Atlantis Dubai review

For years, The Atlantis Bahamas has been a unique mega-resort, with its giant "waterscape" (lagoons, waterfalls, x-treme waterslides, subterranean aquariums), fantasy architecture, and mix of families, high rollers at the casino, and high-end yachting set.

But this "one of a kind" place has a sister now. Welcome to Atlantis The Palm, Dubai: Dubai being that middle-east pinnacle of shopping, entertainment, and luxury.

Dubai is one of the United Arab Emirates, with year-round warm weather, white-sand beaches, and a great infrastructure. Though only 1000 sq. miles in size, Dubai lives large: ultra-opulent hotels, super-luxury shopping, and over-the-top attractions such as an indoor snow park.

The Palm is one of Dubai's biggest ventures: "The Palm Jumeirah" is a man-made island in the shape of a graceful palm frond framed by a reef. The Palm is a project of the Crown Prince of Dubai, and adds almost 65 kilometres of new beachfront. Atlantis The Palm is in the centre of the crescent.

Features of Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai:

• Over 1500 rooms and an area of 47 hectares (116 acres).The design repeats the famed double Royal Towers of the Bahamas property (as seen in photo above.)
• Huge (17 hectares, 42 acres) Aquaventure waterplay area.
• The centerpiece of Aquaventure is the towering "Ziggurat", with multiple waterslides, including Leap of Faith, a near-vertical waterslide ending in an acrylic tunnel in a shark-filled lagoon.
• Visitors will also find uphill coasters and a tidal wave pool. A wave river winds for 2.3 kilometers; along the way are (optional) white-water rapids, wave surges, and waterfalls; guests can also dip into zero-entry pools. Water escalators even take riders up the waterslide towers.
• Admission to Aquaventure is free for resort guests; non-guests can buy a daily or multi-day pass.
• Children must be twelve to enter unaccompanied by an adult. Life jackets are required for swimmers under 48"/1.2m. Kids 3 to 7 pay a reduced price.
• Splashers water playground for young kids has games, slides, climbing structures, tipping buckets, water jets; for kids less than 1.1m (43 inches) tall, and for their parents too.
• two pools are exclusively for guests (-the serene Royal Pool, and the Zero Entry Pool, good for families).
• 1.4 km of beach area has watersports such as windsurfing, kayaking, floating climbing walls. Day visitors at Aquaventure also have beach access.
• At the Ambassador Lagoon, guests look directly into a huge marine habitat with Lost-City-themed sunken streets and relics. The habitat focuses on marine life found in the Arabian Gulf.
• The similarly-themed Lost Chambers maze of underground passageways leads people past marine exhibits.
• The Dolphin Bay lagoon has seven interconnected pools for dolphins and will offer dolphin interactions (and possibly also dolphin rescue and rehabilitation - the only center for stranded animals in the Arabian Gulf.)
• Seventeen restaurants, bars and lounges include four places with celebrity chefs. The specialty restaurants are found on "The Avenues", a promenade with shops and nightclub.
• Two unique Lost Chambers Suites each cover three floors. Windows in the master bedroom give views into the Ambassador Lagoon.
• Kids programs will be offered in the day and evening, and teens will have their own space, "Club Rush". (Check web site for updates about kids' programs.)
• The Zone games room has state-of-the-art Sega games for kids and adults

Tourism industry buffs may be interested to know that The Atlantis The Palm, Dubai is a joint venture with Istithmar PSJC, which is wholly-owned by the Government of Dubai.

Keep in mind about Atlantis The Palm, Dubai:

• location is isolated from the main area of Dubai
• early visitors reported teething problems; check the latest comments.
• make restaurant reservations in advance
• expect the restaurants and water park to be popular with outside guests
• Aquaventure at the Dubai Atlantis isn't as huge as AQUAVENTURE at the Bahamas property ( -42 acres, compared to 63.)

Facilities

16 Restaurants
Nightclub
Aquaventure
Private Beach
Atlantis Kids' Club and club rush for teenagers
Atlantis Spa with 27 treatment rooms
Running Track and 4 Tennis Courts
The Lost Chambers featuring underground tunnels with marine exhibits
Watersports
24 Retail outlets.

Aquaventure
The 17 hectare water playground, Aquaventure, consists of sensational downhill rides and uphill coasters, a 2km long wave river with over 1m high waves and a tidal wave pool. At its centre is the Mesopotamian styled Ziggurat temple, reaching 100 feet into the sky and featuring seven heart-pumping water slides, two of which catapult riders through shark-filled lagoons. The Aquaventure 700m private beach front offers sensational views of The Palm Jumeirah and is complimented by a host of action-packed water sports. A dedicated children's section, Splashers, offers kids their own play area with pools, elaborate water games and slides.

The Lost Chambers
The Lost Chambers brings the myth of Atlantis to life through a maze of underground tunnels offering underwater views into the boulevards of the ruins of Atlantis, an exotic array of sea creatures, mystical antiquities and ancient ruins. Twenty fresh and salt-water pools and lagoon exhibits forming the Ambassador Lagoon house over 65,000 fish and marine species from tropical to regional including sharks and manta rays.
 

Accommodation

Deluxe Rooms have either a king-size bed/full balcony or 2 queen-beds/French balcony plus a four point bathroom and rooms face either the Arabian Gulf or the Palm Jumeirah.

Supplements

Upgraded room types (supps per person per night from): Atlantis rooms are similar but located on the upper floors of both towers
Imperial Club rooms are located on the 12th-15th floor of the East Tower, guests will have upgraded room amenities as wells as access to a dedicated lounge
Executive Suites are much larger and are situated on the far corners of each tower's wing with living room and balcony (with full seating)
Terrace Suite
Single Deluxe Room.

Facts

Location: The Palm Jumeirah Transfer (approx): 45 minutes Number of Rooms: 1,539 Board Basis: Bed & Breakfast

sources: about.com/hayesandjarvis -

Atlantis Dubai review