Upon arrival at the hotel at about 13.00, we were given a room, while no one accompanied us from the hotel workers, they dragged their own suitcases! After we entered the room, the smell hit my nose, it seemed to me that I was in a barn, the room was a meter by a meter, I couldn’t turn around, the restroom and the shower room were half a meter in size, when you sit down on a push, your head rests against the door!
They immediately told me to change the room because it stinks, they changed it right away!
The breakfast is very poor but you won't leave hungry!
The metro is 15 minutes walk from the hotel, you had to walk through the sands!
The only plus of this hotel is that every day they cleaned the room and changed the towels!
I do not advise this hotel on Al Barsha, other hotels of the same chain will be better and the rooms will be more spacious!
Breakfasts were normal: porridge, second course, scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, vegetables in the form of chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, olives, sausages, sliced sausage and cheese. There were fresh croissants, coffee from a coffee machine, apples, watermelons, oranges. In addition, jams, oils, honey, yogurt, dried fruits. It's true that you won't die of hunger. Everything is fresh and tasty.
Buses were taken to the beach. We went to Jumeirah. Beautiful beach, wonderful sea. The weather was good, the temperature during the day was 28-29, and the sea was 24 degrees. Everything is comfortable. Picked up from the beach at 2pm. On the first day we sorted out the metro: we bought silver cards and went to the Dubai Mall. They watched the Burj Khalifa, singing fountains, walked along the Dubai Mall. On the second day we went on a jeep safari. We bought a tour on the beach from a Russian-speaking guide. We went well. The next day, we went after the beach by metro to look for the Golden Frame to take pictures from a height of 155 m and see the UAE History Museum. The ticket cost about 55 dirhams. We had an interesting time, I recommend this tour, it is better than climbing the Burj Khalifa. There is an interesting museum and the views are even better.
In the evening, after the Golden Frame, we visited the Golden Market. Photographed with jewelry and a 50 kg gold ring. In the same place, having sailed on a boat for 1 dirham, you get to the Old Market, you can buy souvenirs home (sweets, scarves, jewelry, bags, etc. ). You can dine near the hotel on the way from the metro or in a sea restaurant or in an Indian eatery, prices from 15 to 25 dirhams. On the third day after the beach, we went to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. We visited all the iconic places: the White Mosque, the Golden Hotel, the Ferrari Park. Bought dates and mangoes on this trip. Visited the flower park in Dubai, be sure to go to the Global Village by bus from the Emirates Mall. Awesome places.
In general, the trip is very satisfied. I recommend everyone to look at how people should live in the 21st century.
But you need to book hotels very early, because we booked 2 weeks in advance and many hotels refused us. And minus the fact that on New Year's Eve, many hotels make you pay for New Year's dinner and you can't refuse. We didn't like it very much. Since we stayed on it for only half an hour, and then went to the restaurant that we booked for our vacation. If this service was not mandatory, it would be much better.
There is everything you need in the room: a large bed (the bedding is perfectly white, the pillows are comfortable), a TV, a refrigerator, a kettle (sugar, coffee, tea), water. The room was cleaned every day. There are absolutely no complaints. Towels were changed, there was no sand on the floor. Water was delivered every day. Yes, the windows do not open, but I don’t know at all that they open somewhere in Dubai))))
Breakfast is solid, similar to lunch))), one of the best I have ever seen in hotels. And not only in the Emirates, but also in Europe and Asia. A wide variety of dishes, there are vegetables and fruits (in July there were oranges, apples, watermelons and pineapples), dried fruits, cheeses ...You will definitely not go hungry! ! ! The restaurant has a very pleasant staff, their smiles cheered me up in the morning))))
Beach. You can get to the beach by a comfortable air-conditioned bus provided by the hotel. At 9-00 the bus will take you to the beach overlooking the Burj Al Arab. And at 10-25 from the hotel there is a bus to JBR beach (Dubai Marina).
15 minutes max and you are there. You will also be picked up from the beach. Check the schedule on the spot.
The hotel has bars, a disco (did not attend).
I really liked the hotel. I do not regret that I opted for it. Recommend.
So...pack your bags and don't forget to take your good mood with you! ! !
All good impressions from your holiday in the UAE! ! !
P. S. I recommend buying souvenirs and purchases at the Emirates Mall. On the ground floor, near the Carrefour supermarket, there is a boutique with AL Jabel souvenirs (it seems to be called that)))). The prices are good and the selection is impressive. I recommend dates from Arabian Delights Chocodate in the same Carrefour supermarket. They have good deals. Prices and assortment are better than dutifri. There are also T-shirts with the inscription Dubai for 10 AED : )
I advise you to immediately change the currency to dirhams. You can upon arrival at the airport. 1 dollar - 3.65-3.66 dirhams. Since they are needed to pay on the beach (they take only dirhams for entry), for taxis, in cafes they are more likely to take dirhams. It is possible in dollars, but it was more convenient for us immediately in the local currency.
