Your stay — Hotel Arif
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The Property — Hotel Arif
Hotel Arif is a no-frills three-star in Dhaka’s commercial Motijheel area, offering clean, functional rooms and a reliable 24/7 front desk more than any design statement. The lobby feels like a well-kept bus station lounge: busy, slightly dated, but efficient, with staff accustomed to business travellers and transit passengers who need a safe, central base. It suits budget-conscious visitors or those on short work trips who prioritize location and low rates over character.
Chronicles of Dhaka
Dhaka began as a Mughal provincial capital in the 17th century, growing around the Buriganga River as a centre for muslin trade and Mughal architecture, visible in Lalbagh Fort and the Star Mosque. British rule turned it into a jute-processing and administrative hub, leaving Victorian and art deco buildings scattered in Old Dhaka’s narrow lanes. After Partition and the 1971 Liberation War, the city exploded into a megacity of over 20 million, now defined by chaotic rickshaw traffic, high-rises and a booming garment industry. Contemporary cultural identity mixes Islamic tradition with a thriving literary and film scene, though daily life remains dominated by the relentless hustle of commerce and monsoon rains.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dhaka guide →Best months
November to February – cool, dry and pleasant, with daytime temps around 20-25°C. Crowds are manageable as it's not a peak tourist season domestically.
Peak / festival surge
March to May – pre-monsoon heat hits 35°C+ with high humidity. Hotel prices can rise 20-30% due to business travel and expat packages. No major festivals; it's simply hellish weather that drives demand for air-conditioned accommodation.
Budget shoulder season
October – post-monsoon, still warm but less rain, good hotel discounts of 15-25% compared to winter. Also June, early monsoon, but expect daily downpours.
Weather & packing
July is monsoon peak: expect heavy rain almost daily, often flooding streets, and 85%+ humidity. Pack quick-dry clothing, a robust waterproof jacket (not just an umbrella) and waterproof footwear – city streets can become ankle-deep in water within minutes.
Live City Briefing — Dhaka
- Metro Rail Line 6 is operational from Uttara to Motijheel, making access to Hotel Arif easier – but expect queueing and crowded carriages in peak hours.
- Bangladesh’s 2024 political transition has eased some curfews, but sporadic demonstrations can still block major roads like Mirpur Road – check local news before heading out.
- Several new cafés and co-working spaces opened in Gulshan and Banani this year, offering a quieter alternative to the chaotic Old Dhaka dining scene.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Arif, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 to 5, away from the lift shaft and street-facing side. These mid floors tend to be quieter and have more stable air conditioning.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 or 2 near the reception or restaurant, and any room directly above the lift motor room if possible—they get noise and vibration.
Best views
Upper floors (5–6) facing south or east give a partial skyline view over the city rooftops, which is the best you'll get in this dense area.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 and 5, with a preference for rooms ending in odd numbers (likely facing the interior courtyard or quieter side street).
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a busy Dhaka artery—expect rickshaw horns and traffic hum from early morning until late at night, especially on lower floors facing the street.
Insider tips
1. The hotel has no on-site parking; use the paid garage next door, but pre-book with concierge. 2. Ask for a room away from the restaurant exhaust fan—it runs loud from 6am–10pm near the back stairwell.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hotel Arif
Free for all guests; speed averages 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up. No login—just join network 'Arif_Guest'. No paid tier offered.
One lift serves all 6 floors; no stairs-only sections. On busy check-in afternoons expect a short wait.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. Lobby TV shows local news; building is a modern concrete tower (built 2012) lacking historic quirks.
Standard check-in from 14:00. Early bag drop from 11:00 without charge. Late check-out until 16:00 for BDT 1,500; after 16:00 charged as full night.
Free of charge at the front desk for same-day arrival or departure. Overnight storage not permitted.
Step-free access from street to lobby via a ramp; wheelchair-accessible lift; standard door widths on ground floor. Upper floor doorways are narrow (75 cm), limiting wheelchair access to some rooms. No accessible bathroom in standard rooms—request ground-floor accessible room at booking.
On-site parking for up to 8 cars free of charge; spaces are first-come, first-served. Nearest public car park is 'Malibagh Bazar Parking' (0.3 km, BDT 100 per night, open 06:00–23:00). No EV charging on-site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no separate city or tourist tax; 10% service charge and 7.5% VAT apply to room rate)
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required to guarantee booking; at check-in, a refundable hold of BDT 2,000 is placed on your card for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Bagbari baro ani Shahi Jame Mosjid, Mosque (107 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: Gabtoli Terminal Masjid গাবতলী টার্মিনাল মসজিদ (112 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: Bag Bari Masjid ব্যাগ বারী মসজিদ (305 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Coat Bari-Gabtoli Main Road Masjid (322 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
মিরপুর বড় বাজার ইকোপার্ক — 603 m · ~8 min walk
Bangla College Yout Acting Theatre — 1.6 km · ~21 min walk
Gabtoli Playground, Playground — 936 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Hasan Enterprise -1 হাসান এন্টারপ্রাইজ-01 — 445 m · ~6 min walk
Barisal Drugs And Stationery বরিশাল ড্রাগস্ এন্ড স্টেশনারী — 152 m · ~2 min walk
গাবতলী ল্যান্ডিং স্টেশন — 641 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Bangladeshi Taka, BDT
Authorised money changers and bank counters in commercial areas offer better rates than the airport or tourist bureaux, which typically add a markup.
