EliteVoyage CEO Petr Udavsky inspects one of the hottest and most hyped new hotels of the 2020s, Atlantis The Royal in Dubai.
Atlantis The Royal Just Opened
Atlantis The Royal opened on February 10th and I was fortunate to be one of their first ever Czech guests.
I discovered a playground for adults. I really recommend you give it a try.
You’ve probably already seen photos. Or maybe Tiesto’s latest music video, filmed exclusively at Atlantis The Royal.
But beautiful architecture and hotel hype is one thing. Before we could offer Atlantis The Royal to our clients, I needed to experience the hotel, to see the level of service, operations and things to do.
Differences Between Atlantis The Royal and Atlantis, The Palm
I understand almost everything about Atlantis, The Palm. It’s a popular tourist destination, understandably so. At Atlantis the Royal I expected something similar, with higher standards. But I was surprised because tourists cannot enter the hotel, which is rare in Dubai. I felt special immediately
Atlantis The Royal was much calmer than I expected. It’s a very exclusive property with many areas reserved only for hotel guests.
The sky pool at Cloud 22 is amazing. Right now it’s the place to be seen in Dubai. But there are only 17 private cabanas, so it’s very private and not crowded. Only Atlantis The Royal guests can use Cloud 22.
Atlantis The Palm is great for families. So I expected Atlantis The Royal to also focus on families. Not true. They expect only 20% of guests to be families.
Most guests were aged early thirties to early fifties and some of the hotel’s best attractions are only for guests aged 21 or over.
Atlantis The Royal does have facilities for children, like the Atlantis Explorers Kid Club and access to Aquaventure Waterpark, plus interconnecting room options at all room categories. However, the focus is more on creating a fun and relaxed environment for adults. As I said at the beginning, this is a playground for adults.
Exceptional Levels of Service for a New Hotel
The most important point I want to pick out is the service. It’s superb. After one week of opening there were almost no issues.
When a new hotel opens we usually recommend waiting for a few months before staying there. It takes time to perfect the service and operations, even for the most experienced five-star hotel brands.
At Atlantis The Royal everyone is so well trained, educated, smiling and beautiful. Tom Roelens, the general manager overseeing both Atlantis properties told me:
We have around 3700 employees at Atlantis The Royal. For three years we’ve been collecting the most talented people, from Atlantis, The Palm and all over Dubai.
I could really feel it. Whether it was ordering a drink at the beach or making an unusual request, the service was always fast and faultless. It was the best I have experienced anywhere in the last two years.
A Playground of New Experiences to Explore
My visit was short, only for three nights. I can easily imagine spending seven to ten days here, and still not experiencing everything on offer.
Atlantis The Royal is a destination hotel. You don’t need to leave the grounds. You probably won’t want to. There’s so much to explore.
My top recommendations are:
Book a private cabana for an afternoon at Cloud 22.
Do pre-dinner drinks and snacks at Resonance by Heston Blumenthal, a bar lounge backdropped by a huge jellyfish aquarium. Order an Octo-dog – it’s a hot dog with an octopus tentacle inside.
Spend a day at the world’s first Nobu Beach Club. I loved the Wagyu sandwich – looks almost like a cake and it’s so delicious.
Guests staying in Suites or Royal Club Rooms enjoy access to the Royal Club Lounge. It’s a serene place for breakfast and afternoon tea. Check out the amount of truffles you get with the scrambled eggs!
Spend a night eating and partying at Ling Ling on the 23rd floor.
If you’re not up for partying, have dinner at Le Mar, a restaurant by legendary Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio.
Atlantis The Royal is heaven for foodies, with many celebrity chef restaurants and the best breakfast room I’ve ever seen. It’s like a giant marketplace where you can help yourself to almost anything.
Beach, pools, shopping, restaurants, bars, water sports…there’s so much to explore. But what’s really nice is the relaxed atmosphere. This isn’t a theme park, it’s a sophisticated and tranquil place for a holiday.
Rooms & Suites at Atlantis The Royal
My room was spacious and I was impressed by the attention to detail, such as a golden box of amenities and a special perfume I received as a gift.
For my next visit I will get a room with a view over the Arabian Gulf. My room overlooked Palm Jumeirah and the Skyblaze fire and water fountain show. Which was beautiful.
All rooms have good-sized private balconies. Suites measure over 100 square metres and enjoy sweeping views over the sea and city. Sky Pool Villas have these amazing private terraces on the roof.
For accommodations, Atlantis The Royal is on the level of the best Dubai hotels. Still, I wouldn’t stay here just for the room or suite. Holidaying here is about the unique experience.
Who Should Try Atlantis The Royal?
I was among the first five Czech guests at Atlantis The Royal. It’s a hotel I recommend visiting soon, so you can experience all the hype and excitement, before it’s discovered by everybody else.
In particular, Atlantis The Royal will be a great option when you’re travelling home on Emirates, via Dubai. It has everything you need for a relaxed two or three days, plus loads of new experiences to try.
If Dubai is your regular holiday destination, consider a few nights at Atlantis The Royal, combined with a few nights at your favourite Dubai hotel.
If you want to fully experience this stunning new hotel, then come for a week or more and indulge yourself in the experience.
Any questions? I’m here to answer them. I was there only last month!
Want to be among the first at Atlantis the Royal?
