Anantara The Palm: A Luxury Family-Friendly Resort in Dubai
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Quick Snapshot
Destination: Dubai, UAE
Flight time from the UK: Approx. 7 hours
Transfer time: Around 40–45 minutes from Dubai International Airport
Best for ages: All ages, kids club from 4+
Holiday type: Relaxed luxury resort
Best thing: The calm, spacious feel and lagoon-style pools
Why We Chose This Holiday
We wanted a sunshine holiday that felt genuinely relaxing with children, not just somewhere that tolerated them. Dubai is an extremely family-friendly place, and the flight seemed manageable as a first long-haul flight for us.
Whilst there are so many things to do and see in Dubai, our main focus for the holiday was some relaxation and to have some family time together, the Anantara with its tropical vibes, certainly felt more holiday than some of the other resorts we considered.
Getting There: Flights & Transfers
The flight from the UK to Dubai is approx 7 hours. We took a day flight, but you can definitely do a night flight to Dubai if you prefer. The airport experience at Dubai is generally very smooth for families, and transfers were straightforward, which, with tired children, makes a big difference.
The Hotel & Rooms
Anantara The Palm has a Thai-inspired style, which is really calming and beautiful. The resort is easy to get around, and buggies are available to transport guests to restaurants, something we used most nights as the kids were tired.
We stayed in a one-bedroom apartment, which was great for our family, but it was in a darker part of the hotel (the annexe) and road-facing. Whilst the room itself was nice, our one criticism of the holiday was the location - there were definitely better locations of accommodation. If your children are old enough or you’re comfortable with being near the water, I’d recommend a lagoon bungalow, or if not, an apartment in the main building would most likely be a bit lighter.
Food & Dining With Kids
There were several food options, and we liked the variety it gave us (we opted for half board, so had breakfast and dinner included). As well as a large buffet, there were the following restaurant options;
The Beach House: Mediterranean cuisine
Bushmans: Australian steakhouse
Mekong: Asian cuisine
Service by the pool was at times slow, but it didn’t affect our enjoyment. The pool area itself is gorgeous and relaxing.
The buffet was vast with something for everyone, including breakfast. We loved that there was also a small café a la carte option for breakfast, which was perfect for mornings when we didn’t want to juggle the kids up and down for a buffet.
Kids Facilities & Pools
The lagoon-style pools are beautiful and spacious, ideal for children. There’s plenty of shade, shallow areas and safe spaces for little ones to play.
The kids’ club was fantastic, the girls loved their time there, and booking in was easy. Since Jemima was under four, we paid for a babysitter a few hours a day, which was worth it for a little parental downtime. The resort organised this for us, making life really easy.
Location & Getting Around
The resort is very easy to navigate, and buggies make it simple to get between rooms and restaurants. While it’s not a walking city break destination, everything you need is on site, including two mini supermarkets, so there was no need to go out of the resort for provisions.
Final Verdict
Anantara The Palm offers a calm, beautifully styled family holiday where the focus is on relaxation and ease. The Thai-style vibes, stunning pool areas, and range of dining options make it an excellent first long-haul trip with children.
If you want a holiday that balances luxury, child-friendly facilities, and practical comfort, this is a strong choice.