Tonnes of space to sprawl

When it comes to hotel rooms, I can’t deny I am hard to please – I find it a million times easier to switch off if my surroundings are gorgeous (impersonal grey spaces and dated decor? I’ll pass, thanks). Honestly? JA Palm Tree Court genuinely surprised me – I don’t think the hotel photography does it justice at all. We stayed in an entry level room and even that was absolutely humungous. Opening the door was genuinely a wow moment, as the room was vast, light filled and beautifully calm, with a palette that felt fresh rather than flashy. The bathroom was the cherry on the cake, with a freestanding tub and walk-in rainfall shower (even a quick rinse felt like spa-level luxury). What really sold it, though, was the transition between indoors and out. Stepping out onto the balcony, from this cool sanctuary of contemporary calm, revealed swaying palms, lush tropical gardens and peacocks swanning around below – in wild comparison with what I expected from Dubai. You could easily stay here for a week or more without getting under each other’s feet, such is the size of all the suites (the smallest is 60 sq m). And because the resort is entirely low-rise, there’s no feeling of overwhelm. Instead, I’d say an easy, breezy and relaxed vibe, both inside and out. In fact, it’s likely you’ll forget you’re near a city at all

And the wider resort?

JA Palm Tree Court is one of three hotels that together form JA The Resort, and the good news is that whichever you choose, you’re largely sharing the same brilliant family facilities (the kids club, splash pad, water park, sports centre, beach, restaurants…). The hotels all have their own distinct personalities, so it’s a question of finding the right one for your family

JA Beach Hotel sits at the heart of the action. It’s the most traditional in style, with a high-rise layout and more compact rooms. The kids club, splash pad and water park sit directly in front of it, so it is brilliant for convenience (though that said, don’t let this put you off JA Palm Tree Court, as it’s just a two minute stroll along the sand). JA Beach Hotel usually comes out as the most affordable option, making it a solid choice for value-focused family stays

There’s no two ways about it, JA Palm Tree Court is undeniably our top pick. The rooms are noticeably larger, the atmosphere feels far more tropical and slow paced, plus you get exclusive access to the TAMR pool & bar area, a gorgeous sea view swimming spot and one of our favourite family hangouts around the entire resort

JA Lake View Hotel sits slightly apart from it’s siblings on the other side of the resort (and maybe I’m lazy, but in the heat, I wouldn’t walk it! Thankfully there’s a shuttle buggy runs every ten minutes or so). Instead of being right by the sea, your view stretches across pristine golf course, and the vibe as a whole feels a bit more modern & ‘grown up’ (I’d say one for families with older, more independent children, especially thanks to its adults-only pool – though other guests can use this whilst their tiny travellers are in the kids club)

Fun for the little ones

You know a kids club is doing something right when your little one keeps asking to go back, and that was very much our experience here (either that, or we were boring her!). We felt instantly reassured by the super secure, drop-off only setup, and from the moment I peeked inside it was clear why it had such a pull. The space is bright, colourful and thoughtfully zoned, with craft corners, tonnes of toys, and a brilliant pirate-ship-slash-climbing-frame structure. Try negotiating family time when that’s your competition! They ran a jam packed agenda of hourly activities from considered, low tempo crafts to energy burning, excitement fuelled physical challenges. And I felt a bit better that it wasn’t just me – it seemed all the kids at the hotel were shrugging off their parents, picking to hang out at the kids club instead (on that note, I would pre-book where possible). We didn’t use the creche, but it welcomes babies from four months. Instead, we would drop off bub’s bigger, bouncier sister and head for some one-on-one baby time at the neighbouring splashpad. With all the kids bits being geographically grouped together, hopping between activities couldn’t be any easier. If you stand in the splash pad, you can see the kids club, water park, little playground, mini golf and beach as you spin in a slow circle – genius! What a brilliantly slick setup for happy little holidaymakers

A la cartes that steal the show

Food at JA is very much part of the holiday rhythm, with breakfast impeccably setting the tone for the day. Mountains of fresh tropical fruit – pineapple, watermelon, lychees – sit alongside cheeses, pastries, and eggs cooked to order (just don’t do yourself a disservice and forget an iced coffee; they’re some of the best I’ve tried!). Needless to say, the kids gravitated to the pancake station like moths to a flame, while I appreciated the little chia pudding pots and a simply stunning shakshuka, consumed whilst overlooking the pool

Lunch for us was a low key affair – think pizza or burgers at one of the beachfront spots, with a gentle sea breeze and a cocktail or two

Dinners are where the resort’s culinary flair really shines, but a little planning goes a long way. All of the best a la cartes get booked up in advance, and we really felt a step change between these and the drop in spots – enter Tiny Travel Agency, who can suss this all for you pre-arrival. Our personal favourite? Tapeira offered an atmospheric-yet-family-friendly candlelit Spanish setting, with great cocktails, small sharing plates and options for even the pickiest of eaters. We missed out on White Orchid, a Thai that comes with 5* reviews, but it’s just given us another excuse to return. And the sports bar was a big surprise! Expect crowd-pleasers, like pasta and burgers, but done well, in a relaxed setting overlooking the Marina with happy hour drinks (woohoo!)

In short, whether you’re after casual beachfront bites, refined round-the-world cuisine or kid-friendly classics, JA had it all (without the pressure-cooker anxiety that can come with eating out) 

Where JA The Resort comes into it’s own

Now when it comes to pools and beaches, JA Palm Tree Court is fly-and-flop territory at it’s finest. There’s nine scattered generously across the resort, shifting from shady splash pools tucked among the gardens to infinity-style pools gazing straight out to sea, usually with a beach bar close enough to keep cold drinks flowing. Framed by flowers, linked by little bridges and with roaming peacocks wondering about, it feels like stepping into postcard-level paradise. I can honestly say we never struggled to find a sun lounger, and if you fancy swapping chlorinated calm for salty air, the long sandy beach runs the full length of the resort, rarely more than 30 seconds away. The overall vibe is relaxed rather than high gloss luxury, so think help-yourself towels and nearby bars rather than full lounger service (it depends on your personal preference, but I’m too awkward an individual to enjoy being waited on!). Keeping the kids front of mind, I thought it was great that there are pools of all depths, with wide, gentle steps, and floats and inflatables are welcome (if you forget to frisbee these into your suitcase like I did, the little onsite shop is a life saver). Just be warned – life will never be the same after experiencing golden hour down at the beach, enjoying a pre-dinner dip together in front of the setting sun