Mr & Mrs Smith

Desert Palm

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Anyone familiar with Huvafen Fushi's attentive service and extensive facilities will know the drill: this Arabian sister property may be small but it's perfectly formed, with more spa therapies, activities and facilities than you could ever hope to try on one holiday. Watch polo on the terrace, sniff out bargains in Dubai's souks or get involved in some seriously hedonistic nightlife: just 15 minutes from the airport, Desert Palm is the perfect city-break stopover.

Need to know

• Rooms 38, including six pool villas, 13 pool residences and a two-bedroom villa.
• Rates Double rooms from $206.47 (AED758), excluding tax at 20 per cent.
  The price shown represents the lowest nightly rate for a double room available at this hotel over the next 21 days. Any price conversions from the hotel's local currency (AED758) have been conducted using today's exchange rates from xe.com.
• More details Rates include à la carte breakfast at Epicure.
• Facilities Tennis/squash courts, polo pitches, riding school, swimming pool, spa, sauna, steam room, shop, DVD library, free WiFi. In rooms, LCD TV/DVD, iPod, B+O stereo, minibar, coffee maker, Ren toiletries. Villas also have kitchens and pools.
• Poolside The outdoor infinity pool stretches along the terrace in front of Epicure restaurant, with designer sun loungers and views across the polo fields. Occasional distant traffic noise, depending on wind direction.
• Check-out 11am. Earliest check-in, 2pm. Later check-outs are subject to availability and, up to 6pm, incur a cost of 50 per cent of the room rate. After 6pm, you will be charged the full room rate.
• Children Welcome, although this is more of an adult getaway. Under-twos stay free in Palm Suites or Pool Villas. Over-twos accommodated in Pool Residences only; under-12s, AED 184; over-12s pay full rates. Child-minders/children's menus available.
• Also Over Christmas and New Year, there’s a minimum stay of five nights. Cooking and wine-tasting tutorials can be arranged on site.

Food and drink at Desert Palm

• Hotel restaurant Rare serves a meaty menu of rare-breed beef (Wagyu, Kobe) and game with a 500-bin wine list. Italianate Epicure café has Missoni-esque décor, a deli, bakery and patisserie; and afternoon tea is served on the Jewel lounge terrace.
• Dress code Designer casuals.
• Top table At Epicure, snag a window seat overlooking the terrace or sit up at one of the grazing counters for a quick coffee. Opt for a raised booth or a table by the wine room in Rare.
• Last orders Epicure, 7am–10.30pm; Jewel, 3pm–5.30pm; Rare, 7pm–11pm, plus noon–4pm on Fridays; Red bar pours its last champagne at 1am.
• Room service 24 hours; varied breakfast menu including healthy options (organic cereal with soya milk), plus room-service staples and delicacies such as Beluga caviar and oysters. They even have organic baby food.
• Hotel bar Red bar supplements Desert Palm’s extensive wine cellars with big-deal brandies, fine whisky and serious cocktails – there’s a full-size pool table too.

Desert Palm Al Awir Road, PO Box 103635, Dubai, Dubai, PO Box 119171