Why a ‘Married Moon’ Was Simply What My Husband & I Wanted

It had been 17 years since my husband and I traveled midway around the globe for a trip. It wasn’t simply any trip although—it was our honeymoon to French Polynesia. We vowed to return for our tenth anniversary, after which…effectively…youngsters and life occurred.

Quick ahead these 17 years and we simply celebrated our anniversary. We skipped a “babymoon” earlier than having youngsters and “us time” has been scarce between our youngsters’ very busy schedules and our price range. So when the chance got here as much as go on an journey to Dubai, there was no higher time for us to take what I am calling a “married moon.”

It was one thing we undoubtedly wanted to reconnect with one another and unwind from our hectic on a regular basis lives.

The Anxiousness of Leaving Our Children Was Actual

We have not left our two ladies, ages 12 and 14, for greater than an extended weekend, right here or there. So the thought of leaving them for nearly six days was laborious for me to deal with. Not solely that, however we have been going so distant. A weekend in Newport, Rhode Island simply did not really feel the identical as a visit to Dubai.

I deliberate rides, organized schedules, and left an in depth itinerary for my mother-in-law about who wanted to be the place and when. We left meals and solutions, and I in all probability overthought every thing.

I slept two hours the evening earlier than we left. The anxiousness was actual. Surprisingly, it wasn’t my delicate 14-year-old who cried as we pulled away—it was me. The tears streamed down my cheeks till we hit the freeway. I used to be nonetheless anxious concerning the long-haul flight however I used to be excited for our journey, simply the 2 of us.

Why Dubai Was a Good Alternative

Dubai is one in every of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was as soon as a small fishing village however has now grown to a inhabitants of just about 3.8 million folks. However what actually struck me was simply how multi-national and multicultural the town actually is. In keeping with the UAE Ministry of Overseas Affairs, folks of greater than 200 nationalities dwell and work in Dubai.

Tripadvisor has named the town the primary vacation spot on the earth for 3 years in a row. It is a metropolis recognized for its tourism, eating places, golf equipment, seashores, structure, sky-high buildings, the Arabian desert, man-made palm-shaped islands, innovation, and a lot extra. The water is crystal clear, and there may be a lot to do and see—hardly sufficient time to do all of it in simply 4 days.

With a fame for opulence, chances are you’ll suppose Dubai is unaffordable to go to. However as with every trip, you can also make it as reasonably priced or as costly as you want it to be. There are five-star luxurious inns and eating places however there are additionally reasonably priced choices and fairly priced, and even free, sights.

Hospitality, hospitality, and extra hospitality

We spent 4 unbelievable days at Atlantis, The Palm, situated on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah. From the time we arrived to the time we left, the hospitality at Atlantis, The Palm was unmatched.

Each worker greeted friends with a smile, and most (if not all) held their arms to their chest as an indication of respect and humility accompanied by a nod or head bow. After we bought to our room, the mattress was adorned with rose petals spelling out “Welcome to Atlantis.”

The sort of hospitality, setting, and the actions provided at Atlantis, The Palm have been simply what my husband and I wanted as a pair. It was a break from the norm, the loopy schedules, and making dinners, and plans. And since we have been distant from dwelling, we actually felt relaxed.

Rediscovering Enjoyable Collectively

It isn’t that my husband and I haven’t got enjoyable collectively at dwelling, or with our youngsters. But it surely’s totally different whenever you’re away by yourselves. Throughout this journey, we rediscovered who we’re as a pair, remembered what life was like earlier than youngsters, and have been capable of simply be ourselves with no exterior worries and pressures.

We loved one another’s firm, walked hand-in-hand, talked, laughed, and even simply cherished the silence of being collectively whereas not getting pulled in so many alternative instructions. However largely we had enjoyable with all there may be to do at Atlantis, The Palm.

The Misplaced Chambers Aquarium

We first visited The Misplaced Chambers Aquarium, dwelling to greater than 65,000 marine animals. It was right here I really discovered myself eager for the times when our daughters have been youthful.

I bought teary-eyed as little ladies ran as much as every of the magnificent tanks, watching the fish with surprise and pleasure, their little voices filled with pleasure. It is truthfully been some time since we skilled that very same innocence. Seeing the entire littles introduced me again to that point and made me take into consideration how rapidly the years had flown by.

However I digress.

My husband bought up shut and private with the marine life throughout his AquaTrek Xtreme expertise in The Ambassador Lagoon. Sporting an AquaTrek helmet, he climbed down into the tank. Whereas he walked alongside the underside of the aquarium, he got here face-to-face with the entire brightly-colored fish, rays, eels, and sure, even sharks.

Not solely was I capable of watch him by the large home windows of the aquarium, however so have been the entire different friends. As soon as once more it was the children that bought me—smiling and laughing as he sauntered across the tank, rays whizzing by him.

