They prefer die to give services. Bad attitude. My linens were not changed during my three day stay. The reception were unfriendly.
Do not recomend

The Hallmark was booked spur of the moment when I missed my flight out of Dubai last week. I was perusing on my iPod in the Dubai airport using the Agoda Hotel app for three-star hotels near the airport. I spotted Hallmark, a quick ride down the Dubai metro’s red line “Al-Fahidi” stop. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, just a place to lay my head. Great, I have a place to stay for the night.

Well, the problems started right after I got there.

- Check-in. With Agoda, the terms and conditions state that you should print out the voucher to give to the hotel reception upon check in. Well, being that I booked this at the airport on an iPod, I did not have this on me. However, I have never had to present this paper voucher ever. Well, I was not too happy to have the hotel clerk tell me that I would have to use the lobby computers to get a printout of the voucher. I am hot and sweaty, and badly in need of a shower. Last thing I wanted to do was hunt down a voucher for the hotel clerk. Ok, so I am supposed to do this beforehand, but how could I have? I was not too impressed.

- In the room, you must flip a switch to turn on the hot water heater. Or, you will not have hot water. Would have been nice if they had told me that. In all the hotels I have stayed in during this lifetime, I have never seen this. Fine, but couldn’t there be a sign in the bathroom about this, or at least have the reception tell me? So my first shower was lukewarm. I complained, and then they told me about the switch. I turn it on. I got for a workout. But guess what? Still no hot water. I complain again, and they say they will send someone to the room to fix it, but I tell them not to bother…it was a moot point by then.

- Internet. It mentions on Agoda there is free Wi-Fi. Well, it is free for the first hour. Then, I was told by the reception it would be 100 AED (about $30) to have it for the day. Outrageous. Later, another clerk told me the cost would be 20 AED per hour. So, some inconsistency in the answer I got which tells me the staff is not trained too well. To top it all off, I was staying on the fifth floor, and Wi-Fi did not happen to be working there. So I had to plug in to use my computer. I complained, and in response, I got two free hours of “wired” internet access. Internet is ubiquitous enough these days that it should be included. It would be just as outrageous to charge for hot water in the room too….but maybe I forgot to pay for that as an extra too???

- Music in the hallway. The non-lobby areas play elevator music which can be heard in the room when you are trying to sleep. I noticed this after bedding down for the night. Called reception. Took about 20 minutes to get a fix. Remember the scene in Airplane 2 with people cupping their ears as they entered and exited the elevator? It was kind of like that.


Other than these problems, the hotel was actually an excellent value. There is an exercise room that is better than average (with free weights), a pool, sauna (very hot too…a nice surprise…but watch for exposed screws that could burn you), and a steam room (was not working, probably could not get water hot enough!). The bed was comfy, climate controls just fine. Good restaurants nearby and on premises. All in all, if you don’t care to use the Internet much, are a sound sleeper, and don’t mind a lukewarm shower, and have the ability to print out your hotel vouchers ahead of time, then this place is very good.

I'm not sure if this hotel should be 4 !!! there was not any transfer to the hotel, we paid the taxi ourselves. we were there at 1pm , they asked to have lunch and then they would check in!!! then at 3 pm they suggest( after we were shouting at them) to rest in one of the rooms and after half an hour we can have the other ... we were 4 and we sleep in one room with twin bed... our reservation was 2 room with king bed!!! at 5:30 we check in to the other room . the rooms was awful dirty ... the services wasn't clean..there is an empty mini bar in the room and 2 not cold water !!! one of the rooms has tea kettle and mugs the other don't!!! we asked for wi-fi in the room and got the password... there wasn't any wi-fi or cable in the room but we have charged because of the password. the breakfast was worst in the hotels that i have been ... the bread was old there was few choices with worst quality. the lunch was better than the breakfast! the reception was so stupid and we didn't got any helpful act! they asked us to wait for taxi ... when the car came it wasn't taxi and he charged us 100 DHm for 55DHm !!! the last day for 14 people with lots of baggages there was a van with 10 room and no baggage room... we had wait for 45 minute in the street for a larger car!!! and we were so late for the flight!!!! it wasn't a 4* hotel i guess, because i went to City season 4* it was great and Ibn battuta 5* that was gorgeous !!!

I have read the reviews of other fellow contributors and was in a confusion state of mind to book this place or not. But after staying I realise that the decision was right.
Many positives but all coins have 2 sides.

My flight was delayed for more that 10 hours...I managed to send a e-mail at 12 midnight to inform that I would arrive around 2 am..When I arrived of course the vehicle was not there but I used the counter at the airport (Tourist information centre - the person was helpful) then they cam to pick me within 15 minutes.
Closer to airport - at Deira - Easy access through Red Metro as well.
At check-in since the booking was made I just had to sign the form (no filling business) - 2 minutes I was sitting on the bed.
Room was clean - small but that's good enough and was much bigger than few rooms I have stayed in Europe..
Liked to see eco friendly messages about the re-use of towel and which I encourage, but that was not working - may be the employees are not communicated properly since my towels were changed daily although they were hanged as instructed.
Basics were available - shampoo, soap, creams etc...
Good comfortable bed and Air conditioner could be controlled and had to be reduced since the climate was very good 23C. So sleeping was good.
Helpful staff who were able to understand English.

Pool on top floor - OK but check prior to the use whether someone there..
Plenty of eating places around, shopping places around......

Since my schedule was hectic I was not so bothered about the description below, nevertheless I should be saying so

Safety locker is available but no instruction to operate, probably the management wants us to contact them..?
Phone was not all that great - no in-house directory and the one-touch buttons ( to link reception, restaurant etc) were not working.
Food - Not so great, Breakfast - repeat menus, Lunch was almost repeat but the worse was the lunch menu and the meals were served at dinner too on day 1. So if you are a food lover..mmm

Wi-fi not available, Internet thro phone but does not function properly and staff lacked the tech knowledge to restore....I carried a BB that sorted things for me.


Overall for a short stay I would recommend - value for money