I read an article that said “Paris with toddlers is not for the faint hearted” and I have to say that I agree 😅 We had a lovely time with a lot of walking in the beautiful weather, but there really wasn’t a huge amount for Arlo to do. We also felt bad that he had to spend quite a bit of time in his stroller because it wasn’t safe for him to walk / run near the roads.
But, we found some lovely child-friendly restaurants and activities that that I can recommend below!
🍽️ Restaurant Le Saint Germain – the staff were lovely and very accommodating. They had high chairs readily available and, although they didn’t have a children’s menu, Arlo and I shared the Croque Monsieur which went down a treat for both of us.
🍽️ Luisa Maria – although the restaurant only had one high chair available, we were fortunate enough that a family were then finishing up so that we could join for dinner. I had the Gnocchi and Arlo and Ryan shared a pizza. Every bite was delicious and the restaurant had a lovely family-run feeling about it.
🍽️ Le Rostand – directly opposite the entrance to the Luxembourg Gardens sits this quaint cafe. It was perfect for a relaxing breakfast and people watching! They had plenty of seats both inside and outside as well as having high chairs available.
🌷 Luxembourg Gardens – although you are not allowed on the grass, there was still a huge area that Arlo could run around on and enjoy. The pond within the garden was filled with small boats. They also had ponyies and a play park inside the gardens which is charged at an entry fee of €2 per child.
We stayed at the Hotel Belloy in Saint-Germain-Des-Pres which is a family-friendly hotel. We contacted the staff in advance of our arrival and they prepared the travel cot in our room for our arrival. We were also greeted with a complimentary upgrade to a room which was slightly bigger – the extra space is always appreciated when traveling with a child!
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa is a well-known luxury resort in Dubai, situated in the heart of Dubai’s famous Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) area, offering stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and easy access to the beach.
The resort features a range of luxurious rooms and suites with modern amenities and stylish decor with some of the rooms offering panoramic sea views.
We were lucky enough to spend the night at the resort a few weeks ago as I found a fabulous deal on one of my booking platforms. We booked to stay on a half-board basis, meaning that we had breakfast and lunch or dinner included.
Hotel Facilities
Guests can enjoy a wide range of recreational facilities, including visiting one of the three swimming pools (two of which have swim up bars), water sports, a fitness center, tennis courts, and Spa.
The resort has its own expansive private beach area with direct access onto JBR beach and fabulous views across to the Ain Dubai.
The hotel is family-friendly and offers activities for children, as well as an outdoor children play area, mini golf and a Kids Club. Arlo was too young to access the Kid’s Club this time, but I’m sure we will make use of it in the future!
Dining
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa itself has twelve restaurants within the resort. It also offers a complimentary shuttle bus to the neighboring Grosvenor House Hotel which has an additional thirteen restaurants that you can choose from.
For lunch we are at Le Deck which is located around the first pool area in front of the hotel. It is shaded and with air conditioning fans and so, although we visited on the hottest day of the year, we still managed to have our lunch outside.
For dinner, we headed down to Geales, a British gastro-inspired outlet. Breakfast was included in Brasserie 2.0 (the same restaurant that the hotels infamous Saturday Brunch is held). Anything and everything you could possibly want for breakfast was on offer – including a pork station located at the very back of the restaurant!
Location Attractions
The hotel is conveniently located near popular Dubai attractions such as the Dubai Marina, The Walk at JBR, and the Palm Jumeirah.
We love to visit the hotel for the day making use of the Pool Access Passes but it was really lovely to be able to fully relax and unwind as a guest in the resort.
Those were the words of our taxi driver once we arrived in Mauritius and oh, was he right!
We originally planned to go to Mauritius to celebrate my 30th birthday, but as I was 38 weeks pregnant at the time, the trip was postponed! Roll on 2023, and we travelled to Mauritius with Arlo and were able to celebrate his first birthday whilst we were there.
