Dubai Travel Guide

5 Star Marriott Resort, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – Personal Recommendation

We loved the private beach, beach club, pools, world-class dining and the exclusive M Club with complimentary drinks, snacks and panoramic Palm West Beach views.

The location is excellent for Atlantis Aquaventure and exploring the Palm.

5 Star Anantara Resort, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – Personal Recommendation

A true slice of paradise with Thai-inspired styling, a golden beach, excellent dining and brilliant family facilities. The Lagoon Access Rooms were the standout for us, opening directly onto the resort’s lagoon-style pool.

5 Star Hilton Resort, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – Personal Recommendation

A luxurious beachfront resort with skyline views, excellent dining, a fantastic breakfast buffet and a brilliant position directly on Palm West Beach.

5 Star Address Grand Creek Harbour, Dubai – Personal Recommendation

One of the most visually impressive hotels we have stayed in, with spectacular skyline views, an infinity pool, excellent kids and teen facilities and a beautiful Club Lounge.

Legoland Hotel, Theme Park & Waterpark, Dubai – Personal Recommendation

A dream for LEGO-loving families with themed bedrooms, huge play areas, a LEGO pool and direct access to LEGOLAND Theme Park and Water Park.

Centara Mirage Beach Resort, Dubai – Personal Recommendation

One of our easiest recommendations for younger families, with a lazy river, slides, splash areas, beach activities and plenty of entertainment without leaving the resort.

Sofitel Dubai The Palm

We’re a family of five — Rob, Sally, Jayden (18), Sophie (12) and Ethan (9) — so we look at a hotel through three very different ages. Having stayed at Sofitel Dubai The Palm, we would put it on the shortlist for a holiday centred around beach time, swimming and having plenty of dining choices within the resort.

For Ethan and Sophie: The hotel lists its Amura Kids Club for ages 4–12, with supervised creative activities and outdoor exploration. Ethan falls comfortably within that range, while Sophie is at the upper end; we would check the day’s programme for activities that suit her interests. The beach and resort pools give us options for spending time together, too.

For Jayden: At 18, the appeal is the wider resort experience: the beach, swimming and choosing somewhere different to eat with us. We would plan his time around those facilities rather than the younger children’s club.

Food and family space: Manava offers an international buffet, Porterhouse focuses on steaks and grills, and Maui provides beachside dining. The hotel also lists children’s menus across its restaurants. Its rooms, suites and apartments offer different ways to organise a family stay; for five of us, we would ask reservations to confirm the beds and permitted occupancy before choosing.

Location: The East Crescent setting suits a resort-focused Palm Jumeirah break. For days exploring JBR or Downtown, we would plan transport rather than expect those neighbourhoods on our doorstep.

Before booking: As checked in October 2026, the hotel’s official website says the Kids Club pool is closed. Check the latest position if this is a deciding factor for your family.

Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah

With Jayden at 18, Sophie at 12 and Ethan at 9, our idea of a family hotel needs to stretch beyond activities for small children. Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah is one of the places we have stayed, and the combination of apartment-style space and a beach resort setting is what makes it worth considering for a family of five.

Space for all five: The hotel lists two- and three-bedroom suites with separate living areas and kitchens. That gives a family like ours options for different bedtimes, a place to sit together and somewhere to prepare a snack. We would check the exact bed setup and occupancy with reservations rather than assume every suite suits the same family.

For Ethan and Sophie: Titan Tikes Kids Club is advertised for ages 3–12, with painting, crafts, games and films. Ethan is within the core age range; Sophie can fit the published age band, but at 12 we would look at the programme with her first. The resort also has a main pool, a shaded children’s pool and a private beach.

For Jayden: We would focus on beach and pool time, the gardens and the extra living space rather than younger children’s activities. Having a separate place to relax is a practical consideration when travelling with an adult son as well as younger children.

Food and location: Brunello brings Italian dining to the resort, while Villamoré offers a Mediterranean beachside setting. On the Palm’s West Crescent, this is a base we would consider for slower resort days, with transport planned for shopping or sightseeing elsewhere in Dubai.

