Aloft Al Mina Dubai Review: Reliable Comfort away from the Glitz, Close to the Grub

This week marks my third visit to Dubai. I don’t come for the reason most people come, and stay away from all of the glitz and glamor. I come for the Indian food. Plenty more on that later.

Most of the city’s best Indian food is clustered in neighborhoods just south of Dubai Creek, in the Al Karama and Bur Dubai areas. The trouble is that there is a dearth of good options when it comes to lodging in these parts. Traffic is notoriously awful in Dubai as well, so being close to the area you want to spend the most time in is key.

During my first visit to the city, in 2021, I found a suitable option, albeit with a handful of flaws, and haven’t looked back since. Enter the Aloft Al Mina Dubai.

Overview of the Aloft Al Mina Dubai

The first time I stayed at this particular Aloft was when Covid was still a concern. We had to have tests when we arrived to Dubai and when we left (they actually sent a nurse to our room for the latter). As a result, hotel prices were comically low and we scored our room for just $31/night.

Obviously, things have changed, and while that was an incredible value, the $90/night we paid this most recent time was also a good value in the middle of January, peak season.

Technically, the hotel is classified as a four-star, but who the hell knows what that means anymore? For example, the nearby Burj Al Arab is the world’s only seven-star hotel. All a marketing ploy, I suppose. Although it does have all of the amenities of a four-star hotel, even a spa on the top floor, you get the feeling of a three-star hotel much more than a four-star. The fitness room, however, is very well-appointed and was not busy at all any of the times that I visited.

The rooms at Aloft Al Mina Dubai

One of the best things about the Aloft Al Mina is that in the majority of the rooms, there are two desks where if you and a significant other both need to get some work done, there is no fighting over the workspace. This time around, I was in an accessible room that had a balcony in place of a second desk, but even out there, there was a table and (painfully uncomfortable) chairs. The balcony was nice to have, but unfortunately, it didn’t get any sun at any part of the day.

I stayed in two rooms at the Aloft Al Mina this time around (my original booking for a king wasn’t available so I spent the first two nights in a twin room. The twin room’s air conditioning didn’t work very well. In January at about 70 degrees, this wasn’t a problem for me, but I can imagine it becoming quite problematic in the warmer months. The king room had an extremely effective air conditioning system and you could keep it like a freezer if you wanted.

The beds are extremely comfortable, which is a bit of a surprise for a hotel at this level. The pillows are too soft for my taste and even when I called for a harder one, it wasn’t that different from the ones available in the room.

Also available in every room is a Nespresso machine and an electric kettle. While the capsules are unbranded, I brought my own Starbucks capsules and used those instead.

The water temperature in the sink and the shower is iffy at best. I suspect that the water heater is at least in part solar-powered because when you take a shower during daytime hours, it is noticeably warmer than at night.

Amenities and service at the Aloft al Mina

Everyone at the Aloft Al Mina is doing their best. No one is rude or short, but sometimes, lack of experience or training is made apparent. I had to get my key card reset a number of times. I was initially given an upgrade to the Element Al Mina next door, but due to a miscommunication on the staff’s part, it was revoked.

Because there is intense construction (a new road to relieve traffic) ongoing on the side of the hotel that faces the road, I was moved into a room on the other side of the hotel, which is just above the bar. I was told that the music from the bar would end at 10 or 11 every night but it continued past midnight. Almost every night, I had to send a message to the front desk asking them to turn down the music. To their credit, every time the volume was turned down to a much more tolerable level, but still, it was rather annoying to have to take that step.

Breakfast is uninspiring and can be chaotic. There is an egg station and an area to get Indian options as well. I’m not a big breakfast guy and stuck to coffee and fruit. The staff is more than happy to provide a takeaway cup if needed, for any hot beverages. There is also a funny little roped-off area, presumably for Bonvoy elite members. But I’m titanium and no one asked me if I wanted to eat in there!

Here’s a little secret. If you take the elevator to B2 and walk across the parking garage towards signs for the Element, you will find yourself in another elevator lobby which also has a laundry room. This room used to be locked and I had to beg for key card access since I wasn’t staying at the Element. This time around, the room was open every time I tried to get in. I bought a pack of Tide pods and did a couple of loads, which was great since I was on a long-ish trip with only one suitcase. The washing and drying machines aren’t coin-operated and are completely free to use, but you have to bring your own detergent. There are plenty of supermarkets within walking distance of the hotel where you can find cheap detergent.

The bottom line at Aloft Al Mina Dubai

The Aloft Al Mina is steps away from one of the best South Indian restaurants in Dubai. It’s walkable to many other fantastic dining options and a quicker Uber ride than if you were staying downtown. It’s not glamorous (although the rooftop pool is nice and offers a great view of the skyline) but when your trip to Dubai is entirely gastronomically motivated, it doesn’t matter much.

As always there is room for improvement, but I did notice that things were smoother than my first and the hotel seemed cleaner. In 2021, there were sunflower seeds all over the hall and when we left Uber Eats bags in the hallway to be picked up, it was sometimes a day before anyone got around to taking them. If they get the water temperature, the bar music volume, the air conditioning in certain rooms, and breakfast improved, the $90/night room rate which appears to be typical, won’t be a deal, it will be a steal.