Emirates runs daily direct flights from Dubai to Mauritius and we opted for the flight departing Dubai at 2.30am which meant we arrived in Mauritius at 9.30am. There is no time difference between the UAE and Mauritius which worked out great for us with Arlo’s sleep schedule. We also didn’t suffer with any jet lag either way.
We arranged airport transfers in advance with our hotel, and the driver was ready and waiting for us upping arrival. The journey from the airport to our hotel was approximately one hour so we were relaxing in our hotel lobby with an ice tea by 11am.
Sugar Beach Hotel
When pricing up hotels, Sugar Beach Hotel was very competitive and the rate was inclusive of all food and beverages. The rate also included complimentary golf at three golf courses across the island which was a selling point for Ryan. Sugar Beach Hotel has three beautiful restaurants as well as the option to order pizza to be delivered direct to your Sun lounger at any time of day! Furthermore, as a guest of Sugar Beach, you are also entitled to access the facilities and restaurants of the sister hotel which is located just next door.
When deciding on our room type, we opted for a garden facing room and were located on the ground floor so we had direct access from our room to the lovely vast garden area which then headed directly onto the beach. Arlo loved running around out there.
Each day, the staff would update the activities board by the pool to show which games or activities were scheduled for the day for the hotel guests to participate in. These ranged from croquet (with bowler hats and parasols – so cute!) to walks into the local town.
Arlo’s First Birthday
We were lucky enough to celebrate Arlo’s first birthday whilst we were over in Mauritius. So, for his birthday morning, we decided to book a boat trip and head out to do some dolphin spotting. Typically, that morning Arlo decided to lay in and so we had to wake him up (which pained me to do so haha). We set off on our boat trip at 7am for two hours. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any dolphins but we got a beautiful view of the beachfront from the sea, the weather was calm and so the boat wasn’t choppy at all and it was a really lovely way to spend the morning.
After the boat trip, we headed to the buffet for Arlo’s “holiday assortment” which included: omelette, pancakes and fresh fruit.
The afternoon was spent with lots of swimming and splashing around in the pools.
For lunch, we headed over to Citronella and the staff prepared a cake with a sparkler for Arlo’s birthday which was so sweet and they all gathered around to sing happy birthday. It was the perfect way to celebrate our baby boy turning one.
Activities & Things to Do Nearby
The nearest town was a 35 minute walk from our hotel – Ryan experienced this first hand as I sent him to buy more baby formula as we ran out a lot sooner than I had anticipated! He said the town had a real buzz about it with tourists and locals alike sat in the bars and restaurants having lunch. You can also check out my other blog here on Things to do in Flic-En-Flac!
I would love to return to Mauritius as it really was the perfect family holiday destination to relax and unwind.
We absolutely loved our stay in Flic-en-Flac when we visited in March, staying at the beautiful Sugar Beach Resort. As our hotel was all-inclusive, we really didn’t need to leave the hotel! We also had our one year old in tow and so decided we mainly wanted to use the trio to relax (you can read all about our trip here).
Flic en Flac does however, have a range of tourist activities that you can enjoy! Here are some things you can do while visiting:
Snorkeling and Diving: Explore the underwater world by snorkeling or diving. You’ll find colorful coral reefs and a variety of marine life.
Tamarina Golf Club: If you’re a golfer, play a round at the Tamarina Golf Club, which offers scenic views of the ocean and mountains.
Hiking: Explore the nearby Black River Gorges National Park, which has hiking trails that lead to waterfalls and lush forests.
Dolphin Watching: Take a boat trip to spot dolphins in their natural habitat. This is a popular activity in the area.
Rum Tasting: Mauritius is known for its rum. Visit a local distillery for a rum tasting experience.
Local Markets: Explore local markets like the Flic en Flac Market or Cascavelle Shopping Village for souvenirs and a taste of Mauritian culture.
Island Tours: Consider taking a day tour to explore other parts of Mauritius, such as the capital city of Port Louis or the Chamarel Seven Colored Earths.
Water Sports: Try water sports like water skiing, parasailing, or paddle boarding if you’re feeling adventurous.
Be sure to check the availability and operating hours of these activities, as they may vary depending on the season and local regulations.
