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Hey all
Looking to book a a week or so in Dubai, and I’ve come across the DT Business Bay offering the following:
King Guest Room – 60K points/night or 320K total stay vs 900GBP.
Based on the above it looks like the cash rate is still better? Any thoughts?
I haven’t booked Hilton with points before so just checking if I’m missing something.
Thanks!Looks a bit weak. We target 0.33p per point so you are under that. Unless you are drowning in points I would wait for something more lucrative.
Definitely aim higher for a redemption, unless, as Rob says, you are awash with points. There’s always outstanding value to be had if you look carefully, especially if you travel at peak times. I’ve just booked 2 studio suites at the HGI in Key West for 5 nights over Xmas for a total of 560k points; the cash rate on a semi-flex booking is currently over $10k!
Thanks both! Definitely am not drowning in points yet 🙂
Anyone been to the more budget friendly end of Hilton’s in Dubai? The HGI / DT / Hamptons – any recommendations or avoids?
There is a HGI immediately behind Mall of the Emirates which, irrespective of quality, means you do at least have a lot of walkable stuff near you.
I spent 3 nights at DT Business Bay between Xmas and New Years when extending the stay as everything else was too expensive. Bought points to reduce the cost from £300 to £200. Got upgraded to Junior Corner Suite (no view) as Diamond from standard room. I wasn’t really impressed with the property. The GM said they are trying to compete with 5-star properties. Breakfast chaotic and food quality poor. I liked the pool area though it was small. There was loud music on the last night till 2am, but staff seemed completely oblivious to the complaints.
Hey all
Looking to book a a week or so in Dubai, and I’ve come across the DT Business Bay offering the following:
King Guest Room – 60K points/night or 320K total stay vs 900GBP.
Based on the above it looks like the cash rate is still better? Any thoughts?
I haven’t booked Hilton with points before so just checking if I’m missing something.
Thanks!Whether it’s cash or points, I would be careful not to lock in a non refundable rate and keep the option to cancel and rebook.
You don’t say when you are travelling, but I have 4 Hilton/Marriott Dubai hotels over 3 weeks in February, a mixture of cash and points reservations. In the last month I have cancelled and rebooked at least 6 times on a number of these and saved quite a bit in terms of both cash and points!
The prices can fluctuate wildly, booking with points (esp 5 for 4) will allow you to cancel and rebook if the cash cost becomes more favourable.Anyone been to the more budget friendly end of Hilton’s in Dubai? The HGI / DT / Hamptons – any recommendations or avoids?
We’ve just returned from DT M Square. Our normal go to in Dubai is the Pullman Deira City Center but with enough HH points and currently short on cash due to Covid we decided to use the points and stay for free.
Gold status got us an exec room – I wouldn’t say it was anything special on comparison to Dubai standards and the Exec lounge was only serving snacks between 5pm – 7pm
The buffy breakfast was like any other, plenty of choice and a nice big airy restaurant.
We dined twice for evening meals, first night I used a groupon voucher and paid £21 for £56 worth of food & drink (No alcohol as we don’t drink and Mrs C is pregnant). The service was good although staff seemed young and lacked a little confidence but being a relatively new hotel I’m sure will improve with time and experience.
We used our free 100AED vouchers in the spa for a 60min foot massage after 10 days of shopping it was a nice welcome and had to contribute an additional £30 each which we billed to our room to pick up extra points on check out. Polite and Professional
Overall for our first Hilton redemption it felt good value and meant we had more money to spend on filling our suitcases. We have stayed at the Arjaan Burjuman next door twice before so knew the walk back from the metro after a days shopping on your feet can feel like miles in the heat but we only had one day of sun unfortunately and wasn’t a problem this year for us.
