Raintree Rolla Hotel

This contemporary eight-story hotel in budget-friendly Bur Dubai opens unceremoniously onto a ho-hum street. But the lobby inside is a striking space full of marble and mirrors with metal-trimmed columns for added bling. Admittedly it lacks the “wow factor” that a soaring atrium or indoor waterfall might bring. That’s OK, though, because the Raintree Rolla doesn’t profess to be an ultra-glam hotel. It’s just an attractive, reasonably equipped spot promising big rooms at affordable rates, and that makes it popular with tour groups -- particularly Indian ones. As a result, many of its offerings (from the food in its main restaurant to the channels on its in-room TVs) are geared to that demographic; the intermittent presence of large groups may also account for the uneven service some guests have reported.   

The Raintree Rolla sits on a glitz-less street in Bur Dubai -- a low-rise commercial district on the south side of Dubai Creek. In terms of convenience, the location isn’t ideal for business folk. Many tourists will be unimpressed, too, although those interested in authenticity will appreciate its proximity to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood: home to Al Fahidi Fort (where you’ll find the Dubai Museum) and the beautifully restored Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, it's one of Dubai’s oldest quarters. The namesake metro station, an eight-minute walk from the hotel, offers access to other city sites; time-conscious visitors, however, will more likely grab a cab. 

• 10-minute walk to Al Fahidi Metro Station
• 13-minute walk to Meena Bazaar
• 17-minute walk to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (aka Al Bastakiya)
• 12-minute drive to the Dubai World Trade Centre
• 13-minute drive to the Gold and Spice Souks
• 15-minute drive to Dubai International Convention Centre
• 16-minute drive to Dubai International Airport 
• 18-minute drive to Burj Khalifa
• 19-minute drive to Dubai Mall

Large, well-designed lodgings are the star attraction here. In Deluxe and Executive Rooms, dark streamlined furnishings, bold patterned carpeting and russet accents lend the neutral decor a handsome modern look, while black-and-white photos of “Old Dubai” give a nod to the neighborhood’s past. Rooms in both classes are air-conditioned and feature laptop safes, irons and ironing boards, tea/coffee-making facilities, minibars, LCD TVs with international channels (many of them Indian), and free (if somewhat unreliable) Wi-Fi. Best of all, rooms are sizable enough to include ample closet space and either a pair of armchairs or loveseats with space to spare. Suites add a separate living room; however, aqua accessories and in-your-face upholstery make this category less aesthetically pleasing. Sleek tiled bathrooms are big across the board and boast combination shower/tubs with rainfall and hand-held heads or, in the case of suites, soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Over-sized vanity mirrors, bathrobes, and bidets are welcome extras. 

Raintree Rolla has a solid list of features, but it doesn't touch the bombastic offerings of other hotels in Dubai. The hotel's top amenity, literally and figuratively, is its round rooftop pool: a blue mosaic-tile number edged with striped loungers and sun umbrellas. If it's overrun by tour groups, travelers can head to the well-equipped workout room or the small spa with a sauna, hot tub and treatment rooms to seek out alternate forms of relaxation. There are multiple dining and drinking options as well. Most notable are Mystic and the Bulls Pub, both on the lobby level: the latter is a moody modern sports bar that serves pub grub, while the former is an Indian restaurant with a bright but uninspiring contemporary look (it serves a buffet breakfast at extra charge, though the surplus of Indian dishes may not suit Western tastes). One floor up is The Box, a separately managed club where DJs spin tunes until 3 am and live musicians occasionally perform -- light sleepers in the rooms above should consider themselves forewarned. Other on-site perks include an around-the-clock reception desk; concierge, currency exchange and laundry/dry-cleaning services; 24-hour room service; a gift shop; free parking in the basement; and free Wi-Fi throughout.