Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport

The five-story Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport is located within a 10-minute free shuttle ride of the airport, and, as such, most travelers tend to be travelers with long layovers. Business travelers wanting to be near the airport are also frequent guests. Like most Holiday Inn Express hotels, the design is straightforward and chain-like, with earth-toned decor and generic artwork throughout. The only real pop of personality is a wall of black-and-white portraits of Hollywood stars such as Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor. Still, everything is well-maintained and sufficient for a place to rest between flights. However, travelers looking for a property close to the airport with a bit more offerings on-site should consider Millennium Airport Hotel. 

The Holiday Inn Express has an excellent location for travelers wanting to be close to Dubai International Airport, as it's just a seven-minute drive away. The hotel provides free shuttles every 30 minutes to and from the airport, with no reservation necessary. The hotel also provides daily shuttles to Festival Mall and Deira City Centre. However, it's removed from most tourist sights. Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, are a 15-minute drive away, while Mall of the Emirates and Jumeirah Beach are 20 minutes away. Dubai Marina is around 30 minutes away by car. The Emirates metro station is an eight-minute walk from the hotel.

This Holiday Inn Express has 381 rooms with a generic, chain design. They're outfitted with moss-green carpeting and drapes, basic light-wood furniture -- including an all-in-one desk, wardrobe, and luggage stand -- and mauve bed runners. Abstract artwork hangs over the beds, tying the colors together. Some rooms have purple sofa beds. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and electric kettles alongside instant coffee and tea. Closets house electronic safes and hangers. Compact bathrooms have shower stalls, soap dispensers, and hairdryers. 

On the downside, some guests have complained of noise from adjacent rooms and the nearby airport. Additionally, 79 of the rooms allow smoking, which may be a pro of con for some, as cigarette smells can linger into hallways.

All the expected amenities for a budget airport hotel are available here. Most guests appreciate the free hot and cold breakfast buffet, consisting of eggs, sausage, cereal, pastries, fruit, and yogurt. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner, while a bar with lots of couches and armchairs offers cocktails, beer, and wine. Travelers wanting to eat off-site can take the hotel's free nightly shuttle to Deira City Centre. Free airport shuttles are provided 24/7 approximately every 30 minutes. 

A spacious 24-hour fitness center has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of light, as well as stationary bikes, elliptical machines, treadmills, and weight-lifting equipment. The business center is open 24/7 as well, and it has three computers, but no printer. Five meeting rooms are on-site, and free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel.