Opposite Dubai Int'l Airport Terminal 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | (888) 551-4925
Seven-minute drive from the Dubai Airport
Free shuttles to the airport, Deira City Centre, and Festival Mall
Clean rooms with desks, flat-screen TVs, safes, and mini-fridges
Free buffet breakfast with hot and cold items
All-day restaurant and bar serving alcohol
Spacious 24-hour gym with cardio and weight-lifting equipment
24-hour business center with a few computers
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel
Free underground garage parking
Removed from major sights
Complaints of noise from airport and adjacent rooms
Room decor is dated and generic
Smoking allowed in some rooms (pro for some)
The Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport is a budget hotel located a seven-minute drive from the airport. The hotel provides free airport shuttles every 30 minutes, and daily shuttles to Deira City Centre and Festival Mall. Many guests stay here while on layovers or in town for business. The 381 rooms are generic and a bit dated -- think green carpets and basic light-wood furniture, but they come with mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, desks, and flat-screen TVs. All rates include hot and cold breakfast buffets, and access to a bright 24-hour fitness center. Lunch and dinner are served on-site, as are alcoholic beverages in the bar. On the downside, the hotel's removed from most major sights, noise issues may occur, and smoking is allowed in some areas. It's worth considering the more feature-packed Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai.
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Scene
Simple, generic Holiday Inn popular with layover travelers
The five-story Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport is located within a 10-minute free shuttle ride of the airport, and, as such, most travelers tend to be travelers with long layovers. Business travelers wanting to be near the airport are also frequent guests. Like most Holiday Inn Express hotels, the design is straightforward and chain-like, with earth-toned decor and generic artwork throughout. The only real pop of personality is a wall of black-and-white portraits of Hollywood stars such as Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor. Still, everything is well-maintained and sufficient for a place to rest between flights. However, travelers looking for a property close to the airport with a bit more offerings on-site should consider Millennium Airport Hotel.
Location
Close to Dubai Airport, but removed from Downtown and Jumeirah Beach
The Holiday Inn Express has an excellent location for travelers wanting to be close to Dubai International Airport, as it's just a seven-minute drive away. The hotel provides free shuttles every 30 minutes to and from the airport, with no reservation necessary. The hotel also provides daily shuttles to Festival Mall and Deira City Centre. However, it's removed from most tourist sights. Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, are a 15-minute drive away, while Mall of the Emirates and Jumeirah Beach are 20 minutes away. Dubai Marina is around 30 minutes away by car. The Emirates metro station is an eight-minute walk from the hotel.
Rooms
Generic rooms with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi
This Holiday Inn Express has 381 rooms with a generic, chain design. They're outfitted with moss-green carpeting and drapes, basic light-wood furniture -- including an all-in-one desk, wardrobe, and luggage stand -- and mauve bed runners. Abstract artwork hangs over the beds, tying the colors together. Some rooms have purple sofa beds. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and electric kettles alongside instant coffee and tea. Closets house electronic safes and hangers. Compact bathrooms have shower stalls, soap dispensers, and hairdryers. On the downside, some guests have complained of noise from adjacent rooms and the nearby airport. Additionally, 79 of the rooms allow smoking, which may be a pro of con for some, as cigarette smells can linger into hallways.
Features
All-day restaurant serving free breakfast, 24-hour gym, and free shuttles
All the expected amenities for a budget airport hotel are available here. Most guests appreciate the free hot and cold breakfast buffet, consisting of eggs, sausage, cereal, pastries, fruit, and yogurt. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner, while a bar with lots of couches and armchairs offers cocktails, beer, and wine. Travelers wanting to eat off-site can take the hotel's free nightly shuttle to Deira City Centre. Free airport shuttles are provided 24/7 approximately every 30 minutes. A spacious 24-hour fitness center has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of light, as well as stationary bikes, elliptical machines, treadmills, and weight-lifting equipment. The business center is open 24/7 as well, and it has three computers, but no printer. Five meeting rooms are on-site, and free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel.
