Dubai is definitely a marmite travel destination. You either love it or hate it. We very much fall on the love it side. From our first visit back in 2016, we always knew we would return. Therefore, when we got the opportunity to revisit earlier this year we were excited. Primarily to see how much the ever-changing city had evolved in only three short years. We were not disappointed. From new hotels and restaurants together with numerous attractions, it felt like we were visiting somewhere new and not revisiting an existing favourite. We intentionally sought a number of them out. However, we found one of the new hot spots, La Mer Dubai, purely by chance.
We’d decided not to venture far from the pool at our hotel during our stay. However, we noticed that our hotel offered a free return shuttle transfer to the beach. Even though we did not know which beach, we decided to take a punt and jump on the bus. Having been to Jumeirah Beach before we wouldn’t have been disappointed if it was that beach. However, we were concerned that there’s not that much to do there to keep us entertained for a full day. Needless to say, our destination was not Jumeirah Beach. Instead, it was the recently opened (October 2017) La Mer beach and entertainment space – a very welcome surprise.
First Impressions of La Mer Dubai
La Mer was not what we were expecting at all. Instead of just a beach, La Mer has everything for a great day, especially if like us you get bored just laying on the sand sunbathing. Even though we arrived quite early in the morning, it was already relatively busy with couples, families and groups of friends all eagerly exploring what La Mer Dubai has to offer.
It is obviously a new development with a mixture of styles and materials used, however, to be honest, it could be anywhere in the world. But that’s Dubai for you – modern and none descript, apart from Old Dubai of course. Having not researched La Mer or what to expect from it it was actually nice to have a wander around not really knowing what was around the next corner (note to self – must do that more often when travelling).
The Beach
Past the boardwalk that runs through the seafront section and is littered with stalls and ‘shacks’ selling everything you would expect to find at the ‘seaside’, we found the beach. As we visited on a windy February day the beach was not overly full. Although that did not stop a group of three Russian ladies setting up camp right next to us (eye roll). As lovers of personal space, we packed up and headed further down the beach.
La Mer Dubai beach has a number of cabanas and sun loungers which can be hired. Although we couldn’t work out from where nor did we see anyone walking around asking for money. Also, the beach has four fantastic beach huts (they are called day rooms) which are great for families. If we’d been travelling with children or been more prepared for our visit, we definitely would have hired one, especially as Vicky’s not that great in the sun. The day room would have been a great place to get some respite from the hot Dubai sun. Although the hefty £125 per day price tag may not sit will with budget travellers, it’s to be expected in Dubai.
If watersports are your thing, a lot of options are available at La Mer including stand-up paddle boarding to jet skiing, kayaking, water biking, paddle boating, surfing, flyboarding and donut riding. There is a kiosk where you can book your adventure from. If a leisurely swim is more up your alley, the Arabian Gulf is perfect and the water warm for most of the year. Plus, we also saw a lifeguard on duty the whole time we were on the beach, just in case they were needed, especially as the spot is popular with families with small children.
Things To Do
So apart from the beach, what is there to do at La Mer Dubai? Well, quite a lot actually. Of course, the beach is the major selling point but if you are not a fan, not to worry. La Mer Dubai still has a lot of other stuff it has going for it.
Laguna Waterpark
The biggest and most obvious thing is the Laguna Waterpark, which sits pride of place in the middle of La Mer. You can hear the splashing of the water and the excited screams of the riders and sliders. Granted it is not as big as Wild Wadi Water Park or Aquaventure at Atlantis but it certainly looked (and sounded) like fun.
Shopping
La Mer Dubai is home to a number of shops selling a range of things. From makeup to sunglasses and a variety of other things in between. There are also a few souvenir shops where you can pick up a ‘Dubai’ embossed reminder of your trip. Dubai mug, shot glass or baseball cap, anyone?
Dining Options
Basically, anything you fancy you can find at La Mer. From a quick coffee at Starbucks to big fat burgers at Five Guys and not forgetting Greek, Italian and of course local Emirati options. We ate at the Texas Roadhouse, our meals were delicious and huge. It certainly did not disappoint. As the UAE is a dry country it’s important to remember you cannot indulge in a cheeky tipple with your meal.
Even though we were majorly full from our meaty feast lunch, there was room for ice cream. There’s always room for ice cream right? And with a number of carts dotted along the boardwalk, we were spoilt for choice. We opted for Turkish ice cream which was amazing. However, melted very quickly in the Dubai heat.
Would We Recommend La Mer Dubai
It would definitely depend on how long you have in Dubai and whether or not you have visited before. I think if you want to see the real Dubai, stick with Old Dubai and the Creek. Then there’s the main touristy stuff like the Dubai Mall and its fountains and not forgetting a trip up the Burj Khalifa. But if you’ve done all them and/or it’s not your first visit to the City of Gold and you are looking for a bit of rest and relaxation with a fun, quirky and urban edge then La Mer is perfect.
It is also, of course, free to visit, it is up to you if you want to hire a sun lounger, eat, visit the waterpark, buy souvenirs etc which in a city as expensive as Dubai is great, especially if you are a budget traveller or saving your cash for the important stuff like a boozy Friday brunch. We’re really pleased that we got the unexpected opportunity to spend the day here. It was a very welcome change from the hotel pool. In fact, the next time we are in Dubai we would like to visit at night and sample at least another one of the restaurants there.
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