These are two of the best hotels in Dubai
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Loading... - AGNES LEHNERT
- 04 Oct 2020
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What Dubai lacks in cultural depth, or perhaps decides to mute in terms of its young history, it makes up for in flashing lights, jet-age architecture and ample luxury. The bigger (and more expensive) the better tends to be the city's mantra with the iconic Burj Al- Khalifa and Dubai Mall immediately springing to mind. With pretty consistent hot temperatures and a reasonably painless flight time, Dubai continues to be a destination for long weekenders and all-year summer holiday seekers alike.
The Palm, in all its manmade glory, makes for an ideal location, close to the city centre but with a sense of being somewhat removed from the traffic and skyscrapers. The Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort truly makes the most of its position on the water, with the entrance looking toward the horizon, the rooms surrounded by lagoon pools if not by the sea, and the hotel's private beach boasting a view of the marina and cityscape.
Thai influences can be spotted from the tiered roofs to the staff wearing gold embroidered pha nungs and one of the city's most popular Asian restaurants, Mekong. But the mishmash of both Thailand and Dubai works surprisingly well, with the grandeur of the city still apparent in beds so comfortable that no amount of cloud could compete and bathrooms bigger than most studio flats in London. And, of course, the over-water villas are the first of their kind in the Middle East. The Beach Bar sees couples and businessmen puffing on shisha pipes and sipping cocktails as the sun sets, and only a twenty minute drive from most of the sights, the Anantara is an all-rounder with everything at your fingertips.
On the outskirts of the city lies Desert Palm, though only a forty minute drive from Jumeira Palm it's a pocket of peace that feels a million miles away. It's hardly surprising that it is luxury without the loudness as it's a usual haunt of Sheikh Mohammed and his family, particularly his daughter HH SH Maitha MR Al Maktoum - a Judo Olympian and professional polo player.
Set amongst the green lush of polo fields and stables, the 38-room boutique hotel has rooms that vary from entirely private villas with their own pools to suites with floor to ceiling windows looking onto the main polo field. It's the small things that make a difference here - Turkish delight and fruit to welcome you, iPod docks preloaded with music and The Refinery products just for men in the spa. Rare restaurant specialises in fine dining with the largest wine list in Dubai, while Red Bar's enthusiastic bartenders concoct creative cocktails that can knock you sideways if you're not careful. Over by the infinity pool, Epicure brings in pastry chefs daily to create cakes, croissants and other bakery delights to tempt you throughout the day as well as serving up a flavoursome lunch menu for both the healthy and the glutinous. It makes sense that Cartier and Ralph Lauren have chosen to host their international events for the game of kings at this secluded spot.
Nightly rates at Anantara Dubai The Palm start from AED 2,050 (approx. £340) for Premier Lagoon View room. dubai-palm.anantara.com
Nightly rates at Desert Palm start from AED 1,430 (approx. £235) on a room only basis, based on two people sharing a Polo Suite