We recently spent the weekend at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, a hotel that we’ve visited many times before but have never actually stayed at.
Upon arrival the valet staff helped us with our car and luggage and escorted us to the check in desk where we were greeted with a lovely complimentary drink.
We were extremely lucky that our room was ready upon arrival and were taken straight up after a smooth check in. As soon as the door opened I was delighted at the lovely, spacious room. It had a beautiful, shaded balcony that had a table and chairs and extended down to a larger balcony with two sun-loungers on it. The bathroom had a shower cubicle as well as a lovely big bath which I knew I’d be lounging in later in the evening.
At the time that we arrived, Arlo was napping, so Ryan laid on the bed with him and I sat out on the sun-lounger, with a packet of crisps and a glass of rosé – it was heavenly.
When Arlo woke up, we headed down to the pool. I managed to grab some beds, even though the hotel was very busy at the time, due to it being a Public Holiday.
We all swam through the lagoon and somehow ended up at the pool bar! I had an iced coffee and Ryan had a pint (or two) of Peroni. Arlo absolutely loves swimming and he had so much fun splashing around swimming around by the pool bar.
Bussola
For lunch, we were spoilt for choice with restaurant options, but we decided to head over to Bussola. The restaurant is divided into two sections; a pizzeria which is located upstairs, and the main restaurant which can be found on the ground floor. Ryan and I both fancied pizza and so we headed upstairs. I opted for a pizza with mozzarella and pork guanciale and Ryan had a pepperoni, we both shared pieces with Arlo as well who was loving the pizza just as much as we were!
After lunch we went back to our room to give Arlo a bottle and hope that he would have a nap – this was a bit later in the day than we would normally allow him to nap, but that’s because we knew we were heading out for dinner in the evening. Arlo and Ryan both fell asleep so I laid out on the sunlounger on our terrace and had some time alone in the sun. It was bliss.
Baba Steakhouse
Our room was booked on a half-board basis, which meant that we had breakfast and a choice of lunch or dinner included in our stay. We decided to visit to Baba Steakhouse for dinner as it’s a restaurant that we hadn’t previously tried in the Westin hotel. Baba Steakhouse has a great set menu for you to choose from as part of the half-board package as well as a three course children’s menu.
To start with, Ryan had the Calamari, and I had the Crab Cakes. Both dishes were so tasty and had a contemporary Asian twist on the classic dishes. For our main course, we both opted for steak. I was a bit cheeky and ordered off of the children’s menu for my dessert because I really fancied the chocolate brownie and ice cream.
By this point, Arlo was very tired so we headed back upstairs to the room and put him to bed. Ryan and I then sent out on a terrace and had a glass of wine before we felt too warm and decided to go to bed ourselves.
Minas Kitchen
If you’ve ever been for Saturday Brunch at the Westin, you will know that it is located in the restaurant.
Mina’s Kitchen is the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina’s buffet restaurant and is the place that you can find the fabulous breakfast buffet (and their lively Saturday Brunch)
The interior of the restaurant is lovely, showcasing high ceilings with a beautiful, monochrome checkered floor, and with lots of greenery throughout the restaurant. The breakfast buffet choice was fantastic. They offer a fabulous selection of cold-cuts, cheese, pastries, fruit, pork and a live cooking station for omelettes etc.
Jungle Bay
Did you know that if you stay at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina or Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort that you get complimentary access to the Jungle Bay Waterpark throughout your stay!
Jungle Bay Waterpark has a great selection of slides for kids of all ages as well as a big splash pad for the smaller babies and a wave pool.
External hotel guests can also visit Jungle Bay Waterpark for the day at a rate of AED200 per adult, AED75 for kids over the age of 4 and free for all children under 4! They also have a ladies day on a Monday where access is AED100 for ladies.
We absolutely loved our stay and I would really recommend the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina as a great place to stay with children.
