Holiday Inn Express Dubai - Safa Park by IHG — Hotel in Dubai

I stayed here a week. I came for my birthday as a solo traveler. First night I arrived i was so tired I went to sleep. 2 day in the morning showered brush my teeth and decided to touch up my new white oc tennis shoes...biggest mistake. I specifically bought this shoes for this trip. I wasn't able to wear them at all causing my feet and back to hurt all week. The hot water was running dirty. Orange you will say. The pics do not make it justice. Was horrible. Cold water was cleaner. As part of this mistake I notify the front desk. They asked if they can wash them for me there at the hotel I said yes. My shoes turned out completely orangy color. I didn't have a pic of how bad they ruined them at first. After this I was so upset but took it easy as it was my birthday week and wanted to make dubai a great experience. But nope. They keep bringing them back to me stain still and wanting for me to settle. I told them after 4 days I wanted them to pay for my shoes as they were having water issues I didn't get notice of and they were responsible for staining them more. The Reception manager asked me for receipt for proof of purchase of my shoes and pics of before and after. He tried getting me reimburst but after 6 days am writing this review because the General Manger, had the guts to sit down and tell me to my face that the yellow or orange water is not dirty water, that they tried their best and their cleaners told her that my shoes had no solution. She told me I should not wash my shoes in the sink when sink and tub both waters where dirty and my shoes were cleaner than her mouth. She told me that she has paperwork that her water system was running fine and clean. Kept blaming the city of Dubai and taking no accountability whatsoever for her lack of hotel management and guest customer service and satisfaction. Contradicted herself in every sentence she spoke. I never got reimbursement for them messing up my shoes and I will show pics of before and after some of the 3 times they tried their cleaners. I have the GM recorded telling me all kind of nonsense and today is my Birthday and that's what am taking back home from Dubai Holiday Inn. DO NOT COME HERE. Also am an Elite Diamond member and they didn't even care. Am not giving more business to this chain of hotel. I post a pic also once I made it home and took them to cleaners here in US. Not even that helped. Is as white as they will ever be. So yes, in DUBAI DIRTY ORANGE WATER IS SAFE AS...

As a well-travelled individual who values leaving honest reviews to help others make the right booking decisions, I wasn’t planning on writing this at first. However, my experience here deserves to be shared.

When I first checked in, the room had a terrible smell possibly from the carpet, curtains, or something else. It was surprising that a room in this condition was given to a guest, as the odor was unbearable. I requested a room change, and thankfully, a more decent room was eventually allocated.

After settling in, another issue arose: housekeeping. I stayed for 3–4 days and noticed housekeeping was inconsistent and at times did not come at all. Basic expectations such as towel replacement were not met, which was disappointing.

The real low point came in the restaurant. Most days I ordered food through Careem, but today I decided to have lunch at the hotel.

To my pleasant surprise, the food was excellent, compliments to the chef and the waiter for one of the tastiest salmon dishes and fruit salads I’ve had.

Unfortunately, that positive moment was overshadowed by how the bill was handled.

As I was leaving, I was stopped and almost coerced into settling the bill immediately, despite having asked for it to be billed to my room. I found this both unprofessional and inconsistent with standard hospitality practices.

In most hotels, meals can be billed to the room and settled at checkout, with or without a deposit. The way the staff insisted made me feel as if I was trying to avoid paying, which was uncomfortable and unnecessary.

Policies are important, but consistency and kindness in how they’re communicated...

I did not enjoy this hotel at all. I think IHG needs to do a full rehaul on it. My room was clean in regard to the bed. The couch was old with old pillows that had stains. But what bothered me most, was the bathroom. The entire shower had mold and mildew EVERYWHERE. On the faucet, on the walls, on the tile, on the glass. Not only was it visible, but it smelled. I complained to the hotel and asked if I could change rooms. THEY SAID NO!!! They said they'd send up maintenance to fix it...well.... maintenance can't replace an entire shower. They tried to clean out a section, but I mean, obviously that can't be cleaned instantly. It was so bad; it needed to be replaced. ||The breakfast was mediocre. But, very busy with not enough seats. Most mornings, there was a line of people walking around with their food waiting for a table to free up. ||I had their dinner one night, which was fairly priced. But the service was bad. It's 3 courses and I was waiting for the desert when the server told me they were closed now, and I had to leave. I said, I never got my desert, and he said, "Oh. Sorry. I'll get it now." He didn't ask if I wanted water, a tea, coffee...or anything the entire meal. So, I ate there once and only once. ||Overall, this hotel is way overpriced for the service they are providing. I would not stay there again. ||The location was nice and central - about a 40min walk to the Burj Khalifa or Mall. But, if you're going to Dubai, get something better than this hotel. I've seen better Holiday...