When Dubai World Central airport opened, the cheaper flights instantly attracted the attention of both regular and budget-conscious travelers – myself, I love the idea of an extended weekend getaway to super-interesting destinations in the region, and the Aloft Dubai South hotel has become an important ally.
Low-cost airlines vie for the opportunity to offer really affordable tickets to their networks in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India to the east; and Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, etc., to the west; and then the Caucasian countries of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, as well as “the ‘Stans” of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan – plus of course the African destinations of Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, etc.!
All of these are within a 6-ish hour flight, feasible for a long weekend plus a day, and costing no more than a couple of thousand dirham, all included!
The problem was the fatigue… to keep costs down, the flights are scheduled for early mornings, and weird return times, which impacts the impulsive fun of jumping on a flight to an adventure, and freshly returning to work without taking off too many vacation days.
I mean, I can come off a 6-hour flight and head straight into work – but add an hour to reach the airport and two hours before the flight, plus the arrival wasted time until you reach your hotel, and your 6-hour hop has doubled to become a 12-hour odyssey – and then again the same when it’s time to return!
Aloft Dubai South hotel to the rescue!
Above all, Aloft Dubai South is a happy little hotel – light on the wallet, big on the good vibes, and gigantic on the convenience!
It’s the kind of boutique hotel where the staff remember you, and offer extra-special care.
And it’s quirky, in a good way – the decor is playful, and the rooms are cozy.
Basically, it has everything you need, and more: the Aloft Dubai South has a beating soul – a heart.
You can chill waiting for your upcoming flight…
… and relax on the way back into UAE.
And the best part of all, the Aloft Dubai South food and beverage team is awesome!
Not only is the bar fully-stocked, but the restaurant serves both the dining hall and poolside, as well as in the lounge – and of course, room service.
They even have a grab-and-go snacks from a 24-hour pantry for your convenience, no matter what time your flight!
They’ve got you covered for a great start to the day at breakfast…
and at dinner or lunch, you’ll find the flavors are spot-on delicious.
From a superb biryani with all the trimmings (above), to a snazzy rendition of grilled tiger prawns (below),
as well as snacks, such as this beetroot hummus, with fresh-and-crunchy dipping veggies,
to starters such as this flavorsome Thai Chicken salad with Papaya,
you’ll find that Aloft Dubai South serves food far above expectations.
We ate well, slept well, and indeed our trip was very much enhanced because of our stay at Aloft at Dubai World Central.
By the way, even though you won’t hear an airplane due to excellent sound insulation, Aloft Dubai South is just 2.3 km from the airport, offers a complimentary shuttle service, and a taxi would only cost you AED 25 anyways… any closer and you’d be sleeping on the check-in counter baggage conveyor belt!
So, if you are traveling in or out of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), give yourselves a little TLC pre- and post- flights. See how the good folk at Aloft Dubai South can cushion the stress of flying, and I’m pretty sure you’ll come to the same conclusion as we did: that living in Dubai is a perfect hub to explore the region with brief travelcation getaways, and that a night at Aloft Dubai South makes it all the more possible!