The Gulf River

Check out those views. Located close to the beach while still within touching distance of the city, this Dubai department is a sun-soaked base with sea and city views seen through its large windows. The balcony is a nice touch that lets you step out into the heat, and we were especially fond of the sleek main bedroom – although the view was slightly obscured in this room, you can still overlook the harbour here. Nearby you've got the usual plethora of shopping destinations and eateries, and the building itself has distractions in the form of a gym, pool, and kid's play area.

Home truths:
*Your host operates several apartments here, so the exact view, layout and furnishings might differ slightly from the photos. However, the overall quality should remain the same.
*This home overlooks other buildings, so the views might not be the most inspiring from some windows.
*You'll have access to the on-site gym and pool here. They're shared with the building's other residents. The swimming pool isn't fenced. If you're bringing little ones, they'll need to be supervised at all times.
*If you're travelling for work, you won't find a dedicated desk here. However, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace.