Centro Barsha by Rotana, Dubai, UAE
How lovely it was to stay at Centro Barsha by Rotana over the weekend. We were attending a concert in the area and had plans on doing a bit of shopping. Did you know Centro Barsha is only 500 metres away from the Mall of the Emirates and steps from the Metro?! What a perfect location. Although not in the main city center, Centro Barsha is a popular choice among locals, residents and tourists to Dubai.
Apart from its convenient location, I loved staying at Centro Barsha for it’s modern stylish accommodations and affordability. Read on further about my stay.
DOT on her way was invited as a guest to Centro Barsha.
All opinions and photos are of her own.
Check-in & Location
My husband and I arrived at Centro Barsha on a Friday afternoon. We knew we were close when we had reached the Mall of the Emirates. I enjoyed staying here as it was away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but was convenient enough to hop on the metro or taxi to be where we need to be in no time. They have free self-serve underground parking, in and out as you wish. Our check-in was seamless. Aldrin Reyes, the Assistant Manager of Guest Services had graciously toured us around the hotel, highlighting the amenities and history.
I noticed there was no valet service or bell-boy. Even for room-ordered food, guests would have to come downstairs for the pick-up themselves. However, this is to maintain more affordable costs to the guests. I agree and would trade those perks for a more affordable, quality stay, any day.
Centro Studio
Our room was located on the 5th floor of the hotel. Aldrin mentioned it was one of his favorite layouts, not too big and not too small, just perfect. We stayed in the Centro Studio which featured a queen size bed, 32 inch LCD TV, a kitchenette space, lounge sofa and a long sleek functional table with mirror. I was ecstatic with such a spacious and stylish room. I found the view to be most interesting of all. Our windows actually faced towards the courtyard. A few dozen rooms had windows facing each other. We had the blinds opened for some time and I did not mind anyone peeking in to see what TV shows we were watching. I also saw a few guests with their blinds open and was working on their laptop or lounging on the sofa, I thought it was quite artistic to have these windows face this way. On the other hand, if you need privacy, just simply close your blinds or request a city-view room.
We also really enjoyed the kitchenette space. I was delighted they had provided us with complimentary tea supplies and a fruit bowl. The bathroom amenities included a shower cap, bath gel, shampoo and their famous vegetable soap. Their bathrooms also feature a walk-in shower.
After a shower and a movie, we got ready to go out for our concert. We contemplated taking the metro but realized we had left too late. Luckily, they had personal taxis waiting in the parking lot.
Breakfast at C.Taste
The next day, we were struggling to wake up for breakfast. It was included in our room rate and was served between 6am – 10:30am. I believe we reached c.taste (the in-house restaurant) at 10:15am and was pleasantly surprised they were still refilling many of the stations.
The staff was so friendly and accommodating to us. The breakfast spread features all the classics such as pancakes, sausages, yogurt, baked pastries and eggs (any way you like them!) We were still able to enjoy our food and coffee/tea until 11:30am.
This Ramadan, take the time to break the fast with family and friends.
The team at Centro Barsha welcomes you to Iftar daily at c.taste.
Rooftop Pool
After a hearty breakfast, we went to the rooftop to enjoy some good ol’ Vitamin D. I was surprised how many guests were already up there tanning and enjoying the pool. Get there bright and early if you want the pool to yourself. Complimentary pool towels are provided. You can even order drinks and food by the bar. Private bookings for the pool are also available on selected days, what an awesome party to have! They have ample lounge areas too. As the weather now in UAE is hitting the high 30s (Celsius), a dip in the refreshing pool is just perfect!
