The best places to stay in four price ranges: budget ($), moderate ($$), expensive ($$$), and luxury ($$$$)

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Ibis World Trade Centre Dubai

Contemporary, comfortable, 210-room budget business hotel linked to the Exhibition Centre and Convention Centre of Dubai. Super chic lounge lobby; unfortunately offset by small rooms. Popular Italian restaurant and bars. Centrally located. Behind World Trade Centre. Off Sheikh Zayed Road; tel. 971 4 332 4444.

Orient Guest House
“You’re talking traditional courtyard living, a Dubai rarity.”—Claire Malcolm, editor, Concierge magazine. Ten spacious rooms in historic Bastakiya quarter spread across two courtyard houses; traditional decor; tranquil, atmospheric, and laid-back. Al Fahidi Street, Bastakiya; tel. 971 4 351 9111.

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Hilton Dubai Creek
“Slap-bang in the city with funky boutique appeal.”—Claire Malcolm. Swish Carlos Ott-designed glass tower with 154 spacious rooms; creek-view rooms offer sublime sunset vistas; the penthouse suite is a sleek apartment with panoramic views. Gordon Ramsay’s Verre restaurant. Small rooftop pool. Beniyas Road, Deira; tel. 971 4 227 1111.
Al Manzil Hotel
“Nouvelle Arabia architecture, no-nonsense business vibe.”—Claire Malcolm. Chic, 197-room four-star in the shadow of the world’s tallest building; contemporary Arabian style melds modern and traditional—backlit mashrabiya (carved wood) screens and orange-glowing lamps; creative room layouts; complimentary high-speed Internet access; flat-screen TVs that hide away. Burj Dubai Boulevard, Old Town, Burj Dubai; tel. 971 4 428 5888.
Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City
“In the heart of Dubai’s media hub with an alfresco, rooftop bar overlooking new Dubai’s scores of skyscrapers, spectacular when lit up at night.”—Zoe Rawlins, editor, Visitor Magazine. Hip business hotel with 246 rooms; spa, pools, and gym; award-winning Italian restaurant; stylish bars attract local advertising crowd. Free, fast wireless Internet. Dubai Media City; tel. 971 4 366 9111.

Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers
Fully renovated creekside five-star; 262 spacious rooms decorated in various styles; opulent and plush. Tower floors offer excellent creek views. Extensive facilities and excellent restaurants (Ashiana and Creekside). Walking distance to shopping and dhows (boats) on the waterfront. Beniyas Road, Deira; tel. 971 4 228 1111.

$$$ 

BurJuman Rotana Suites

Stylish serviced apartments in a sleek new tower; enormous one-, three-, and four-bedroom suites with kitchenettes; 148 rooms; excellent views from higher floors. Adjacent to swanky BurJuman shopping center and linked to state-of-the-art fitness center. Trade Centre Road, Bur Dubai; tel. 971 4 352 4444.
Dusit Dubai
Distinctive and luxurious Thai hotel with 321 generously appointed, comfortable rooms in an understated Asian style; floor-to-ceiling windows and large bathrooms. Dusit Club rooms offer excellent value for business travelers. Superb Thai cuisine at authentic Benjarong restaurant. Sheikh Zayed Road; tel. 971 4 343 3333.
Grosvenor House
Chic cosmopolitan hotel and serviced apartments with big-city sophistication; 217 spacious, comfortable rooms in a chic contemporary style; enviable eateries and hip Buddha Bar. West Marina Beach; tel. 971 4 399 8888.
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
An anodyne exterior gives way to a dramatic lobby: transparent Philippe Starck-designed Kartell chairs in the contemporary Aspen Café. Features 393 spacious mod rooms and elegant suites; 15 “ski chalets” overlook snowy slopes of Ski Dubai, the world’s first Alpine-themed snow park; excellent spa and gym. Superb shopping at adjoining Mall of the Emirates. Sheikh Zayed Road; tel. 971 4 341 0000.

One&Only Royal Mirage
Three opulent Arabian-style hotels, nearly 500 rooms, most have balconies or terraces with sea views; pristine beach with regal pavilions overlooking Palm Island; superb spa and hammam (bath); hip bars and restaurants. Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 399 9999.

Park Hyatt Dubai
White, Moroccan-style, low-rise resort with 225 sleek Middle Eastern-accented rooms; sublime creek and marina views; creekside Terrace bar; authentic Thai restaurant; and decadent Friday brunch. Play golf at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club next door. Dubai Creek Golf andYacht Club, Deira; tel. 971 4 602 1234.

Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort andSpa
Family-oriented luxury beach resort: enormous, well-appointed resort; over 500 enormous, well-appointed rooms, from beachfront to butler served. Verdant landscaped gardens, several pools, pristine private beach, and extensive water-sport facilities. Myriad dining and drinking options, including the magical Maya restaurant for Mexican fine dining. Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 399 5555.

$$$$

Burj Al Arab
Ostentatious and iconic Dubai landmark; self-appointed “five-star deluxe” property (often referred to as “seven-starred”) featuring 202 two-story suites, catered to by more than 1,200 attentive staff including a personal butler for each suite. Sleek “dhow sail” exterior gives way to a kaleidoscopic interior of glitzy gulf style. Stunning views from Skyview Bar. Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 301 7777.

Mina A’ Salam
This “harbor of peace” has 292 traditionally decorated rooms facing the Arabian Gulf: opulent public spaces feature handcrafted mashrabiya screens, Asian lamps, and plush furnishings. A bevy of restaurants, bars, and shopping at Souk Madinat. Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 366 8888.