On being welcomed into the Shangri-La’s impressive lobby by the famed ‘Essence of Shangri-La’ scent that is the signature fragrance across all their hotels, an immediate feeling of calm anticipation descends.

The atrium lobby is bright and airy with smiling staff and an artful display of white orchids. Around the lobby are the hotel’s restaurants and cafes, including the award-wining Hoi An, surely the best Vietnamese restaurant in Dubai.

We had a deluxe room with a view of the world’s tallest building, the 828m Burj Khalifa, and the surrounding skyscrapers of the buzzing Downtown district. The earthy tones of the room were offset with stunning local art works and the layout was thoughtful and practical. The toiletries are good quality and the fluffy bathrobes perfect for lounging around in.

The hotel has a great gym with a good selection of free weights and high-tech cardio equipment. There are also tennis and squash courts with racquets available to borrow at no cost, along with regular fitness classes on a paid basis.

Shangri-La has a great location, a short walk to the metro station which is only one stop from Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, three of the city’s biggest attractions. It’s also within easy reach of old Dubai and Dubai Creek.

One of the hotel’s highlights is the breezy 4th floor pool which has to have one of the best pool views in the city. Recline on comfortable loungers and gaze up at a perfectly framed Burj Khalifa and you really couldn’t be anywhere else in the world but Dubai.

Ibn Battuta, the 14th-century wanderer widely recognized as one of the world’s greatest travellers, would probably feel quite at home in the Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate — although he would definitely be unaccustomed to such luxurious surroundings!

The well-appointed guest rooms are tastefully decorated with influences from Battuta’s native Morocco, with terracotta-coloured soft furnishings, mosaic-tiled bathrooms and Arabian lanterns. The suites are tastefully themed after the destinations the great explorer visited, with inspiration from regions as diverse as Andalusia, Russia and China. All accommodations have the amenities you would expect from a 5-star hotel such as free wifi, LCD TV, mini bar, and tea- and coffee-making facilities.

The hotel is next door to one of Dubai’s most-loved malls, Ibn Battuta Mall, which is, again, themed around the famed traveller. It’s also a short walk from Dubai’s highly efficient air-conditioned metro.

Restaurants in the hotel are not to be missed and showcase cuisines from Arabia, India, China and the Mediterranean. Dubai is blessed with an abundance of excellent Indian restaurants but if you taste the offerings from Chor Bazaar’s three tandoori ovens you’ll quickly understand why it beat all the competition and was voted BBC Good Food’s ‘Best Indian Restaurant in Dubai’.
Guests at Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate have the best of both worlds: the convenience of a city hotel and access to the beach via the hotel’s beach club. There are free transfers and entry to the up-market Oceana Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah. So, when you’ve finished exploring the city and shopping, you can relax with a cocktail and dip your toes in the Arabian Gulf on one of the world’s largest man-made islands.

Sofitel Dubai Downtown is a super stylish hotel which is great for both business travellers and holidaymakers. With three of Dubai’s top attractions – Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain and Dubai Mall – on its doorstep, and a location only 20 minutes from Dubai airport, it makes a perfect stopover hotel. It’s also only a few minutes from the business district of DIFC and the convention centre.

The Sofitel’s rooms are contemporary and funky with swirling patterned carpets and soft tones interrupted by splashes of vivid lime greens or, in the best suites, deep purples and reds. All rooms have free wifi, Nespresso machines, Bose Wave sound systems, and LED high-definition TVs.

The luxurious black-tiled bathrooms come with separate shower and bath tub, generous supplies of toiletries, and plush robes. Rooms have a spacious wardrobe/dressing area with full-length mirror.

Buffet breakfast is served in Les Cuisines, one of Sofitel’s chic restaurants. It offers a wide range of hot and cold options and friendly, prompt service. Alongside all the usual buffet breakfast fare there are great healthy options like detox juice shots, soya milk, gojji berries, nuts and smoothies. There’s even a made-to-order falafel station.

The hotel’s infinity pool overlooks the towers of Downtown Dubai and makes for a very relaxing spot pre- or post- exploring.

 
Set in one of Dubai’s most vibrant and popular areas, the Intercontinental Dubai Marina is a cool, chic destination for leisure and business travellers alike. Positioned a block back from the beach and The Walk, a buzzing mile-long area of restaurants and shops, it’s served by a tram station just outside and a metro within walking distance when the weather allows.

The hotel’s 238 rooms are contemporary and sleek while still being welcoming and comfortable. My room had a side view over the Marina and the pool from the windows which filled one wall of the room. This, together with the glass wall between the bedroom and bathroom (with retractable privacy screens) gave the room a much appreciated feeling of light and space.

Rooms are thoughtfully designed with flat screen TVs, free wifi, well set up desk area, mini bar and tea and coffee making facilities.

The second floor pool catches any breeze blowing over the Marina and has plenty of shade available if the Dubai sun gets too much. Pool staff will happily move the pool furniture around ’til you find the perfect spot.

The hotel offers nine bars and restaurants, including a gin bar, a deli and a fine dining restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, as well as the international restaurant, Accents, where the very good breakfast buffet is served. The outdoor bar, Urban Lounge, is the place to be in the cooler months, sipping an evening drink surrounded by the twinkling high rise towers of the Marina.

The hotel staff are amongst the friendliest and most natural in the city. A real pleasure to interact with, they help make the Intercontinental one of the best choices in the Marina area.