After a three month backpacking adventure through Europe I was ready for some luxury Dubai-style and splashed out (as much as one can when they're down to their last dollar) and stayed at the Hawthorn Hotel.

Dubai is body-meltingly hot in August and I was more than glad to when I arrived at the air-conditioned Hawthorn Hotel. However, I was not so impressed with the frosty attitude I got from the Reception Staff. Granted they weren't overtly rude, but I was tired, sweaty and gross and just wanted to go to my room and lie down. They bashed away at their keyboards for an eternity, took my passport and and gave me a keycard. When I asked a simple question about breakfast the staff member could not speak english (she was Scandinavian).

My room was nice, yes. The was no view to speak of, but Dubai city isn't exactly the Hanging Gardens of Babylon anyway.

My only real complaint is the bathroom. I know Dubai is hot, but despite that once you're in the room with the air-con on you do chill down a bit and you might want a hot shower or bath at some stage. My shower did not dispense hot water. In fact none of the taps had hot water.

In addition, regardless of the fact the roof-top pool is listed as "refreshing" it's not. It's on the roof and it's bloody hot up there!

The rest of the staff were very hospitable, the breakfast was very elaborate and there's a brilliant jeweller on site. The hotel is no-where near anything you might want to see in Dubai (unless of course you want to see roadworks) but there are taxis. Whether or not the taxis show up is another matter entirely, so be prepared to wait even if the hotel calls them.

The Hawthorn seems to be a relatively new hotel with new furnishings. The front desk staff were quite nice, but you have to fill out a registration form although your information is already in their computer. The room was well equipped with a mini-bar, nice linens, large shower, and good bath products. I ordered an iron, at no-charge of course, it was there within fifteen minutes. The lounge called the 49ers was great, good food and around ten a band from Bulgaria started with nice music, although a bit loud. The food was good in the lounge and reasonably priced. The concierge was friendly and assisted me in getting a taxi on the day of my departure flight. All in all, a good hotel for $120 a night. Good price in Dubai, I will be staying there again in October.

August really isn't the time to visit here unless you 45c plus heat. There is so much building going on that everything is covered in a layers on dust & sand.
The hotel has a railway station being built right out the front but inside is OK. Front desk staff are pleasant but seem to take for ever to book you in & check you out.
Our room was large and well appointed. Bathroom was clean with all that you would expect.
Suprised to learn that the balcony door was lock for my protection as we were on the fifth floor. Some minor problems, no towels one day, tv controls not working, toilet dripping but all were sorted out.
buffet style breakfast was great [ ask the cook for eggs the way you want] and the wait staff friendly.

Arriving at the Hawthorn at 3am we expected that our Room would be ready but surprise, surprise it was not. Ater a 15 minute wait while they made up the spare bed for our daughter the room was finally ready. Our booking did state that it was to be a triple room. On getting into to our room we found the only way to flush the toilet was we had to take the lid off the cistern and flush it this way. On waking the next morning we discovered there were only two towels for three of us. After 2 phone calls and a visit to the front desk we finally got an extra towel. But the saga does not end there. Every time they changed our dirty towels they only left us two. After 3 frustrating days they finally got it right the day before we left.

We called and reported the toilet not working properly to the front desk and man arrived to fix it just as we left to go out. On arriving back we discovered the toilet still not work properly. I finally fixed the toilet myself.

The hand rail in the shower was loose and the handle used to release the plug in the hand basin fell apart every time you used it.
To us the bathroom seemed if it had been made with cheap products and showdy workmanship.

On a positive side the room was clean and the staff in the Restaurants and at the breakfast buffet were very friendly.

We did fill out the customer survey before leaving and made our feelings about the hotel room felt.

Unfortunately with the problems we did have with the room I will not be recommending this hotel to anyone and have advised our Travel agent of the problems we experienced.