Atlantis Hotel on The Palm, Dubai
We flew as a family from Manchester direct to Dubai with Emirates, a first class airline with brilliant staff. I had arranged wheelchair access for my mum who cannot walk too far and this was seamless all the way through from check in to arrival in Dubai and onward to our transfer. The airport staff could not do enough for us and we managed to scoot through immigration skipping the queues with the wheelchair which was a bonus!! The hotel is so vast, that I arranged a chair for mum there too - the disabled access is excellent!
An evening arrival meant we couldn't see much of the city as we approached Atlantis and the 45 minute air conditioned private transfer brought us to our destination promptly. A speedy check in and we were in our rooms on the 11th floor in no time and ready to have dinner. There are 22 restaurants in Atlantis and on the half board basis, you can dine in 12 of them without supplement. We ate in a different restaurant each night from the Saffron Asian Buffet, the Kaleidoscope International Buffet to the French Brasserie (3 course table service) and TBJ's (Burger Joint) there was something for everyone. Even Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding for my mum !
The hotel is opulent and very busy with the Aquaventure Water Park and The Lost Chambers being open to the public (but complimentary access to hotel guests) however the two hotel pools are private so much quieter. It is a very family friendly hotel, so you will see children running about and definitely not an adult only - however the Nasimi Beach Bar does not allow children at night and is popular with younger couples.
Other activities onsite include snorkelling with sharks (my husband and son did this, no previous training required), swimming with dolphins or having a selfie with a sea lion!
I would definitely recommend paying extra to upgrade to the Imperial Club Level. Here you have unlimited access to the Imperial Lounge, where you can take Breakfast, enjoy light sweet and savoury snacks all day including juice, tea, coffee and complimentary soft drinks. Enjoy Afternoon Tea from 3:00pm to 5:00pm daily. Unwind with a selection of complimentary beverages and canapes from 5:00pm to 7:00pm daily and enjoy two 30 minute Back, Neck & Shoulder massages for the price of one, as well as full use of steam, sauna and jet pool facilities at ShuiQi Spa and Fitness. Free wi-fi and complimentary daily access to Kids Club for children 3 – 9 years of age from 10:00am - 6:00pm and Club Rush for teens 13 – 17 years of age from 2:00pm - 6:pm. Also complimentary N’Dulge nightclub access - definitely worth the upgrade!
Whilst in Dubai I decided to treat my mum to afternoon tea at the Burj al Arab - an amazing experience. Seven courses including champagne in the Sky Bar with a stunning view! I also pre-booked the Burj Khalifa - the world's tallest building. Again, a spectacular view from the 124th floor. TIP : this must be pre-booked - to get in on the day, the price almost triples! Using the hotel's complimentary shuttle bus to the Dubai Mall we had a lovely afternoon investigating the city and used the Metro/Tram/Monorail to get back. We also took a trip on a dhow across the Creek in Deira to visit some souks in the old town - very interesting. There is so much to do in the city - my husband also went Skydiving, let me know if you need any information on this.
I will absolutely go back to Dubai, I need to see so much more. The best prices are between May and September as the temperatures soar...it was 40 degrees in May when we were there. The best time of year to visit however is between October and April. Please call me if you fancy a short break or a family holiday to this amazing destination!