Day 2 (2014) - Dubai: Atlantis the Palm & Aquaventure Water Park

10/22/14

DAY 2 (2014): Abu Dhabi - Dubai

Visited Highlights: Atlantis the Palm, Aquaventure Water Park

Naturally, we sleep much longer than planned in the morning. But we are on vacation after all!

After breakfast, we pack our things and leave for Dubai around 10 o'clock.

Even the trip to the hotel becomes an adventure. Our mobile navigation shows us roads that either no longer exist or have not yet been built...!?

Okay, no problem. We should be able to find the 'Palm' even without it - we roughly know where we need to go.

And fortunately, it is also signposted!

These skyscrapers are really fascinating...

Our hotel for tonight is:

'Atlantis - the Palm!!!'

We reach the hotel entrance at 11 o'clock. The 'red' carpet is already rolled out *ggg*.

Now it's getting decadent somehow. Surrounded by only fat SUVs, stretch limos, and very well-dressed people...

We drive up with our 'small musty Chevy' right in front of the red carpet, the hotel staff opens the doors for us, our luggage is immediately put on the luggage cart, and our Chevy is parked in the hotel parking lot by the hotel employee.

Hihi, I feel like a Hollywood star right now!

We walk (solemnly) over the red carpet to the reception. We're really lucky: normally the rooms are not available until around 3 o'clock, but there is already a room free - we can move in immediately. Super!!!

While we wait for the keys, we take a first look at the lobby. Everything here is just huge and glamorous.

The glass sculpture in the middle of the lobby is amazing!

Then we move into our room on the 9th floor with a sea view (we booked the cheapest room category!).

Nice view!

After our luggage is in the room, we quickly put on our swimming gear, pack our beach bag, and head to the beach & water park.
Outside, the sun is shining from a blue sky and it's scorching hot at 38 degrees! Wow, we didn't expect that.... Such heat at the end of October... Amazing!

To avoid having to walk from the main pool of Atlantis to the neighboring water park in the scorching heat, there are golf buggies available everywhere. Of course, we also ride a buggy to the nearest station, where we, as hotel guests of Atlantis, get our 'water park bracelet', and then ride the buggy back to the water park.

We have lunch at the fast food restaurant at the park entrance. They have air conditioning here - divine!
Unfortunately, we then unsuccessfully try to find a sun lounger in the water park. It's more crowded than full....
So we take 2 sun loungers on the beach - a little detour to the sea would also be a welcome refreshment...right?

In the background, we can see the Burj al Arab

However, the sea is not really refreshing...
With a water temperature of over 30 degrees, I can't really speak of refreshing - but it's still nice

Now it's time for the water park!
We directly reach one of the huge aquariums, through which several slides pass.
One of the main attractions is the tube slide 'Shark Attack', where you land in the middle of the shark tank after a fast tunnel ride (complete darkness!) on a one- or two-seater tube - securely in a 'tube'. Very cool!!! However, you can see more from the outside than from the inside.

While our son goes wild in the kids' water park with his dad, my daughter and I explore the rafting facility in a 2-person tube. Soooo cool!!!
To make sure we land safely in the rafting channel, there are employees positioned everywhere to put the tubes in the right 'position'.

Next stop: Neptune's Tower.
After a successful slide session, we also check out the 'kids' water park'.

After the dad has enjoyed himself on the 'Leap of Faith' (no thanks!), my daughter and I dare to try the two huge tube slides of the 'Poseidon Tower':
Aquaconda & Zoomerango!
Wow, what can I say: I've never done anything like this before. At this point, we are completely soaked...

After an eventful day at the water park, my kids and I take a buggy back to Atlantis around 5 o'clock (the park closes at sunset).

We want to splash around in the main pool of Atlantis while the husband enjoys more 'thrill rides' (slides).

At 6 o'clock, we hurry back to our room and get ready to go out. We booked half-board and reserved a table at the main restaurant for 8 o'clock.

By now, we're pretty hungry. A day at the water park makes you hungry.

In front of the restaurant, we catch a first glimpse of the quite monstrous aquarium in the Atlantis Hotel.

There are fish swimming in masses.... I would say: completely overpopulated....

But very impressive!

I don't even know where to start...
Estimated 6 courses of appetizers, several main dishes, dessert with a chocolate fountain, pastries, cakes, ice cream, fruits, pancakes & Co later, we 'roll' out of the restaurant. Wow, it was delicious....!!!!
I think if I were to spend a whole week here, I would have to buy new clothes afterwards (I would have gained at least 1-2 dress sizes!).....
But since we are not willing to pay the price for 1 week at Atlantis for 4 people during the autumn vacation (you can guess, how much 1 night for 4 people in the cheapest room with half-board cost....), we will probably never have that problem....

The advantage of the night at Atlantis:
The water park is included for the arrival and departure day (unlimited time), as well as the aquarium 'The Lost Chambers', which we quickly visit after dinner.
Here too: the bigger, more impressive, more bombastic... the better!

On the way back, we see the 'cleaning crew' at the main window of the aquarium.
Absolutely crazy, but the divers only have a small sponge in their hand and diligently clean the window of the tank.
I have never seen such a clean aquarium. Not even the tiniest algae has wandered into my field of vision. I have no idea how many employees clean here every day, but everything is sparkling clean!

It's already 10:30 pm now, but we still want to go to the beach and enjoy the view of Dubai at night.

Off we go outside - it's incredible how hot it still is in the evening!
According to the display, it's still over 30 degrees outside at almost 11 pm.

It's almost midnight now and we fall tired into our beds.
It was a great and fun day at the water park. We definitely had a lot of fun and are looking forward to tomorrow - we will visit the water park again, among other things.
Good night Dubai - we're excited for tomorrow!
(By the way, it's great to know that it will definitely be hot and sunny tomorrow!)