Two nights in Dubai, then a week in Baa Atoll
Break the flight with two nights on the beach in old Jumeira, then seven nights on a barefoot island in Baa Atoll with a large kids club and a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the doorstep. Good for families.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
The long-standing family favourite on Jumeirah beach, with five pools, a kids club and beachfront villas for bigger groups.
Why we love it
Jumeirah Beach Hotel opened in 1997 and is still the Dubai hotel we reach for first when a family asks for easy. It is 25 minutes from the airport, the beach is right there, and five pools mean nobody has to fight for a sunlounger. The Burj Al Arab sits just along the shore.
The accommodation range is the reason it works for families. There are ocean family rooms, two-bedroom rooms and suites, a family garden suite, and the Al Bahar beachfront villas with up to three bedrooms. Grandparents, parents and children can all be under one roof with their own space.
It is a big hotel, with close to 600 rooms and suites, and it feels like one at breakfast in the school holidays. Several of its restaurants are temporarily closed at the time of writing, so we check what is open before we book. Couples after quiet should look elsewhere.
Rooms and villas
Ocean Deluxe
The standard sea-facing room, with the Gulf out of the window. Ocean Deluxe Balcony rooms add outdoor space.
Ocean Family Deluxe
A sea-facing room laid out for a family, and the simplest way to keep two adults and young children together.
Family Garden Suite
A suite with a separate living room and a terrace on the garden side, for families who want room to spread out.
Ocean Club
Club-level rooms with access to the J Club lounge, in one- and two-bedroom versions.
Al Bahar Villa
One of 19 beachfront villas, with one, two or three bedrooms. Our pick for multi-generational trips.
Dining
Seven restaurants and bars are listed across the hotel, from D&A (Dhow and Anchor) and the Pearl Lounge to Creations, the Cakery, Fika and the pool bar. Nuska Beach, Kitchen Connection and Floor 24 are temporarily closed, so we confirm what is open for your dates.
Wellness
Talise Spa covers the treatment side, with tailored health and wellness experiences for when the children are at the kids club.
Children and families
Families are at the heart of this hotel. Jumeirah Circle is the kids club, there is also The Family Club, and the room list includes ocean family rooms, two-bedroom rooms and suites, and beachfront villas.
The facts
| Rooms and suites | 599 rooms and suites, plus 19 beachfront villas |
|---|---|
| From the airport | About 25 minutes by road from Dubai International (27.4km) |
| Pools | Five |
| Restaurants | Seven, some temporarily closed |
| Spa | Talise Spa |
| Kids club | Jumeirah Circle |
| Opened | 1997 |
Where it is
Umm Suqeim 3, Jumeirah, Dubai
Nearby
A few of the things we plan for guests in Dubai.
Old Dubai by abra and on foot
Start in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, a knot of wind-towered coral-stone houses, small museums and cafés on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek. Then cross by abra, the wooden water taxis, to the spice and gold souks of Deira. Go in the late afternoon, when the souks wake up after the midday lull. A local guide earns their fee at the food stops.
A quiet night in the desert reserve
The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, under an hour inland, protects red dunes where Arabian oryx and gazelle graze in the open. Staying inside it is nothing like the convoy dune drives sold in town: a camel walk at dawn, falconry at dusk and a very dark sky. One night is enough, between October and April.
Kayaking and hiking at Hatta
Hatta sits in the Hajar Mountains near the Omani border, about an hour and a half by road. You can kayak on the turquoise reservoir at Hatta Dam, walk or cycle the marked trails, and see how mountain families lived in the heritage village. Leave early and take plenty of water.
Journeys in Dubai
Ask about Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.