Where?
The Atlantis, The Palm resort is the centrepiece of one of the world’s most impressive manmade archipelagos — The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai — a sculptured island in the shape of a palm tree and one of the most Instragrammed locations on Earth. A short half-hour taxi from Dubai International Airport, the resort nestles on the shoreline and is a blissfully calm area just outside of the chaotic city centre itself. With Dubai’s soaring skyline on view, the underground road tunnels or Monorail connect you efficiently to the chic shopping malls and buzzing nightlife the city offers within minutes.
Style
Designed around one of the world’s largest open-air aquariums, which is home to more than 65,000 marine animals, the coral pink resort features sky-kissing spires, Arabian lamps, accents of traditional Middle Eastern architecture and a plethora of palm trees.
The 22-storey building comprises more than 1,500 rooms and suites and looks onto the Persian Sea on one side and the Dubai city skylines on the other. If you think Las Vegas holds the crown for themed attractions, you haven’t visited The Atlantis yet. The aquatic theme runs from the Grand Lobby entrance with a captivating 10-metre-high glass sculpture created by Dale Chihuly – visitors to London’s V&A Museum will recognise his intricately blown glass sculptures – all the way through to the luxury shop-lined ‘avenues’ to the largest waterpark in the world, the Atlantis Aquaventure World, which boasts more than one hundred waterslides and attractions.
Did I take on the world record-breaking Odyssey of Terror slide? No! Did I make a fool of myself on the Waverider as I tried to relive my surfing days? Yes! The rapids offered a far more serene experience after several hours of adrenaline-fuelled slides in the 22.5 hectare park. We spent the whole day here and enjoyed the sunbeds and drinks as we plotted our next wave of attack.
I’d highly recommend paying a little extra for a Fast Pass as the queues can take a while and depending on how hot it is, the more time you spend in the water the better.
Food and drink
The 34 bars and restaurants in the resort – including two Michelin star and seven celebrity chef establishments – serve up such a diverse range of culinary experiences that there really is no need to venture into the city.
Our first lunch started at Nobu, by world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa. On the 22nd floor, it provides the most spectacular views as a backdrop to the chef’s signature Japanese-Peruvian concoctions. The black cod miso, served with mushroom toban yaki, made for the most decadent start to our holiday. Next up was Studio Frantzen bistro, where French-inspired cuisine is infused with Asian flavours. The ambience is relaxed and the service is warm. The cote de boeuf with a jalapeno bearnaise and deep-fried hasselback potatoes with browned butter and cream cheese was simply delightful. Room for more? Indulge yourself in the interactive Candy Room with an eclectic pick ‘n’ mix of sweets and chocolates (or pack as many as you can into their cute take-away boxes for later like we did!).
Next up... the Michelin-starred Hakkasan. The décor, ambience, service and Cantonese menu are all world-class. You can’t visit without ordering the Peking duck or a dim sum platter to share – pair it with one of the restaurant’s many cocktails, like the Hakkasan Chinese Mule. Looking for somewhere a little more casual? We headed to the Wavehouse for lunch, where we enjoyed a laidback gourmet burger and fries and mega shake while taking in the live music, the bowling alley and even a free pool table – the ideal place to recharge and refuel for the afternoon ahead. For sunset cocktails, we kicked back at the Arabian Terrace and took a break from our action-packed break whilst the resident DJ ensured the ambience reflected the mood of the evening stars.
Facilities
Along with Aquaventure World, the resort’s big attraction is The Lost Chambers Aquarium. It offers a range of experiences – we chose the AquaTrek Xtreme. We donned special aerated helmets and climbed down a 10-metre ladder to the base of the aquarium for a guided walk. I’m not going to lie – the presence of 5ft sharks and large sting rays was slightly petrifying, but with schools of multi-coloured fish and the assurance of the guides, it was an experience my son and I will never forget. An absolute must. If you’re looking for something a little more serene, head to Dolphin Bay, the resort’s dolphin conservation and education habitat, and make friends with these much-less-terrifying mammals.
The resort’s main outdoor space – The Palm Pool – was our first port of call after breakfast at The Imperial Club. Reclining into our sunbeds for some morning sunshine, with waiter service on hand and Ibizan-style tunes from the live DJ, we flipped between soaking up the sun (it was 40+ degrees when we visited — you may want to check out the weather forecast before you book) and dipping into the pool to cool down. Bliss. If you’ve booked at Imperial Club level, do head to the private white sand beach area for a more secluded chill-out time. Or rent a private cabana. The Persian Sea itself is remarkably warm (and very salty) but an idyllic experience for a late afternoon paddle. If water sports are your thing, head to Aquaventure Beach for a spot of kayaking or paddle boarding. Paddling along with both the regal resort and the iconic Dubai skyline as the sun sets was one of the most idyllic and serene moments of the trip. They also offer jet skis and other engine-powered activities if you want a more adrenaline-based experience.
Now, to the spa! The AWAKEN Spa didn’t disappoint. Before relaxing into their signature massage in one of the 15 treatment rooms, we checked out the other spa facilities from the cold plunge tub (I lasted a mere 11 seconds), hydrotherapy pool, sauna, aromatherapy steam room and relaxation retreat room (that included an LED face mask) to tick off the four pillars of any decent spa… earth, fire, water and air. The treatment itself was an hour of targeted massage and deep relaxation. We left (or floated) feeling rejuvenated and recharged to re-enter life and everything the resort offer. That included upping the ante and taking a trip on the Dubai Balloon – a 360 degree observatory that reaches up 225 metres, giving unparalleled views of Dubai and the Palm Jumeirah complex. It’s attached to the ground by cables and lasts around 10 to 15 minutes, so for those of you with a nervous disposition, don’t worry.
Extracurricular
The resort’s sister hotel, the Atlantis Royal, is an uber-luxury fashion offering that is geared towards couples rather than families. Its Cloud 22 rooftop pool is a sanctuary for the sun worshipper, with luxurious sunbeds and decadent cuisine. Savour that cocktail as you dip into the infinity pool for the most incredible Insta-friendly views.
Which room?
With my 21-year-old son in tow, we booked a Palm View Queen room with two double beds, an en suite bathroom supplied with everything you’d need and a bathtub the size of a small swimming pool. If you have deep pockets, one of the signature suites boasts part of the resort’s aquarium as a feature wall.
Best for
Couples or families wanting everything they need in one place from dining, shopping, relaxing and adrenaline-fuelled activities. We didn’t leave the resort – there was no need to.
Details
Rooms from £240 per night, atlantis.com
