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The Cranley Report®: Al Bustan Rotana Hotel
Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai
Hotel Address
PO Box 30880
Dubai
UAE
Contact Details
Telephone: +971 4 282 0000
Fax: +971 4 282 8100
E-mail
Email hotel's reservation Desk
Cranley Rating

Al Bustan Rotana Hotel: Click to magnify
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Hotel Summary
Category Hotel
Awards Won MENA 2005 Platinum Award: Best Conference/Convention Hotel
MENA 2005 Platinum Awards: Best Price Value Hotel
MENA 2005 Gold Award: Best Five Star Business Corporate Hotel
Hotel Opened
 1997
Cranley Summary
The hotel is currently undergoing a refurbishment programme and some disturbances may be experienced. Guests should check with the hotel the current status.

The Al Bustan Rotana hotel is located a kilometre from Dubai International Airport but being away from the flight path it is not disturbed by the noise of aircraft. The hotel has a variety of dinning options including the world famous Blue Elephant Thai restaurant and Benihana American Japanese restaurant. In addition to these two there is a Lebanese restaurant, fine dinning Italian, a sophisticated Grill House and a Mediterranean restaurant. For leisure there are three tennis and two squash courts as well as a comprehensive gym and a pool terrace on the first floor. For evening entertainment there is a different theme night in one of the restaurants every evening with some of them featuring live music as well as the wine bar at the Rodeo Grill Restaurant and the Oxygen night club.
Location & Layout
Location Description
The hotel is located a couple of minutes from Dubai international airport but being away from the flight path it is not disturbed by the noise of aircraft. Its location near the Al Garhoud bridge gives it easy access to the World Trade Centre and Internet and Media cities, although guests should note that there is heavy traffic in the rush hour across the Creek bridges. The hotel is located just a few kilometres from Deira, the old Dubai, with its array of Souks and businesses.
Airports
Distance
 1 km
Airport Transfers
 Complimentary transfers for all guests and limousine transfers for Club Rotana guests
Cities and Sights
Distance
 5 km
City/Sight Transfers
 Hourly complimentary shuttle bus between 10.00 and 22.00
Layout Description
The hotel has a large atrium lobby with the concierge and reception desk on the right side together with most of the boutiques. The restaurants are located on the ground floor with the Body Lines fitness centre, swimming pool, tennis courts and children’s play area are located on a first floor terrace/roof garden. The bedrooms are on four floors with the walkway to the rooms being open plan overlooking the lobby area with additional rooms located on two wings at the back of the hotel.
Lobby and Guest Relations
Open Hours
 24 hours
Languages Spoken Arabic, English, German, French, Turkish, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, Malayalam, Sinhalese, Tamil
Payment Methods Major credit cards
Foreign Exchange Major currencies
Taxis Arranged Taxi's generally waiting in a taxi pool.
Tours Arranged A variety of activities can be arranged including Tours of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman, Dinner Cruises, Safari's to the Desert, Wadi Hatta or Hajar Mountains, a Night at the Races, Camel Riding, Sand Skiing, Snorkelling or Scuba Diving.
Guest Relations Standard
Concierge Services
 Standard
Medical Facilities Doctor called in with thirty minutes notice and there is a hospital with an emergency department opposite the hotel
Parking Complimentary valet underground parking
Cranley Comment
The lobby has a floor to roof atrium with the lobby café in the centre set under a large wooden domed gazebo. The floor is tiled in marble and the walls are paneled in a light wood. There are also two sizable water features that have water flowing over upturned domes that provides a calming sound and there are a number of palm trees to add greenery. Around the perimeter of the ground floor are the restaurants and boutiques.
Shops & Amenities
Description
Car Hire Desk
Tour Desk
Al Safa: Newsagents, toiletries and small gifts
Al Hafla: Gift Shop
Khalil-Al Sayegh: Jewellery
Separate beauty/hairdressing salons for men and ladies: ladies salon also does manicures and pedicures
Gazebo Lounge: the hotels lobby lounge which is open between 08.00 and 01.00 daily and to 02.00 on Thursday’s.
Cranley Comment
The hotel has a small range of shops and boutiques but its location gives it access to a number of nearby stores as well as having a major shopping mall only a few kilometers away.
Rooms, Suites & Villas
Number of Floors 4
Total Rooms 275
Elevators 4
Rooms per Elevator 69
Total Staff 500
Staff per Room 1.8
Check-in Time 14.00
Check-out Time 12.00
Late Checkout Up to 18.00 subject to availability
Smoking Rooms 44 non-smoking rooms
Room Service 24 Hours
Laundry Service Same day delivery for items dropped off before 09.00.
Club or Executive Facilities
Guests who have access to the Club facilities have entry to the Club Rotana lounge, receive complimentary limousine airport transfers, private check-in and check-out, complimentary executive buffet breakfast in the Club Lounge, complimentary afternoon tea, complimentary pre dinner canapé3 and drinks, two work desks with high speed internet connection and PC?s, complimentary use of a ten person board room subject to availability, 50 dhs discount on laundry per stay and bathrobes.
Cranley Comment
The rooms are set on four floors with the Club Rotana rooms and suites all located on the top two floors. The rooms all have external views and are approached by a walkway that overlooks the lobby and central atrium. The rooms come in a number of types from a Superior up to a Royal Suite. The rooms are all decorated to a high standard as a result of a constant renovation program. The rooms all come with good basic amenities but not all rooms have balconies. For Club Rotana guests there is a separate lounge on the third floor which provides an additional range of benefits.
Type of Room, Views & Facilities
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Superior 100