One other tremendous cool factor we did on the aquarium was “underwater yoga.” The hour-long morning session was set towards the backdrop of that very same massive window into the Ambassador Lagoon. As we practiced Hatha Yoga, we have been surrounded by the marine life bringing us peace and tranquility.

Aquaventure Waterpark

Okay, I am going to admit it, I figured we might spend an hour or two on the waterpark and transfer on with our day. However since Aquaventure holds the official Guinness World File for essentially the most waterslides in a waterpark with greater than 105 slides, rides, and sights, we had means extra enjoyable than I anticipated.

Sure, there have been some I wasn’t going to even try, however my husband did nearly each slide there was. Those I did journey have been a lot enjoyable, and I pushed my concern issue a bit with some taller, quicker waterslides. With the temperatures hovering round 100 levels, it was good to simply be in and round water nearly all of the day.

My favourite journey occurred to be “Raging Rapids” which regardless of its identify, was tremendous enjoyable. Assume lazy river however as a substitute of on a tube, you are sporting a life vest so that you simply get to drift together with the present.

My husband then again most popular the adrenaline-driven slides with names like “Leap of Religion” and “Poseidon’s Revenge.” Both means, our time on the park was a blast!

Rest and reconnection

Since the secret for us was rest and reconnection, our time on the AWAKEN Spa was one in every of my favourite components of our trip collectively. We loved a one-hour AWAKEN {Couples} Therapeutic massage.

This was one of the vital stunning spas I would ever been in. At AWAKEN, it is all about bringing collectively the weather of physique (earth), thoughts (fireplace), emotion (water), and spirit (air). We blindly selected a component stone from a pouch that aligned with our wants. Each my husband and I occurred to decide on earth stones. Maybe our our bodies wanted therapeutic.

I really did not need the therapeutic massage to finish. However afterward, we have been capable of make the most of the spa services together with the comfort room, a jacuzzi, a steam room, and a conventional sauna. Sadly, lunch reservations referred to as and we could not keep so long as we’d have favored.

Atlantis, The Palm additionally has a number of seashores the place you possibly can loosen up your cares away and overlook concerning the world round you. We frolicked at each Palm Seaside and White Seaside. At Palm Seaside, everybody can arrange on the loungers, be greeted by wait workers with menus and drinks, be handled to a free popsicle to chill off, and take a dip within the Gulf waters.

White Seaside is opulent. It is an adults-only seaside membership with essentially the most snug loungers, daybeds on the seaside, and cabanas. It additionally has two infinity-style beachside swimming pools to chill off in and naturally foods and drinks choices. We napped on one of many daybeds and loved drinks within the pool whereas looking over the Gulf on the Dubai skyline. We additionally loved a superb lunch on the adjoining White Seaside restaurant. It was actually among the finest sushi I would ever had.

My husband and I like to go kayaking. We discover being out on the water is so peaceable. The youngsters, not a lot. After we do take them out paddling, they have an inclination to complain about every thing hurting and continually ask after we are going again. However not on our “married moon.” We had time to take out kayaks from the water sports activities seaside hut for a peaceable paddle with out whining.

Bonding over meals

What higher solution to bond together with your accomplice than over scrumptious meals and drinks? We had the superb alternative to pattern a lot of the unbelievable eating places at Atlantis, The Palm. We challenged ourselves to attempt new issues and surprisingly actually favored most of what we tried!

One factor I completely cherished concerning the eating places is regardless of whether or not it was a celebrity-chef restaurant or counter service, they at all times requested whether or not there have been any meals allergic reactions or sensitivities they wanted to find out about.

With our room, we had entry to The Imperial Membership. Whereas it does bump up the worth, I feel the providers greater than make up for the worth. Not solely do you may have personal check-in and check-out, however there is a full breakfast buffet (plus objects you possibly can order off the menu), snacks all through the day, and pleased hour cocktails and meals. We had breakfast right here two out of our 4 mornings along with cocktails within the night (with Gulf sunsets that may’t be overwhelmed!).

For breakfast the opposite two days, we ate on the resort’s two buffet eating places, Saffron and Kaleidoscope. Each had comparable however barely bigger buffets than the Imperial Membership however have been extra crowded. They have been nonetheless scrumptious although and such all kinds of meals.

Lunches have been cut up between sit-down eating places and a counter restaurant at Aquaventure. At Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Road Kitchen & Bar, my husband could not cease raving concerning the Beef Wellington and we could not recover from the drink served in a tiny, conventional telephone sales space you’d discover within the U.Ok.

Dubbed the “finest social gathering brunch restaurant,” En Fuego lived as much as the hype whenever you have been handed a drink proper whenever you walked in. It was additionally full with a dwell band, and dancers twirling fireplace.

However dinner was the place we actually bought to attempt new issues and go on a culinary journey collectively. I can not say sufficient about Nobu, Seafire Steakhouse, and Wavehouse.

