Where to Stay In Dubai (2025) – Best Areas + Best Hotels
We lived almost 3 years in Dubai and love to go back there again and again. That being said, we stayed in different areas and hotels during our last trips. So in our guide, we’ll share the best Dubai hotels and where to stay in Dubai.
When we travel to Dubai, we travel for luxury vacation, shopping, beach and adventurous sightseeing. So in this guide, we’ll tell you the top hotels in Dubai and bests places to stay in Dubai without breaking the bank.
We suggest the hotels, we tried ourselves and found them good. Also we update our posts regularly.
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Your Cheat Sheet
Short on time? Get our quick list of best areas to stay in Dubai and top hotels.
Where to stay in Dubai
- Where to stay in Dubai with view: JBR & Dubai Marina & The Palm
- Best area to stay in Dubai with family: Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, The Palm, Downtown
- Best area to stay in Dubai for first time: JBR & Dubai Marina, The Palm
- Top areas in Dubai for shopping: Downtown & Dubai Marina
- Where to stay in Dubai on Budget: Dubai Marina & Downtown
Top Hotels In Dubai
How to get around
Before we dive into the details, I would like to mention that Dubai is divided to the modern part of the city (New Part).Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeirah are all located in this area.
The historic part of Dubai is called Deira and Bur Dubai. Although it’s definitely worth a visit, our preference is to stay in the modern part to have more access to the attractions like Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Palm Jumeirah. But if you like to have more of a local charm, we’ll also give you more details later in this post.
How to get around in Dubai: What I love about this city, is that you can easily get the Taxis and they are convenient, safe and affordable. Uber is also available and of course Metro, which connects many major attractions together.
Best Areas to Stay in Dubai
1. JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence)
This is our favorite area to stay in Dubai, because we are mostly spending our winter vacation in Dubai to recharge, relax and get more sun. We love to enjoy the promenade and the Nightlife with restaurants and shops in this area.
You can find some of the best resorts of Dubai in this part of the city and also Dubai hotel names like Burj Al Arab hotel and Jumeirah Beach Hotel. It’s the best place to stay in Dubai for tourists, luxury-lovers. It’s also the best place to stay in Dubai with Family.
Pros
- You’re literally on the beach: You can walk from Burj Al Arab to Madinat Jumeirah or just get a cart to drive around.
- We also love the Dubai Nightlife at the Promenade with all the restaurants.
- It’s very Family Friendly with kids clubs and playgrounds
Cons
- It can get busy, specially during the high season, because it’s a touristic area of Dubai. But we still love it.
- There are no metro stations in that part. You’ll need to take a taxi or uber to the metro.
- If you want to see the historic Part, this is the wrong side.
Where to Stay at Jumeirah Beach Residence Dubai
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
It’s definitely our first choice of luxury Hotel in Dubai. We stay here very often and love the comfort and the food. This 5-star luxury resort offers 5 outdoor pools including one children’s pool and cold tubes.
All the rooms have the sea view and the beautiful view of Burj Al Arab, that makes it feels like in a postcard.
Their multi-national buffet is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering fresh and delicious variety.
Pro Tip: We always book early to get better prices. Prices can vary, but it’s normally around $600/night.
Book the Ocean Deluxe Room a request a high floor on the Burj Al Arab side.
If you’re a first-timer, I don’t recommend to visit during it’s low season (May-Oct). Although the prices are lower, but you can’t really sit outside. On my way back from Iran in July this year, I stayed 2 nights at JBR for $250/night. Although I really enjoyed the pools and the food, but sitting outside was almost impossible.
Also Check our Guide:
10 Best Things to do in Dubai: Our Ultimate Guide to visit Dubai + Map
Other Hotel Choices at Jumeirah Area in Dubai:
- Ultra Luxury: Jumeirah Burj Al Arab Dubai, we call it ultra-luxury hotel, as it’s the world’s only 7 start hotel and it’s one of the most expensive hotels in the world. You have huge suites with private butler and wow factor. You can check the prices here.
- Mid-range: Delta Hotels by Marriott Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, we loved the deluxe Guest Room with Marina View for $300/night. It also has an outside pool and you can walk to the promenade. If you’re looking for a mid-range hotel to stay in Dubai with family, the two bedroom family suits have a living room and a private kitchen, which is great to stay there with kids.