Hilton Dubai The Walk

Hilton Dubai The Walk is another of our family stays, and its JBR location gives it a different appeal from a resort out on the Palm. For Rob, Sally, Jayden (18), Sophie (12) and Ethan (9), the useful combination is having restaurants and a lively promenade nearby while also being connected by a bridge to Hilton Dubai Jumeirah’s beachside resort.

For Ethan and Sophie: Hilton’s connected resort lists Kidz Paradise for ages 4–12, with supervised activities including games, painting, movies and dancing. Ethan is within that range and Sophie is at its upper end. We would check the current programme and access arrangements for guests staying at The Walk.

For Jayden: The connected resort advertises a games room with video and computer games for guests aged 13 and over. That makes it an age-appropriate option for Jayden, while Sophie, at 12, is below the published games-room age. It is a useful distinction for families with children at different stages.

Pool, beach and food: The Walk has an outdoor pool, with the beachside resort reached across the bridge. Hartisan serves buffet breakfast, and Hilton lists children’s menus and a range of dining across the connected properties, including Italian food at Villa Verona. The surrounding JBR area adds more choice when the five of us want different things.

Our family planning tip: We would consider this location when we want beach time and places to explore on foot in the same stay. For accommodation, ask about a residence or connecting-room arrangement that fits all five people, with confirmed beds and access to the facilities that matter to you.

Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach

Our stay at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach adds another JBR option to this guide. Looking at it as a family of five with Jayden (18), Sophie (12) and Ethan (9), we see the appeal in combining a hotel pool and sea views with The Walk and the public beach close by.

For Ethan: We would build a day around swimming, time on the sand and a family outing, with breaks back at the hotel. The sea-view Infini Pool is one of the hotel’s main leisure facilities. This feature focuses on those shared activities; we have not verified a supervised kids’ club here.

For Sophie and Jayden: JBR gives us options beyond organised children’s entertainment. The promenade, beachfront dining and places to browse make it possible to vary the day, while the pool offers a way for all five of us to spend time together. That is the appeal we would highlight for families travelling with older children.

Food: The hotel lists A.O.C. International Buffet, Plantation Brasserie and the Infini Pool Lounge. A buffet can be a practical option when everyone wants something different, while the surrounding neighbourhood adds more restaurants within walking reach.

Rooms and location: The hotel offers rooms with balconies and two-bedroom family room and suite categories. We would confirm which layout accommodates all five of us before booking. The beach here is public, so it is useful to distinguish that setting from a resort with its own private stretch of sand.

Our take: We would shortlist this for a mix of pool time, beach visits and exploring JBR together, with the neighbourhood forming part of the holiday experience.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront is one of our recent stays, and it brings a city option to our family guide. With Jayden (18), Sophie (12) and Ethan (9), we would look at its Business Bay location as a base for combining Dubai outings with time back at the hotel.

For Ethan and Sophie: The outdoor pool gives us a swimming option between activities. For this hotel, we would plan entertainment around a mix of pool time and outings rather than rely on a supervised kids’ club, which we have not verified. Dubai Mall and the surrounding Downtown attractions are ideas to work into the itinerary, with transport planned.

For Jayden: The city setting, Dubai Canal and skyline views offer a different side of Dubai from a beach resort. It is an option we would consider when the family wants sightseeing and dining to be a bigger part of the trip.

Food from our stay: We dined at Makar and FireLake. Makar brings a Scottish theme, while FireLake focuses on open-flame cooking. The hotel also lists buffet breakfast at The Larder and café options at Abraj, giving guests several ways to organise meals around a day out.

Family practicalities: Rooms and suites come in different layouts, and some categories have balconies and Downtown views. For our party of five, we would ask the hotel to confirm suitable accommodation and the exact sleeping arrangements. A city location also means planning trips to the beach separately.

Our take: We would consider this for a Dubai stay built around exploring, eating out and enjoying the waterfront setting, with a pool available for downtime.