The summer can be one of the toughest times on animal welfare centres throughout the UAE. With temperatures soaring and the facilities operating at maximum capacity with stray animals, it can take its toll in many ways. So here is a list of five ways in which you can help this summer:
1. Volunteer to walk the dogs at K9 friends
K9 Friends are a non-profit dog rescue centre and, unfortunately, they are currently operating beyond capacity with the number of dogs that are currently in their care.
One way you can help is by offering your time to take some of the dogs out for a walk to assist the team with their workload. It’s a lovely way to spend a morning and the dog’s joy becomes infectious. You could also arrange a dog walkingsession as a corporate event or team building activity. If you would like more details on this, please contact +971 (0) 4 887 8739.
2. Donate old towels
This may seem silly, but if it’s time for a spring clean and you have any old towels you wish to discard, you can donate these to one of the animal welfare centres around the UAE. The towels can be used in a multitude of ways to help the animals, whether it’s after bath time or for bedding.
3. Share Share Share
Sharing content on social media can really go a long way. Whether the posts are advertising pups that are looking to be homed; or events and fundraising that the centres may be hosting, simply sharing these on your socials amongst your network can really help to gain further traction and support.
4. Foster
If you are considering adopting an animal but can’t commit long term; or if you would like to trial and see what it’s like to welcome a pet into your home, a great way to do that is by fostering.
Fostering an animal helps to relieve the centres for a short period of time and also helps the centres understand valuable information about the dogs, how they react in a home environment, and their personalities.
5. Monetary Donations
Of course, every dirham can help. The centres use monetary donations to cover a wide range of the costs associated with rescuing these animals, keeping them fed and watered, healthy and cool during the summer. They often have hefty vet bills that need to be cleared, or maintenance and repair work to be carried out within the facilities. So any money that you are able to spare will be going to a fantastic cause.
Listed below are just some of the centres that would be grateful for any support you can offer:
If like me, you’re going to be spending your summer here in Dubai, and not sipping Champagne in Sorrento; or eating grilled prawns in Positano, then this list, of the top Mediterranean restaurants, is perfect for you.
North Miznon, DoubleTree by Hilton JBR
North Miznon is a hidden gem located at the DoubleTree Hilton along JBR. The menu consists of healthy, fresh dishes including grilled meats, grilled fish and a range of vegan options.
Restaurant TWO.0, Cove Beach
Located at Caesar’s Palace on Bluewaters Island this stunning al-fresco dining spot has a mouth-watering menu based on classic Mediterranean dishes. You can select fish from it’s fresh fish counter; order a rustic pizza cooked fresh in the pizza oven; or one of the freshly made salads. My personal favourite is the classic Greek Salad.
Ula Dubai
Ula Dubai really transports you across the ocean to the Mediterranean as soon as you step foot into the venue. With its stunning Boho interior, everywhere you turn is the perfect Instagram photo-opp.
I absolutely love the Halloumi and Truffle Pizza. Ula also offers a great selection of cocktails that you can sip at sundown or whilst enjoying a lazy lunch.
Laguna Lounge, Sofitel Dubai The Palm
This stunning beach dining spot is described as “Ancient Greek agora meets the French Riviera” and it truly feels that way. Laguna Lounge offers Mediterranean-inspired cuisine which is accompanied by a selection of premium cocktails and shisha service.
Boardwalk, Park Hyatt Dubai
Boardwalk, located at the Park Hyatt Dubai, is a breath-taking venue with an extensive menu and fabulous views across the Dubai Creek. I would absolutely recommend the Crab Rigatoni pasta which is served with an Amalfi Lemon Sauce and is truly divine.
Alba Terrace, The Abu Dhabi EDITION
The Abu Dhabi EDITION is one of my favourite hotels, I love the minimalist, chic vibe that greets you throughout the hotel. Alba Terrace has a gorgeous menu, filled with all of those classic Mediterranean inspired dishes. From Burrata, oven-baked pizza to Prawns A La Plancha the options are endless. I would also recommend checking out their cocktails, especially their Limoncello take on an Aperol Spritz!
