Day 2 Tuesday 19th of March Dubai
After landing at Dubai International the plane had a long taxi to get onto its stand. Once off the plane we started our long walk to Immigration. After a short wait of no more than 5 minutes we were through with our passports stamped and the very minimum of fuss.
We collected our cases and walked into the customs hall with quite a bit of trepidation. The horror stories, in our case at least, were all misplaced and we passed the one visible officer and went landside to look for our taxi. We met our ride just outside the customs hall and followed him as we wound our way through the airport. After crossing several roads our driver ducked into a small glass cubicle to pay his parking fee.
Our taxi was a small minibus. The cases and hand baggage just about fitted into the back and we set off for our hotel. He told us that the journey would be upwards of 45 minutes depending on traffic.
To the Anantara Hotel on The Palm
Once out of the airport we joined a four lane highway. This became eight lanes wide with service roads that ran alongside the tower blocks and the shops. Over highway were bridges that were automatic toll booths.
To our left and right were tall buildings. On our left ran an overground Metro with many stations. Each station gave us an indication of where we were on our way to The Palm.
After the financial district we passed by the Burj Khalifa on our left.
On The Palm
The taxi turned off the highway following signs for The Palm. At the side of this road we watched as we passed expensive houses (mansions?) Then we descended into a tunnel and emerged in front of the Atlantis Hotel.
The nearer we came to the hotel did we realise just how big the hotel was. After passing the Atlantis we came to the station at the end of the Palm’s Metro. Alongside the promenade were literally hundreds of tourists taking pictures or selfies. The road was being repaired and our taxi joined a long queue past the Atlantis.
At first I was confused by the road signs on the roundabouts. These were two arrows, one pointing left and one right. We were now on the East Road and we went past more hotels, apartment blocks and then another large construction site. When finished this was going to be residences, a hotel, more shops and a marina.
Our taxi turn into the main reception of our hotel. We were stopped by a security guard who wanted our names. He checked on his phone and we were redirected to an earlier un-marked entrance that we had already passed. This was the North entrance.
We left our suitcases with the concierge went to check-in. Our room was not yet ready and we were asked to return in a few hours. This was not unexpected and we had packed swimming costumes in our hand baggage. After changing we went looking for the swimming pools.
Poolside
Outside of the tall hotel building that we were in, were a series of connected houses that fronted onto a large lagoon. The paths that wound behind these houses had either more hotel restaurants or more houses.
Walking round the hotel grounds we were passed by electric Tuk-tuks making deliveries all around the hotel complex. The members of staff we met if not walking or in the tuc-tucs were on bikes. We were offered a lift on the extended golf cart that could be called to ferry guests to the restaurants, the pools or even back to the hotel buildings.
It took us nearly 10 minutes of walking to reach the pool area. To our right was the hotel’s private beach and to our left more restaurants and in between there was a series of linked pools.
We collected towels and settled down with our books to wait for our room to be ready. The extra complication for us was that we needed to be checked in to be able to have lunch or even to have a drink.
Time for a sleep
We walked back to reception and checked in after a couple of hours in the sun. Our room looked over the lagoon pools and away in the distance I could make make out the tall buildings on the shore opposite the Palm. After unpacking just enough clothes for the next few days in Dubai we had a short nap.
Back at the pool we met our family members who had flown in from Birmingham. At the side of the pool was a handful of high tables and bar stools and we went there for a light lunch. I had a cheeseburger and a beer. The cost was rather prohibitive but we decided that it was worth it after all the travelling!
My lack of sleep was catching up with me and we went back to our room for another nap.
Bushmans restaurant
The hotel had a number of restaurants and we booked our evening meal at the Australian themed one – the Bushmans. Our friends were already at the bar when we arrived. The draft beer was served in tall glasses that seem to defy gravity by not falling over when you picked them up. In front of us was a singer with a guitar player who was multi-tracking his songs. The music was rather loud especially as the speakers were only a couple of metres away from us.
Once a table was ready we moved into the restaurant proper. But this was only a short respite as through the open doorway our conversations were still dominated by the music.
I ordered a plate of oysters followed by a steak accompanied by a bottle of Malbec for both of us. This was the point that we realised just how expensive this hotel was. Our wine was over £50 for the bottle. The meal was delicious and we tried to put the costs out of our minds!
Night time views from our room
