Traveling to Dubai sometime soon? If you're searching for a good place to stay, I have a recommendation. Ed and I recently had an overnight stay at the newly-opened Royal Continental Hotel in Deira.
My first impression was that it is perfect for stylish yet budget-savvy travelers. And that impression lasted throughout our stay.
My first impression was that it is perfect for stylish yet budget-savvy travelers. And that impression lasted throughout our stay.
 |
The Hotel
Royal Continental Hotel is a 4-star property fit for business travelers and holidaymakers. It is conveniently located within walking distance from City Centre Deira, and only 2 km away from Dubai International Airport.
In accordance with the initiative of the government to promote halal tourism in Dubai, Royal Continental Hotel is a halal hotel; which makes it an ideal place to stay for Muslim travelers. Non-Muslim guests need not worry though. There's no wine to pair with your dinner and no bacon for breakfast, but this hotel compensates by providing exceptional service and facilities.
 |
| 4-star property of Royal Continental Hotels in Deira, Dubai |
 |
| hotel reception |
 |
| welcoming and sophisticated lobby |
The check-in procedure was seamless. I was already scanning our keycard in the elevator five minutes after arrival. The hotel is highly secured; guestroom floors and basement parking can only be accessed by hotel guests.
The Room
Our room was a pleasant surprise; quite incomparable to the 4-star accommodations we've been to! We were upgraded to a Junior Suite; a spacious accommodation with a sitting area, mini bar, cozy bedroom, private bathroom, and a good view of the city.
It is elegantly furnished and has state-of-the-art Royal Continental Digital Connect - an innovative feature in the LED screen that allowed us to conveniently search for entertainment, global weather and airport information, in-room dining and many more at a single touch. The room is also soundproof, and WiFi is fast and free!
It is elegantly furnished and has state-of-the-art Royal Continental Digital Connect - an innovative feature in the LED screen that allowed us to conveniently search for entertainment, global weather and airport information, in-room dining and many more at a single touch. The room is also soundproof, and WiFi is fast and free!
 |
| Sitting Area in Junior Suite |
 |
| Royal Continental Digital Connect on the LED screen |
 |
| vibrant city view from the suite You can actually see the airport runway from the living room. |
 |
| coffee and tea making facility |
 |
| well-stocked fridge |
During our stay, the weather was terrible. It was raining non-stop; hence, we had to change plans. Instead of hitting the pool that afternoon, we stayed in bed, watched movies, and caught a lot of rest. I guess those are the best things to do when you're in a hotel room with a cushy king size bed and a great entertainment system.
 |
| cozy king size bed |
 |
| work desk |
 |
| You can't blame me if I'd stay in this bed all day. :) |
Attached to the private room is a modern bathroom equipped with bathtub, separate walk-in shower, and complete with fancy toiletries. It has switchable glass wall that turns opaque at a touch of a button when privacy is needed.
 |
| bathroom essentials |
 |
| That transparent glass panel can turn opaque when needed! |
 |
| room slippers |
Health and Leisure Facilities
Royal Continental Hotel has a good selection of health and leisure facilities. Ed and I spent our weekend evening at the indoor recreation room playing foosball, billiards and table tennis! Those were completely enough to divert our attention away from the pool deck that was still drenched in heavy rain!
The hotel also has a fully-equipped gym for the health buffs and a well-appointed spa for those who seek total relaxation.
 |
| indoor leisure facility |
 |
| sun loungers by the pool |
 |
| swimming pool Can you see the rain ripples? |
 |
| fully-equipped gym |
 |
| Inspiration on the wall! |
Dining
Royal Continental Hotel has two dining outlets. All The Perks, a popular international cafe chain, is located in the ground floor. Next to it is Oasis, the hotel's all-day-dining venue, serving multi-cuisine buffet and a la carte for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Oasis is an elegant, yet family-friendly hotel restaurant. Guests are welcomed traditionally with dates and Arabic coffee. Complimentary basket of warm bread was served at the start of the meal.
 |
| Oasis restaurant in Royal Continental Hotel |
 |
| Dates and Arabic coffee |
 |
| complimentary bread and butter |
Oasis' menu has a great variety. I spotted some Indian, Arabic, American, and Italian dishes on the list.
I opted to begin my dinner with a hearty bowl of seafood chowder. It is a thick and creamy soup with chunks of fresh prawns, crab, lobster, squid and fish! Warm and flavorful, it was perfect for that cold rainy evening.
For appetizer, Ed and I shared a serving of chicken spring rolls. It was beautifully presented and the serving size is enough of two people. It is golden fried with a thin crisp-crackly skin and a light filling.
 |
| Seafood Chowder |
 |
| Chicken Spring Rolls |
Ed's main course was Grilled Lamb Chops served with creamy mashed potatoes and buttered vegetables. The fresh-off-the-grill meat is juicy and tender, and drizzled with mint sauce. I had Grilled Jumbo Prawns served with fries. The butterflied king prawns are well-marinated and delectable. It was smothered with mustard and lemon butter sauce which made the dish more appetizing.
As mentioned, alcohol is not served in the hotel; hence, we had fresh juices to pair with our meal and there's nothing to complain! The juices were fresh and brimming with natural flavors.
 |
| Lamb Chops |
 |
| Grilled Jumbo Prawns |
 |
| Fresh Juices |
Oasis had a lively atmosphere during breakfast. It was very busy at a prime breakfast time, yet the staff seemed to handle it quite well.
The buffet spread is small compared to other hotel breakfasts we've seen, but it is substantial. Different kinds of bread, cheese, cereals, fruits and vegetables are arranged on the counters. An array of international breakfast dishes are also served. I personally loved the beef bacon, sausage, and French toasts!
 |
| an assortment of bread |
 |
| breakfast basics |
 |
| a variety of cereals |
 |
| French Toast with fruits |
Overall
The convenient location, comfortable accommodation, excellent service, and luxurious facilities make Royal Continental Hotel an ideal place to stay in Dubai! I would actually consider it a jackpot find as it is a 4-star hotel with a budget-friendly rate!
Location Map:
Royal Continental Hotel
Deira, Dubai
Contact # +971 4 203 5000
Website: royalcontinentalhotels.com
We were invited to stay in Royal Continental Hotel. Opinions in this blog post are my own.
1 Blogger Comments
amazing post
ReplyDelete