We take a timeout from winter and, under the sun of Dubai, enjoy the boundless hospitality of Thailand – the signature of Anantara Luxury Hotels. The flowing transitions between buildings and terraces, rooms and pools, paths and the beach at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort create a unique experience of the landscape between the sky and the sea. Sophisticated details such as shoals in the pool and attentive service create a relaxed holiday feeling.
The choice of restaurants at the Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort is very impressive and varied – guests from all over the world will be delighted. The Restaurant Mekong, which transports you into the culinary worlds of Thailand, China and Vietnam and knows how to flatter your palate, is superb. In the rustic Bushman’s, it’s no less exotic and impassioned. The meat specialities are cooked to perfection, just like during an upscale evening in the Australian outback.
To reach the world of Anantara, it’s only a short journey from the airport to the Palm Island of Jumeirah. You step foot on the island and are amazed by the green gardens in which the resort is embedded. Palm-tree-lined shady paths, sumptuously planted, protect you from the sun’s rays and – like in a Little Venice – lead you through pools and artificial lagoons to the welcoming rooms and spacious villas that promise you a romantic stay. The architectural echoes of Thai pagodas immediately conjure up a laidback island ambience, and the direct access to the long, lily-white sandy beach creates authentic barefoot luxury. There, under the large parasols, you savour the sea breeze and the attentive waiter service from the comfort of your lounger. Or you plunge into the crystal-clear warm waves of the Persian Gulf. And – like on a theatre stage – your gaze is drawn to the fabulous view of the Dubai waterfront skyline: a panorama that is even more ablaze with light in the evenings.
The Anantara Gruppe has spiced its The Palm Dubai Resort with a hint of the Maldives. Similarly to the lagoons of this island nation in the Indian Ocean, there are overwater villas here for that pure maritime feeling – unique in the United Arab Emirates. Panorama windows, ocean terrace and a glass floor under the seats give you a flowing, floating sensation. The resort is framed by two jetties with a total of 18 villas, offering tranquillity and comfort. These are joined by the pool villas with direct access to the beach. Warm hues of wood, a cathedral roof and the luxurious furnishing ensure a generous, snug room experience. Your own pool ensures complete privacy. Pools are anyway the thread that runs through this entire resort: main pool, private pools, rooms with direct pool access (ideal for families with children), bar in the pool,... – everything is laid out around the pools, creating the unique flair, the special aura with which the guests are pampered. Guests will find even more pampering in the excellent spa – a true strength of the Anantara Hotel. An exclusive place of retreat, for couples too, where you can relax and detox with Thai massages and cosmetic treatments, with the best wellness and treatments from all over the world, with themed saunas and steam baths. The original Turkish hammam is a true fountain of youth for visible beauty. What’s more, there is an infinite variety of active leisure programmes, from excursions and boat tours to water sports and tennis to the gym and the Kids' & Teens' Club. Dining by Design is a special opportunity to enjoy romantic time à deux. A tailored culinary experience in a location of your choice, unique moments by candlelight are guaranteed, with an individual menu, a discreet butler service and only nature as your guest.
In 2001 the United Arab Emirates created an international sensation when it began to create artificial islands off the coast of Dubai, which can even be seen from space: Like Jebel Ali Palm Island, Jumeirah Palm Island has been built in the shape of a palm and is 560 hectares in size. It is now open to traffic and was constructed of rock and compacted sea sand by means of land reclamation. The island consists of a four-kilometre-long stem and 16 palm fronds as well as an external crescent that protects it from storm tides. Access from the mainland takes place via a 300-metre-long bridge. Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort is located on the outer ring and can be reached by an 800-metre-long undersea tunnel.
Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort
From Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort’s hotel jetty, we had the opportunity to take a 'world tour'. We travel by shuttle boat to the neighbouring affiliate resort on the 'South American' continent of The World, an archipelago of small artificial islands constructed in the shape of a world map, that has been in construction since 2003. Over a sundowner on the terrace of the Qamar Restaurant, four kilometres offshore, we enjoy the shifting colours of the sky above the cityscape of Dubai and the atmosphere of the open sea. The evening meal in the 'Qamar' with its Arabic-Indian cuisine is a perfect and authentic experience filled with spices, fragrances and aromas.
