Taj Palace Hotel - Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

The Taj Palace is only 10 mins by taxi from the Dubai airport but there is no problem with noise from the planes as the rooms are soundproof. We arrived at the hotel at 7.00 am and they had a room ready for us by 7.30 am even though check in is normally 2 or 3 pm! The standard rooms are large with spacious marble bathrooms with separate shower and separate toilet & bidet. The buffet breakfast included in our package (Emirates Dubai Stopover) was excellent. The meals at the Italian Restaurant were good and reasonably priced. The hotel does not serve alcohol but that was not a problem for us. You can take a local taxi (don't take the limo taxis as they are much dearer) to the gold souks for less than 10 dirham (about $A3). Be warned though that if you want to return from the souks to the hotel during the afternoon peak hour traffic (approx. 5.30 pm onwards) the taxis refuse to take you because they don't make enough money for the time it takes as the meter only charges on distance not time. It took us 45 minutes in the 41 degree heat to walk back to the hotel. We would certainly stay at the Taj Palace again.