It’s now considered an old establishment. Something from Arabia’s days gone past, where a night here was worth your weight in gold… literally. 5-star in all senses, with almost 400 rooms available, we found out why Emirates Palace hotel is still the pinnacle of Abu Dhabi’s luxury offerings. 
What else do you do when you land in a luxury resort such as this one in the capital, just a stone’s throw from home, yet it feels so very far away. If you’re at all like me, you take a tour of the grounds and get to know the lay of the land, especially if you’re on the hunt for some well-lit photo opportunities. 
There are some seriously instagrammed dancing fountains on your arrival and a 75m-mosaicked ceiling that will test your selfie stick to the limits. Head through the reception into the foyer to experience the world’s most expensive cappuccino (not including the 54AED cuppa joe in the restaurant mind)– but one that’s dusted in 24carat gold, in the only spot where cameras are a no-go. 
The halls are as you’d expect in something so grandeur, warmly lit but shrouded in marble, concrete and corridors, there’s no windows to guide you as you make your way through their maze of rooms and restaurants. It’s a 1km walk from wing to wing, but if you choose to cycle around it, you can get in a lovely 6km ride. 
The rooms are something else though, spectacular setup’s with beach views and enormous terraces that add an opulent extension onto your already spacious suite. On arrival, a bespoke travel cake creation and macaroons awaited us, adding a lovely little personalized touch to the already warm welcome. 
Sayad restaurant was our dinner destination of choice for the first evening, featuring a beautiful 7 or 10-course seafood menu, created exclusively by their visiting Michelin starred chef. With Thai influences and Scandinavian designs, the food varied from frozen curried canapés to disappearing green candy floss accompaniments. For our last night, we chose to sit on the beach and enjoy a plethora of freshly grilled seafood and potted salads, something that was much more to my taste and dress code.
There’s a serious family-friendly vibe to the hotel, and yet its silent corridors and beaches make you feel comfortably alone. Yes it’s got camels on the beach and a mini Wild Wadi by the pool, but it’s also got a serious marina with some serious boats in it, including a Philip Stark designed pseudo-submarine called ‘A’ (parked here by a visiting Russian guest apparently – what a way to arrive!) 
Tips for staying at Emirates Palace:
– Get up early and go for a run around the grounds
– Count the different types of birds (seriously this is an ornithologists paradise)
– Check out which chef is visiting and book a table