Hotel Ibis Al Barsha also liked. We arrived at the hotel only at 2300, tired and exhausted. We got a room quickly, asked for a non-smoking room. We were given on the 3rd floor, non-smoking floor. The room is very small but cozy. There was a TV, channels in Russian 1-2, but we still didn’t have time to watch it))), the bed is very soft, we fell asleep instantly on it))) Also a small refrigerator, very useful, an electric kettle. Cleaning was every day, cleaned cleanly, brought a bottle of water, tea-coffee-sugar-cream in bags. The container worked well. The bathroom is very small, but basically nothing. Fan worked. The minus is huge that the water from the shower always flowed onto the floor, as there was no normal high side. This was frustrating and inconvenient. Because of this, the bathroom was always humid, our bathing suits did not dry out))) There is no balcony in the room. We also had to buy an adapter at the reception for 10 dirhams, as their sockets did not fit our chargers for cell phones, cameras.
The hotel only had breakfast from 6:30 to 9:00. Breakfast is very tasty, but every day is the same. It's been a little bit for a week. But it's better than nothing at all. )))
At the reception we kept our documents and money. There is free luggage storage. Leave your passport, write down your data, then give a key with the number of the cell where you store your things. Very comfortably.
The hotel had a free shuttle (bonfire) to Jumeirah Beach Park. He left at 9:30, took him to the beach in 15-20 minutes, then returned at 13:00. Often there was not enough space in the transport, those who remained had to wait for him to return. This happened to us once. Entrance to the beach is paid - 5 dirhams per person. Sunbeds, umbrellas, towels - paid. I really liked the beach, white sand, the water is just super! There is a large beautiful park where you can sit and have a barbecue. Monday is women's day on the beach, men are not allowed on this day)))
In Dubai we had a lot of movement))) as the city itself is lively and fast. Traffic moves very fast there. We mostly traveled by subway. Our hotel is located near Sharaf DG metro station. From our hotel to this station is a bit far, all the way passes by the construction site. On the first day, this path seemed like an eternity to us, but after that we got used to it. Put on comfortable shoes and go))) The fare in the subway is different, depending on the distance. You can ask everything at the checkout. There are metro maps everywhere with the names of the stations. The last metro leaves at 2340. We also took a taxi a couple of times. When getting into a taxi, be sure to make sure that the meter is turned on, the starting amount on the meter is 3.50 dirhams.
We took from the hotel guide only 1 excursion to Abu Dhabi, it cost $ 80. from a person. I liked the tour very much, the main part of the tour was a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. A very beautiful mosque. I advise you to visit. All the way the guide who accompanied us told the story of the unification of the Emirates, about Sheikh Zayed and much more. We listened with interest.
Everything else we watched and visited ourselves. Moving where by metro, where by taxi.
I strongly advise you to visit the famous Burj Khalifa tower and the singing fountain. Super! You need to go in the evening when the fountain show starts. Metro station - Dubai Mall. From our station for two there and back it cost 25 dirhams (like)). There are many interesting and fascinating things in the Dubai Mall itself (a large aquarium, a fountain, etc. ).
I also advise you to take the metro to the beautiful Dubai Marina area. That's what the metro station is called. You can go there when it is still light and stay there until late in the evening. Very beautiful photos are obtained there))) There are many cafes where you can sit and smoke a hookah. I also advise you to take a ride on an Arab dhow boat, departs every hour, the cost is 60 dirhams per person.
You can take a taxi (for 22-25 dirhams one way on the counter) to go to the Burj Al Arab hotel, it is close to our Ibis. There you can take pictures against the backdrop of the hotel, sunbathe on the free open beach. The water there is just great! Minus - in this district they did not find a toilet anywhere)))
We went to Ibn Batuta Mall. A beautiful mall, there are halls in different styles (Egyptian, Indian, Tunisian, Chinese, etc. ), you can find boutiques with discounts))).
We were also in the Mall of the Emirates, where we bought food and water in the supermarket. But mostly they had lunch and dinner at the Golden Fork cafe, which is open 24 hours a day. Located near our Sharaf DG metro station. Basically not bad. We took soups, really liked chicken and vegetable soups, took steaks, french fries, tea and coffee, delicious cakes, ice cream. For two, it cost 60-80 dirhams for lunch / dinner.
We were very happy with the trip. The holiday was a success. They arrived cheerful and tanned. There are a lot of attractions in Dubai, many beautiful and original places, buildings that you can visit. Too bad we didn't have much time. I think, at the next opportunity, I will definitely go to Dubai again! )))
Dubai is a place worth visiting!
Wish you have a great time!