At Nobu, we let our server select our programs. I attempted every thing they put in entrance of us, together with seafood which I do not usually eat. Seems, I like salmon sashimi and sea bass tempura! Every dish was higher than the following.

At Seafire Steakhouse, we tried braised quick rib topped with seared foie gras—one thing I’ve by no means had earlier than. But it surely was the presentation of the donut dessert that gave us the actual “wow” issue.

At Wavehouse, it was all about enjoyable. It was extra of a conventional “American” restaurant, and my husband bought tremendous messy with the Cheese Version Burger. It is actually served with a can of liquid cheese on prime. For dessert, we shared a kind of massive, fancy, surgical procedure milkshakes topped with each candy beneath the solar. And we bought to get pleasure from some bowling and the arcade!

I would be mendacity if I stated we did not get pleasure from our share of drinks on this journey. Along with superb featured cocktails at each restaurant, we additionally spent a while chatting with the bartenders at Hakkasan and having fun with the Dubai night exterior at The Arabian Terrace.

Exploring Dubai

We have been solely in Dubai for 4 days, however throughout our time, we have been capable of take two excursions to expertise the tradition and life in Dubai. It has been a very long time since my husband and I might do one thing new and totally different for each of us.

Desert safari

The Platinum Heritage Desert Safari is a must-do if you happen to go to Dubai. From the second our tour information picked us up at Atlantis to the second he dropped us off, it was one of the vital memorable components of our journey.

Proving as soon as once more how multi-national Dubai is, our tour information was from Cameroon however was extremely educated concerning the area, its folks, historical past, the desert, and the plant and animal life there.

We have been whisked off to a place to begin the place we have been outfitted with conventional headwear and given a chrome steel water bottle to deliver on our journey. We then climbed into classic Nineteen Fifties Land Rovers to embark on our 60-minute nature safari by the desert. We caught glimpses of gazelles and antelope, in addition to all several types of birds and vegetation.

After our drive, the information took us to a different spot for a falcon present. It was arrange with tea and juice, with cushions set out over a rug on the sand. The falcon is the nationwide chicken of the UAE. The present was fascinating and set towards the sundown over the Arabian desert.

However the expertise did not finish there. Our information then took us to an genuine torch-lit Bedouin camp. There we noticed folks making conventional bread and low. We rode a camel! People have been additionally capable of get pleasure from shisha and obtain Henna tattoos.

This was all earlier than a conventional four-course dinner full with hen kebabs, lamb, and even a camel meat stew! We loved Emirati performances of drumming and Yola (a conventional people dance), and the evening ended with dessert and a “tour” of the evening’s sky.

The Burj Khalifa

Whereas I’d have favored to go to Dubai’s conventional gold and spice souks in Previous Dubai, our time to discover the town was restricted. So we opted to go to a vacationer spot in New Dubai.

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest constructing on the earth. Whereas we did not go up into the skyscraping tower, it was unbelievable simply to marvel on the feat of structure. It stands at greater than 2,700 ft tall and has greater than 160 tales.

The tower is surrounded by a wonderful park, the man-made Burj Lake. At evening, the fountains within the lake come alive with a water and lightweight present. Additionally it is adjoining to the large Dubai Mall, which is a day journey in itself. It is big!

Fortunately, simply over the bridge from the mall is the Souk Al Bahar. It is a trendy tackle the extra conventional markets so we have been capable of expertise among the native flavors, together with scrumptious dates and baklava, in addition to fragrances, jewellery, and souvenirs.

Dubai Would Make a Nice Household Journey, Too

Regardless that this journey was all about my husband and me, that does not imply Dubai would not make for an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime journey for the entire household to take. Whether or not you may have little youngsters or massive youngsters, there may be a lot to do.

Atlantis, The Palm has rather a lot to supply for teenagers. There are seashores and swimming pools, together with a household pool. At Aquaventure, Little Splashers is a devoted space for littles that features shallow swimming pools and age-appropriate slides.

On the resort, there’s the Atlantis Explorers Membership for kiddos ages 4-12 with actions for every age group. Every visitor room reserving contains entry for one session there. Imperial Membership Room friends can get pleasure from one session per day. In case you’re fortunate sufficient to remain in a set, your youngsters can get pleasure from two classes per day. You’ll be able to in fact add on any further classes for a price.

There are additionally behind-the-scenes and academic packages surrounding the marine life on the aquarium. The playground has additionally lately undergone renovations, and there are babysitting providers out there.

Even among the most upscale eating places have household seating hours so you do not have to overlook out on experiencing the delicacies of locations like Nobu or Seafire Steakhouse. And there are different eating places youngsters could discover extra to their liking.

There have been additionally youngsters on our desert safari tour and, in fact, welcomed all through the town.

When you’ve got the means and the will, I would undoubtedly advocate visiting Dubai as a household trip—or a time to reconnect together with your accomplice. Our style of Dubai simply made me much more keen to go to once more.