I booked this because it was cheap, cheap, cheap. Got there and first impressions were okay. No hairdryer, but had luckily packed my own. No safe. No toaster, but they brought me one up as soon as I asked for it. No kettle, but I'd brought my own. Big balcony, but no furniture on the balcony. Patio door tricky to lock. As for cleanliness.....................hmmm. The "maid" at the hotel is a 16 year old boy, and it shows. Dust swept into corners and left there. Rusty nail stayed on the floor by the door for the whole of my 6 night stay. Long blonde hairs on the pillows when I arrived. Toilet leaks on the floor, but luckily it appeared to be clean water. Slightly grubby, but I tried to keep cheerful, as it was so cheap.
This place is miles from anywhere. You need a taxi to get to the metro station, then a taxi when you get off the metro to wherever you are going. I walked everywhere the first day, and I was exhausted! Luckily, each taxi journey is only about £2.
Getting from the airport in a normal taxi cost less than £10. Bargain.
The hotel's own car is a bit expensive - I paid 30 AED (about £8) to go to the souks, and a normal taxi would probably have been cheaper.
I took some tinned food in my suitcase, jam, coffee, flora spread and some bread. I was able to make some breakfast and dinner in the room, as there is a microwave and toaster, and it saved me a bit of money. Local bread is wierdly sweet.
Some local men are a bit rude - they don't hold open doors for you, or say thank you if you do it for them. Also, the traders at the souk can get on your nerves a bit by trying to get you in their shops, calling out to you, being a bit sleazy. A firm "No Thank You" does the trick.
All in all, so long as you are aware that you'll need to go everywhere in the (fairly cheap) taxis, and are prepared for below-standard cleanliness, this place will do you fine. It was cheap enough to remain fairly cheerful about it all.
- Richmond Hotel Dubai
