Two nights in Dubai, then a week in Baa Atoll
Break the flight with two nights on the beach in old Jumeira, then seven nights on a barefoot island in Baa Atoll with a large kids club and a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the doorstep. Good for families.
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
A Thai-styled resort on the Palm with swim-out lagoon rooms and the only overwater villas in the UAE, at a gentler price than its neighbours.
Why we love it
Anantara is the Palm resort we suggest when the budget matters but the holiday still has to feel special. Low-rise Thai-style buildings wrap around three lagoons, and many rooms step straight into the water from the terrace. It feels more like Asia than Dubai.
The overwater villas are the headline. They were the first in the UAE and are still the only ones, with a glass panel in the floor and a big soaking tub facing the sea. For a honeymoon that cannot stretch to the Maldives this year, they are a clever answer.
It sits on the outer crescent of the Palm, so trips into the city take longer than from Jumeirah, although there is a free shuttle to the malls. The beach runs to about 400 metres and the resort is popular with families, so the main pool is lively in holidays. Couples can book adults-only lagoon rooms.
Rooms and villas
Lagoon rooms
Rooms of 47 to 65 square metres around the three lagoons, with a balcony over the water or direct swim-out access. Family layouts are available.
Adults-only lagoon access rooms
Lagoon rooms kept for adults, with private lagoon access and extra benefits. The quiet choice for couples.
Pool Villas
One- or two-bedroom villas of 85 to 206 square metres facing the beach, with a private pool, direct beach access and a villa host.
Over Water Villas
Villas of 106 square metres over the Gulf, with a glass floor panel to watch the water below and an oversized soaking tub with a view.
Apartments
Studios to two-bedroom apartments of 38 to 267 square metres next to the resort, with full use of its facilities. Useful for longer family stays.
Dining
Mekong is the signature, cooking dishes from along the Mekong river across South East Asia. The Beach House does Mediterranean food and seafood with Gulf views, Crescendo handles breakfast buffets and themed nights, Revo Café covers lunch, and there are drinks at the Lotus Lounge and the swim-up Mai Bar. Bushman's steakhouse is temporarily closed.
Wellness
Anantara Spa has hammam facilities for both women and men, alongside massage and treatment rooms. There is a Technogym gym, tennis and padel courts, and a water sports centre with paddleboards and kayaks.
Children and families
Families are well served. Tuk-Tuk Kids' Club runs arts, crafts and games for younger children, and the Chill Teens' Club has foosball, air hockey, billiards and PlayStation. Cooking workshops and junior spa treatments are for ages five to 12, and babysitting can be booked 24 hours ahead.
The facts
| Rooms and villas | 293 rooms and villas, plus 128 apartments |
|---|---|
| Overwater villas | The only ones in the UAE |
| Restaurants and bars | Six, including Mekong |
| Pools | Three 24-hour swimming lagoons plus the main pool |
| Beach | About 400 metres of private shoreline |
| Kids club | Tuk-Tuk Kids' Club and Chill Teens' Club |
Where it is
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Nearby
A few of the things we plan for guests in Dubai.
Old Dubai by abra and on foot
Start in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, a knot of wind-towered coral-stone houses, small museums and cafés on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek. Then cross by abra, the wooden water taxis, to the spice and gold souks of Deira. Go in the late afternoon, when the souks wake up after the midday lull. A local guide earns their fee at the food stops.
A quiet night in the desert reserve
The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, under an hour inland, protects red dunes where Arabian oryx and gazelle graze in the open. Staying inside it is nothing like the convoy dune drives sold in town: a camel walk at dawn, falconry at dusk and a very dark sky. One night is enough, between October and April.
Kayaking and hiking at Hatta
Hatta sits in the Hajar Mountains near the Omani border, about an hour and a half by road. You can kayak on the turquoise reservoir at Hatta Dam, walk or cycle the marked trails, and see how mountain families lived in the heritage village. Leave early and take plenty of water.
Journeys in Dubai
Ask about Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.