Do you want to visit Dubai soon, or it may be on your bucket list? Dubai is a vast and bustling city that has tremendously transformed in the past two decades. It has become a global hub for entrepreneurs, tourists and individuals looking to work abroad. Whilst Dubai is known for its amazing holiday destination, it also has a great variety of hotels to stay in. We were searching for family friendly hotels in Dubai and sure did we find one! Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai…
Also just want to note that is blog post is not sponsored. This is my completely honest review of our stay :).
How we found Centara Mirage Beach Resort.
After deciding to visit Dubai, we started researching hotels and accommodation. Dubai is known for its luxurious hotels and accommodations, so we didn’t mind what star rating it had. Once checking prices, we found out that luxury comes with a hefty price tag. Hotels in Jumeriah and around Burj Khalifa would have cost us a lot more than what we were willing to pay with our family of four. Plus the features of some hotels just didn’t cut it. Thankfully, we ended up finding an amazing hotel that ticked all of our boxes, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai. The hotel opened its doors in 2021 and is still fairly new in the hotel game in Dubai. We booked this trip on Expedia and since we are Expedia Silver members, we got the room at 40% off and cost $2301AUD for 6 nights. This room was booked 4 months in advance and the package included breakfast.
Where is the hotel located?
The Hotel is located in Dubai Islands closer to Diera and is around a 40-minute drive from Downtown Dubai. As of January 2024, the Island is home to Centara Mirage and Hotel Rui, with more hotels currently in construction. Expect to see many construction sites around the Island, UAE has major plans for Dubai Islands, including more family friendly hotels. I personally can’t wait to see it once its completed. Catching public transport to the hotel was a no-go as buses were limited to the Island. The best option for us was to take a taxi or Uber to Gold Souk Metro station and make our way from there or to simply catch a taxi or Uber to our destination.
Our stay in the Resort.
We stayed there for 6 nights in January. Even though it was technically winter in Dubai, it was still relatively hot all day whilst the mornings and nights were a little cooler. Whilst spending some time in the kid’s pool we spoke to some lovely lifeguards who gave us the rundown about the hotel. Since the hotel is based out of Downtown Dubai, many tourists and locals visit the hotel for its resort features. The peak season for this resort and I’m sure most others in Dubai is during March and April and September – October. However, our stay in January was still bustling with guests.
We stayed in the Family room with two double beds and a Sea View. From most other hotels I’ve stayed in, this one was definitely more spacious than others. It came with two double beds, a couch, desk with a chair and the staff bought a cot up to the room for my little one. The room also included an in-room safe, mini fridge and a place to store all our snacks and refreshments. The bathroom was also much more spacious than others and included a door to use the toilet, so other family members could use the basin or shower whilst someone was doing their business. The room also included a place to store luggage, a hanging area and 5 drawers for clothes. It also included a shoe area which was a nice bonus. This room did not at all feel crammed even with my family of 4.
Food at Centara Mirage Beach Resort.
Our room deal came with free breakfast at Sheesh on level 8 (Middle Eastern) or San Bua (Thai) located on the ground floor. The daily buffet breakfast was amazing with a selection of different dishes and a kid’s buffet that the kids really enjoyed. I loved the fruit at the front when you first walked in and I loved the wide selection of cultural dishes served every day. We were always at the breakfast buffet at 8-8:30am, however expect longer queues by 10am, so its best to go as early as possible. If you are eating on level 8 at Sheesh, there is an amazing balcony that looks on the water and can be enjoyed whilst eating your breakfast.
We were out for most of our time in Dubai during dinner, however, we managed to try their dinner at Sheesh and it did not disappoint. The selection of seafood, meat and chicken meals was divine. From our six-day stay, I’ve never seen my kids so happy to be eating dinner, especially with their dessert corner! Drinks need to be ordered separately as they are not included in the buffet price. Top Tip: This doesn’t get charged to your room, so if you want to try this, make sure you pay before you leave or expect a nice phone call to your room 1 hour after leaving (LOL). The buffet cost $346AED ($140AUD) for our family of 4.
There is also a cafe in the lobby for those quick coffees or to grab something before leaving the hotel. There is also a candy corner located in Zing Cafe. On our first day there, we got some fruit cups from Zing for the kids to enjoy and the fruit was so fresh. Uno Mas is an Argentinian restaurant that requires a reservation, located near San Bua restaurant. For a casual dining experience, head over to the Sands Beach Club located on the ground floor of the kids club. With so many dining options there is something for even the pickiest of eaters!
family friendly Activities and things to do in the hotel.
daytime activities
In the daytime, there were plenty of pools to choose from and a beautiful beach. The resort had so many fun things for kids too! The big hit with my little ones was the water slide and splash park. The Ropes Climbing course looked amazing but we never managed to go on as the kids didn’t meet the height restrictions. Visitors must be taller than 140cm to climb (completely understandable!). There was also a jumping castle that operated in the morning and afternoon. The jumping castle is located on the sand just before you reach the main beach seating. Another place for children to play is the playground which is located just behind the kid’s pool. Plus a family lounge to unwind with the kids.
Pool and Beach
The available pools in Centara Mirage Beach Resort are:
Splash Pad Pool
Water Slides
Beach Activity Pool
Family Pool
Kids pool
Lazy River
Adults Spa Pool
Cliff Jumping Pool
The main beach area was always so tidy and clean every time we went down. There were always available beach loungers, plus we found a beanbag too, so my youngest could have a little nap. Towels are available at the Towel Counter located in between the pool and beach area. Towel cards are given upon checking in and these cards must be given to the towel counter and will be returned once the towels are returned.
Evening activities
The hotel also has activities and nighttime entertainment too! My husband went down with the kids a couple of times to enjoy a refreshing drink in the evening whilst the kids played in the sand and watched a movie. The entertainment changes monthly so it’s best to have a check here to see what available activities there are. The kids and husband absolutely loved the fire show!!
The kids club called Camp Safari and the Kids Lounge will certainly keep the kids entertained! We had so many things to do so we didn’t utilise the kids club but I’ll definitely be checking it out on our next visit!
Transport to and from the Hotel.
Since this hotel is further away from most tourist destinations, taxi’s are not as frequent as other hotels. However expect to find one every 5-10 minutes. The staff were amazing at making sure we were looked after with our transportation. We always booked our own transport at the time we wanted to leave to stick to our schedule. Public Transport does not operate from the hotel unless you catch a taxi to the closest metro station which is the Gold Souq Metro station 2.
If you are still with me I want to note that my writing certainly doesn’t do justice to all the facilities this hotel provides.
In conclusion, this hotel ticked all of our boxes when it came to a family friendly resort and offered head of entertainment and activities to keep the kids entertained throughout our entire stay. The staff were so lovely and the lifeguards made our pool experiences so memorable. This resort is certainly a must see if you want a relaxing but entertaining stay in Dubai for yourself or the family. I just wish I had taken more photos and videos!
Blog That Travels xx