Dubai Insider

you don’t have to leave your furry
friend behind. Pampered pooches even
receive a welcome kit and can dine
from a menu of fetching doggy food
especially prepared by the hotel’s chefs.
Film buffs will be treated to a
hefty dose of Hollywood glamour
at the newly-opened Paramount
Hotel Dubai. Inspired by the rich
history of Paramount Pictures, the
cinematic style resort adds a dash
of silver-screen flair to the heart of
Dubai’s dynamic Business Bay district.
With Hollywood-themed rooms,
Californian inspired cuisine and nightly
entertainment, you’ll feel like a star
strutting along your own red carpet.
Meanwhile, Armani Hotel Dubai
is so cohesively Armani that staying
there is akin to being at one of Giorgio’s
stylish house parties –only in reality
you’re on the eighth floor of the
world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.
Fashion mavens will also gravitate
towards Palazzo Versace Dubai, which
brings a touch of 16 th -century palatial
decadence to the Culture Village
district on the banks of Dubai Creek.
A neoclassical-meets-Arabian styled
resort, the artistic direction of Donatella
Versace is evident throughout,
and captured perfectly in the twobedroom
duplex Imperial Suites.
If you feel like having an A-list
moment, you can follow in the footsteps
of supermodel Bella Hadid and Oscarwinning
actress Alicia Vikander by
heading to Bulgari Resort Dubai
– the fifth international property for
the design legend. With the added
attraction of its own private mini manmade
island location off the Jumeirah
coastline (Jumeira Bay Island), a
swanky line-up of high-end eateries,
and the world’s first Bulgari Marina and
Yacht Club, it has quickly become a
favourite among discerning travellers.
Dubai is synonymous with shopping
and those in need of some retail therapy
will want to stay as close as possible to
the action. Just around the corner from
The Dubai Mall (which is home to more
than 1,300 stores and family-friendly
dining and entertainment spots galore),
is the boutique Vida Downtown,
located on Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Boulevard. The property will lure
you in with its contemporary charm,
posh French dining at La Serre and the
delightfully kitsch Vida Food Truck.
Meanwhile, at Kempinski Hotel
Mall of the Emirates, you can join the
starry-eyed guests carrying designer
shopping bags from the adjoining
mall from which it takes its name.
You can stash your buys in your cosy
ski chalet style room as you watch
the adventure seekers zooming
down the slopes of Ski Dubai.
Directly linked to the ever-popular
Dubai Marina Mall (which boasts
hundreds of stores, including highstreet
favourites Mint Velvet and Maje),
Address Dubai Marina offers you the
chance to enjoy some quality shopping
on a more manageable scale. Be sure to
enjoy some post-spree rejuvenation at
the lavish spa and outdoor infinity pool.
A boutique stay with shopping
opportunities on the doorstep also
comes courtesy of the super stylish
La Ville Hotel & Suites CITY WALK,
Dubai, Autograph Collection.
Situated at the heart of City Walk, one
of Dubai’s most chi-chi urban lifestyle
destinations, this low-rise property is
a magnet for visiting fashionistas and
influencers alike. That said, the hotel’s
rooftop infinity pool with premium Burj
Khalifa views is worth the stay alone.
If you feel like decamping to a
sprawling resort, our favourites include
JA The Resort in Jebel Ali, which is a
firm favourite for a staycation among
Dubai’s long-timers, and it’s easy to
understand why. Home to JA Beach
Hotel, JA Palm Tree Court and the
recently added JA Lake View Hotel,
the resort is set within 128 acres and
offers a variety of room types, from
dedicated family hideaways to luxurious
suites. There’s never a dull moment
thanks to the 800-metre private beach,
four landscaped swimming pools,
over 16 restaurants and bars and an
impressive line-up of activities, giving
you plenty of opportunities to make
memories. Keen golfers can practise
their swing at the 9-hole par 35 course,
or brush up on their technique at the
on-site Leadbetter Golf Academy.
If you’re up for thrills and spills,
Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts,
Autograph Collection is just the
ticket. Situated within Dubai Parks
and Resorts’ borders, you can spend
your days splashing away at Legoland
Waterpark, taking your little ones on
a mini-adventure at Legoland Dubai,
or enjoying the rides and shows of
Motiongate Dubai and Bollywood
Parks Dubai. After a day on your feet,
the Polynesian-themed resort invites
you to lounge around its heated
pools, and soak up the laid-back
atmosphere at the rooftop lounge.
Drawing the region’s equestrian elite,
Meliã Desert Palm Dubai is a hidden
gem. Set in 160 acres of greenery
21 Hotels