With hotels struggling in Dubai during the Iran War, I scored quite a deal at the Hyatt Regency Dubai.
A Remarkable $56 Stay At The Hyatt Regency Dubai
With a layover of just over 24 hours, I checked into the Hyatt Regency Dubai at a rate of $55.59/night that included Regency Club access. A few days earlier it had been only $39. Summer rates have always been more reasonable in Dubai, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen rates this low (and frankly, not sure how hotels can make money off those rates, even low labor costs).
Dubai Airport was very quiet at 6:30 am.
I checked in around 7:30 am and thankfully (also not surprisingly), a room was ready for me. I mentioned that I would be leaving around 2:00 am for my flight and was proactively offered breakfast today instead of tomorrow, which I thought was a very nice touch.
An update on my stomach: I’m slowly getting better. The flight was free from any drama…I did not even use the restroom (other than to shower), so I am certainly on the mend, but the food from the previous evening did pass through roughly…again, I’ll spare you any further commentary.
After pulling an all-nighter on the Emirates flight, I was ready for rest. I set an alarm for 10:45 am and had a very solid nap for three hours.
Awake, I wasn’t hungry, but went down to the breakfast just so I will be able to offer a comprehensive review of this hotel later. I just had am omelet and coffee…it was fine.
The clientele was absolutely diverse – from all over the world, but all enjoying food together. Dubai is such a fascinating place.
I went back to bed and rested for a few more hours…awakened, the Delhi Belly issue continued, but I headed over to the gym where I did a heavy workout and then sat in the sauna and steam room.
The Regency Club was closed so instead Regency Club guests were invited to the hotel restaurant between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm each day for a buffet dinner and free alcoholic drinks…a darn good deal (whereas at most U.S. properties, the answer to a closed Regency Club is “too bad, so sad”). I had a bit of soup, saffron rice, some salad, and watermelon.
Keep in mind these posts are delayed by a few days. I don’t keep eating salad because I’m stupid (well, maybe I am), but because all your feedback about avoiding salad has come after the fact. I’m fairly certain I’m going to avoid salads when traveling in Asia going forward (maybe the Middle East as well?).
I went out for a walk into the shopping area outside my hotel. It was very hot out and this was a whole different side to Dubai than the fancy malls you might be thinking of. This is where Dubai’s working class shops. I wish I had taken more pictures, but may offer a separate reflection on this part of town.
Back at the hotel, I took another nap, with my alarm set for 2:00 am so I would have plenty of time to visit the first class lounges prior to my flight.
This just goes to show what nonsense is all the hype about hotel prices having shot up in recent years. In reality I find them about the same, and often a bit cheaper in inflation-adjusted terms, in the vast majority of places I visit. It’s no wonder that hotels in the really central bits of super touristy cities like Paris and Barcelona are expensive – it’s the only way to manage the demand levels resulting from the combination of affluent Americans with limited time off work and a growing cohort of middle class travellers from around Asia who are just getting into intercontinental travel. Stay in outskirts (e.g. Villemomble/Fira) if you really need to go there, or ideally give them a miss altogether and go somewhere not as heaving with tourists- e.g. Euskadi or the Balkans.
Now, THAT’s a deal. Bah! Again, Matthew, so glad you’re safe, and enjoying yourself. May the only ‘explosions’ you experience by the diarrhea (from the salad, right?)
As long as the air conditioning was good, you got exactly what was necessary for a reasonable price.
Hotels in old part of Dubai, where they often lack spectacular views, are usually cheap during summer even before the war, but it’s seems a bit more expensive next week and next month?
Gulf countries may be a better place to enjoy Indian food: I suppose the food safety regulations are better than India, there are a large s Asian population both workers and visitors. The tour bus crowds often stay at 4 star hotels, they usually have good and extensive s Asian buffet spread.
Is that the one in Deira? It’s my preferred overnight crash pad there too, though I didn’t know the lounge had closed. Did you see the awkward ice skating rink in the mall?
All in all, it’s kind of a terrible part of Dubai, but I suspect that back in 1994 it was the place to be.