Bab Al Shams

Nestled in the Dubai dunes sits the low-rise retreat, Bab Al Shams - an exclusive, romantic and relaxed hotel a mere 50 minutes from the city. I had heard many great things about Bab Al Shams, from the rooms to the restaurants, from the pool to the sunset views, and the resort came up with top trumps on nearly every occasion.

On arrival, we were greeted by a very friendly concierge who swiftly whisked us off to our humble abode for the weekend - a dark and very Arabic style room on the ground floor with a huge outdoor terrace and an even bigger bath tub!! Tick. The pool on the other-hand did disappoint slightly... i had previously been promised a pool so large that you couldn't see other people when you were submerged, however, even though the hotel wasn't full at all, we seemed to swim into people left right and center... On the flip side, there were 3 pools on offer, so if you got sick of the company in one, it was easy enough to float over to the next.

Due to the location of the digs, the hotel offered daily camel rides and falcon shows on the sand.. this went on for an hour meaning you wouldn't have to queue for long to wait your turn and it seemed like a great way to keep children entertained later in the afternoon... I on the other hand only wanted a falcon selfie, which I am pleased to announce I got :)

As we were only there for one night, we didnt get a chance to experience all the wonderful restaurants on offer however we had a fantastic dinner at Al Forsan... Typically Italian, the chef was extremely kind, whipping me up a gluten free meal consisting of steak, rice and veg - cooked to perfection it was absolutely divine! We also ordered room service and ate breakfast on our terrace on our last day which was deliciously offering up gluten free toast, copious amounts of tea and coffee as well as poached eggs (which admittedly were a little hard...). Sunny D's are on offer throughout the hotel and they have some brilliant roof top spots to watch the sunset whilst slurping on a cocktail.

A great escape for Dubai residents to go for a weekend - also look out for great deals on offer during the Summer months.

The Farm - Al Barari, Dubai

The Farm was definitely the kind of place I didn't expect to find in Dubai... Even though I had heard of its wonder. From driving down the bleak and unscenic Emirates Road towards Al Barari, you are all of a sudden welcomed into the arms of greenery - winding roads bound by large leafy hedges, grass and flowers which not only lead to incredible villas but also to The Farm which is tucked away in the heart of the complex.

Probably one of my favorite types of restaurants, The Farm understands the words organic, gluten free and dairy free which is something that hasn't completely caught on in Dubai yet, and not only offers a menu full of options for everyone but also has a small shop giving customers the option to take a slice of 'The Farm experience' home with them. Set among exotic flower beds, tidy lawns, trickling lakes and kitchy furniture and bridges, you have both a tranquil indoor area plus outdoor seating on decking among the vibrant oasis. