The family stayed here last year on our way back from a trip to see my cousin in Franschhoek, South Africa. We thought it would be good to break the return journey, and as some of our daughter's friends had stayed at the Atlantis Palm, and recommended it as being good for children, especially those who liked water, we decided to stay here. As a couple we have previously stayed at the Ritz Carlton and the One and Only Royal Mirage Residence and Spa in Dubai, and these have been peace and serenity personified, service brilliant, food excellent but pricey unless you choose the half board option. However, no children allowed at the Residence and Spa, and the Ritz-Carlton has been upgraded since we last stayed there.

So, we looked at the options available and chose the Imperial Club mainly because it had afternoon tea, a happy hour, and a private lounge which provided soft drinks all day. We also had a half board option. We arrived at five in the morning, were taken straight to the Imperial Club lounge, offered hot or cold drinks and croissant etc, and were in our room within 30 minutes.

Bearing in mind we were there in low season (August) and in Ramadam, the Hotel was quite busy. The Imperial Club was worth every penny. Rooms are on the 11th -15th Floor, with excellent views. We had breakfast in the private lounge; (there is free internet access in the lounge, as well as in the room - vital to inhibit serious withdrawal symptoms for children); afternoon tea in the private lounge; dinner in one of the seven restuarants, (a supplement is payable in some), and happy hour in the private lounge, which started at eight during Ramadam, but lasted until ten. Alcoholic drinks were free in happy hour, and if you like a tipple after sundown this is perfect. There is free access to the water park, and Imperial Club members are well looked after by the pool attendants in the Hotel.

We booked evening meals in advance, (the staff in the lounge took care of this - they were very helpful in all aspects), unless we decided to have a burger, and I would recommend booking restaurants in advance - there were often queues when we left. One concern we had was what this hotel would be like in high, even mid-season (even in Imperial Club). Whilst we were there, there were queues for breakfast in the morning at the two breakfast outlets for non-Club members, and the restaurants were busy in the evening. The water park, which we visited every day wasn't quiet, but there were few queues, and we had fun particularly on the lazy river and the rapids. Being low season it was very hot, hot, hot, but there was plenty of shade, and the hotel is literally only 150 mts from the Water Park. The hotel is so big it could therefore become very uncomfortable during other seasons. Maybe price balances this out - but it could be chaos.

The hotel is clean and well appointed. The staff are friendly and very helpful. We did not visit Dubai on this occasion, but did take the brief trip on the Monorail. The hotel runs the customary shuttle buses for those who are interested, and tours of Dubai can be picked-up at the hotel. The hotel receives a lot of visitors to look at the Aquarium and visit the water park.

All in all we enjoyed our visit and found it a useful and relaxing stop-over, and as it is my Cousin's 50th Birthday this year, we are returning to South Africa, and stopping off at the Atlantis on the way back.