09/01/2026
~ Dubai ~
Dubai as a destination is fantastic!! Lively, exciting, clean and safe. Hospitality and service is excellent. So much to do. Whilst I’d love to come back and spend longer than 4 nights in my opinion it is more or a stopover than it is a single trip. The fact is it’s very expensive and for an average Australian family to travel to Dubai, for say, an 8 night holiday would be quite the cost!! However as a stopover on the way home from Europe it can be done in a way that doesn’t break the bank on checkout. Read on…
Stayed at: Sofitel the Palm, 4 nights
Room type: 1 bedroom club suite, half board
Beautiful 5 star resort, top of the Palm next to Atlantis Royal, views of Jumeirah, our room with full ocean view was to the other side - the Arabian Gulf. Many room types to choose from. 5 pools, 9 restaurants. Could not fault this property.
Taxi from the Palm to Dubai mall approx AUD35 and 25mins with good traffic
We wanted a resort break and feel so for us 4 nights on the Palm was worth it, if staying just 2/3 nights I’d stay in the city.
Bowl of chips by the pool $14, beer $26, yes $26!!
Definitely go for half board included. So that’s breakfast and lunch or dinner daily.
If you enjoy beverage or two make sure you have club access included. This gave us afternoon tea 2-4pm then drinks and canapés 5-7pm.
Avoid their summer that’ll be 45 degrees and humid.
Theres plenty of activities for kids (although a broken arm cancels out a lot)! So as a family destination it’s great!!!
Activities we did: Dubai mall, Dubai fountain, Dubai ice skating rink, Dubai Aquarium, Marina yacht cruise, The View Palm.
Things we wanted to do but no go with a broken arm: Desert 4WD dune dinner, VR world, water parks, theme parks.
Holiday done! We are ready and need to get home.
I’m back at work from Monday 12th Jan, looking forward to getting back into planning amazing adventures, call me ✈️✈️✈️
