This is a nice hotel located in the city. It has just turned 10 years old, which makes it one of the older ones in Dubai. It is still in good condition with an attractive foyer, nice roof pool and a selection of restaurants.
We booked a non-smoking, double deluxe room. However, we were given a twin room. We asked to change, and although we were told this was not possible, we were quickly moved to another room. We later realised that it was a smoking room. Fortunately the room did not smell, but we would have appreciated it if the hotel told us first. The room was nicely decorated and had lovely bed linen, although the bathroom was due for refurbishment.
If you want to stay in Deira, this hotel is perfect. However, you would be best to stay on Jumeriah Beach if staying more than two nights, as most attractions are out that side. It is only the Gold Souk and the airport that are in Deira.
Traffic in Dubai is bad, and it takes anywhere between 30 mins and 2 hours to get to Jumeriah Beach from the hotel. Taxis are charged by the distance travelled, not time, and are reasonably cheap. From the Metropolitan Palace to the Burj-Al-Arab is approx 45 AED. Always take local taxis - the white hotel taxis are expensive (we were quoted 75 AED to the Burj). It can be a battle to get the concierge to flag local taxi rather than the hotel taxis, but be persistent - we saw many guests request local taxis.
The hotel runs a shuttle to its sister hotel, the Habatoor Grand Hotel on Jumeriah Beach. This is a fantastic hotel. The fee for the day is 70 AED, but it is definitely worth it.
There is no shuttle to any malls. However there are a couple of small malls within walking distance which have food courts, and the large Deira City Centre mall is a 15 minute walk away.
We paid £190 per night at the Metropolitan Place - it was overpriced but cheaper than other 5 star hotels in November.
The only gripe we had was that their website said that deluxe rooms receive a bowl of fresh fruit daily. However, we had to call and request this every single day. When I raised this with reception, they said they knew the website said this, but it was not their policy to do it. If you ring room service and ask for it, they bring it up immediately.
Everyone says the Burj-Al-Arab is a must-see. We were skeptical, but had a fantastic night there. We booked the Chocolate Fountain, and were able to visit the Skyview bar afterwards for cocktails and the view. Highly recommend it!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
most likely
I recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Older travelers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Great pool scene, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Shopping