This is the trip that started everything.
We took Riley (8) and Reggie (5) to Atlantis The Palm. Ten nights. And we fell in love with Dubai so much that two years later, we moved here.
Here's everything we learned.
Why We Chose Dubai
Honestly? I had misconceptions about the Middle East as a holiday destination.
What changed my mind:
- Friends with young families had been and raved about it
- Everyone said it was one of the safest places to travel with kids
- The facilities looked incredible
As soon as we landed, we felt it. The staff saw we had two young kids arriving at midnight and opened a fast-track lane through security.
"Ever since arriving, everyone has been so awesome with the kids. It's in the nature and culture – they really look after families."
Airport to Hotel
Dubai has Uber, but we used the taxi rank.
Why? Cheaper and just as easy.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Cost | ~75 AED (~£15) |
| Time | ~30 minutes |
| Payment | Card accepted |
Exchange rate tip: AED to GBP is roughly 5:1 – makes mental maths easy.
Drivers were super polite. Cases straight in. No stress.
Arriving at Atlantis
First impression pulling up: "Wow."
Cases out immediately. Bellhops took everything. We went to check-in while bags were delivered to the room.
Check-In
Took longer than expected – everyone arriving at similar times. We were tired, the boys were sleepy, and we'd just stepped out of the airport into Dubai humidity while wearing travel clothes.
Tip: Budget extra patience for check-in if arriving late evening.
Tipping
It's a tipping culture. Not required, but appreciated.
First trip: Had dirhams ready, bellhops were grateful.
Second trip: Apologised for having no cash – they were completely understanding. Testament to the culture.
The Room
Even the standard rooms are incredible.
What we had:
- East Tower
- Huge wardrobes
- Massive bathroom with walk-in shower
- Separate toilet within bathroom
- Free-standing bath with sliding doors (view while bathing)
- Two beds (boys shared, we had ours)
- Balcony overlooking the aquarium
The Aquarium View
The aquarium in the lobby is phenomenal. But from our room, we could look down into it from above – open-topped.
Watching sharks and stingrays from your balcony. Beautifully lit at night. The kids (and us) were mesmerised.
Our Package: What It Cost
Booked through British Airways as a flight + hotel package.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Package | Full Board Extraordinary Atlantis Experience |
| Duration | 10 nights |
| Guests | 2 adults, 2 children |
| Total Cost | £7,038 |
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Soft drinks and water (at mealtimes)
- Some water sports (kayaks before 11am)
- Waterpark access
What's NOT Included
Alcohol.
Full board ≠ all-inclusive. I learned this the hard way.
The "Hotel Extras" Confusion
British Airways listed "£500 worth of extras." We assumed it was credit to spend on experiences.
Reality: It's just the value they've assigned to what's already included. Not actual credit. We wasted 30 minutes at guest services figuring that out.
Dining: The Restaurants
The restaurants at Atlantis aren't just hotel restaurants – they're destination restaurants. Non-guests book specifically to eat there. That's why the quality is so high.
Breakfast
Kaleidoscope – Main buffet restaurant. Busy.
Seafire Steakhouse – Quieter option we discovered on day two. Buffet plus fresh-cooked items (pancakes, omelettes, eggs benedict). Much more relaxed.
"First morning we queued for Kaleidoscope. A staff member said 'to save you the queue, there's another place called Seafire.' Game changer."
Lunch
Mainly ate at The Edge or The Shore by the Royal Pool.
You can order food to your sunbed (buzzer system), but that's not included in full board. We ate at the restaurant tables.
The food? Main-meal quality for lunch. Tacos, fajitas, pizzas. Phenomenal.
Dinner
Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen – Great vibe. First time Reggie tried chicken wings. He loves them now.
Ronda Locatelli – Italian. Amazing waitress. Riley had a crush.
Seafire Steakhouse – We went twice. Best steak I've ever had. Live music, live singer. Manager spoke to every guest personally – not rushed, genuine attention.
"They figured out that if you make the kids happy, the parents are automatically happy. They nailed it."
Kaleidoscope – The buffet. I expected mediocre. It was exceptional. Every station had dedicated chefs. Sushi, Indian, Chinese, Italian, roast dinners. Riley had a full roast.
Supplements
Some restaurants have supplements even with full board. Seafire was one. Worth every dirham.
Sara's Top Tips
- Download the Atlantis app – Use it to book restaurants
- Book restaurants before you arrive – Especially for peak times
- Ask for modifications – They're incredibly accommodating
- Use taxi rank over Uber – Cheaper, just as good
- Try Seafire for breakfast – Skip the Kaleidoscope queue
- Budget for tips – Small dirhams appreciated
For Kids
There's a Kids Club we didn't know existed until we arrived. Wish we'd known earlier.
The culture of looking after families runs through everything:
- Fast-tracked through security on arrival
- Kids menus everywhere
- Staff engaging directly with children
- Activities designed for families
What This Trip Started
We went back in February, just the two of us. Then for four weeks in July with the boys. Then we decided to move.
This Atlantis trip was the beginning of everything.
"We kind of fell in love with Dubai. We really have."
Quick Reference
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Total cost (10 nights, family of 4) | £7,038 |
| Airport to hotel taxi | ~£15 (75 AED) |
| Package type | Full Board (not all-inclusive) |
| Best breakfast spot | Seafire Steakhouse |
| Best dinner | Seafire Steakhouse |
| Exchange rate | ~5 AED = £1 |
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If you're considering Atlantis with kids – do it. The service, the facilities, the food... it's why we ended up moving here. 🏝️