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Palace DowntownvsBab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa
Both Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa and Palace Downtown are endorsed by writers. On balance, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa scores slightly better than Palace Downtown. Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa scores 84 with praise from 9 reviewers such as Lonely Planet, Condé Nast Traveler and Frommer's.
Palace Downtown
Concierge
Rough Guide
Star Service
Travel + Leisure
The Telegraph
Condé Nast Traveler
Lonely Planet
Old Town Island, Downtown Dubai, Dubai 9770, United Arab Emirates
From $261/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Free Breakfast
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
Concierge "Editor's Note: This property was the Sofitel The Palace The Old Town until fall 2008.
The "Old Town" is actually brand-new—a hotel, condo, and shopping complex built in Arabian..."
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When to go: November through March, to avoid the desert heat.
Rough Guide "One of the flagship properties of the vast Downtown Dubai development, this opulent, Arabian-themed “city-resort” offers a surreal contrast to the nearby Burj Khalifa."
Star Service "As an integral part of the Downtown Burj Dubai development, this hotel serves as the home base for a mix of leisure and business guests who bask in the shadows of Burj Khalifa." Full review
Travel + Leisure "From the razzle-dazzle entrance lined with towering palm trees to the pretty petal-filled pool in the lobby, The Palace hotel has no shortage of Arabian splendor." Full review
The Telegraph8.0
"The Palace Downtown has more soul than many other Dubai hotels and the 242 spacious rooms and suites feature Middle-Eastern touches in the form of carved-wood panelling and rich fabrics." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "It sounds like a gimmick, but the architectural contrast is pleasing, and many of this hotel’s 242 rooms have breathtaking views of Dubai’s latest monument to hyperbole." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"A successful blend of Old World class and Arabic aesthetics, the Palace appeals to those with refined tastes." Full review
Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa
Frommer's Rough Guide
Time Out
Oyster
Afar Magazine Travel + Leisure
Fodor's Condé Nast Traveler
Independent Lonely Planet Show All Reviews
International Endurance City, 308th Rd, P.O Box 8168, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
From $220/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Hot Tub
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
Frommer's "Relaxation defines this enchanted desert resort, located 45 minutes outside Dubai near Endurance City." Full review
Rough Guide "Hidden out in the desert a 45-minute drive from the airport, this gorgeous resort occupies a wonderfully atmospheric replica Arabian fort."
Time Out "For a touch of old-style Arabia, without losing any modern comforts, desert resort Bab Al Shams is one of a kind." Full review
Oyster Luxury
"A popular, family-friendly resort and attracts a range of guests, including business travelers looking for something a bit different." Full review
Afar Magazine "The family-friendly Bab al Shams Desert Resort & Spa wraps around an oasis and looks out over gently rolling sand dunes that guests explore by 4x4, horse, camel, and mountain bike." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Meaning gateway to the sun, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa is located in the desert outside of the city." Full review
Fodor's "Bab al Shams, translating as "doorway to the sun," is a five-star adobe brick oasis, a vision you'd expect to find on the edges of the Sahara desert, or perhaps as a set for a movie." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Escape big-city Dubai with a stay at Bab Al Shams, a low-slung desert resort modeled after an Arabian fort." Full review
Independent "There are desert adventures such as camel rides, falconry exhibitions and nature walks to enjoy...each of the rooms reflects the Middle East in its design, and provides guests with desert views"
Best hotels in Dubai 2023: Where to stay for a luxurious break
February 17, 2023
Lonely Planet "Resembling a fort and blending into the desertscape, Bab Al Shams is a tonic for escapists seeking to indulge their Arabian Nights fantasies" Full review
