One&Only Royal Mirage

 

The five-star One&Only Royal Mirage features three separate properties within one resort, and is set on a kilometre of beautiful sandy beach, opposite Dubai’s Palm Islands Bay, making it one of the city’s most prestigious resorts – and one of our favourites.

All guests can take advantage of the facilities at each three properties – The Palace, Arabian Court and Residence and Spa – which include numerous world-class restaurants, a great spa, watersports and children’s activities.

Rooms and suites: 231 at The Palace, 172 at Arabian Court, and 48, plus one villa, at Residence and Spa

Facilities and activities: three Pools, KidsOnly Club (four to 11 years), teens’ activities, babysitting, One&Only Spa, fitness centre, floodlit tennis, putting green, volleyball, basketball, sailing, kayaks, Hobie Cats, windsurfing, waterskiing, fishing

Transfer: 30 minutes by road from Dubai Airport

The Palace: This is the original hotel and calls to mind the grandeur of Old Arabia.

There are 231 sea-facing rooms and suites designed with rich furnishings and vivid colours, as well as elaborate gardens and calming courtyards, and a temperature-controlled swimming pool.

Tagine is one of the many restaurants at One&Only Royal Mirage, and serves delicious Moroccan fare.

Arabian Court: The symmetrical and stylish design of this hotel makes it feel like a sheltered oasis, featuring dramatic fountains and lush gardens.

There are 172 rooms and suites, most with interconnecting facilities for families or small groups. All have private balconies or terraces overlooking the renowned Palm Islands Bay.

Dine at Eauzone, voted Best Romantic Restaurant 2009 by Time Out, which situated on a wooden jetty by the stunning pool and serves Asian-European fusion cuisine. Afterwards, head to the stylish Rooftop bar for cocktails under the Arabian sky.

There is a pool, and fantastic treatments at the adjacent One&Only Spa, as well as a wide range of complimentary land and watersports on offer.

Residence and Spa: This has a more secluded, boutique feel, with just 49 Arabian-style private residences set among idyllic manicured gardens. A true oasis of calm.

The spa here is sublime, offering 12 treatment rooms plus a hammam, hair salon, fitness centre and Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez. It is open to all resort guests seeking high-class pampering.

Residences comprise one Garden Villa, 16 Suites and 32 Prestige Rooms. All are generously proportioned and feature plush furnishings and extensive private outdoor space. The exclusive Dining Room for the sole use of Residence and Spa guests is supremely refined.

Sporting facilities and other activities are shared with the rest of the resort, but this particular peaceful division boasts its own pool and secluded gardens.