in Dubai's media district, further down the Sheikh Zayed Road from the action but within a five-minute walk of the Internet City Metro Station. From here, the Mall of Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall can both be reached in about 10 minutes driving or on the metro, and the Financial and World Trade centers in less than 20 minutes. The hotel is within easy driving access of the Emirates and Montgomerie Golf Clubs, too, both of which can be reached within 10 minutes. The Palm, the beach, Wild Wadi, and Burj Al Arab can also be reached in 10 minutes by car or less than 20 by metro. The airport is a 30-minute drive or 40-minute metro ride away.

The Grand Millennium Dubai has 343 rooms, all spacious, modern, and decorated in a comfortable chain-standard style; they range in size from Superior Rooms on the low end to two-bedroom apartments and presidential suites on the high end. The apartments are especially elegant, with hardwood floors, tiled full kitchens with all the requisite modern appliances, a washing machine, and full separate living room with sofas and dark wood furniture. All rooms have a neutral color palette of beiges and browns. Even the smallest rooms have plenty of space, a sitting area near the large window, a wooden desk and dresser, a flat-screen TV, a kettle for coffee and tea, minibar, and safe. Bathrooms are large, with shower/tub combinations, marble tile, bathrobes, and slippers. Wi-Fi access in rooms is available for an extra fee or negotiated into room price, depending on the rate.

With six restaurants and bars -- including a Japanese sushi bar, Belgian beer hall, Italian cafe, jazz bar with live music, and poolside cafe -- the Grand Millennium Millennium offers nearly everything necessary for a longer term stay, especially in combination with a kitchen-equipped apartment and the hotel's rooftop pool and hot tub, state-of-the-art fitness center, and small movie theater. The spa offers a range of massages and body treatments. There's also plenty of event and meeting space. There are shuttles to and from the Internet City Metro stop and nearby malls, as well as on-site parking and Internet access for a fee. The breakfast buffet, though expansive, is also not included in the room price. Room service and concierge services are available 24-hours a day and airport shuttles can be arranged. There are also on-site laundry facilities, dry cleaning, and babysitting services available.