[Rbrown]

It's that time of year when holidays come on the radar.

Half thinking of Dubai in April (coincides with a big birthday for me!).

Was wondering if anyone had hotel recommendations? Will be 2 x adults and 13 and 9 year old. So good pools important for kids.

Don't really know the area very well. Thinking Jumeirah Beach is preferred location.

Many thanks in advance.

[MashinBenzin]

We didn’t have kids the times we went, and it’s been a few years, but can’t say enough good things about Grosvenor House at the Marina. Has a free and regular 5 minute transfer to its sister beachfront hotel on JBR - Le Meridian iirc. GH has pools and can also use all the pools and private beach of Le Meridian.

An executive room in Tower Two means you have free food and drink on tap for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whilst not officially full board, we never went hungry and it was all delicious. A glass of complementary red wine on the lounge balcony whilst watching and hearing the supercars come and go to the hotel is quite lovely!

The Marina itself is very family friendly, a nice evening walk, and there’s a good choice of restaurants from the hotel onwards.

Random pics, and excuse the quality, I was rocking an iPhone 5s at the start of the trip when these were taken.

[SkyJawa]

We stayed at Le Meridian and the Dar Al Masyaf, both were fab.

[Nibbles]

I’ve not stayed on Jumeirah beach for a while and not with kids. The last couple of times I’ve been with the kids in tow we stayed at the Sofitel on the palm in one of the apartments there. Gets you a bit more space than the hotel rooms which is nice when you have kids. The hotel has enough to do but it’s only 5mins in a cab from Atlantis so when we wanted a fun pool day we’d just go there. The only issue with being that far up the palm is it’s a bit of a trek in a cab to the malls etc but I enjoy the more peaceful hotels on the palm. Airbnb do a lot of apartments on the shoreline of the palm as well which are normally very good value and big.

[MashinBenzin]

Good point on the apartments. We had a two bed one in one of our stays in Grosvenor House and the space was great. An apartment will be a winner with kids in tow.

[Panchoa]

With the kids being the age they are, I would thoroughly recommend the Atlantis. The water park there is complimentary for residents and it’s genuinely one of the best water parks we have been too…!

It’s at the wrong end of the palm to get around (furthest away so more expensive by cab) but honestly a great hotel and the kids will love it.

[planemad]

Second the Atlantis, have visited there twice over last few years with children.

[RickLS7]

Got a great flight deal with Etihad in March for 7 days in the Seychelles and 9 in the UAE.

Have an apartment overlooking the Dubai Marina for 4 nights, 2 nights at Raffles and 2 nights on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. We prefer moving around rather than being stuck in one area.

[F30Andy]

Having done this a silly number of times in the last five years and having stayed at many hotels, the ones I would recommend are:

The Burj Al Arab - Not with the money, but worth a couple of nights just for the experience.
I only did it for the wife and would not do it again out of choice.
Great if you want loads of photos for your instasnap, but I'm not that sort of guy.

Jumeriah Al Naseem - Have done this one many a time with the kids. Interconnected ocean view deluxe rooms would be perfect for you and family and lots of pools, restaurants etc. and plenty to do.
Also you tend to get a higher calibre of guest staying at this one.
Free access to wild wadi waterpark (which is next door, and you just hop on the chauffeured golf buggy that shuttles you between the hotel and water park) with this one and the Burj.

Five Jumeriah Village - Do NOT get this one confused with Five on the Palm.
The one on the Palm is a full blown party hotel. The kind where you will catch an STD just by using the pool.

The one in Jumeriah Village is in a nice out of the way location. You can get a two or three bed apartment with private plunge pool, and massive balconies with panoramic views.
There's also a pool and night club downstairs with decent entertainment.
Be sure to stay on the 20th floor or above, anything below it feels like your sleeping next to the DJ. (Very good DJ though)
Not as opulent as the Al Naseem or the Burj and you will find a younger calibre of client at this place, but don't let that put you off as it's a decent hotel.

