When it comes to the best international yet relaxed places to stay in Dubai, then the Al Garhoud or simply Garhoud district would be on the podium among the first three medallists. Garhoud is by far one of the best places to spend shorter or longer time, and see an Irish Village inside the Emirates.
The Garhoud or Al Garhoud as it is normally known is a commercial as well as a residential locality of Dubai. It is located close to the Dubai International Airport, which is the reason why many Emirates Airlines pilots prefer to reside here. The Emirates Aviation College is also located here. The Aviation Club, which houses ‘The Irish Village’, is a place that all tourists must see. Here, you will find a mock Irish Pub, which has been built by The Irish Pub Company and managed by the Dubai Duty Free Company. This pub boasts of an excellent international menu and Dubai’s biggest beer garden.
Garhoud is a more established suburb of Dubai and is located close to the Garhoud Bridge, which is the main viaduct over the Creek, which splits the city of Dubai into two. You will see that the accommodation here is a blend of independent houses and apartments which are larger than those in the other parts of the city are. Housing, whether for purchase or for rent, is quite costly here. Apartments in the Festival City Complex are quite luxurious and, therefore, not cheap.
You will find a number of excellent hotels at Garhoud for you to enjoy your stay and spend your time in comfort and leisure. Details of some of the hotels are provided here. The Al Bustan Rotana is quite close to Dubai International Airport and is well known as a hotel for the business traveler. The hotel offers its guests a number of leisure facilities, which include a swimming pool and a gym. The Le Meridien is located quite close to the airport. This hotel is relatively old, but you will find it to be quite pleasant. The Millennium Airport Hotel is just across the airport and attracts a large number of business tourists. The rooms are big, and command a good view of the gardens. The Le Meridien Fairway is located quite close to the Dubai International Convention Centre, the business district, and the shopping area. The hotel provides well appointed rooms with all amenities and facilities, a choice of four restaurants, and good recreational facilities.
Dubai does its visitors proud as far as dining is concerned. Visit the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, which is located just near the Creek. You can enjoy a leisurely lunch with your friends or family at their Boardwalk Restaurant. Step into the Academy, which is the Golfing Academy’s restaurant. The café is located overlooking the floodlit driving range and it comes out with a tantalizing array of international cuisine. The Chili’s is an excellent place to enjoy a delicious meal with your family and friends.
The small shopping area of Garhoud has two big supermarkets, a laundry, a pharmacy, a photo studio, and an ATM. There are a number of small restaurants and takeaways. Located quite close is the Dubai Festival Centre, which has many shops selling branded stuff. There are a considerable number of schools in and around Garhoud.
Due to Al Garhoud’s location within Dubai, it is one of the most popular leisure places in the city. It locates next to the flowing water of Dubai Creek, just next to Dubai Creek Park. Not too far from the two historical centres of Dubai, the Bur Dubai and Deira old-city centres and neither too far away from the sea and the Jumeirah Beach, and gifted with beautiful surroundings, Al Garhoud is the place to be when on a holiday.
A number of recreational facilities are available here in Garhoud. There is a skating ramp for children in the park as well as a foot ball ground nearby. The Magic Planet in Diera City Centre is a large amusement centre with an eleven-screen cinema and has a large number of indoor activities.
As Al Garhoud is very close to the Dubai International Airport, you can get to see people here from every country in the world. The airplane staffs of several international airlines also enjoy their longer or shorter breaks in one of the cosy hotels or cool restaurants of Al Garhoud. The district is not only the official rest-place or rest-base of the crew of the Emirates, but also the headquarters of the airline. It even has an impressive Aviation Club, which gives home to the one and only Irish Village of Dubai. Just by this, we can be sure that it is a fun place to be, with all the Irish traditional music, even dances! In addition, where there is an Irish pub, where you can find some funny Irishman inside of it, chanting some of the favourite Irish songs, or watching a great soccer game. Not to mention, it has many shows, mostly performed by guest-artists, such as singers or cabaret artists. Irish Village offers and stores the highest variety and amount of beers, mainly Irish, but you can also find some Belgian, German or Czech specialities. Irish Village also offers several Irish and intercontinental meals.
Hotels that are the most worth mentioning in Garhoud are the Al Bustan Hotel and Le Meridien Hotel, the latter one interestingly also operating an Irish Bar called the Dubliners.
Moreover, if you would like to have some nice walks, then a walk to the Deira district is the best solution. Here you can find many of Dubai’s cultural treasure, its traditional narrow streets and beautiful Arabic style houses with the main speciality, the souk, or marketplace, which is definitely a must-see for everyone. Best time to visit Deira, specifically its souks are the morning hours, starting from 08:00.
Al Garhoud is a great place to visit, and the best time to visit is from the late afternoon hours, when the streets are full with people and have a happy atmosphere. If you plan to visit Dubai for the first time and aiming for fun, then the best place to book a hotel at is the Garhoud district.
