-- see also, photos of Atlantis the Palm, Dubai
Background
For years, The Atlantis Bahamas was 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 resort... 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 the Resort:
- 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 are 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
Keep in Mind:
- 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.)
Find Out More::
- Continue to photos
- check visitors' comments at a site such as TripAdvisor.com
- Check prices at Kayak.com
This brief profile is meant to introduce this destination to family vacationers; please note that the writer has not visited in person.
*Always check resort web site for updates!