President Hotel

Sat on one edge of the bargain-heavy Karama markets, this 50-room, two-star hotel seems as happy to offer knock-down prices as the traders who have set up shop behind it Discuss this article

Sat on one edge of the bargain-heavy Karama markets, this 50-room, two-star hotel seems as happy to offer knock-down prices as the traders who have set up shop behind it. The dark and dimly lit hallways lead into similarly gloomy rooms, with views of surrounding buildings and the busy road out front.

The beds themselves are quite small, and the tiny bathrooms with their shampoo sachets are just enough to get by on. Staff are very friendly and helpful, although as there are so few of them, efficiency is notable by its absence and the guests, predominantly Indian and Gulf Coast families, seem to keep them teetering on the brink of a collective nervous breakdown.

Dirt-cheap and centrally located, the President is a fair choice, but you’re better off splashing out that bit more for the Jumeirah Rotana or, if you can live without a pool, opting for the Ibis.

Time Out reviews hotels anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.