Beach - city - haven

One of our most popular hotels for a family beach holiday, One&Only Royal Mirage has a backdrop of skyscrapers, but is a lovely low rise sanctuary with Arabian design, among green lawns and flowers. The beachfront is a whole kilometre long, and there are sparkling swimming pools along with tennis, watersports and more…

There is so much to do at Royal Mirage, so many shops and so many restaurants (nine),  that you don’t need to leave…unless for some adrenalin fun at Aquaventure or to experience the highest building in the world.

One&Only Royal Mirage has three hotels – The Palace (231 rooms), The Arabian Court (172) and The Residence (48) – all with seaviews.

On my recent Dubai visit we called for lunch and hotel inspection. Here are a few of my snapshots…

Delicacies

One&Only Royal Mirage - relaxed lunch

Beachside and healthy

Nice company - Nicolas Messian, Hotel Manager Royal Mirage 

Arabian style amidst palms, lawns, pools and flowers - with a backdrop of glittering Dubai city

Beautiful white sandy beach with view over to The Palm island

Only in Dubai

Dubai is an exciting, glittering, sci-fi city. Best seen from over the water from the peaceful and luxurious One&Only The Palm.

This was the view from our plush room...

An oasis of calm on the celebrated man-made island, One&Only The Palm feels as if it has been here forever with its poise and certainty among an extravagant grove of palms. With the city and its attractions within easy reach, you can relax on the beach or by the pool and dine in pleasurable style at One&Only The Palm.

Gracious style

Spacious accommodations

Here are some of my snapshots taken on my visit 11-15 March...

Luxurious welcome with caviar and champagne

Moorthy Mudaliar Executive Assistant Manager welcomes us

Swan towels

Wonderful to get back together with our One&Only Mary Bishara, Director of  Sales and Communications

Fantastic dining - here with Åke and GM Vincent Smarella

Succulent Signature beef just melts in the mouth

Luxury transfers and service by our agent Gulf Ventures

One&Only Mary

Quality time in Stockholm with our wonderful Mary Bishara, the Director of Sales and Communications at One&Only The Palm. The venue was one of my best Stockholm tips, cosy Matbaren by Sweden’s celebrity chef Mathias Dahlgren.

At Matbaren with Mary together with Max and Neil
from Select Collection

Of course One&Only The Palm is also one of my hottest tips – one of my favourite properties world-wide. This is top luxury, nestled on one of the fronds of the astounding man-made Palm Island. Facing the glittering sci-fi landscapes of Dubai over the water, it is a serene hideaway with its own beach, beautiful architecture, quality all round and the ultimate in silken service.

I recommend it as a perfect, warm and pampering break from the cold weather of Northern Europe.

Far away from all our winter weather, One&Only The Palm

Relaxing by the pool.

Meanwhile, back to our pampering visit to Matbaren.

Matbaren (The Food Bar) is one of two restaurants by Matthias Dahlgren at The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm. Matbaren has one Michelin star, and Matsalen (The Dining Room) has two Michelin stars. Some of the evening's delights:

Herring - one of Mary's favourites

The cod was perfect

Apple and cloudberry crumble
with vanilla icecream 

Tonka icecream and cherry sorbet
 with buttermilk cream

Art and opulence - Dubai

Zabeel Saray took three years to build. The owner is Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, son of the Sultan who owns the “seven star” Burj al Arab. The 30 year old Crown Prince of Dubai has put  more gold into Zabeel Saray than his father put into the famed Burj al Arab…

First he just wanted to build the biggest spa in the Middle East; later it became a hotel as well.

Full of magnificence 

Inspired by the palaces of the Ottoman Empire, the opulent Jumeirah Zabeel Saray lies on the beach of the West crescent of Palm island, facing views of the new towering Dubai. All over you are blown away by art, hand painted details, fancy shops and so on. With 405 rooms/suites and 38 grand residences come 10 restaurants giving the tastes of France, Lebanon, Turkey, Vietnam and beyond.

Showing me round...

Katja Graf Director of Sales (right) and
Rachel Cadagat Sales Support Manager

Every fitting perfect

The ceilings are amazing...

Turning your head...

Here is one of the restaurants with hand paintings...

Eating to the theme of Michelangelo

Add to that trendy bars....

Very popular...

...very cool

Luxurious accommodations....

Generous standard rooms (40 SQM)

...with luxury bathrooms

And the spa, a vast 8000 sqm!

Equipment includes, 3 Turkish Hammams, 3 saunas (2 Russian and 1 Finnish), 2 steam rooms, 2 indoor salt water Thalassotherapy heated swimming pools, 2 relaxation lounges with Tepidy beds, 8 hydrotherapy rooms, 8 outdoor spa pavilions, gym, 42 treatment rooms 2 couples’ suites and -  if missing our weather in the North - a snow bath!

Spa reception

Doors into the spa

Relax areas in the spa

A beautiful smile from Guest Relations

Do come back...

Views, shopping, Arabia...

Ritz-Carlton is one of the first beach resorts in Dubai. It has a lovely location next to the Marina with its stunning boats; and there is also great shopping right next to the hotel. You get the best of both worlds: a beautiful low rise building situated among tall skyscrapers. And plenty of atmosphere...

Intimate and personal

A newly renovated wing will open any day, and I was the very first tour operator to have a site inspection…

Stylish and cosy - even the standard room

You can choose to have a view to the lovely bathroom:

Lovely, well-planned ...

Spacious!

View from the balcony

Living room, suite

Four poster bed, suite

Stunning jacuzzi in the bathrooms

The mosaics are beautiful

A very interesting hotel inspection - and I am impressed with where Ritz-Carlton is going.

Afterwards we had a fantastic evening with management - an Arabian buffet by the beach.

With Luca Guerra (left) Director of Sales and Marketing,
 Jay Strokov, Travel Industry Sales Manager and
Fredrik Gyllenhammar (right)

Great atmosphere

Arabic food with magnificent presentation

Dinner and 1001 Arabian nights...

Marvellous Arabian silverware and lamps

A lovely ambience... on the beach in shopper's haven, Dubai.