Wind, cloud and rain all last week which we’ve never experienced before the previous 8 visits we have been at this time of year other than the odd day.That last bit is a little concerning Paul, I have Waldorf RAK booked to round off the last 6 days of my trip lying at the pool/beach, and there ain’t an awful lot more to do around there … 😲
Fyi, DT M Square is a dry hotel which is why I eliminated it on my last trip. Rooms look nicer than DT Business Bay though.
Fyi, DT M Square is a dry hotel which is why I eliminated it on my last trip. Rooms look nicer than DT Business Bay though.
Same here! I like a few days at that end of the creek every time I visit and had a look at the DT M Square, being a dry hotel ended my interest as well. There was a Hilton across the creek in Deira I’ve stayed at, great all glass corner rooms overlooking the creek, but unfortunately it has changed hands and now a private hotel. I’ve opted for the Sheraton Towers this time for a few days, just across the street from the old Hilton… and plenty of bars in it 😋
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
That last bit is a little concerning Paul, I have Waldorf RAK booked to round off the last 6 days of my trip lying at the pool/beach, and there ain’t an awful lot more to do around there … 😲
Our last full day (Sat 22nd) was full on 24 degrees sun with not a cloud in the sky and was spent around the pool frantically trying to get a tan for our return. Typically the forecast from then on was sun, sun and more sun, normal service resumed..
I spent 3 nights at DT Business Bay between Xmas and New Years when extending the stay as everything else was too expensive. Bought points to reduce the cost from £300 to £200. Got upgraded to Junior Corner Suite (no view) as Diamond from standard room. I wasn’t really impressed with the property. The GM said they are trying to compete with 5-star properties. Breakfast chaotic and food quality poor. I liked the pool area though it was small. There was loud music on the last night till 2am, but staff seemed completely oblivious to the complaints.
Ah 😐 I’ve actually booked DT Business Bay for the week, only one that was giving me a corporate rate.
Whether it’s cash or points, I would be careful not to lock in a non refundable rate and keep the option to cancel and rebook.
You don’t say when you are travelling, but I have 4 Hilton/Marriott Dubai hotels over 3 weeks in February, a mixture of cash and points reservations. In the last month I have cancelled and rebooked at least 6 times on a number of these and saved quite a bit in terms of both cash and points!
The prices can fluctuate wildly, booking with points (esp 5 for 4) will allow you to cancel and rebook if the cash cost becomes more favourable.Yeah agreed – got the corporate rate so I’m good, its a week starting end of March so hoping to catch the last couple of days of the Expo too. Have been checking the cash rate from time to time but it doesn’t seem to be changing much. The Conrad has gone up/down a few times but the “deal” price is of course non-refundable.
Just a heads up the Waldorf Astoria Ras al-Khaimah have introduced a happy hour, half price drinks between 5pm and 8pm. It’s not Hilton Diamond or suite specific, it’s open to all guests, and is held in the Lexington Grill on the ground floor. It brings a cocktail down to around £6. They had a pianist on when I looked in but they also bill a classical duo as well.
I assume they are now trying to compete with the Belgian Beer Café and Al Hamra Golf Club, both of which also do happy hours and are just a few hundred yards away. The Belgian Beer Café got my business, happy hour 3 – 8pm, decent food, bottled beer £3.50 and a cocktail a fiver.
Also worth mentioning it’s the second time I’ve stayed at Waldorf RAK in 5 months now, and on both occasions , as Hilton Diamond, I’ve been upgraded from a standard entry room to a Junior Suite with a sea view and huge balcony – all on points.
On a side note, they have also just changed the working week in Dubai/UAE, weekends were Fri – Sat, so Thursday and Friday nights were much busier at hotels, the weekends have now been brought into line with the rest of the world as Sat/Sun. I found this out the hard way as the usually wonderful Waldorf breakfast was an absolute zoo last Sunday morning! Worth bearing in mind if you are planning a short break in UAE.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
We’re going for the first time in April and am currently staying at Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton for two nights on points (after two nights at Al Maha). The good people of Tripadvisor don’t seem to mind it, but I’ve never noticed it mentioned on here – perhaps it’s a bit too ‘budget’? The area reads quite well given that everything we’ve ever heard about Dubai we expect to not really like. Does anyone have any thoughts?
