Al Rolla St, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | (888) 710-7049
Contemporary, reasonably priced choice in Bur Dubai
Within walking distance of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Large, stylish digs with minibars, flat-screen TVs, and modern bathrooms
Pretty rooftop pool with lounger-lined terrace
Wellness facilities include a workout room and small spa
Dining options include an Indian eatery and sports bar
Disco with DJs and live music appeals to night owls
Bur Dubai location lacks sightseeing appeal
Potential for noise from on-site club
Can get overtaken by tour groups
Some guests have complained of spotty service
Wi-Fi is free throughout but unreliable
Hands down, the best features of this three-and-a-half-pearl property in Bur Dubai are its 119 contemporary rooms: all of which are outfitted with the requisite modern conveniences. They're stylishly appointed, affordably priced, and, better yet, big. Otherwise, though, there’s little to lure travelers here. The neighborhood, while in walking distance of evocative “Old Dubai” sites, is downmarket, and the hotel itself is rather anonymous looking. Similarly, its amenities -- including a rooftop pool, workout room, spa, and multiple eateries -- might seem impressive enough in some destinations, but they don’t hit the high bar set by Dubai’s famously glitzy hotels. Ditto for the Raintree Rolla’s level of service, which can be negatively impacted by tour groups. But Dubai offers plenty of other options at this pearl level to consider, such as the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort or Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa.
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Scene
An affordable upper-middle-range option that’s popular with tour groups
This contemporary eight-story hotel in budget-friendly Bur Dubai opens unceremoniously onto a ho-hum street. But the lobby inside is a striking space full of marble and mirrors with metal-trimmed columns for added bling. Admittedly it lacks the “wow factor” that a soaring atrium or indoor waterfall might bring. That’s OK, though, because the Raintree Rolla doesn’t profess to be an ultra-glam hotel. It’s just an attractive, reasonably equipped spot promising big rooms at affordable rates, and that makes it popular with tour groups -- particularly Indian ones. As a result, many of its offerings (from the food in its main restaurant to the channels on its in-room TVs) are geared to that demographic; the intermittent presence of large groups may also account for the uneven service some guests have reported.
Location
In a bland commercial area but within walking distance of “Old Dubai” attractions
The Raintree Rolla sits on a glitz-less street in Bur Dubai -- a low-rise commercial district on the south side of Dubai Creek. In terms of convenience, the location isn’t ideal for business folk. Many tourists will be unimpressed, too, although those interested in authenticity will appreciate its proximity to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood: home to Al Fahidi Fort (where you’ll find the Dubai Museum) and the beautifully restored Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, it's one of Dubai’s oldest quarters. The namesake metro station, an eight-minute walk from the hotel, offers access to other city sites; time-conscious visitors, however, will more likely grab a cab. - 10-minute walk to Al Fahidi Metro Station
Rooms
Comfortable, generously proportioned choices with contemporary style
Large, well-designed lodgings are the star attraction here. In Deluxe and Executive Rooms, dark streamlined furnishings, bold patterned carpeting and russet accents lend the neutral decor a handsome modern look, while black-and-white photos of “Old Dubai” give a nod to the neighborhood’s past. Rooms in both classes are air-conditioned and feature laptop safes, irons and ironing boards, tea/coffee-making facilities, minibars, LCD TVs with international channels (many of them Indian), and free (if somewhat unreliable) Wi-Fi. Best of all, rooms are sizable enough to include ample closet space and either a pair of armchairs or loveseats with space to spare. Suites add a separate living room; however, aqua accessories and in-your-face upholstery make this category less aesthetically pleasing. Sleek tiled bathrooms are big across the board and boast combination shower/tubs with rainfall and hand-held heads or, in the case of suites, soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Over-sized vanity mirrors, bathrobes, and bidets are welcome extras.
Features
Expect a rooftop pool, wellness facilities, and multiple dining options
Raintree Rolla has a solid list of features, but it doesn't touch the bombastic offerings of other hotels in Dubai. The hotel's top amenity, literally and figuratively, is its round rooftop pool: a blue mosaic-tile number edged with striped loungers and sun umbrellas. If it's overrun by tour groups, travelers can head to the well-equipped workout room or the small spa with a sauna, hot tub and treatment rooms to seek out alternate forms of relaxation. There are multiple dining and drinking options as well. Most notable are Mystic and the Bulls Pub, both on the lobby level: the latter is a moody modern sports bar that serves pub grub, while the former is an Indian restaurant with a bright but uninspiring contemporary look (it serves a buffet breakfast at extra charge, though the surplus of Indian dishes may not suit Western tastes). One floor up is The Box, a separately managed club where DJs spin tunes until 3 am and live musicians occasionally perform -- light sleepers in the rooms above should consider themselves forewarned. Other on-site perks include an around-the-clock reception desk; concierge, currency exchange and laundry/dry-cleaning services; 24-hour room service; a gift shop; free parking in the basement; and free Wi-Fi throughout.