Let me know if you want pics of any of them.
Also let me know if you want a rental car. I've got a very good guy out there I've been using the last three years with a very nice fleet.

[DB118D]

Has anyone stayed in the Rixos on the Palm?

Been tentatively looking for September this year and it seems reasonably priced and comes with "Ultra All Inclusive", whatever that may be. Plus booking now gives unlimited free access to the waterpark at the Atlantis

[F30Andy]

Originally Posted by DB118D

Has anyone stayed in the Rixos on the Palm?

Been tentatively looking for September this year and it seems reasonably priced and comes with "Ultra All Inclusive", whatever that may be. Plus booking now gives unlimited free access to the waterpark at the Atlantis

Once.
Wouldn't do it again.

Not a bad hotel, but you can do better for the money.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by DB118D

Has anyone stayed in the Rixos on the Palm?

Been tentatively looking for September this year and it seems reasonably priced and comes with "Ultra All Inclusive", whatever that may be. Plus booking now gives unlimited free access to the waterpark at the Atlantis

Not personally but my mate stays there three times a year and reckons it's great.

[DB118D]

Originally Posted by F30Andy

Once.
Wouldn't do it again.

Not a bad hotel, but you can do better for the money.

I’m approaching it from the All Inclusive angle (typical brits abroad )

Most others are half board for not much less

[xenon]

Originally Posted by DB118D

I’m approaching it from the All Inclusive angle (typical brits abroad )

Most others are half board for not much less

Not having been personally I'll defer to F30Andy but my mate says the all-inclusive ultra is all proper branded (international) top-shelf drinks etc and you want for nothing. It's around £100 a night so if you can do better for the money that's interesting as I was thinking about going.

[DB118D]

Happy to take suggestions for ‘better’ alternatives

I’m looking at ~£1500 per person flying GLA-LHR-DXB for a week, ultra all inclusive.

Everything else I’ve looked at is either similar price or more expensive and half-board at best

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by DB118D

Happy to take suggestions for ‘better’ alternatives

I’m looking at ~£1500 per person flying GLA-LHR-DXB for a week, ultra all inclusive.

Everything else I’ve looked at is either similar price or more expensive and half-board at best

Looks great but the location is a long way from any attractions (other than Atlantis)

[DB118D]

Originally Posted by Pentland

Looks great but the location is a long way from any attractions (other than Atlantis)

I did notice that it’s about as far away from anything as you can get. I’m sure they run shuttles to the malls etc

[Nibbles]

Originally Posted by DB118D

I did notice that it’s about as far away from anything as you can get. I’m sure they run shuttles to the malls etc

It’s fine being out that far. You just get an Uber when you want to go to the malls etc. Don’t let that put you off, you’ll spend more time sitting in traffic on the Sheikh Zayed Road than you will going from the bottom of the palm to Rixos.

[Danj94]

We just got home from The Sofitel On The Palm... outstanding couldn't recommend it enough. Somew might say its slighly out the way but I found taxi's via the Careem app to be so well priced! about £20 to get into downtown Dubai and about £10 to JBR. Restaurants were great, drinks were great, staff was great. We went early Feb and although the weather was nice and it was warm we did have a bit of wind. few pics below to entice you

[SimonBMW1]

I went last year. Although a nice country and nice places to see. I didn't really gel with the strict rules.

i wouldn't be visiting again, overpriced and also full of instagram showoffs

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by SimonBMW1

I went last year. Although a nice country and nice places to see. I didn't really gel with the strict rules.

i wouldn't be visiting again, overpriced and also full of instagram showoffs

well this probably isn’t true. But how on earth did the strict rules cause you any bother? Were you looking to steal? Or some other nefarious behaviour?

[JD6]

I've never visited Dubai but we're taking the chance to stop off for 4 days on the way to Thailand. My gf lived and worked in Dubai for quite a few years. She suggested we stay in the Downtown area.