Dubai Skyline

Complimentary shoe shine
Complimentary newspapers
Armchair with footrest
Writing Desk
Three telephones
Double glazing
Marble bathroom
Bidet
Bath/shower

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 34
Cranley Comment
The room is a rectangular shape with a beige sponged effect paintwork on the walls with pink and green flowered curtains. The furniture is light ash colour with a carpet to match. The room has a full length mirror and a couple of prints on the wall. The bathroom has a single basin with green marble top and light green marbled effect flooring.
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Deluxe 23

Dubai Skyline

As per the Superior plus:
Two person sofa and armchair
Writing desk
Some with a walk in shower and balcony
Some with direct access to the pool

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 43
Cranley Comment
The Deluxe room benefits from an extra 9.5 square metres of space, a balcony, a walk-in shower, and a dressing area between the bedroom and bathroom with wardrobes on either side. The room is decorated to a high standard with green and gold colour and ornate mirrors and lamps. The bathroom is similar in d飯r to the superior room but has the additional benefit of a walk-in shower.
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Club Rotana Superior 114

Dubai Skyline

As per the Deluxe room plus:
Decoder
Trouser press
Bath robe
Suit cover
Weighing scale
Armchair with footrest
Access to the Club Rotana lounge and its facilities

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 34
Cranley Comment
The Club Rotana Superior room is the same room as the standard room but is decorated to a higher standard and with a purple theme to the bedding. Club Executive room guests benefit from the Club facilities and the room has the additional features of a trouser press, suit cover and satellite decoder.
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Club Rotana Deluxe 18

Dubai Skyline

As per the Club Rotana Superior plus:
Balcony

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 43
Cranley Comment
The Club Rotana Deluxe room is the same room as the deluxe room but is decorated to a higher standard and with different colouring with a gold/beige based colour theme and a deep burgundy bedspread. Club Deluxe room guests benefits from the club facilities and the room has the additional facilities of a trouser press, suit cover and satellite decoder.
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Junior Suite 8

Dubai Skyline

As per the Club Rotana rooms plus:
Three seater sofa and two armchairs
Dinning table for four persons
Walk in wardrobe
Pantry area with small fridge

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 55
Cranley Comment
The suite is a one room suite where the bedroom area is separated from the dinning /lounge area by a cabinet with a swivel TV on top. Guests enter the room into a small inner hallway on one side of which is the bathroom and on the other side is a pantry area with an under counter fridge and sink; the pantry is enclosed by wardrobe style doors. The bedroom has its own walk in wardrobe. The room has a green theme with all the soft furnishings being green based. The bedroom utilizes gold bed spreads and around the room are ornate gold lamps and accessories.
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Executive Suite 7

