A Guide to Hotels in Dubai

Fodor's described the hotel scene in Dubai by labeling it the home of "the world's most exciting hospitality industry," with over 100 four- and five-star hotels in operation. Some of those Dubai hotels are mega-stars in the international hotel industry, ostentatiously claiming six- and even seven-star ratings. However, amid all the glitz of one of the world's hottest hostelry scenes, Dubai still has some modest, reasonably priced hotel options.

Arabian Courtyard and Spa
Perched over the Al Fahidi Fort and the Bastakia Quarter and Creek, the Arabian Courtyard and Spa is one of Dubai's more reasonably priced hotel options. The exterior is something of a letdown, as it is essentially a gray-brown concrete block with some Arabic touches put on as an afterthought. The interior is a different story, however, with rooms elegantly appointed with dark-wood, Arab-styled furniture. Rounding out the picture is a full range of modern amenities and a helpful staff.

Burj Al Arab
Set in a 1,053-foot tower, the Burj Al Arab is an exercise in Dubai-style conspicuous consumption. Located on an artificial island, the Burj Al Arab's sail-shaped building not only is among the tallest hotels in the world, but it is also among the most expensive and is one of a few hostelries laying claim to "seven-star" status. Guests are greeted at the airport with a bouquet of roses, driven to the hotel in a Rolls Royce, and then waited upon by a private butler throughout their stay. When it comes to over-the-top luxury and service, the Burj Al Arab has few peers in either Dubai or the world.

Grosvenor House
A Fodor's Choice that made the "Conde Nast Traveller" list of Dubai hotel picks and earned an "Exceptional" rating from Frommer's, Grosvenor House is one of Dubai's top-rated hotels. With its public spaces combining contemporary design with Arabic flourishes, the hotel is among the most stylish in the city. The result is that the hotel doubles as a hot spot among Dubai's wealthy 20- and 30something Arabs, making it one of the city's poshest social centers. The guest rooms are thoroughly Euro-modern in design, and packed with up-to-date features such as plasma TVs.

Raffles Dubai
Set in a concrete, steel and glass pyramid, the Raffles Dubai is a fixture amid the ancient Egyptian-inspired buildings of Dubai's Wafi City development. The guest rooms and suites are spacious and decorated in a modernist Arab fashion that Fodor's labeled "one-of-a-kind." Among its amenities, the Raffles is endowed with its own botanical garden, and its Fire and Ice restaurant is the sort of place that attracts non-guests from around Dubai to its doors.

Sources: cntraveller.com/guides/asia/uae/dubai/where-to-stay; fodors.com/world/africa-and-middle-east/united-arab-emirates/dubai/review-444508.html; frommers.com/destinations/dubai/H66071.html; fodors.com/world/africa-and-middle-east/united-arab-emirates/dubai/review-444495.html; frommers.com/destinations/dubai/H66068.html