I do not tolerate mediocre hotels.
Because I am in a service profession, when I get away, I expect to be well cared for. The Al Bustan Rotana staff exceeded my expectations. We were picked up in their private Audi at the airport and greeted by name upon arrival at the hotel. We were then taken past the registration desk directly to the concierge floor, where we were given food and drink and the registration process was completed. The room was spacious and elegantly decorated.
There was a fruit and date tray on a side table. The bath had high end L'Occidental toiletries that were replenished daily. Housekeeping checked on the room twice daily, in the morning and again for turn down service. I was greeted by name every day. Breakfast could be eaten on the floor or one could go to the Blue Elephant restaurant buffet. I can't recommend the Blue Elephant buffet more highly! It had the best assortment of foods I have ever seen. The restaurant has a koi pond as its focal point and it was very relaxing watching the fish. High afternoon tea began around 3pm, and the cocktail hour with very heavy hors d'oeuvres around 5. We were so full we never had to go out to dinner so it was well worth being on the concierge floor. This hotel is located 5 minutes from the airport and with so much construction going on in Dubai, one can't simply go exploring because of the traffic and lack of sidewalks but the hotel also had a free shuttle to a City Centre mall, from which one could take the Big Bus Tour. I could find no fault at all with the hotel, services, staff, or food and recommend it unconditionally!

Hotel pickup not at the airport but then we were 2 hours later than scheduled.
I too was very worried about staying here after reading previous reviews but was working at the airport and so needed somewhere close. I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival that the renovation work seemed to have been all but completed.
We were given a 2 queen bed room opening onto the pool terrace which was great.
It is fair to say that this is primarily a business visit type hotel but we spent 15 nights with a 4 year old quite happily, the beach etc is only a couple of quid taxi ride away.
Use public taxis, not the hotel limos as they cost twice as much.
Pool was nice and poolside snackbar was good.
Can of Pepsi was 12 Dhs, bearing in mind they are 0.9 Dhs in the supermarket that is like a UK hotel charging over £6.
For a short stopover great, for an expenses paid business trip/holiday great, if I was paying myself I would have stayed at the Hyatt just across the creek, it was fab. The Al Bustan Rotana is Not a dream Dubai holiday hotel.

After reading the stories re the renovation I have to admit I was worried about staying at the hotel.

First the moans!

I actually stayed twice in the same week. The first was for one night in transit to Oman. I requested on my return three days later a non-smoking room, which they promised and was not available. My booking was on the excutive floor and the only non-smoking room left was on the second which I took. I was offered a non-smoking room on floors 3 and 4 later but decided to stay. To be fair the room appeared to be the same.

One other small point was that my toileteries were not replenished unless I asked. The room staff on my floor left a lot be desired as I also found that with the exception of the bathroom the room had not been cleaned on at least two days and no forms had been left for the laundry.

Finally we reserved a non-smoking table in the Blue Elephant only to be given a table which they claimed to be non-smoking but surrounded on three sides by smoking tables, the fourth side was the bridge across the water feature. We requested to move and they did this once a table was available

However this was the exception. The staff in general are outstanding. The renovated rooms are well furnished and in the case of mine, very, very quite, hence the refusal to move.

The food in the Blue Elephant is excellent overall and you must try the Thai buffet. Superb.

My husband and I have just returned from a 3 night stay in this hotel and it was absolute bliss. Everything about this hotel was 5* luxury and the service was like nothing I have experienced before - even in the same grade of hotel. Our room was gorgeously decorated and immaculately clean with the facilities of the room continually refreshed (towels, mini bar) etc. Tuck down service in the evening, which included one night a freshly cut rose on my pillow with a "pillow talk" note! The restaurants in the hotel too were excellent with a great variation between them all. The spa facility in the hotel was fantastic, really nice pool with outside jacuzzi and steam and sauna in the changing rooms - all of which again were immaculate with impeccable service from the snack bar around the poolside. The location of the hotel too is fantastic as just next to the airport - but undisturbed by planes (strangely!) This hotel may be slightly smaller than the others in Dubai but I think this adds to the great service received from the staff. Dubai on the whole is a great place - if a tad expensive - Jumeriah beach is a must though as the hotels along this stretch are out of this world with stunning views and cocktails! All in all I highly recommend this hotel and will most certainly be staying in this hotel again if and when we venture back to Dubai.