If cookie-cutter hotels don’t cut it, try this polished pad styled after a Middle Eastern summer palace. Details are extraordinary, from the lobby’s Austrian-crystal chandeliers to mirror-polished inlaid-marble floors. Rooms sport arabesque flourishes, rich colours and cushy furnishings, while balconies overlook the waterways of Madinat Jumeirah. Top marks for the 2km-long private beach and one of the biggest pools in town.
Children can make new friends in Sindbad's Kids Club or whoosh down the slides at Wild Wadi Waterpark (admission included in room rates).