The Radisson Blu Residence is an impressive tower block in the Dubai Marina area filled with restaurants and shops. Though less flashy than many Dubai properties, the design is sleek and contemporary, utilizing lots of natural light and neutral tones. The lobby has two seating areas with modern, cream sofas and club chairs arranged around coffee tables, but that's about it for interior common space. When guests aren't in their rooms or outside the hotel, some take advantage of the pool terrace with a small bar and sofas underneath a wooden pergola. The home-like apartments attracts families and couples, though most guests are business travelers working in the nearby Media and Internet Cities. 

The Radisson Blu Residence occupies some prime real estate along Dubai Marina, a five-minute walk from the Marina Mall and the jetty from which boat tours leave. The Marina Beach is about 10 minutes away on foot, while the Dubai Marina Mall train station is five minutes. It takes about eight minutes to drive to Internet City and to Media City, and the impressive Jumeirah Palm is 10 minutes away by car, as is the Emirates Golf Club. Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa are 25-minutes' drive away, while the Al Fadhi Fort is 30 minutes away. The hotel provides free shuttle service to Mall of the Emirates, which is about a 15-minute drive. Expect a 25- to 30-minute drive to Dubai International Airport.

The downside of this location is that the hotel is right next to the Sheikh Zayed Road, the main highway running from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, so some rooms pick up a lot of road noise. 

The hotel’s 152 apartment-style rooms are all outfitted to a high standard, with contemporary decor in a pleasant (if a bit uninspired) neutral palette. There's boxy wood furniture, beige tiling plus striped carpet in some, and linens and upholstery in various shades of brown and tan. Aside from studios, all apartments have either one or two separate bedrooms and living room/dining areas. Kitchens are well-equipped, featuring ovens, four-burner stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, fridges, kettles, and cookware. The lounges have dining room tables and chairs, seating areas, and flat-screen TVs. Straightforward bathrooms either have shower/tub combos or bathtubs and separate showers, plus hairdryers, toiletries, and magnifying mirrors. Deluxe rooms tend to be larger than standard ones, and look out over the marina, rather than the noisy and unattractive highway. 

The most impressive feature at the Radisson Blu Residence is its pool terrace, which has a good-size pool and a separate, smaller pool for kids. Sleek, cushioned loungers and umbrellas decorate the space, and a bar area has couches and under a wooden pergola. The hotel serves a buffet breakfast out here, but guests complain that there is little choice, and that it's expensive for what it is. Other than that, there's no full-service restaurant on-site, though there are plenty within walking distance. Staff can arrange picking up and delivering groceries to apartments for those that want to cook themselves. There is a small modern gym with cardio and strength-training machines, plus free weights. The men’s changing room has a sauna and steam bath, but unfortunately this means that women cannot access them. A play area for kids and conference room are also available. The hotel offers secure parking and free Wi-Fi throughout.