Villamore, Kempinski Hotel Palm Jumeirah
Located at the Kempinski Hotel Palm Jumeirah, Villamore offers upscale beachside dining in a relaxed and chic setting. The restaurant offers stunning views across the beach with the Dubai Marina towers glistening in the background. Whether you’re after a light salad or a hearty paella, Villamore has you covered.
Seagrill Bistro, Fairmont The Palm
Seagrill Bistro is a long time favourite of mine. The restaurant has a cool, chic vibe going on and the food is fabulous. Whenever I visit the Fairmont The Palm for a beach day I love to head into Seagrill Bistro for a Lobster Roll at lunch.
Cleo Mediterraneo, Dubai Creek Resort
Located along the Boardwalk of the Dubai Creek Resort, you can really picture yourself being sat in the South of France, looking out across the yachts that are moored up in the Dubai Creek Marina.
In the warmer months, the restaurant is the perfect place to dine inside. With décor that transports you to the Mediterranean from the moment you step inside, complimented by the fresh seafood counter which really makes you feel like you could be in a small seaside town in Greece.
With a great Raw Selection including freshly shucked oysters and a variety of seafood carpaccio, Cleo Mediterraneo is a fabulous place to dine.
Keep hand luggage to a minimum! You already have enough to carry when flying alone with a baby or toddler. I always have my handbag which contains my own items for the flight such as headphones, passports, boarding passes, phone etc. and then I have Arlo’s backpack which has all of his essentials in one bag, so I don’t need to search across several bags when I need something for him.
2. Toys
Pack new toys which will be a surprise for your little one on the day! I packed lots of small items from a Fidget Box which worked perfectly for this trip.
3. Food Onboard
Ask the Crew for the baby and toddler meals onboard. Although I am over-cautious and pack too much food, it’s always good to know that the Crew have a small selection of baby food available. This included Aptamil Ready To Drink formula for stage 1; Ella’s Kitchen Apple fruit pouch for 4 months and above; and an Ella’s Kitchen Vegetable Lentil Bake for 7 months and above.
4. Family Queues
Join the Family and Children queue at passport control in Dubai Airport. Instead of waiting in the large immigration queues, head to the far end of the immigration hall to the Family and Children queue. This line is often smaller and faster and they also hand out a cute little passport coloring book with pencils.
5. Emirates Concierge Service
Use the Concierge Service when you arrive at Dubai Airport. These are the guys wearing the red Emirates shirts who wait with the trolleys and can assist you with getting your luggage from the belts and escort you back to your car or taxi. The price is a set rate of AED40 which you pay directly to the concierge counter and can pay by card so you don’t need to worry about having cash in advance. Honestly, for me, this service is invaluable when flying solo!
6. Ask for Help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. In my experience, people have been extremely friendly and helpful and willing to assist when I’m traveling solo. The Emirates Crew were really helpful on this flight with carrying Arlo whilst I gathered our bags and pram; and watching him whilst I nipped to the loo!
Below are some of my favourite pan-Asian restaurants located throughout Dubai and Abu Dhabi, whether it’s a night out with the girls or a date night, here are my top ten picks:
1. Asia Asia
One of my absolute go-to restaurants that I recommend when we have friends or family visiting is Asia Asia. It’s located in Pier 7 in the Dubai Marina which has fabulous views across the Marina and a beautifully decked out interior. You are immersed in its Asian dining experience as soon as you step out of the lift and are greeted by the candlelit Buddha statues.
Asia Asia is one of the newer dining options that you can take advantage of with your Privilee Membership, availing a discount of 20% off the total bill for Privilee Members and up to three guests.
They offer a great selection of sushi, dim sum, crispy aromatic duck, wok fried rice and noodles as well as a fabulous range of cocktails!
Asia Asia has since opened further outlets located in Dubai Business Bay and Abu Dhabi that you can check out and save with Privilee!
2. KŌYŌ Dubai
It gives New York speakeasy vibes as to find the restaurant you have to enter through the lower ground car park and then into an inconspicuous tattoo parlor before entering the bar and main restaurant. The chic Japanese restaurant has it all, offering an immersive dining experience with live shows and entertainment, a great choice of cocktails and sommelier selected wines.
