The Atlantis Hotel is the focal point of Dubai‘s giant cluster of man-made isthmuses that jut out into the Persian Gulf. Even if you can’t afford to stay at this spectacular hotel, you can still go see what the decadent expat lifestyle feels like for the day by swimming with dolphins in Dolphin Bay or splashing about in the rivers, slides, and pools of Dubai‘s largest water park: Aquaventure. If that doesn’t float your boat (sorry), there’s Atlantis’s dive center, in which you can go diving in a nearly 3 million–gallon tank. You’ll literally be swimming with the sharks (and stingrays) this time. In Atlantis, don’t be surprised to find yourself feeding the rays next to a celebrity—this is one of the places they stay in Dubai.
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Human Fish Tank
The Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeriah not only hosts the hottest beach party in Dubai, but the most insane snorkeling as well – in their 11.5 million liter fish tank, the largest open air aquarium in the Middle East. The 10 meter deep crystal cistern guarantees you’ll snorkel with guitar sharks, Napoleon Wrasses, manta rays and thousands of other marine animals indigenous to the Gulf. And if you ever wondered what happened to the Lost City of Atlantis, it’s there, in the tank. Nearby Wild Wadi is an Arabian themed water park, with culturally appropriated thrill rides like the Jumeirah Sceirah (a 120 foot slide at 80 km/h), the Burj Surj (an aquatic snake run & bowl shoot) and Juha’s Journey (a 360 meter long lazy river).
Underwater Suite in Dubai
What’s not to like about sleeping with a view of a tropical lagoon -- on my someday wish list...
A Wonderful Stay in Atlantis
Without a doubt, one of the most luxurious hotels my wife and I have ever had the pleasure of staying in. A stunning location, Atlantis sits on the famous manmade palm-shaped archipelago overlooking the Persian Gulf and Dubai. It’s huge, and has everything that you need on site, from an aquarium and a kids’ club to a shopping mall and more restaurants than you can count. The architecture is astounding. It looks like the entry to Atlantis, so you really feel like you’re off on an adventure. If you’re not a party-goer, then I’d recommend staying ocean-side, as it seemed to be a lot quieter on a night time, without the noise of the beach bar. Check-in is a bit of an endeavour, especially if you’ve been travelling a long time, but once you’re in, it’s great. There’s so much to do that you could probably spend the week just in the hotel and never have to leave. We swam with dolphins, and visited the aquarium in the hotel, but we also watched the Fountain show, went up the Burj Khalifa and travelled into the desert on a wildlife tour. All in all, a great holiday!
Should You Visit The Palm Jumeirah
The Palm Jumeirah is a series of man made islands that when seen from the sky look like a giant palm tree. The massive building project was started in 2001, and is still on going. Presently there are many house and neighborhoods, as well as several hotels and a water park. There is a monorail that cuts through the center of the palm that will take you all the way from the city to the far end where many of the attractions can be found. At this point from a tourist perspective the palm doesn’t have much to offer, unless you’re staying at one of the hotels actually on the palms. For the most part the hotels are fairly closed off to tourists and you will not have access to any of the beaches or gardens unless you’re a guest. You do have access to the stores in the hotels, and in the Atlantis hotel there is an aquarium. The main attraction for tourists on the palm is the Aquaventure Water Park. It’s located next to the Atlantis hotel, and offers many fun water slides and fun areas for the whole family. As all things in Dubai the price of the water park can vary depending on the exspirences you want to have, starting price is around 250 AED, and can go up into the thousands for added features. While there may be a great future for the Palm Jumeirah, including a mall located right in the middle, right now there’s not really much to do unless you’re a guest at one of the many hotels.