Whilst most hotels in this same area (along the Sheikh Zayed Road, near Dubai World Trade Centre) happily charge a minimum of 1,500 Dirhams and even up to 2,800 Dhs per night (and that's during low season!) you can stay at the Shangri-La Hotel in a standard deluxe room starting from only 750 Dirhams per night! (1 US$ = 3.57 UAE Dirhams)
This really is a very low price, especially for Dubai and especially for such a nice hotel. I have booked rooms here for friends and business travellers (I always call them directly), and unless there are major trade-shows / exhibitions at the time I have always been able to get a price of 750 Dirhams per night.
This 200-metre tall, 43-story tower opened in July 2003 and is located exactly opposite the Burj Dubai (tallest tower in the world).
Most of the rooms are decorated in Feng-Shui style - the ancient art of room decorating with energy flow & nature's elements in mind. This means that there are no sharp corners, no harsh colours, and I find the rooms very relaxing indeed.
Whenever I've been at this hotel, for business or leisure, the staff have all been exceptionally polite and helpful. I especially love the coffee & snacks selection at the Dunes Cafe, located in the gorgeous lobby (see photo).
The various restaurants at the Shangri-La Hotel have a very good reputation, first and foremost the Hoi-An Vietnamese Restaurant. Unfortunately a meal at these restaurants is pretty pricy compared to other 5-star eateries.
TIP: there are plenty of licensed (alcohol) and unlicensed restaurants and cafes located all along the Sheikh Zayed Road, most of them reachable on foot and suitable for any budget, so you are not "stranded" and forced to eat at the Shangri-La's restaurants.
The location of this hotel makes it perfect for business travellers, but also for relaxing holidays. This is the most central part of town, with easy access to the beaches in Jumeirah, the shopping malls and also the historic centre near Dubai Creek.
If you are looking for a 5-star hotel that won't leave you bankrupt, then I cannot recommend the Shangri-La Hotel highly enough!
Why are the rooms so cheap here? Let's not ask, not worry, and just enjoy the fact that maybe something this good really can be true ;-)
