Have you ever chosen a holiday destination because you saw it on Instagram, read about it or seen it on TV? Chrissy Teigen called up the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, requesting to stay in the same suite Kim did after seeing it on an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians. So, it turns out celebrities are just like the rest of us, in this sense at least.
Whatever is good enough for Kim and Chrissy, right? So, we packed our swimsuits and headed to Dubai to check out what makes this hotel so popular.
Dubai is famed for its year-round sun and balmy weather, with temperatures rarely dropping below 20 degrees. Celebrities and common-folk alike flock there for the beaches, shopping and glamorous hotels. And there are few more glamorous hotels than the Atlantis, The Palm..
Adventure mode activated.
The first resort on the famous man-made island the Palm, Atlantis is located right at the end with 360 panoramic views of Dubai and the Persian Gulf.
The hotel is a beautiful shade of pink with turrets and an iconic Arabian archway. The resort is spread over 46 hectres with 2 km of beachfront and is the perfect getaway from the unreliable British weather.
The Rooms
If you want to stay in the same suite as Kim and Chrissy, you have to be ready to drop some serious cash. The most prestigious suite at the resort is aptly named the Royal Bridge Suite as it’s located above the famous arch that connects the two halves of the hotel.
Other than the usual things like incredible views, chandeliers and a pool table, there’s a grand piano which I’m sure John serenaded Chrissy and the kids on. Lucky them.
A little more in budget but also unique are the signature suites including the Underwater Suite, where you can watch 65k marine animals swim by from the comfort of the bed or bath, the Royal Suite, also popular with celebrities and the Grand Atlantis Suite, another option with incredible views.
The Imperial Club rooms and suites give you access to the lounge, dedicated check-in and complimentary happy hour. Or you can go with the basic room, ocean or palm view. You really can’t go wrong.
Prices start from £260 a night.
What to do
The sheer size of the resort means there’s quite literally, something for everyone. Feeling adventurous? There are all sorts of water sports available, or you can spend a day at the Aquaventure Waterpark which is home to the world’s tallest water slide. Prefer a more relaxing holiday?
The ShuiQi spa is award-winning and beautiful with 27 treatment rooms for everything from a massage to a facial and more. If you’re somewhere in-between, rent a paddleboard, paddle out in front of the hotel and layback, catching the rays and jumping in every time you get a bit too hot. Be warned though, the sun is hot and this is the perfect way to burn. Looking for the party scene?
White Beach is the place to be if you’d prefer to be surrounded by beautiful people sipping drinks, dancing poolside to music by some of the most popular DJs. Looking for something unique? There are “underwater yoga” classes held each morning in the aquarium where you can downward dog alongside fish.
Bridging the gap between self-care and explorative travel, the ‘zenventure’ is set to reshape your vaycay.
Where to eat
We weren’t kidding when we said it was a popular holiday spot for celebs. Day one, slightly jet-lagged and pale as can be, we ate breakfast next to none other than Olivia and Alex from Love Island season two.
On a more helpful note, there are 35 restaurants on the resort including Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen, Locatelli by Giorgio Locatelli, Nobu and Hakkasan.
Our favourites? Ossiano is the incredible underwater seafood restaurant that Mariah Carey reportedly has dined at. Not a fan of seafood? Go for a cocktail and watch the fish swim by. Ayamna is the Lebanese restaurant we loved with options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Seafire is the resort steakhouse where you’re offered a knife menu to quite literally “choose your weapon”.
We also love that every menu at the resort gives you options for meals that are made entirely by local ingredients, a part of the Atlas project in which the resort is working towards a more sustainable, ecologically friendly business.
How to get there
Direct flights are available to Dubai from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. The flight is around 7 hours long and many operators offer overnight flights so you don’t miss a day of holiday.
Once at DBX you can get to Atlantis, The Palm via airport transfer or cab which will take approximately 35 minutes.
You can book directly via atlantis.com through Booking.com or via Tui.
