Hotels in Dubai

• Downtown & Business Bay — central and walkable to the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Fountain, and on the metro's Red Line; the easiest base for first-time visitors and sightseeing.
• Dubai Marina & JBR — a waterfront strip of high-rise hotels, beach and dining promenades, lively and family-friendly, served by both the metro and the tram.
• Palm Jumeirah — the man-made island's beach resorts, from the landmark Atlantis to quieter five-stars; the choice for a resort-style splurge or honeymoon.
• Jumeirah — a low-rise beachfront stretch of upscale hotels near the Burj Al Arab, good for a calmer beach stay.
• Deira & Bur Dubai — the historic heart along the Creek, home to the gold and spice souks and the city's best concentration of budget and mid-range hotels.

Dubai's high season runs from November to March, when the weather is mild and pleasant and the city is at its busiest — and hotel rates are at their highest, peaking around December and January. The summer months are very hot, but they're the bargain season, with the lowest hotel prices and life shifting to air-conditioned malls, indoor attractions and the city's beaches and pools. The shoulder months on either side — roughly April, and September into October — strike a middle ground of warmer-but-bearable weather, thinner crowds and softer rates. Demand and prices also climb around major draws like the Dubai Shopping Festival each winter and the long Eid holidays.

Dubai is one of the easier Gulf cities to explore without a car. The driverless Dubai Metro runs two lines — the Red Line links the airport, Downtown, Business Bay and the Marina, while the Green Line threads the older Deira and Bur Dubai districts and their souks. The Dubai Tram connects the Marina and JBR, the Palm Monorail runs out to the resorts on Palm Jumeirah, and traditional abras still ferry passengers across Dubai Creek for a nominal fare. A rechargeable Nol card covers the metro, tram, buses and water transport, while taxis and car-hailing apps fill in the gaps — handy late at night or for spots off the rail network. In the cooler months the promenades and beachfronts are walkable; in peak summer, plan around the heat and lean on the metro, malls and short taxi hops.