Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, Dubai

rooms

The resort boasts a total of 293 luxurious rooms and villas, each tastefully designed with exceptional amenities – including particularly comfortable beds and refreshing rain showers.

You can relax to the views of tropical gardens and stunning lagoons in one of the 260 Lagoon View and Lagoon Access rooms (you can swim straight into the lagoon from your balcony from Lagoon Access rooms). These rooms are clustered into units of 4-8 to allow guests a sense of privacy. The villas do face each other across the water however so for ultimate privacy you may wish to book a beach villa.

There are 12 beach pool villas (some with one bedroom, some with two) with personal infinity pools and 18 ultra-chic over water villas – the only over water villas in Dubai – poised over the Arabian Gulf. Most have a clear glass viewing panel in the floor.

In a spectacular property adjacent to the resort there are also a number of self-catering apartments available: one bedroom apartments (108 square metres) two bedroom apartments (164 square metres) and two bedroom apartments with luxury terrace (267 square metres). These offer the freedom of self-catering should you wish to thanks to their integral kitchens and dining rooms.

facilities & activities

If you need to cool down in the heat of the day at the Anantara you truly are spoilt for choice. The resort’s pristine 400 metre private beach is the perfect place to take a dip in the refreshing waters of the Arabian Sea or relax on a sun lounger taking in the beautiful view with a refreshing drink. Just steps away a 50 metre long infinity pool with swim up bar awaits where you can lose yourself to the gentle sound of flowing water. Pool attendants are on hand to offer cold towels, dates and cucumber slices for tired eyes.

Alternatively you could relax by the quiet turquoise waters of the three lagoon pools that encircle the Premier and Deluxe Lagoon Rooms and listen to the birds in the surrounding tropical gardens.

Should you want to get your adrenaline pumping the resort boasts two floodlit tennis courts, two gyms, beach volleyball and a vast array of watersports including guided snorkelling sessions, windsurfing, Hobie Cat sailing, Kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, boat cruises and fishing trips. A Thai long tail boat also offers four daily return trips to the Dubai Marina. We think foodies will also delight in the on site Thai cookery lessons.

The Anantara Spa is a wonderful Asian inspired sanctuary offering an impressive 17 treatment rooms including a Thai massage room, holistic cocoon room and Ayurveda room, three spa suites including a hamman suite and two couples’ suites, a male and female salon, nail bar and yoga studio. There is even an outdoor spa terrace and fantastic wet facilities including a liquid sound pool and salt inhalation room.

Outside the resort the many attractions of Dubai are a short drive away including the largest water park in the Middle East (on Palm island itself), dune safaris, world class shopping, Ski Dubai, Skydive Dubai and Emirates Golf Club.

dining

The resort has four excellent restaurants offering fantastic choice and quality. The Crescendo is a buffet-style restaurant with an extensive choice of dishes – we particularly recommend their wonderful breakfasts. The spacious outdoor terrace is situated next to the cobalt waters of the infinity pool and affords fabulous views of the coast.

For a casual dining experience try the super chic beachside Beach Club bar and its Mediterranean inspired dishes both indoors and out on the terrace. Evenings see the outdoor terrace transform into a lounge with a chilled-out vibe offering shisha and tunes from the resident DJ.

The Mekong restaurant serves wonderful Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese Cuisine and meat lovers will particularly enjoy Bushman’s Australian steak restaurant where the Salt Guru will recommend the perfect native spices to add to each meal.

The Lotus Lounge is a lively day and night spot where you can enjoy coffees, cakes and afternoon teas during the days and sun downers in the evening.

family

The resort is extremely family friendly for children of all ages. Youngsters will love the many opportunities to swim– there is even a dedicated children’s pool - and there are several lifeguards patrolling the infinity pool and lagoons for parental peace of mind. There is a children’s play area and youngsters will love diversions on the beach such as pedalos and snorkelling.

The resort’s Tuk Tuk children’s club offers a range of activities including arts and craft, sand castle building and kayak relays. The club has its own games room, TV, PlayStation and large selection of toys. Teenagers will delight in their own dedicated club – the Chill Teens Club. They can socialise with other teenagers here, enjoy a game of foosball, air hockey, PlayStation or billiards or take part in theme nights.

Accommodation-wise there are several fantastic options for families. The deluxe family lagoon access rooms are an excellent choice. Set over two levels and featuring a king size bed on the ground floor and twin beds downstairs these rooms offer 65 square metres of space and Nintendo Wiis for youngsters.  Occupancy is 2 adults and 2 children under 12 years.

We also particularly recommend the resort’s fabulous two bedroom beach pool villas as you will have space, privacy and your own pool. The resort’s apartments based in a separate property adjacent to the resort are also a wonderful choice for families as these have their own kitchens and dining areas offering the freedom to self cater if desired.

location

Set on the Eastern Crescent of the man made Palm Island, just off the mainland of Dubai, Anantara the Palm is a 45 minute drive from Dubai Airport.

It is also a short distance for a day trip to the island’s Aquaventure waterpark, the largest water park in the Middle East, and within easy reach of Dubai’s main attractions including the Emirates Mall, Ski Dubai and Dubai Marina.