Stepan Borovec visits Atlantis The Royal, Bab Al Shams, One&Only Royal Mirage and One&Only The Palm.
His trip to the Emirate included Ling Ling, scuba diving, a desert retreat and inspecting different room categories at these leading properties.
They are part of his key recommendations for a holiday in Dubai this coming season.
Atlantis The Royal
I spent two nights at Atlantis The Royal and it’s already such an iconic property.
First thing to do? An afternoon of chilling, drinks and snacks at Cloud 22, the spectacular pool bar overlooking the city. It’s reserved to hotel guests only and this exclusivity is just one reason why I prefer The Royal to Atlantis The Palm.
My recommendation is to book a Sky Pool Villa. Enjoying a private pool is a rarity for a Dubai resort. And you simply cannot beat the view from these villas on the highest floors.
I must highlight the restaurants too. Atlantis The Royal was the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever experienced. In fact, all the restaurants I tried here were amazing, including Ling Ling and the Greek restaurant Estiatorio Milos.
Atlantis The Royal is connected to Atlantis The Palm via Aquaventure Waterpark. I did my first scuba dive in the aquarium, with lots of fish and sharks. Hundreds were looking into the aquarium – I felt like an attraction myself!
Overall, Atlantis The Royal is much newer, nicer and more exclusive than Atlantis The Palm. My colleague Petr Udavsky calls it a playground for adults, I think it’s also a good choice for a family break.
Waterpark, restaurants, pools, hot air balloon, beach, jet skis…families could easily spend four days without leaving the Atlantis complex.
Bab Al Shams
Bab Al Shams is fresh from a major renovation. It feels like a new desert retreat, only around 45 minutes outside Dubai city.
The price tag surprised me the most. Bab Al Shams costs significantly less than the top city hotels. It’s a really nice option for one or two nights away from the usual Dubai experience.
I did a conservation drive and saw a lot of sand, plus some Arabian oryx. You can do archery, horseback riding, star gazing and some other outdoor activities.
Bab Al Shams is a really nice experience, especially for the value. I recommend it for people who have visited Dubai many times and want something new, or anyone wanting to mix city and desert.
It’s a retreat in the desert, so options for activities and dining are naturally limited. Therefore I recommend two nights as a maximum.
One&Only Royal Mirage
One&Only Royal Mirage is one of the oldest five-star resorts in Dubai. It’s big and feels like three hotels in one: Arabian Court, The Palace and The Residences.
I recommend The Residences as these are the nicest and most spacious accommodations. This area is private to guests at The Residences, who can still also use the facilities at Arabian Court and The Palace.
It means The Residences are more private and there are less people to share the pools with. Arabian Court has a very heavy Arabian design, which won’t be to everybody’s taste either.
My negative about One&Only Royal Mirage is the sea. The beach is big and spacious, but it felt like I was swimming in a marina, with many boats around.
I like how easy it is to travel by charter boat between Royal Mirage and One&Only The Palm. So whichever resort you choose, you can access the restaurants and facilities of both.
I would prefer to stay at One&Only The Palm. It’s one level higher in terms of intimacy, service and privacy. In my opinion it’s one of the top three Dubai resorts.
One&Only The Palm
One&Only The Palm is around 1000 EUR per night more expensive than Royal Mirage, which can explain some of the differences too. Royal Mirage is still a good resort, it’s just not top of the top.
Two unmissable highlights at One&Only The Palm are the two-Michelin-star restaurant Stay by Yannick Alleno, and the Guerlain spa. They’re undoubtedly among the best hotel dining and spa experiences not only in Dubai, but anywhere.
One&Only The Palm isn’t made for young children, as it doesn’t have specific attractions for them, nor is it convenient for visiting Dubai’s best children’s attractions. The resort has a very calm atmosphere, so it’s better suited to couples and older kids.
Privacy and exclusivity is also created by the resort’s location, on a tip of the Palm Jumeirah. However, this does mean it takes a long time to go anywhere, so it’s not ideal for very active itineraries.
I love the two-bedroom beachfront villas, a perfect choice for families due to their space, location and privacy. Very few Dubai hotels have villas and these are exceptional quality.
A Dubai Holiday This Winter?
Dubai is always changing. So we’re always returning to see what’s new and what’s worth your holiday time in Dubai.
We don’t have a book now button on our website. We know there’s more to a hotel than an online description.
That’s why we give personalised advice to every one of our clients, helping them to make informed decisions and maximise each of their holidays.
We’re here for the connoisseurs, the discerning travellers who appreciate quality and value specialist expertise. Is that you?