Dubai Skyline

As per the junior suite plus:
Two Satellite TV's
VCR/DVD
Two room suite
Lounge/dinning room
Three person sofa and one arm chairs
Dinning table for four persons
Bedroom has satellite TV and arm chair

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 76
Cranley Comment
The Executive suite is the first room type to give guests a separate bedroom and lounge/dinning room and is 38% larger than the junior suite. The bathroom styling is similar to the other bathrooms with a black marble counter and light beige marble effect tiling. The lounge area has a three person sofa and an arm chair as well as a dinning table, comfortably accommodating four people. The room has a separate desk to work at.
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Ambassador Suite 4

Dubai Skyline

As per the Executive Suite plus:
Two satellite TV's with additional satellite decoder
Additional guest WC
Three seater sofas and two arm chairs
Jacuzzi bath
Walk-in shower

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 85
Cranley Comment
The Ambassador suite benefits from being 12% larger than the executive suite. The lounge is in an unusual triangular shape with the bedroom entrance at the point. Additional facilities include a balcony, a guest WC, a DVD and VCR, Jacuzzi bath and additional armchair. The bathroom design is consistent with the other rooms. The room itself is fitted out with light ash wood furniture and olive green armchairs and a deep burgundy stripped sofa. The bedroom has deep purple bed spreads.
Type No. View Facilities Max. Occupancy Size m2
Royal Suite 1

Dubai Skyline

As per the Ambassador suite plus
24 hour butler service on request
Music system
Piano
Fax Machine
Complimentary bar set up
Three unit suite separate living dinning area and bedroom
Additional guest WC
2 x three seater sofa and two armchairs
Dinning table for 12 persons
Writing desk with three telephone lines
Steam bath
3 phones
Round bath Jacuzzi
Balcony

 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 270
Cranley Comment
The Royal Suite is a substantial size at 270 sq m. Facilities includes a full kitchen, walk-in bar area, a large lounge, guest WC and a substantial bedroom. The suite is decorated to a very high standard with the lounge and bedroom decorated in beige and gold based colour scheme with contrasting black three seater sofas. The bathroom comes fully equipped and includes a Jacuzzi and there is a separate well fitted dressing area. For entertaining there is a dinning table for twelve persons as well as a large entrance lobby to great guests. For working there is a desk with private fax.
Restaurants & Cafés
Number of Restaurants
 7
Restaurant Comments
The hotel prides itself on the quality and diversity of its restaurants. The hotel has two world famous restaurants in the Blue Elephant and Benihana's as well as a fine dinning Grill House and Italian restaurants. In addition there is a Lebanese restaurant where guests can also enjoy some Arabian entertainment with a live band and belly dancing and an international restaurant that also is the buffet breakfast location. Each night of the week one of the restaurants has a theme night which usually involves a fixed price buffet option where guests can sample an array of food from that particular outlet.
  Blue Elephant  
     
Restaurant Type Thai
Restaurant Capacity Total 141 inside
Opening Times Lunch 12.00 to 15.00
Dinner 19.00 to 00.00
Dress Codes Smart casual
Air-Conditioning Yes
Smoking Policy Non-smoking areas
Children’s Facilities High chairs, children under 6 eat free and children between 7 and 12 pay 50%
Breakfast Options N/A
Cranley Comment
The Blue Elephant is part of the world chain and has won numerous awards. Guests familiar with other Blue Elephant restaurants will recognise the interior theme with its traditional Thai décor and wooden footbridges that cross over the stream running through the restaurant to allow dinners to reach their tables. The restaurant also has a ceiling to floor waterfall that feeds the stream running through the restaurant that not only creates an interesting feature but creates an interesting sound of gushing water as well. The restaurant has fresh flowers flown in from Thailand every couple of days to add to the authentic Thai atmosphere. On a Saturday and Tuesday the restaurant has the Royal Thai buffet.
  Benihana  
     
Restaurant Type Benihana American Japanese
Restaurant Capacity Total 70 inside
Opening Times Lunch 12.00 to 15.00
Closed Friday lunchtime
Dinner 19.00 to 00.00
Dress Codes Smart casual
Air-Conditioning Yes
Smoking Policy Non-smoking area's