DinaWhen we say Dubai, we say luxury. And when we say luxury in Dubai, we say Atlantis The Palm. Yes, I know, everyone has seen photos of this 5-star hotel on Dubai’s famous Palm. But what is it really like to stay there?
I was lucky enough to experience it firsthand when I visited as part of a business trip! In this article, I will share my personal experience – with all the good and bad things I observed.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE HOTEL
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A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE HOTEL
This incredible hotel sits at the top of the famous palm-shaped artificial island on Palm Jumeirah and has a small private beach of JUST 1.4 kilometers. It has more amenities than you can imagine, honestly it’s a destination in itself.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Atlantis is a microcosm of luxury. The check-in process is like entering a palace. Personally, I was impressed by the speed and professionalism. In less than 10 minutes, I found myself with the key in hand.
THE ROOMS AND SUITES
The Atlantis has many rooms you can choose from. Some of them:
- Presidential Suites: The ultimate luxury with a billiards table and personal butler!
- Underwater Suite: these rooms have a view of the aquarium, you go to bed and see stingrays in front of you instead of National Geographic
Of course, there are also “simple” rooms for mere mortals. For prices and availability see here.
MY EXPERIENCE
I stayed in a room overlooking Dubai’s Palm island. The room was spacious, beautifully decorated, and spotlessly clean. The bed was wonderful – and so was the bathtub. The room cleaning service came twice a day and they would leave “little gifts” – for example, because I wear glasses, they left a glasses cleaning cloth on my glasses. Or a trinket on the charger so I wouldn’t mix it up. So sweet!
The breakfast was also something else. A huge buffet with any food you want. Chinese breakfast? Indian? Arabic? English? You had it! And a special buffet for desserts. Perhaps the only negative is that I’m a lover of salamis and cheeses, and unfortunately there wasn’t a great variety of these. Also, since all the fruits are imported, they naturally don’t have the taste we’re used to.
PRICES
- From 400€ per night (yes, it’s not cheap!) Prices drop by half from June to September
My Pretty Travels Tip: Book at least 3 months in advance
ACTIVITIES AND AMENITIES
When we say it has everything, we mean everything. The Aquaventure Waterpark is the largest waterpark with water slides in the world! And the best part? It’s FREE for hotel guests. It has more than 20 water slides and is of course suitable for all ages, not just for children.
If you want to see over 65,000 marine creatures, interactive programs, guided tours etc., go to The Lost Chambers Aquarium. I skipped it because I went to SeaWorld in Abu Dhabi.
If you don’t want slides and want to relax, you can go to the spa or better yet to the private beach or the endless pools it has.
To tell the truth, when I went it was unbearably hot, I didn’t want to stay outdoors under the sun!
FOOD: FROM NOBU TO STREET FOOD, 20+ Restaurants
Of course, food couldn’t be missing. What can you find? Nobu: The famous restaurant by Nobu Matsuhisa for sushi (prices from 150-250€ per person). If you love Gordon Ramsay, he has his restaurant Bread Street Kitchen for British cuisine (prices around 50-80€ per person). For something special, there’s the Underwater Restaurant Ossiano! (from 300€ per person)
My Pretty Travels Tip: Book a table early, especially at Nobu which fills up quickly.
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
What are the positives?
- High-standard service
- Free waterpark
- Private beach
- Incredible amenities
Negatives
- Very expensive
- Huge – easy to get lost!
- Very crowded and if you go like I did in September for example, due to the heat you won’t enjoy the pools
IS IT WORTH IT?
Yes, BUT with conditions. If you’re looking for something special, you naturally have the budget, you like luxury experiences and fin- [note: the Greek text appears to be cut off mid-sentence]
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: ATLANTIS vs OTHER LUXURY HOTELS IN DUBAI
Of course, there are alternatives if you don’t want to go there. The Burj Al Arab is also fantastic but it’s a 7-star hotel. Yes, you read that right, there are 7-star hotels and the Burj Al Arab is one of them. Naturally, it has a higher price and more status..
Other Hotels in Palm Jumeirah
If you want to stay on Dubai’s palm but don’t want to go to Atlantis, there are other hotels of course with lower prices and fewer activities.
FINAL TIPS
Make a reservation off-season and sign up for their newsletter because they often have offers.
CONCLUSIONS
Atlantis The Palm isn’t just a hotel. It’s a life experience. Not for everyone, but for those who want to experience something unique.
Is it worth it? 90% yes! If you’ve made it this far, you might want to read my article about the Best Attractions in Dubai.
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