Jumeirah Al-Naseem Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Madinat Jumeirah is a collection of four resorts with more than 30 restaurants, bars, and boutiques between them. There are 80 more places to dine, drink, and shop in the onsite souk, as well as a theatre. It’s possible to spend an entire vacation here after a 30-minute drive from the airport. Still, free shuttle bus services are available to the Mall of the Emirates and sister resort Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeriah, which is worth visiting in nice weather to walk around the artificial island’s seven-mile promenade.

The hotel provides a contemporary take on the Arabian style in a beautiful palette of white and gold. Pale curtains hang from the lobby ceiling, ruffling in the air created by colonial-style wooden fans. The room is divided by plush sofas, armchairs, and archways, with gigantic potted palms flourishing in the corners.

Glass walls opposite the main entrance provide a picture-perfect view of the Burj Al Arab, while the low-rise resort unfolds underneath it, sprinkled with azure pools, turquoise parasols, and Bill Bensley landscaping.

Guests are greeted with rolls of icy jasmine-infused flannels and iced tea by employees dressed in uniforms that complement the decor. Despite the hotel’s standard high occupancy, service is formal and efficient, and operations function well. There’s a central family pool, a peaceful, secluded first-floor patio with an adults-only pool, and a third pool hidden within the Ibiza-worthy Summersalt Beach Club.

Guests are transported to sister hotels via golf buggies and abra boats, which are connected by a one-and-a-half-mile (2.4-kilometer) stretch of beach, to access shared amenities such as a fitness center and spa, as well as the Wild Wadi water park. The Jumeirah Al Naseem features its turtle rehabilitation lagoon, which is spectacular.

Warm woods and leather headboards and desk chairs, which evoke the smooth matte texture of Caramac bars, are dominated by delicious caramel tones. Deep sofas at the foot of the beds, almost as wide as long, face big televisions. Pillow favors in Middle Eastern flavors are provided by local chocolatier Mirzam. Outdoor space with the Burj Al Arab views is available on furnished balconies. Designer en-suites with wardrobes, asymmetric stone sinks beneath circular mirrors suspended from the ceiling by leather straps, and mosaic-tiled wet rooms with separate bathtubs and showers are revealed behind sliding wooden shutters.

The guest gourmet pop-up at Summersalt Beach Club – especially delightful during lunchtime with its sea view, it could very well be the highlight of the stay. The restaurants gathered around the fantastic turtle lagoon, such as Black Tap’s freak shakes and tashas’ lovely pink Flamingo Room, are absolute crowd-pleasers. This summersault Beach Club will become your best friend if huge resorts aren’t your thing—truth be told; they’re rarely mine. The quaint boutique resort-within-a-resort at Jumeirah Al Naseem is complete with individual service and a private pool. It transforms into a sophisticated beach party on weekends, complete with DJs spinning till the sunsets, where one can party their hearts out till they last.