My favourite dishes from the menu are the Chicken Katsu Sando and the Black Cod Robata. Privilee Members can receive 20% off the total bill for them and up to three guests – just make sure to inform Koyo at the time of booking that you wish to avail the discount.
3. Lah Lah, Zabeel House
Located at Zabeel House, The Greens, Lah Lah is a Pan-Asian kitchen and bar which provides great food with a chilled-out vibe. The highlight of this venue for me is that it’s dog friendly so is the perfect place to take the pooch for a lazy lunch or relaxing sundowners.
You can redeemed 15% off as a Privilee Members for yourself and up to five guests as well as up to 20% discount on the Saturday Brunch!
4. Akira Back, W Dubai
Located at the W The Palm Dubai, Akira Back is a stunning rooftop restaurant featuring Japanese cuisine prepared with Korean flavors by internationally renowned Chef Akira Back. Every dish tastes as stunning as it looks with their bold colors and flavors. Treat yourself to the Mystery Box which is comprised of a selection of nine delicacies selected by the Chef and unveiled with a table side presentation. Privilee Members and up to five guests can receive 20% discount off the total bill.
5. Karma Kafè
Located in the Souk Al Bahar with its stunning interior – and even more impressive skyline views – Karma Kafè is the perfect spot to sip on a Nagasaki Negroni and indulge in a sushi platter whilst overlooking the iconic Burj Khalifa.
As a Privilee Member, you can take 20% off the total bill for yourself and up to three guests!
6. The Thai Kitchen. Park Hyatt Dubai
The Thai Kitchen is the perfect place to enjoy specially crafted Thai cocktails whilst soaking in the stunning views of the Dubai Creek Harbour. Experience the authentic taste of Thailand from the Park Hyatt restaurant all whilst saving 20% discount off the total bill as a Privilee Member. If you’re brave, you should try the Tom Yam Siam cocktail (paired with Thai chili’s)!
7. Hakkasan, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
The stunning Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Hotel is now home to the world famous Hakkasan restaurant, bringing its award-winning Asian cuisine to Abu Dhabi. This venue has such a romantic feel and is the perfect spot to enjoy a date night with your loved one, where you can stare lovingly into each others eyes whilst deciding who has the last piece of the Grilled Japanese A5 Wagyu Beef!
Hakkasan offers 20% off for Privilee Members and up to three guests.
8. Barfly by Buddha Bar, Hilton Palm Jumeirah
Buddha Bar’s newest dining concept, Barfly by Buddha Bar, has opened on the 13th floor of the new Hilton Palm Jumeirah located along West Beach. Barfly by Buddha Bar is famous for its exquisite selection of sushi rolls that you can enjoy whilst sipping craft cocktails at sunset and taking in the stunning views that the venue has to offer.
As a Privilee Member, you can avail a discount of 20% for yourself and up to five guests as well as making use of the complimentary valet parking offered by the hotel
9. Benihana, Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi
Take your dining experience to another level by visiting Benihana at the Beach Rotana in Abu Dhabi and experience live Teppanyaki cooking right in front of you. The specialty dishes include sushi, sashimi and Makimono as well as Grilled Lobster Tail; Hibachi Salmon and Teriyaki Steak fresh from the grill!
Complimentary valet parking is available as well as a whopping 25% discount r for Privilee Members and up to three guests.
10. Katsuya, Hyde Hotel
This stunning Hollywood restaurant has opened its doors in Dubai and can be found in the Hyde Hotel. Katsuya offers a range of signature cocktails and vibrant, unique sushi rolls. My advice: try the smoke salmon! The food tastes even better as it is accompanied by a 20% discount for Privilee Members and up to three guests.
So if this has made you crave some Crispy Calamari or have a taste of some Tuna Tataki then get in touch with one of these restaurants and save using Privilee!
