Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Autograph Collection, Dubai

rooms

The 504 rooms - including 60 suites and three villas - are spread across eight buildings, named after Polynesian flowers. They feature large balconies overlooking the theme parks or resort, and all have air conditioning, comfy beds, a lounge and desk area. Bathrooms have large rain showers and white orchids. The hotel’s South Pacific theme extends to the bedrooms, which feature tribal prints, palm leaf ceiling fans and carved wood furnishings.

facilities & activities

One of the highlights of this hotel is that guests get complimentary tickets to the Parks, including on the day of checkout - so even if you book one night you could have two days in the Parks. There is a gate from the hotel directly to the Parks and then you can walk round to Legoland and Motiongate, but there are also trams if it is hot or you are with young children. Motiongate’s Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar zones are fantastic for five to ten-year-olds with a range of rides from gentle to a fast roller coaster. A new park, Six Flags, will open in 2019, with bigger rides, ideal for those with older children.

There is a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, partly thanks to the cheery, Hawaiian-shirt wearing staff. The resort has two lagoon-style pools and a lazy river, as well as a fitness centre and wellness spa offering Polynesian-style massages and traditional hammam treatments. Palm trees and fish ponds add to the tropical atmosphere, though the resort is new, having opened in December 2016, so needs a few years to settle into the landscape.

dining

There are three restaurants plus a lobby lounge and rooftop bar to choose from in resort. Ari serves Mediterranean fare in a poolside setting. Hikina is the place for decent Cantonese cuisine, such as dim sum, sweet and sour chicken, crispy duck, and prawn and cashew stir-fry. The all-day Kalea restaurant serves the buffet breakfast, which includes a good selection of Western, Indian and Arabic dishes, as well as fresh smoothies and tropical juices. Palama is a relaxed lobby lounge with totem-like stools and brightly coloured cushions. Head to Lani, the rooftop bar, for tiki cocktails and tapas - with a view to boot.

family

Families have plenty of accommodation options at Lapita. Deluxe rooms have one king-size bed, sleeping a maximum of two adults or one adult and one child. You can also have two double beds in a room, sleeping up to two adults and two children (below 12 years-old). Connecting rooms can also be requested, ideal for larger families.

This is a very family-friendly resort, with children’s menus, cots and rollaway beds, a family pool and two kids’ clubs for different ages (Luna & Nova Kids' and Teens' Club). They feature climbing walls, a kids’ pool and activities like henna painting. A babysitting service is also available on request for a supplement.

location

Travellers keen to explore the theme parks of Dubai couldn’t find a better place to stay. This is the only hotel set within the Dubai Parks & Resorts complex, which includes Motiongate, Legoland and Bollywood Parks. There’s a shopping village five minutes away by shuttle, while a 20-minute taxi journey will take you to the beach at JBR. The airport is around 45 minutes away by car.