Aloft by Marriott Palm Jumeirah

The East Crescent is the Palm at its most relaxed. Beach resorts line the shore, looking back across the water to the Burj Al Arab and the city skyline. Days here revolve around the private beach, but the city is easy to reach. Atlantis and Aquaventure are a short drive along the crescent. By car, it's around 20 minutes to Dubai Marina or Mall of the Emirates and about half an hour to Downtown.

Aloft's signature style is playful, music-inspired and high-tech. The buzzing lobby lounge is the hotel's social heart, where guests meet, mix and mingle late into the evening, giving the whole place a youthful energy.

Rooms feel airy thanks to nine-foot ceilings, and many have a balcony with full or partial views of the Arabian Gulf. Aloft's signature beds, a walk-in shower and a 48-inch TV with Chromecast keep things comfortable and connected. Family Rooms sleep up to four and include a sofa bed for the children.

Dining spans the globe: a Greek taverna, an all-day international restaurant, and, on the 11th floor, a Mexican rooftop cantina with 360-degree skyline views. W XYZ, Aloft's signature bar, pours cocktails to a soundtrack of mood music, while Re:fuel, the self-serve gourmet eatery in the lobby, offers mix-and-match meals and drinks. Down on the sand, the beach bar is made for sunsets.

The outdoor saline pool, with its own bar, is made for lazy afternoons between swims in the sea. The spa has treatment rooms with private showers and separate lounges for men and women, and the gym features modern cardio and strength machines.