Marina Crown

In less than a month, they moved me between about three rooms, and each had leaks, damp, bad smells, or electrical failures in the middle of the night. The Wi-Fi was out, and staff took ages to respond. I was passed from one person to another, with nobody taking responsibility. They got annoyed when I reported problems, too. They left me without air conditioning for 18 days in June and July. Sleeping in Dubai's summer heat was like hell, and sometimes I had to stay at other hotels. They wouldn't fix it or return my accommodation money. I said I wouldn't renew and asked them to prepare my deposit for when I left at the end of the month, but they bluntly said they couldn't return either the deposit or the extra money for the month. The rooms were in poor condition, and they asked for a deposit that they never returned, always finding excuses to keep it. They said it was 1000 deposit plus 500 commission. I had the worst experiences with Ms. Hani, Ms. Ahmed, and Ms. Eyad (CRM), who were very irresponsible. I already posted a review on Booking and will upload photos of the disastrous accommodation soon.

The location was convenient, with Carrefour right below the building, a few Indian, Arabic, and western restaurants nearby, and Barasti Bar within walking distance. The host was there when we arrived and was punctual. Our 2BR apartment in Marina Crown was spacious, with an open living room, a clean building, and most kitchen items available, including pots, pans, crockery, and cutlery. But in our three days there, nobody cleaned the apartment. The furniture, beds, cupboards, and sofas were old and felt fragile. One bathroom began to smell so badly from the second day that it was hard to go in. There wasn't even soap, toothpaste, or shampoo. The bed frame creaked every time I moved. Check-in was a hassle. I wasn't allowed into basement parking, so my family and I had to leave the car on the road. At reception I had to show all my documents again, get my face ID scanned, and submit the car registration and Emirates ID, despite already giving the documents to the apartment caretaker. Owners or caretakers should explain these steps to first timers. The balcony view was average, mostly buildings and road, with no Palm or beach view. Other than Barasti Bar, there isn't a nearby bar or disco, so keep expectations low. Basement parking is very tight and often smelled like a rotten hole. The building seemed empty, with hardly anyone around. I'd rate it 5 / 10, and recommend it to solo travelers on a tight budget.

From the next building in Elite, you can see residents using the outside of this building like a rubbish dump. I've complained to Stratum Management many times, but they still haven't fixed it.

Security staff are helpful, and the building is maintained well. It's modernized and has parking spaces.