- Budget: Rove JBR is a great budget option with great amenities, balconies and fully equipped kitchens. It also has a great family owned restaurant, pool and a gym. We enjoyed our 1 night stop-over there and no wonder the 9.7 rating.
2. The Palm Jumeirah
The Palm Jumeirah is a prime location of Dubai and another best area to stay in Dubai. Also we recommend it for the luxury honeymoon designations. We recommend it if you’re a first-time visitor and want that Wow effect with more privacy and quiet atmosphere.
What we love about this area are restaurants with the skyline views you can get, the beach clubs and the boat tours. And yes, it’s really as glamorous, as you can see in the films. We stayed in this area twice and tried different resorts, here are our top Dubai Hotels in the Palm Jumeirah area.
Pros
- This is a paradise to relax at the private beaches, spa and slow mornings.
- Incredible Hotels and the hotel views are fantastic.
- Perfect for romantic honeymoon trips and also great area for families as well.
- A dream for photographers like us. You can’t leave your camera.
Cons
- The hotels in this area are expensive, even the mid-range hotels on the Palm are pricier than other areas.
- Not very walkable like JBR or Marina.
- Also here there’s no metro, but taxis and hotel shuttles will easily drive you around.
Where to Stay at the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai
Hotel Atlantis The Palm
This is the hotel you can see on almost all the postcards of the Palmand it’s a true paradise, specially for the kids. Atlantis the Palm is one of the top hotels in Dubai with outside pools, different restaurants andluxury facilities. There’s a huge waterpark and aquarium in the hotel.
Some underwater suits have also the view of the aquarium in the room and the prices start from $4000/night upwards. The quality of the buffet is fantastic and the rooms are huge with the best of comfort. we paid around $750/night for an ocean king view. Check the prices here!
Note: There is a new hotel from Atlantis called The Royal Atlantis which is even more luxurious than this one. So please consider that, when booking your room, not to get the wrong one. We still didn’t try that one, but it’s on our list for next year.
Other Hotel Choices at The Palm Dubai:
- Mid-Range: The St. Regis Dubai The Palm is one of the best 5 star hotels in Dubai and we love this hotel as you have some of the main attractions (Aura Sky pool and The View) in this hotel itself. Rooms have a fantastic view of Palm Jumeirah and the Persian Gulf. Check the prices here!
- Budget: We loved our stay at the Voco Dubai The Palm. It’s not really a budget hotel, but still for this area is an affordable one. (Palm Jumeirah is expensive). We paid $3000/night in December last year for our Deluxe King Room with Palm Side Sea View and no wonder the good rating with 9.1 at booking.com.
Pro Tip: We always book the hotels long in advance for this area, as it can really make a difference on the prices. Check the details here!
3. Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is my No. 1 choice for budget travelers, solo travelers and also families who want luxury but stay on budget. You have a beautiful promenade with a fantastic view of the palm and you can easily get a boat tour to explore around. Check the boat tours here!
We love the nightlife of the Marina Promenade, where you can walk around. It’s lively and packed with good restaurants, shops and supermarket. If you’re asking where to stay in Dubai on Budget, this is the answer.
The Beach lovers have an easy access to the JBR Beach, which is a free, clean public beach in the walking distance. Dubai Marina is one of the best areas to stay in Dubai.
Pros
- It’s very walkable, which is rare in Dubai. Also the JBR beach is close.
- There are so many good restaurants in the promenade.
- You can walk to the Bluewater’s Island (trendy & fun Island, with the best Sunset)
- 2 Metro stations are easily accessible.
Cons
- Honestly we can’t find any.
- But if we want to be picky, I would say sometimes can get busy at night.
- Or it’s not so close to downtown or shopping centers.
Where to Stay at Dubai Marina
Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina
This is our favorite luxury hotel in Dubai Marina and it’s mostly loved for being so close to two metro stations within the walking distance (Media City & Knowledge Village).
We truly enjoyed the breakfast buffet and the rooms. Also this top hotel in Dubai Marina has an outdoor swimming pool and 5 restaurants, which makes it also convenient for families with kids.
We booked the Premium King room with marina view, which was a fantastic room and we paid $450/night in February. But prices might vary during different seasons. Check the availability and the prices here!
Other Top Hotels to stay in Dubai Marina Area
- Luxury: Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark is an all-in-one resort. We love this 5-star resort in Marina for it’s fantastic restaurants, 4 swimming pools and private beach. It’s also one of the best places to stay with family, because of having an access to Jungle Bay waterpark, a family kids club and a wave pool. Check here for the availability!
