Ah, Dubai. Fashionable, forward thinking, and luxury on every corner. Yet is undoubtedly a destination that divides opinion.

When people ask me for my recommendations of somewhere new to go and I respond with Dubai, I find people either tilt their head at me, half grimace and say ‘Hmmm, isn’t it a concrete jungle?’ or, their eyes wide with interest.

Whilst I can’t deny that in places it actually is a concrete jungle. It is simply the best concrete jungle ever. I had slight reservations about going and feeling like I was stuck in the middle of a claustrophobic city with lights and cranes everywhere, but having done endless hotel research, there are ways to avoid this feeling! Pick your hotel wisely and it can make all the difference.

We chose the iconic Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa for several reasons. Firstly because I’d seen it consistently gracing the papers of many newspapers as a throng of celebs visited each week and secondly because it was actually one of the original hotels in Dubai.

Being one of the ‘original’ greats meant that it didn’t seem like a giant sky scraper at all. Instead it sat modestly with the main building being a mere 10 stories high (a dwarf in Dubai building standards). With it’s lush green gardens, you’d be forgiven for forgetting you were in the desert.

After a lot of toying over prices and with a warning from friends about the prices of food and drink, we decided to opt for a Half Board package. Best decision ever. As someone who is almost repulsed by the idea of queuing up for the buffet in the same restaurant night after night, I felt a little bit hesitant, but the Half Board package at this hotel is simply amazing. We were given a card detailing which restaurants were available for Half Board guests (virtually all of them). Including restaurants at the sister hotel, Grosvenor House. The hotel even operates a shuttle service between the two and it is well worth visiting.

The service here is exceptional. We arrived very early in the morning to find our room wasn’t ready, but we were treated to coffee and pastries in ‘Al Murjan’ and full use of the spa facilities whilst we waited.

The pool areas are great with fresh towels and complimentary ice slush drinks on hand. You don’t even need to lift a finger. This was one of the few hotels we’ve encountered which doesn’t add on an additional service charge for room service either. So you can enjoy a vast array of food in your room at no extra charge!

Whilst I could talk about Le Royal Meridien all day, it would be foolish not to mention some of the things to do. Dubai is literally a place which has the very, very best of everything. Nothing is substandard here. We found ourselves literally going from hotel to hotel as there are no standalone bars or clubs here. Everything is within one of the hotels, so it was a great opportunity to be as nosey as possible.

Located at the end of the Jumeirah Beach hotel walkway, this bar is one place you need to ensure you visit for a drink whilst in Dubai. If the stroll from the hotel to the end of the spit the bar sits on seems like too much of a trek, they’ll even bring you a golf buggy!

This is undoutedly the best place to soak up views of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel. You’re so close to it you can practically see into the windows!

Plenty of opportunities for a good panoramic shot here. On my next trip I’m planning on a sunset visit!

Buddha Bar has such a good following and it’s easy to see why. A visit here wouldn’t be complete without taking in the entrance of the Grosvenor House hotel where the bar is located. Plenty of opportunities for some snaps of some seriously flashy sports cars here!

The buzz and atmosphere here is amazing. Don’t miss it! You can head here for drinks or dinner and enjoy the chill-out sounds.

Now for something more traditional. The Madinat is the perfect mix of old meets new. A resort in itself with a two luxury hotels, a whole host of restaurants and the chance to wander along the creek. Not to mention the Madinat Souk where you can shop for some arabian souvenirs.

Perfect for an evening stroll and a few drinks if you want to mix it up from moving from luxury hotel to luxury hotel!

A total icon. The Atlantis dominates the end of the Palm in a way that makes it seems like it’s guarding the city. It also looks to me like a far away palace which you dream of getting a closer look at.

Luckily, no dreaming is necessary! You don’t need to be a hotel guest to get a closer look. We visited the water park attached to the hotel and got day tickets, which also gave us access to the Lost Chambers aquarium.

You could easily spend a week here and not experience everything. This resort is literally huge. Almost like a theme park in itself with an endless mix of restaurants and entertainment.

The Royal Bridge Suite in the hotel which overlooks the city and spans the very top of the Royal Towers starts from a whopping £20,000 a night.

If the constant luxury dripping from hotel to hotel and mall to mall all gets too much (could it ever get too much?) there is some resbite. Don’t miss the glimpse of old Dubai at Deira Creek. Here you can take an abra water taxi for as little as 20p with the locals.

Take a stroll amongst the gold and spice souks for the chance to soak up some arabian culture. Just practice your firm ‘NO’ before you go, so that you can avoid the shop keepers and market traders trying to sell you every souvenir under the sun!

Two greats. Surely, there is no need to visit two malls whilst in Dubai, they must both be the same? Wrong.

Sure, the shops are the same. But both house iconic tourist attractions which means you can’t get away with visiting just one!

There are areas of these malls (particularly in the Dubai Mall, the larger of the two) which you’ll never see as it is just impossible to physically walk around it all in a day.

Mall of the Emirates houses Ski Dubai. An opportunity to ski in the desert heat is frankly, surreal but has become a well known tourist attraction.

The Dubai Mall has over 1200 shops. Insane! Highlights here include the huge Dubai Aquarium and iconic water fountain display.

And last (but definitely not least). The tallest building in the whole entire world. Wow. Expect major ear popping as you head up to the 148th floor where all other sky scrapers look like ants.

If you can, book online in advance before you go and try and get the sunset slot. Then you have the best of both worlds.

And finally, what trip to Dubai would be complete without a trip to the desert? We went on a dune buggy safari on the early hours of our last day, only to wake up for our 7 am pick up time and find it to be pouring with rain. Undeterred we went ahead with the trip anyway – let’s just say standing in the desert in the middle of a monsoon shower is quite the surreal experience!

We’re hoping to head back to Dubai as a stopover on our honeymoon next year and I can’t wait to go back and see what’s changed, because let’s face it – Dubai is the one place where nothing ever gets old!

Sophie x