Day 2 (2025) Fairmont the Palm Dubai

3.10.2025

Highlight of the Day:

• Hotel Fairmont the Palm

We arrive at sunrise in Dubai. The night was short - as expected. I use the next restroom on the way to the luggage carousel to put on shorts and pack the sweatshirt. I won't need it from now on.

We feel like we've walked through the entire airport once, and our luggage is already waiting for us at the carousel. After quickly completing immigration, we head to Starbucks. I need a coffee before we pick up the rental car.

After a coffee, we walk from the airport terminal into the parking garage of Terminal 3 and already get a small impression of the heat that awaits us.

Like last year, I reserved a rental car with Europcar of the same category. While everything went smoothly last year, the gentleman at the desk now claims that I indicated 'Terminal 1' as the pick-up location. I’m quite sure I didn't specify anything except for the flight number, but I can't prove it. We are told that the car from Terminal 1 can be brought over shortly - no problem.

Okay, so we wait. That 'shortly' turns into almost an hour of waiting. My husband is already getting frustrated, and I am now convinced that Europcar messed up my reservation somehow. This is confirmed when my booked car from Terminal 1 is brought. I had booked a 'mid-size' Hyundai Elantra or similar (exactly the same offer as last year, as we also got the Hyundai Elantra then).

We are handed the car key to a 4x4 Hyundai SUV 'Creta'. Hmm... okay. I won't complain. It is definitely an 'upgrade' 🤪

Since I booked the car and paid with my credit card, I am automatically the main driver. My husband is too stingy to pay a lot for a second driver, so I get to drive again. Driving in Dubai! Yippee - I was so looking forward to this (sarcasm mode on!) 🙈

We leave the airport area (this time without getting lost - yes, my husband says it's due to his perfect navigation) - so here we go....

However, this time we don't head directly to family in Abu Dhabi but instead indulge in the luxury of a hotel night on the Palm. On Black Friday, I scored two hotel deals - one at the beginning and one at the end of our vacation.

Driving in the early morning is relaxing since there isn’t much traffic yet. I can manage to drive the 16 (!!!) lane city highway onto the Palm without breaking a sweat!

Next Stop: Hotel Fairmont the Palm 😍

As hotel guests, we can of course park here for free. Our SUV is parked by an employee, and we walk to the reception. Our room is (of course) not available yet (it's 9:30), but we can 'park' our luggage and use all the amenities of the hotel already. Great! Pool Time!

We can change in the fitness area, and then we chill in the shade by the large pool. Despite the hotel being quite a few years old, everything is sparkling clean, tidy, and well-kept, and all the employees are super friendly!

My highlight is the pool: the water is nicely 'chilled.' I have no idea how warm the water is, but the top pool has a maximum of 22 degrees, while the lower pool might be 24/25?? I find it dreamy! In this heat, it's such a fantastic way to cool off - only my husband is complaining - 'too cold' 🤣

Around noon, we walk to the nearby Nakheel Mall (about 10 minutes on foot), where the Aura Pools and 'The View of the Palm' are located.

We have lunch in the food court, discovering the probably best-sorted and tidiest supermarket ever (Waitrose), where we buy a few bottles of drinks and walk back to the hotel. Our room is now ready. I treated us to a 'Deluxe Heritage Palm Sea View King' room - with half board. Normally, a night here costs easily 500 € or more - and usually only with breakfast - I paid almost half in the Black Friday deal. Overall, this is probably the cheapest way to go, but that's not an option for us as we'll be staying with family for the remaining days... so we are looking forward to a day of 'luxury' today.

Our room is huge and offers plenty of space, with a king bed, armchair, dining area with chairs, TV, and a huge balcony with seating and a sofa. However, it's far too hot to sit outside. The view of the Palm and the Ferris wheel is fantastic!!!

We relax by the pool until late afternoon, recovering from the night flight. In between, we explore the beach section belonging to the hotel, which can be reached a few steps over the promenade. However, the sea is much too warm for me. I stay in the shade and let my husband take a dip, as the cool pool is more my style 😅

Before dinner, we sit at the bar near the fitness studio and treat ourselves to a 'Happy Hour' cocktail (Mojito and Watermelon Daiquiri). Afterwards, we head to the buffet restaurant for dinner. Since the cocktails of the day are cheaper than a bottle of water, the choice of what we drink is easy 🤣

Cheers!

The buffet offers pretty much everything the heart desires including a chocolate fountain. I think I won't need to eat anything else for the next few days.... Sooooo many delicious things - and you have to try everything at least once 😅

After dinner, we roll outside and stroll along the promenade, passing the many nightclubs to the West Beach waterworks and back.

It is sooo hot...

Despite the evening temperature being +30 degrees, we enjoy the view from the balcony and shortly thereafter fall into bed.

Overnight stay:

Hotel Fairmont the Palm, Dubai

Deluxe Heritage Palm Sea View King Room