Fortune Grand Hotel Apartments, Bur Dubai

On a dusty street lined with beige buildings, the unimaginative facade of the eight-story Fortune Grand Hotel Apartment hardly stands out. Nor does the interior decor, though it's attractive enough and welcoming: The lobby features warm wood accents, marble floors, and a central chandelier, but not much space for lounging. In an area littered with apartment hotels, this property is neither particularly luxurious or modern, but it manages the basics well and adds in a few extras. It's popular with Indian guests, reflected in the restaurant's offerings, as well as business and leisure travelers looking for an inexpensive hotel for long or short stays. 

Fortune Grand Hotel Apartment is situated on one of the many backstreets that make up the dense network of roads in Bur Dubai. It's a low-rise commercial district that's home to small businesses, offices, shops, cafes, restaurants, and a plethora of apartment hotels. The hotel's street is fairly uneventful, but main roads are packed with shops and eateries. While this is not the glitzy part of Dubai -- indeed some areas feel a little rundown -- it's one of Dubai's oldest quarters and has an air of authenticity that other neighborhoods lack. The spot is somewhat popular among budget tourists and business travelers, though guests looking to be close to main attractions will want to find another hotel.

The closest attractions include Meena Bazaar (15-minute walk), Dubai Creek (20-minute walk), and the Dubai Museum (20-minute walk). The metro is a bit of a hike, about a 15-minute walk to Al Fahidi Station. With the walk, it's at least a 45-minute trip to downtown attractions like Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall via public transit or a 15- to 30-minute drive, depending on traffic. Dubai International Airport will also take about 15- to 30-minutes by car or about 30 minutes via public transit, including the walk to Al Fahidi Station. 

The hotel features spacious, well-maintained studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, the highlight of which are the roomy, fully-equipped kitchens. Decor is tasteful, if nondescript, with wood floors, salmon-colored accent walls, and light-wood furniture. Kitchens feature cooktop stoves, sinks, ample counter space, full-size fridges with freezers, microwaves, electric kettles, toasters, and cabinets filled with cookware and dishes. Washing machines are also located in kitchens.

All accommodations are air-conditioned and include tables and chairs, work desks, flat-screen TVs, safes, irons, and free Wi-Fi. Compared to the rooms themselves, bathrooms tend to be on the small-side, but they're adequate with gray, white, and marbled green tiling, plus shower/tub combos, toiletries and, in some cases, bidets.

Studios measure just over 375 square feet while one-bedroom apartments are 645 square feet and two-bedroom apartments are over 1000 square feet; apartments add separate seating areas and balconies. 

Though not on-par with Dubai's famous luxury hotels, this property offers a nice set of amenities typical of apartment-style hotels in the area. There's a decent 24-hour restaurant serving international dishes with a focus on Indian and Arabic food. A daily breakfast buffet is served here, albeit for an extra fee. The hotel also has a gym with cardio and weightlifting equipment, plus a sauna, a hot tub, and a nicely maintained, long rooftop pool surrounded by loungers and a separate children's pool. The hotel also has two meeting and event rooms. There's daily housekeeping, room and concierge service is offered 24 hours, and same-day laundry and dry cleaning can be arranged. Wi-Fi throughout is free, as is on-site parking.