The summer heat is just about upon us, so splash into summer and take a dip in one of these ten fabulous swimming pools that you can benefit from with your Privilee Membership! One of my favourite things about Privilee is that even on those super hot days, you can head to a hotel for just a few hours in the morning to enjoy some time in the pool and leave before lunchtime when the real heat sets in, and you never feel as though you’ve wasted any money on a full day pool pass!
1. Palazzo Versace Hotel
Sipping on an Aperol Spritz whilst laying around the Capri Pool at the Palazzo Versace Hotel, it’s easy to forget that you’re lounging by the Dubai Creek Harbour, and not in the Italian Amalfi Coast. I absolutely love spending the day at the Palazzo Versace as it caters to the whole family. It has three beautiful swimming pools, La Piscina, Portofino and Capri as well as seven restaurants and bars (within which Privilee Members receive a 25% discount!)
2. The Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah
The Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah has a Main Pool that the whole family can enjoy, especially Mums and Dads with the swim-up pool bar! The hotel also has a shaded kid’s pool surrounded by additional sun loungers so that parents can lay back and watch the children play.
3. Cove Beach Dubai
A slice of adult-only heaven has arrived on Privilee! Cove Beach Dubai can be found on Bluewaters Island and has three swimming pools available for Privilee Members to enjoy every day of the week. Cove Beach hosts a range of events each day so you can choose to party the day away, or relax and unwind, it’s totally up to you!
4. InterContinental Dubai Marina
Hidden amongst the concrete jungle with stunning views of the Dubai Marina, the InterContinental Dubai Marina offers chilled vibes, cocktails and the comfiest sunbeds – I don’t know what more you could want from a pool day! The pool is open daily from 8am to 8pm and has a gym on the same floor, just in case you wanted to have a quick workout before cooling off in the rooftop pool.
5. Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
Another family friendly pool day is the Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort. This Thai- inspired hotel has a stunning 50 metre infinity pool with ample sun loungers surrounding it. But the highlight of the hotel for me has to be the beautiful lagoon winding throughout the resort.
The lagoon has a shallow sand bank which is the perfect place for little ones to sit and play before diving into the lagoon for a swim. One of the best parts is a little wooden boat that passes through the lagoon every few hours selling drinks – I like to treat myself to a fresh coconut – but if you’re lucky, your little one may even be able to have ride on it!
6. Melia Desert Palm
Melia Desert Palm is an oasis located a short drive out into the Dubai Desert. The hotel has a beautiful infinity pool, with views spanning over the connected polo club. If you’re heading out that way you should definitely make sure to pop into the Samana Spa for a massage before driving back to reality!
7. Fluid Beach Dubai
Fluid Beach Club can be found at Th8 Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah. It’s the perfect place to chill with friends from day into night. This adult-only venue offers Privilee Members and up to four guests 25% discount off F&B so you can soak in the sun, sip champagne and stay for sunset all whilst saving money!
8. Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk
Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk is another great venue to visit as a family. The stunning Soleil swimming pool has a great shaded kid’s pool attached with a splash pad for them to enjoy. The pool can be accessed from the hotel’s sixth floor and offers a great view of the Dubai Skyline.
9. Hyde Hotel Dubai
The rooftop pool at Hyde Hotel Dubai has views of the Dubai Skyline that are hard to beat. This adult-only venue has super-chic décor, Burj Khalifa views and (I must say) some of the comfiest sun beds I have experienced. The hotel has complimentary valet parking and offers 20% discount off food, beverage and brunches across all outlets.
10. Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Last, but by no means least, is the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah. This hotel is one of my absolute favourites when I’m in need of some downtime. As soon as you pull up to the front of the hotel and are greeted by the friendly valet team, you feel at home. The hotel provides the feeling of both luxury and comfort with its five star service and super comfy beach sun loungers.
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah has a fabulous infinity pool that all of the family can enjoy. Also, tucked around to the righthand side of the resort, hidden amongst the palm trees, is an adult-only pool where you can really switch off and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Living in Dubai we are so lucky to have so many beautiful hotels and resorts right here on our doorstep. That’s why I am so thankful to have my Privilee Membership which allows me to make the most of all they have to offer!
Vacays and Sunny Days 