4/5 Tamim A. 2 years ago on Google
My
wife
and
I
arrived
at
Dubai
International
Airport
mid-journey,
sleep-deprived,
and
disenchanted
at
the
prospect
of
a
nine-hour
layover.
Fearful
of
becoming
Viktor
Navorski,
we
decided
to
stay
in
the
airport
hotel,
something
neither
of
us
had
done
before.
How
was
it?
Well,
let’s
start
with
the
bathroom,
which
was
spotless
and
generously
stocked.
Expect
a
neat
stack
of
clean
towels,
both
solid
and
liquid
soap,
a
dental
kit,
and
a
hairdryer.
There’s
also
a
phone
in
there,
hanging
on
the
wall
next
to
the
toilet,
which
I’d
rather
have
and
not
need
than
need
and
not
have:
“Hello,
housekeeping?
Could
you
spare
a
square?”
Very
nice.
The
rest
of
the
room
was
clean
and
surprisingly
spacious.
An
elongated
counter
(sitting
on
an
empty
mini-fridge,
a
safe,
and
some
drawers)
stretched
from
one
end
of
the
room
to
the
other,
facing
a
futon
too
firm
for
anyone
to
comfortably
sleep
on.
Snoop
around
and
you’ll
find
a
couple
of
robes,
disposable
slippers,
and
other
welcoming
items
lying
around,
including
complimentary
tea,
coffee,
and
bottled
drinking
water,
of
course.
Although
it
was
off
when
we
came
in,
the
air
conditioning
brought
the
temperature
down
to
a
chill
in
no
time.
The
bed
was
large,
luxurious,
and
comfortable.
A
master
switch,
which
turned
all
the
lights
off
at
once,
protruded
from
the
wall,
hanging
right
above
the
nightstand.
Sounds
all
well
and
good,
but
what’s
the
catch,
you
ask?
The
answer
lies
within
your
bank
account.
By
the
time
you
pay
for
this
room,
it
might
be
the
only
thing
in
it.
The
rates
were
unreasonably
high,
rendering
any
good
deal
obtained
from
the
duty-free
trivial.
We’re
talking
Four
Seasons
money
here.
Parting
ways
with
that
kind
of
cash
for
something
as
basic
and
as
boring
as
this
was
painful.
Still,
it
did
the
job.
In
other
words,
we
managed
to
sleep,
if
only
for
a
handful
of
hours.
It
remains,
to
this
day,
the
most
expensive
nap
either
of
us
has
ever
taken.
If
you’re
struggling
to
stay
awake,
physically
unable
to
keep
your
eyes
open,
and
behaving
like
a
narcoleptic
ghoul,
go
ahead.
If
not,
stick
it
out
and
wait
for
boarding.
Also,
word
to
the
wise:
don’t
rely
on
hotel
staff
for
information
regarding
your
flight.
That’s
what
departure
boards
are
for.
We
learned
that
the
hard
way.