We’re going for the first time in April and am currently staying at Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton for two nights on points (after two nights at Al Maha). The good people of Tripadvisor don’t seem to mind it, but I’ve never noticed it mentioned on here – perhaps it’s a bit too ‘budget’? The area reads quite well given that everything we’ve ever heard about Dubai we expect to not really like. Does anyone have any thoughts?
If you’ve been reading tripadvisor you’ll already know most of this.
I visit Dubai quite often and always like to spend the first few days in the Dubai Creek/Deira area, be aware it has a very different feel from the busier JBR/Palm/Marina tourist areas, but is just a 10 minute drive from the airport. The Al Seef Heritage I don’t think has been open very long, the low level buildings which make up the hotel have been there for a while but I don’t think the hotel opened until a few years ago.
I stayed at the Sheraton across the creek right opposite the Al Seef 3 weeks ago, I had a top floor room so had a great view of the Al Seef development. It certainly looked “busier”, though never busy, and they now have a Dhow anchored at the property which runs a dinner cruise each evening.
I haven’t visited the hotel, but I actually researched it before booking the Sheraton this time, so you must have read that it’s not your typical Dubai property. No pool, no Gym, stone floors in the rooms, and obviously no beach! That said, maybe that’s exactly what you are after.
You are at the more historical end of Dubai, and the souq is right outside the western end of the property. Sadly for me its getting a bit touristy, vendors grabbing you, draping wigs and sahawls over you as you pass, all a bit annoying tbh. I would highly recommend taking an Abra (water taxi) across the creek to the Deira side, costs 1 or 2 dirhams (30p) from memory, only takes a few minutes and an experience in itself. Theres an Abra station right beside the hotel at the end of the souq. Over there you can watch the real Dubai in operation as the Dhows dock from Oman and Iran, grab yourself a coffee and just sit and watch, fascinating! All very walkable too, nice promenade, and don’t forget to bring your sunglasses for a visit to the Gold Souq just a short stroll away.Having said that, 2 or 3 nights is about right, enjoy.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Al Seef is interesting.
Basically, they have built what I am guessing is a huge replica (perhaps a bit is original) old-time souk on the banks of the creek, along with a chunk of modern restaurants.
Compared to some of the soulless business hotels which have nothing nearby this, it has quite a bit going for it, because you have life outside your front door.
The Canopy is in the same development. Upside of Canopy is that it is a ‘normal’ hotel.
Here Rob, just by the by. I took a stroll up to the Ritz Carlton RAK when I was at the Waldorf last week, very exclusive I must say. Only 32 rooms/tents, in 3 categories. Reception is so understated, a small wooden stand alone hut with one guy at a desk and half a dozen seats. Guy wasn’t keen on letting me in at first, but I managed to charm my way and he had a driver take me around the complex in an electric buggy. Hotel was full so didnt get into any of the rooms, but got the grounds and into the restaurant overlooking the gulf. Must have seen about 4 people the whole time.
Pricy for the top end tents, but a great deal on points 5 for 4 at the entry end.
A wee bit too secluded for me, but then I like a bit of company and a beer sometimes, don’t think that’s encouraged here lolAl Seef is not worth staying at. We hated the location. Canopy has terrible room layouts. We actually cut our 10 night stay down to 5 nights.
Al Seef is not worth staying at. We hated the location. Canopy has terrible room layouts. We actually cut our 10 night stay down to 5 nights.
I happen to agree with this actually, I didn’t cross over the creek to Al Seef on my trip a few weeks ago, but I had a good look around the area about 3 years past and wasn’t impressed. Once you’ve done the souq (for what it is), I found the immediate surrounding area a rather unpleasant place to be. “Interesting” for a quick visit, but I really wouldn’t want to be staying there.
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