teatravel

My son and a few PC volunteers from Armenia want to spend 5-7 days in January 2006. They all are in their 20's. They are looking for some inexpensive lodgings/hostels near the beach in Dubai. Any recommendation?

sandi

I cannot recommend any inexpensive hotel for you, but you can check the Emirate Air website:

http://www.emirates.com/

where there are listings of hotels in town and out towards the beaches. On this site, you'll find Visa requirements which differ depending on the passport a visitor is carrying.

Also, do a Google search and you'll find other websites that offer any number of accommodations in all price ranges... hotel booking companies.

Hope this helps somewhat.

teatravel

Thank you sandi. I am very surprised when I keyed the word "Dubai" in this forum, there are less than 100 threads about Dubai. I know this city is very expensive just by looking at their ads in CNN. It seems like they cater to the wealthy travellers and business people. When a city has 6* and 7* hotels that no other major cities have, one wonders how expensive it can be.

sandi

There are no 6* or 7* hotels... it's all PR. When you consider there are few real 5* hotels, don't believe the print media about any higher number.

Conde Nast, believe two issues back had an articles about hotel ratings... very interesting and pretty much true. You'd be surprised just how shoddy some highly rated hotels are when you'd expect otherwise.

Granted many well-marketed hotels and ads on CNN or other venues make Dubai seem expensive, I would suggest you do a "google" search, where I found some sites (other than Emirates Air) that have hotel rates that are (surprisingly) reasonable.

Seems even downtown hotels have pools, pools and more pools; restaurants and more restaurants and all kinds of activities. Your son and his friends can then do a day trip out to the "real" beach or venture out on a desert safari. Check further.

Travelnick

In January, you will be hard pressed to find cheap accommodation of good quality in Dubai - and beach hotels will be the toughest of the lot. Sandi is spot on, 6 star etc is the exercise of the greatest city PR campaign (ongoing) ever. Some of these hotels are very good (eg Grand Hyatt, Emirates Tower) but Bangkok's compare exceptionally favourably and are much better value.
While some downtown cheap hotels do have pools, some of them are very shoddy. Places like 4 Point Sheraton or Holiday Inn may be worthwhile having a look - they have a small pool and it is OK.
As to beaches in Dubai - there are limited public beaches. Much of the coast line is controlled by the expensive hotels or clubs such as Dubai Ladies Club, so public beaches can be pretty busy. Jumeirah Beach Park is OK - with low cost entry. No cost beaches near Dubai are not as well kept.

winniep

January 4th is the start of the Dubai Shopping Festival which will make any level of accommodations hard to come by. Most accommodation on or near the beach is costly. I've heard that there is a youth hostel in Dubai. Where ever your son stays he can get a taxi easily and their cheap.

As far as beaches, there's a simply public beach right past the Jumeirah Beach Park where alot of expats go or where the old Wollongong University used to be.

Good luck- the cost of living is going up in the Emirates. Check the'Time Out Dubai' which in online for more details.

Fabio

search on the web for accomodation in Sharjah, just 20 miles from Dubai but much cheaper.