Inside the lobby of the Sofitel Dubai The Palm there is a vertical garden growing up the wall. It may be a small point, but the sight of it never fails to please. Maybe it is the unexpected greenery, or the instant-fresh aroma only natural vegetation can bring, or the tactile aesthetic bringing the outside in that does it. Regardless, it always seems to brighten the mood.
That wall is an aesthetical amuse-bouche for guest staying at the property on the outer frond of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah. Built to mimic a Polynesian palace (or potentially an entire village), the resort is an absolute roadmap into what an exotic, five-star holiday resort should be.
Multiple pools, cabanas, beach loungers, water slides, beach-side bars, a top-quality steak restaurant, a luxurious Spa, a huge kid’s club, an inflated floating obstacle course, and a watersports club—it is no surprise that a lot of the hotel’s guests feel no need to leave the property once they’ve checked-in.
“The main attention of the property centres around its outdoor labyrinth of swimming pools and green alcoves”
While the immaculate rooms offer their own private hideaway, the main attention of the property centres around its outdoor labyrinth of swimming pools and green alcoves—and, of course, its view back towards the Dubai shoreline and the Marina skyline in all its glory.
Such is the getaway feel that the property has managed to cultivate, the resort has become a popular location for local staycation-seekers and those with day-pass membership services like Privilee. Yes, the hotel plays very nicely into the hands of those looking for a family-friendly environment, but there is also an adults-only area should you need to take the activity level down a notch and bury yourself in a good book and some shuteye.
There’s a phrase that is so frequently uttered by staycationers that it has almost become a cliché: “It doesn’t feel like we’re in Dubai!” It’s a phrase that you’ll likely hear at the Sofitel Dubai The Palm more than most other properties—and as you look around from your private pool-side cabana, slurping on your freshly presented lemon ice-lolly and watching your kids zip in between the palm trees and greenery, it’s not hard to understand why.
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