- Mid-Range: Millennium Place Marina is one our favorite affordable hotels with a great room view and huge rooms. This modern hotel has an outdoor swimming pool with a fantastic view. Prices start from $250/Night and it’s definitely one of our top hotels in Dubai on a budget. Check the details here!
- Budget: Rove Dubai Marina is another great budget option with room prices starting from $200. What we loved about this modern budget hotel in Dubai is that they offer free shuttle bus to the beach and to Dubai Marina mal. It’s even great to stay there with kids. You need to book early. Check the availability here!
4. Downtown Dubai
So far we rather answered the question “where to stay in Dubai to have fun and tank the sun”. But if you’re in Dubai for shopping and a bit of downtown flair, then Downtown is one of the best areas to stay in Dubai for you.
Honestly we only stayed 2 nights (each night in another hotel) to test some hotels, but we found it kind of boring after 2 days. I mean it’s nice to go shopping and see the Burj Khalifa and wander in the Dubai mall, but that’s all. We missed the view, the beach and the resort flair.
But if you’re there for shopping and love to stay close to Burj Khalifa, this is definitely a good choice. Let’s dive in.
Pros and Cons to stay in Downtown
Pros
- You’re close to some of the major landmarks of Dubai like Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.
- Metro Station is on your doorstep.
- Great for luxury shopping and night life.
- More Hotel options available here.
cons
- Top hotels in this area are quite expensive.
- It can be very crowded during the high season, specially around mall and the fountain.
- No beach vibes and sunset photography.
Where to stay in Downtown Dubai
- Luxury: Hotel Palace Downtown was absolutely amazing. I mean the view of the Burj Khalifa from the pool is jaw-dropping and you’re just steps away from it. It’s one of the top hotels in downtown. Also it offers many fine-dining options like the one we tried “Ewaan” (a great middle eastern restauant). Also the Hammam & spa is definitely a highlight. Check here for the availability!
- Budget: Hotel Rove Downtown is a real gem. It’s one of the best hotel deals, we’ve ever had for the hotels there. We booked the Rover Room Burj View with Free shuttle bus to the beach and Dubai Mall for $180/night in March. This modern hotel has a small outdoor pool and a restaurant. Best if you want to stay in Dubai on budget. Check the availability here!
Pro Tip: The Rove hotels are in general very good options to stay in Dubai without breaking the bank. You just need to book early, as they sell out fast. Book Here!
5. Deira (The Historic Area of Dubai)
I would like to give you an honest review about this area in Dubai. Although we highly recommend to visit the old souks and the creek, but we don’t usually recommend this area to stay in Dubai.
We stayed twice in Deira and it was long ago, but getting around in this part of Dubai takes a lot of time because of the heavy traffic and you don’t have those fantastic beach options. So the overall experience is far from what you expect as a holiday in Dubai.
But we definitely recommend to visit the Creek and the old souks. You can either get there with metro or there are fantastic tours for a price of $15/person to visit Old Town, Creek, Souks and having some street food. It’s so much fun and you can Check the one we suggest here!
FAQ: Where to Stay in Dubai
1. Is Palm Jumeirah worth staying on?
Yes we quite enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and it’s good if you love beach resorts, pools and luxury hotels. We normally recommend it for the honeymooners, couples and people who want to relax. But it’s not ideal for nightlife or promenade walks.
2- What Area in Dubai is Best for Beach lovers?
Definitely Jumeirah Beach Residence and Palm Jumeirah, but we prefer JBR, as you can walk along the beach promenade and have more options. Our favorite hotel here with the biggest beach promenade is Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Also Check Our Other Adventures:
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3- What’s the Best time to Visit Dubai?
We love Dubai from October to April. Although if you’re not used to very hot weather, it’s safer to book from November to March to be on the safe side. As said above, I also travel to Dubai during the summer. Summer is the low-season, but you can’t really use the beaches or sit outside in the restaurants.
Also Check our Ultimate Guide for Dubai for more insight, best attractions and much more: 10 Best Things to Do in Dubai: Your Ultimate Guide
It’s just too hot. But you can definitely use the pools, as they are mild. So if you’re going to Dubai for the beach and to walk around and enjoy the nightlife, that might be a bit difficult during the summer months.
