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When was the last time you took a proper holiday?
For me it had been a while. I obviously travel a lot but most of my trips in the last year or so have involved city breaks, winter destinations or just generally moving around a lot. My legs hadn’t seen the sun in quite some time and were looking pasty white. I was longing for some sunshine, a lounger and some relaxation time!
Well this month I finally got the Vitamin D I needed when Low Cost Holidays flew me out to Dubai to stay at Rixos the Palm – a luxury hotel on The Palm in Dubai.
But wait a minute? Don’t Low Cost Holidays just do budget hotels?
Not at all! Low Cost Holidays offer mid-range and luxury hotel options, just at great prices. Rixos the Palm is a 5-star resort with all the facilities you’d expect from a top quality hotel, but is easy on the budget for those who are looking for something a bit more affordable.
My best friend Elle came along with me to spend 4 nights soaking up the sun and experiencing all the attractions Dubai has to offer. As well as visiting Wild Wadi Water Park, experiencing my first ever Iftar (breaking of the fast) for Ramadan and venturing out into the desert on safari, I also spent some time just chilling and appreciating the hotel itself.
Here’s what I thought of Rixos the Palm Dubai:
The Room
Our room at Rixos the Palm had a stunning ocean view. As soon as we walked into the room I headed straight out onto the balcony to take some pictures of the skyline!
The room was open-plan and very spacious, with wooden shutters that can be closed to block off the bathroom if you need some privacy. I particularly liked having the little lounge area with sofas and floor lamp, which made the room feel even more spacious. In the evenings the maid would leave little treats like Baklava, chocolates and fruit for us to enjoy – a nice touch that makes things feel that bit more special.
Other features included satellite TV, air conditioning mini bar, dressing gowns, slippers and wireless Internet in the room (which seemed to be pretty fast). The bathroom had a powerful shower and a large standalone bathtub, as well as Bvlgari toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.
There were a few little things that could be improved, for example the hairdryer was one of those hairdryers that’s attached to the wall and not very powerful, so my hair took a long time to dry. We also found the bed itself a bit hard and couldn’t quite understand which switches turned off which lights, but this happens a lot in hotel rooms! We would also have liked more wardrobe space and drawers to put our clothes in, because as two girls travelling together, we had quite a lot of luggage.
However all in all the room was well-appointed, modern, clean and had a luxurious feel to it. I enjoyed my stay here immensely and it was always nice place to come back to.
Breakfast
We stayed at Rixos the Palm on a breakfast only basis but they also offer Half Board and an All Inclusive option, which I would say is worth it if you plan to relax in the hotel and not venture out too much.
The breakfast buffet was extensive, with lots of choices including salads, cheeses, omelette station, fruit, yoghurts and traditional English breakfast items such as bacon, sausages and eggs. There were also Turkish items like Borek, Menemen, hummus and olives. Everything was really tasty and I always love buffets.
At dinner time you can also dine in the buffet restaurant or you can book in one of their a la carte restaurants. We tried to book the Italian restaurant – L’Olivo Ristorante – but it was fully booked, so I’d recommend booking in advance when you arrive to avoid disappointment. There’s another restaurant called Salt, which serves seafood from the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, but this restaurant is closed in the summer months and re-opens again in the winter.
The Pool & Beach
With temperatures soaring above 40 degrees, it was hot, hot, hot! There are two swimming pools at the hotel – a larger infinity pool which is great for kids and then a smaller, quieter long pool for doing lengths. The quieter pool is quite cool because the rooms next to it have ladders that actually lead straight into the water! The grounds are really lush and there are a mixture of both loungers and large cabana-style double beds offering a bit of shade from the heat. The only thing I would say is hotel guests tend to go down very early in the morning to put their towels down by the pool, so I suggest you do the same! By 10am or 11am the loungers were all taken, but if there are none left, a member of staff will usually find you a lounger from the beach.
For a man-made beach I was really really surprised at how lovely it was. The water was calm and shallow – great for families – and the beach had sun loungers as well as some big cabanas too. There’s waiter service so you can order both drinks and food, plus there’s a coconut stand if you want some instant hydration!
Location
Rixos the Palm is located on the Palm Jumeirah – an artifical archipelago shaped like a Palm. The Palm has lots of hotels on it but Rixos the Palm is at the very end of it. This does mean it takes a bit longer to get anywhere in a taxi (the Palm is huge and has lots of road humps) but on the other hand, it offers a quiet, more relaxing location with a great beach. Best of all, it has brilliant views across the water of the Dubai Skyline. There were always taxis outside the front of the hotel and it took about 35 minutes to get to places like Wild Wadi Water Park and the Burj Al Arab. Being on The Palm, you’re quite close to Atlantis the Palm, where you can visit The Lost Chambers Aquarium or dine in their underwater restaurant, swim with dolphins or get wet and wild in the hotel’s water park.
Verdict
I really rated this hotel, so much so that I’m going to recommend it to my parents next time they book a holiday. The beach was lovely, the rooms were nice and best of all it’s an affordable but luxurious option. For example, I just did a quick search at prices in July using the Low Cost Holidays website and 4 nights Bed & Breakfast in a Deluxe Room showed a rate of £131.92 per night. That’s £527.69 total or £263.84 per person for all 4 nights.
Obviously prices will vary according to the days you wish to travel and the time of year, but that’s definitely a good right for this standard of hotel.
If you’re looking for a cheap holiday this summer, visit the Low Cost Holidays website.
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Source: pommietravels.com