Abu Dhabi Hotels and Accommodation

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The over-the-top opulence of the Emirates Palace

Hotels in Abu Dhabi used to be half price compared to Dubai but no longer. You'll be be looking at north of US$150/night. However, all are well-tended and host to first class restaurants, pools, and other high-end hotel facilities.

• Emirates Palace, Corniche East, www.emiratespalace.com. Built at an estimated cost of US$3 billion, this was by many accounts the world's most expensive hotel to build, with oodles of gold and marble plating every available surface. The scale of everything is gargantuan — you need directions just to find your way from the gate to the lobby! — and the hotel feels like it's straight out of Las Vegas, minus the slot machines. Day tripping visitors are welcome, and entertainment options include caviar and champagne at the Caviar Bar, a fine Cohiba and cognac at the Havana Club, or a Turkish coffee (Dh 30) at Le Cafe. Rooms for the night start from about US$500.

• Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche East, ☎ +971 02-6811900, abudhabi.hilton.com. One of the older hotels in Abu Dhabi, but kept in good shape and recently renovated. Huge Hiltonia beach/pool/spa complex across the street (free for guests), small gym in hotel itself. "Plus" rooms face the sea but are otherwise identical to normal ones. Located a fair distance from the city center, which is both good (no construction noise) and bad (virtually nothing within walking distance). However, there are shuttle services to the Marina Mall and the city center). US$150.

• Hilton Baynunah, Corniche, ☎ +971 02-6327777, baynunah-towers.hilton.com. Popular with business travelers, the Baynunah's main selling points are the central location and spacious rooms equipped with kitchens. Indoor pool, gym, small lounge open to all guests. Downsides are thin walls and a construction site next door which is unlikely to be completed before 2009. US$120.

• Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers (Beach Rotana), Tourist Club Area, ☎ +971 02-6979000, www.rotana.com/property-4.htm. Marble everywhere sums it up. It is luxurious and the luxury is well done from the lady who welcomes you to the hotel to the concierge. Of course, it is also expensive, very expensive if you don't arrive off peak and off peak is rare in Abu Dhabi. The Club rooms are worth it if you are having to pay full rates for the classic rooms in the main older hotel. They are not much bigger but the use of the Club lounge is valuable if you are going to be in the hotel a lot and the TV arrangements are more modern, the view wide. It now looks over the hectic construction on the new artificial islands across the creek. The rooms could use headphones to allow watching of TV at a louder but more personal level. The Club rooms jacuzzis in the bath are OK for the user but a noisy nuisance for the neighbours.

• Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi (Four Star Business Hotel), Zayed the 1st Street (Behind Hamed Center), ☎ 00971 2 652 00 00, www.cristalhotelsandresorts.com. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi is located in the downtown banking district just a short drive from Abu Dhabi Airport. We offer our guests 192 rooms and suites. State-of-the-art conference and business center, as well as an indoor pool and spa facilities. All of our rooms and suites have been designed with contemporary luxury in mind. Features include Cristal's unique executive desk, a 32 inch Flat Srceen LCD TV and high speed internet access. No detail has been left unattended.

• Novotel Centre Hotel Abu Dhabi (Novotel), PO box 47136 (Hamdan Street & Airport Road), ☎ +971 02-6333555, www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0662-novotel-centre-hotel-abu-dhabi/index.shtml. Adequate rooms but inadequate and expensive breakfast in a tower block. Reception is cramped and lacks style. The lifts (elevators) are very slow. You pay for internet access. Only the cheerful staff and, if relevant to you, the central location redeem the place. The Chinese restaurant is said to be good, too.

• Grand Continental Flamingo (Grand Continental), P.O.Box 28080 (Visible across Capital Garden, Near Hamdan St and Khalifa Bin Zayed St), ☎ +971 02-6262200, www.gcfhotel.net. This is the hotel the taxis can't find. A 2 story atrium, quiet setting, rooms with bidet, bath and over-bath shower and wide screen TVs all contribute to a pleasant stay. Only the dimness of the lighting and the overdone carpets in the room lets it down. The bath towels are also a bit small. Dhs. 200.

• Park Inn Abu Dhabi Yas Island (Park Inn Abu Dhabi Yas Island), P.O.Box 93725 (Golf Plaza, Yas Island), ☎ +971 02-656 22 22, www.parkinn-abudhabi.com. A great new hotel in Yas Island. Clean rooms, excellent service and nice and friendly staff. The restaurant is a great option for dinner. Dhs. 550.

Other luxury hotels include:

• One To One Hotels - The Village, Al Salam Street, ☎ +971 02-4952000, www.onetoonehotels.com/thevillage.php. A four-star hotel.
• Le Royal Meridien, Sheikh Khalifa Street, ☎ +971 02-6742020, www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1900.
• Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Corniche Road, P.O. Box 640, ☎ +971 02-6773333, www.sheratonabudhabihotel.com.
• InterContinental Abu Dhabi, abu-dhabi.intercontinental.com.
• Le Meridien Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area, ☎ +971 02-6446666, www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1899.
• International Rotana Inn Hotel, www.rotana.com.
• Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Street, PO Box 44486, ☎ +971 02-6146000, www.millenniumhotels.com/MCIL.nsf/LU_HOTELDOC/130$$HotelDescription?OpenDocument.
• Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel, Zayed the First Street, Khalidiya Area, P.O. Box 6727, ☎ +971 02-6666220, www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/khalidiya. 50.
• Hilton Corniche Residence, Corniche Road, ☎ +971 02-6276000, www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/AUHCOTW-Hilton-Corniche-Hotel-Apartments/index.do. 100.