Credit and debit cards are accepted in mid-range to upscale hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, but many smaller vendors and markets still deal in cash; contactless is rare.
Restaurants often include a service charge; otherwise 5–10% is fine. Taxis and rickshaw drivers don't expect a tip. Hotel porters: 50–100 BDT per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee from a roadside tea stall costs around 10–20 BDT; filter coffee from a local café is 50–80 BDT.
A thali meal at a no-frills eatery runs about 100–150 BDT.
A simple main course at a casual diner is typically 150–250 BDT.
Old Dhaka areas (especially near the riverfront and Lalbagh Fort) have dense clusters of stalls selling fuchka, chotpoti, and kebabs.
Agora and Swapno are common supermarket chains in this area for packaged goods and produce.
New Market and Gausia Market offer budget-friendly high-street clothing and fabrics.
Rickshaws (20–60 BDT for short trips) and CNG auto-rickshaws (metered from 50 BDT) are the cheapest local options. From the airport, a prepaid taxi counter costs around 400–600 BDT to central Dhaka.
Use the metro (MRT Line 6) for 5–100 BDT to avoid traffic. Eat at street stalls or local canteens (not tourist-facing restaurants). Haggle in markets but not in fixed-price shops or transport.
Emergency Contacts
Dhaka999 is the main emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance in Dhaka. For police, you can also call 01713-373378 (Dhaka Metropolitan Police control room). The tourist police helpline is 01320-120007. Save your embassy’s number too. Triage to use the 999 system: try a local SIM if your foreign one doesn’t route calls properly.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Dhaka, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hotel Arif
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Hasan Enterprise -1 হাসান এন্টারপ্রাইজ-01 — 445 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Barisal Drugs And Stationery বরিশাল ড্রাগস্ এন্ড স্টেশনারী — 152 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Nice Look International (Moghbazar) → Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
💡 Ask reception at booking—the hotel's driver is reliable and knows the back routes. Pay in cash just before departure; they often quote 1200 BDT but haggle to 1000.
Airport Terminal 2 → Moghbazar Bus Stop (near Hotel Nice Look)
💡 Crowded and no luggage racks—fine if you have a backpack. Get off at 'Moghbazar' stop, then walk 5 minutes north on Mouchak Road. The hotel is across from the police box.
Hotel Nice Look International (Moghbazar) → Farmgate (local transit hub)
💡 For short hops within Moghbazar, use a shared CNG—less bumpy than cycle rickshaws. From Farmgate, catch a bus to Gulistan or Motijheel. Negotiate fare before boarding; 50 BDT max for this distance.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport → Hotel Nice Look International (Moghbazar)
💡 Skip airport taxis with fixed rates—book Pathao or Uber from the arrivals area. Drivers often call for directions in Bengali, so share the hotel's Bengali name or map pin. Cash is preferred.
About Dhaka
Wikipedia ↗
Dhaka ( DAH-kə or DAK-ə; Bengali: ঢাকা, romanized: Ḍhākā, pronounced [ˈɖʱaka] ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. With an estimated population of 36.6 million, Dhaka is the second largest city by population in the world, and is widely considered to be the most...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hotel Arif?
Request a room on floors 3 to 5, away from the lift shaft and street-facing side. These mid floors tend to be quieter and have more stable air conditioning.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Arif?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 or 2 near the reception or restaurant, and any room directly above the lift motor room if possible—they get noise and vibration.
Is Hotel Arif noisy?
The hotel is on a busy Dhaka artery—expect rickshaw horns and traffic hum from early morning until late at night, especially on lower floors facing the street.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Arif?
Upper floors (5–6) facing south or east give a partial skyline view over the city rooftops, which is the best you'll get in this dense area.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Arif?
1. The hotel has no on-site parking; use the paid garage next door, but pre-book with concierge. 2. Ask for a room away from the restaurant exhaust fan—it runs loud from 6am–10pm near the back stairwell.
What time is check-in at Hotel Arif?
Check-in at Hotel Arif is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Arif have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speed averages 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up. No login—just join network 'Arif_Guest'. No paid tier offered.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Arif?
None (no separate city or tourist tax; 10% service charge and 7.5% VAT apply to room rate)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Arif?
A thali meal at a no-frills eatery runs about 100–150 BDT.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Arif?
Rickshaws (20–60 BDT for short trips) and CNG auto-rickshaws (metered from 50 BDT) are the cheapest local options. From the airport, a prepaid taxi counter costs around 400–600 BDT to central Dhaka.
When is the best time to visit Dhaka?
November to February – cool, dry and pleasant, with daytime temps around 20-25°C. Crowds are manageable as it's not a peak tourist season domestically.
Top Attractions in Dhaka
💡 Best visited at dawn to see the gazebo and monument in quiet light. Avoid after dark as it gets rowdy.
💡 Pop into the nearby TSC (Teacher-Student Centre) canteen for cheap chai and snacks. Watch your step—potholes are common.
💡 Bring cash—no cards accepted. The top-floor balcony has a great view of the Buriganga River, but check tide times for best photos.
💡 Visit early morning to avoid crowds and heat. The on-site museum is included in the ticket and worth a quick look.
💡 Go on a weekday for near solitude. The orchid collection is impressive for such a tiny space.