Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha

This property, especially in the realm of Holiday Inns, makes a striking first impression. Set in a modern building, the lobby is a towering sun-filled atrium that is lined with marble, while a fountain bubbles and guest floors tower overhead. There are several low, sleek couches in the lobby, though the space almost feels too large to relax in, but there are plenty of spots to linger in any of the restaurants or bars off the lobby, including Lounge @Barsha, with its glass replica of the Burj Khalifa. There are nine dining and drinking spots throughout the hotel, though Gharana and The Royal Buddha are the stars, with each drawing guests from the hotel and around Dubai to their distinctive regional cuisines and their chic, if slightly over-the-top, settings. The hotel sees a mix of families and couples, though business travelers make up a large percentage of the guests here as well. 

On a busy street in Dubai’s Al Barsha district, the hotel is central to many of Dubai's landmarks, with the massive Mall of the Emirates and its indoor winter park only 10 minutes away on foot. The Sharaf DG Metro station is a three-minute walk from the hotel, and trips to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, take about 30 minutes door to door. The metro can also be used to reach the posh shops lining The Walk, near public Marina Beach -- about a 30-minute trip (it takes about 20 minutes by car). The vibrant souks of Al Ras are about 25 minutes away by car, or 45 minutes using the metro, while the metro also reaches Dubai International Airport in 40 minutes, or 25 minutes in a taxi, depending on traffic. 

Guest rooms are contemporary, with interesting visual elements and a hexagonal motif repeated everywhere, from light fixtures to massive dark wood headboards to some light-orange carpets. Wall art is abstract and attractive, even if it isn't thoroughly integrated into the rooms. Standard Rooms are large, starting at 334 square feet, and have a small seating area along with good twin or king beds lined with colorful bed runners. All rooms include 32-inch flat-screen TVs, desks with ergonomic chairs, safes, minibars, and electric kettles with coffee and tea. Executive Rooms are a bit larger and offer in-room perks like daily newspapers, iPod dock alarm clocks, and turndown service. The hotel also has One- and Two-Bedroom Suites, which include attractive light-patterned carpets and separate living spaces with large work areas, and chairs and loveseats that have simple, modern silhouettes. Some of the decor differs slightly in Suites, including smaller headboards and brighter wall art, but rooms are still inviting. Bathrooms are spacious and clean, with granite vanities, bathtub/shower combos, marble tiled floors, decorative light fixtures, and a full line of toiletries. Executive Rooms have terrycloth bathrobes and slippers as well.

The hotel has a window-lined fitness center with cardio and weight machines and a slim outdoor pool with hot tub area and lounge chairs, though the view of the neighboring expressway isn’t inspiring, nor is the outdoor pool. There is an on-site entertainment room with foosball, TVs, and plenty of seating, even if its graphic mojito design scheme seems odd for such a casual, booze-free room. The hotel also has nine restaurants and bars on-site, including The Royal Buddha, a Thai restaurant, and Gharana, which serves great Indian street food-inspired dishes alongside live music, and draws guests from around Dubai. Xennya Terrace, the hotel’s rooftop bar, has stylish white-and-blue tents and offers cocktails and shisha pipes, while on-site hair styling services, as well as massage and spa treatments, are available at Royz Beauty Salon and Bodyworks. Club Floor guests have access to the Club Lounge with free continental breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails, snacks and free limited laundry services. There are seven meeting rooms on-site, and the hotel has a business center with printing and faxing facilities, in addition to free Wi-Fi throughout. With 24 hours' notice, babysitting services can be arranged, through a local agency, and room service is available late into the night.