The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is one of the tallest buildings on the planet. It is only natural that tourists flock to this landmark like bees to honey. Located near the Dubai Mall, it is one of the must-see attractions for all visitors to Dubai. So, say you want to add the Burj Khalifa to your travel itinerary. Where should you stay in the city of Dubai for maximum convenience?
Can you stay at the Burj Khalifa? What kind of accommodation should you expect? And should you stay at the Burj Khalifa? Read more to find out 6 reasons you shouldn’t.
Can you stay at the Burj Khalifa?
The megatower, Burj Khalifa, is many things. Inside the skyscraper you will find 163 floors of residential apartments, corporate suites, and tourist attractions. Like the At The Top observatories and sky lobbies. All intersected by maintenance floors.
But on floors 1 to 16 and 38 to 39, you will find something rather different than the rest of the tower. These floors house the Armani Dubai Hotel. A designer, 5-star establishment right at the foundations of the megatower.
So, the short answer is, yes, you can stay at the Burj Khalifa. But the tower itself is not the hotel. Armani is the one you’re looking for.
Armani Hotel Dubai at the Burj Khalifa
The Armani Hotel Dubai is located inside the Burj Khalifa. It has been described as an elegant, sophisticated, and urban establishment. And you would expect it to be as well. Given that it is located in the highest landmark in the world and in one of the most popular cities for travelers. Not to mention it is shouldering such a luxurious brand as Giorgio Armani.
Entering the Burj Khalifa, you will find the lobby of Armani Hotel Dubai on the concourse and ground floors. Located on floors 1 to 8 are Armani Hotel Dubai’s various suites. From the deluxe to the executive, to the ambassador. You can expect all the luxury and class associated with Giorgio Armani in these rooms. From designer textiles to designer furniture. If there is one thing the Armani Dubai Hotel does well, it is luxury.
Exclusive to the Armani Hotel Dubai, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa park from some of its rooms. And with the sky observatory decks so close to where you’re staying, a world-class, metropolitan view is at arm’s reach. Just take the elevator up the Burj Khalifa and, voila, Dubai city in all its glory.
Armani Residencies
You can probably imagine that rooms in a skyscraper can only be spacious to a point. Most rooms in the Armani Hotel Dubai can house up to two adults, with a double bed. Two adults and a young child if you squeeze. Or three adults sleeping in one bed if you minimize movement in the night. Which doesn’t sound all too relaxing if you’re traveling with more than one person.
If you know you will be traveling with a group, whether it be friends or family, or you just want to relax in a more spacious room, the Burj Khalifa has residencies on its many floors. And yes, these also come under the Giorgio Armani brand.
The Armani Residences are located on levels 9 to 16. Not only are rooms more spacious than the ones in the hotel. But they also come with more amenities and facilities than the ones nearer to the lobby. These larger residencies come with fully furnished kitchens. Perfect for those craving a home-cooked meal with exotic ingredients. There are also luxurious bathrooms designed and accessorized by Giorgio Armani. Yes, even toiletries are designers when it comes to the Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. For the latter, you can choose from a range of apartments, ranging from 116 to 190 square meters.
6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Stay at the Burj Khalifa
As good as the Armani Hotel Dubai at the Burj Khalifa sounds, not all visitors agree that the hotel is worth their money. Or time. Or even the experience of staying at a luxury, designer hotel for that matter.
We have scoured the internet and read through different reviews of the Armani Hotel Dubai at the Burj Khalifa. And here are 6 reasons why some past visitors to the Armani Dubai Hotel would not recommend the hotel to other future travelers.
1) Long Check-in Time
Although the Armani Hotel Dubai is located in one of the most futuristic buildings on planet earth, one that looks straight out of a video game or movie, its check-in time seems to be stuck in a time long before 2022.
Today, we expect everything to be fast, efficient, and instant. Especially if you’ve just come from the airport after a tiring long-haul flight with multiple connections that took several hours of waiting around. Because it is never just the flight time that is long.
You spend another long hour at the airport trying to find your luggage. And eventually, another hour of looking for a taxi to take you to your hotel. The last thing you want then when you finally arrive at the Armani Hotel Dubai is to be told you’re another hour or two away from a comfortable bed.
Travelers have reported a long check-in time at the Armani Dubai Hotel at the Burj Khalifa. The waiting period seems to be between 30 minutes to 1 hour on busy days. Which, in a popular destination like Dubai, is expected to be every day.
The reason behind this long check-in time is not known. But many travelers suspect it could be a case of the hotel being short-staffed. Especially after covid, when the tourism industry took the largest hit it has ever seen.
2) Lack of Late Check-Out Options
Frequent travelers will know that your flight times don’t always overlap with check-out times. There is nothing more annoying than standing around in the hotel lobby with all your luggage waiting for your flight to happen. Not to mention how unsatisfying an end this is to your vacation. Unfortunately, you will be disappointed at the Armani Hotel Dubai.
Because they don’t have a late check-out option available. Even to guests occupying its most expensive suites.
Most 4- to 5-star hotels today have this option available to their guests. And for those used to luxury when traveling, this might come as a shock. But no. The Armani Hotel Dubai doesn’t offer late checkouts to anyone. So, if you know your flight is in the evening, you might want to reconsider your hotel options in Dubai.
3) Little Option at the Bar
A disappointed traveler has reported that the hotel bar at the Armani Hotel Dubai is sparse. Lacking the usual options you would expect at a 5-star establishment. Gone are the expected cocktails, aged wines, premium Proseccos, and champagnes. Missing are the luxury whiskeys and cognacs.
Instead, apart from an overpriced drink, there doesn’t seem to be much on offer at the Armani Hotel Dubai bar. If you’re looking to chill out at the hotel bar during your vacation, the Armani Hotel Dubai might not be the one for you.
4) Gaudy Décor
Now, we know tastes vary between everyone. But we’ve seen a few reviews of Armani Hotel Dubai mention its mediocre décor. So, we feel it might be important to mention it. One traveler complained that the décor in the rooms is gaudy and tasteless. This sounds surprising considering the Giorgio Armani brand is supposed to be anything but.
However, another traveler seemed to quite like the decorations and décor in the rooms, as well as the lobby. This traveler found their environment rather timeless and enjoyable. If you’re particular about the environment of the hotel you’re staying in, you might want to try another hotel in the vicinity of Burj Khalifa.
5) Unstable Wi-Fi
We have read reviews of the unstable Wi-Fi at the Armani Hotel Dubai. When you really think about it, sounds more like something that you hear about a hotel in the middle of the woods. Or an establishment that has fewer stars than 3. Certainly not such a luxury brand as the Armani Hotel Dubai.
But once again, unfortunately, you’ve heard us right. One traveler has reported that the Wi-Fi signal in their room seems to be on and off. And when they asked someone to come and fix it, the hotel couldn’t really do anything to improve the signal, and the problem continues. They did get an apology food basket though.
6) Prices are High
After all, we’ve said about the downsides of staying at the Armani Hotel Dubai, let’s not forget you’re paying one of the most expensive hotel prices out there.
Final words
Taking all the issues we have pointed out into consideration; this is our advice. You can definitely find another better hotel that can guarantee you a comfortable and stress-free vacation. If not at a lower price, you will definitely be more satisfied with the room, amenities, and services you receive from the hotel.
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