Atlantis, The Palm. If you’ve been to Dubai or even looked at visiting, chances are you’ve heard of this amazing place. Atlantis is built on the man made ‘Palm’ which juts off the Dubai coastline. Its building design is instantly recognisable, that pink, cut out of a building.
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Having visited Dubai before, our visit was to be Atlantis only, so we were completely immersed in the resort.
If there is a common theme about visiting Atlantis it would be water. Visiting in July, you’ll need to drink a lot of it, but you can enjoy yourself right amongst it.
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The Waterpark
For the waterpark enthusiast, an easy day can be enjoyed at Aquaventure Water Park. If you’re staying at Atlantis, entry is free to the water park for the entirety of your stay – except the day you check out. Bear that in mind when planning if you have a late flight out to avoid disappointment.
Aquaventure has something for everyone. Fun areas for the kids. Sun beds for those who want to kick back. And of course, thrilling slides for the adventure seeker. The most well-known slide would be the Leap of Faith. It slides you down at a ridiculous angle before ploughing you through an aquarium tank. The whole thing is over before you know it. You can’t actually see the fish in the aquarium as you power through, but it’s a rush all the same.
There is a tube ride that goes at slower pace, and you can meander through the aquarium. There’s even a viewing hub, where your partner or family can watch you amongst the same water as the sharks and rays.
Hot tip: Invest in the ‘sun socks’. At 40 degrees+ those pavements get hot! They’re a few bucks, and they’ll save your feet, I swear.
The Beach
If you’ve had enough at Aquaventure, and looking for some more time by the water, you can head to the pool and beach. Perched below the iconic building, in the late afternoon sun, it also doubles as a sun shade. There are loads of seats to lie down and enjoy some time pool side.
We checked out the beach which is beyond the pool area. The place was pretty much empty and wasn’t our cup of tea. The view is best described as ‘industrial’ and you are exposed to the full elements of the sun.
The Aquarium, Lost Chambers of Atlantis
If you’re done with everything outside, the water theme continues inside. The Lost Chambers of Atlantis Aquarium is excellent. There are areas which are free to view before entry too. Like Aquaventure, if you’re staying here, you can visit the aquarium as often as you desire. The aquarium has an impressive array of underwater species. Sharks, sting rays, jelly fish, grouper, and any number of smaller fish inhabit the aquarium.
Popular spots for Instagrammers are the jellyfish exhibit and the sting rays kissing the glass. There are chill out zones with cushions too. So you can lay down and watch the fish, rays and sharks do their thing.
Hot tip: Visit in the evening and the day time to get a different perspective.
Where to eat at Atlantis, The Palm
With all that swimming, laying and admiring, you’re going to need a full stomach. Luckily, Atlantis has food options by the truck load. With some 20 restaurants, the hardest thing will be choosing where to eat.
We ate at 4 different places during our stay.
Kaleidoscope for breakfast which was a standard buffet. There is nothing outstanding about it. Of the 4 places available for breakfast, these are designed to chew through as many people as quickly as possible. There is a good international range nonetheless.
Ayamna is a popular Lebanese restaurant. The food here was as good as any I’ve had in the western suburbs of Sydney (just a whole lot more expensive!). Falafels, kofta and hummus were all delicious.
Shawafel is a Middle Eastern fast food restaurant. It’s kind of like McDonald’s for the Middle East. Even the bread comes in a similar basket as McDonald’s fries! The food here is reasonably priced, and makes for a good quick bite or lunch time stop.
Our favourite restaurant of the visit was Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen. Serving an array of British fare, the beef ribs, lamb chops and fish and chips were on point. If you’re seeking tasty UK fare, hit up BSK.
Hot tip: The challenge with dining at Atlantis is the captive nature of staying there. We chose a half board option giving us a choice of breakfast at 4 restaurants and a choice of dinner at the rest. Some restaurants have a surcharge (Nobu, or the Beef Wellington at Bread Street Kitchen). Even with a discounted half board rate, the prices are high. Before staying (and indeed booking) you may need to think about which option will work best for you. Half board represented the best value for us. If you’re staying for longer you may wish to consider some other options.
All up, it’s easy to have a great time at Atlantis. There aren’t many places in the world where you can admire underwater sea life, get a thrill in a water park and eat at amazing restaurants. It all comes at a cost, so be sure your credit card is clear and enjoy.
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