Dubai for one night
 

We have an overnight in Dubai on our way back from the Maldives. It is only one night, unfortunately. And, we don't even arrive in Dubai until about 2 p.m. and our flight leaves at 8:00 a.m. the next day. I'm thinking staying in the city is a better option given the short amount of time???? Any advice??? Am I wrong? Should we go to the beach area? If you recommend the city, what hotels would you suggest? Thanks.

Not very useful to spend time in going to the beach area, unless you are going to spend the afternoon on the beach. If yes, you may consider going to the Jumeirah area. There are plenty of hotels there.
If you want to make use of the afternoon to see something of Dubai, I would suggest you take a hotel close to the airport (eg Rotana Al Bustan), check in, drop your luggage and climb in a taxi to drive you to the Creek area (behind the Ruler's Court, not the Deira side but the Bur side). From there you can stroll towards the mouth of the creek, with some nice souks and old architecture on your way. Depends on what you want, really

I agree..not much sense in going to the beach. Just curious why you say Bur side over Deira side. The hotel I was looking into is on the Diera side...Thanks for the input.

Dubai is split into two parts by the Creek. The West side is Bur Dubai, the East side is Deira. The airport is on the Deira side, so the hotel I recommend as well. There is no problem for you to stay in Deira and take a taxi, cross the bridge and get off close to the Ruler's Court for a colourful and interesting stroll along the Creek. For lunch I can recommend the terrace restaurant of the Twin Towers building, on the Deira side of the Creek. Inexpensive Iranian buffet, very good and a great view over the Creek. Crossing of the Creek by abra, the little motor boats. The public ones cost one or two dirhams pp, if you want a private one that also takes you for a ride on the Creek, you can bargain the cost down to, say, 60-80 dirhams, depending on your skill in the matter and depending on demand of that particular moment.

Great. Thanks for the information and the restaurant suggestion! Just watching a story right now on the Burj Al Arab hotel. Can't afford to stay there, but I will visit. It said something about charging just to go into the hotel? Do you know?

Yup. 200 dirhams entrance fee. They deduct some meal expenses from that amount, but it is not really worth it. Go and have a look at the Burj from outside, and treat yourself on a cup of tea or so in the Mina al Salaam and Qasr hotels nextdoors. Much better than the kitchy interior of the Burj, which -by the way- on the outside IS a great and very elegant building.

Thanks again. If you think of anything else you recommend for our SHORT visit, I appreciate it. We are actually there for a 7 hour layover on the way to India so we will probably take a cab into town then too and grab some dinner.

If you go first for a walk on the Creek and then to the Burj + other hotels I talked about, ask the taxi driver on your way back to the hotel to drop you at the Mercato Shopping Mall. Have a look there, it's Venice and Florence reconstructed as a shopping mall. Seen nothing like it, I'm sure. It's not just one more shopping mall. Do not ask taxi drivers to wait for you, there are plenty available.
Good travels. Glad to be of help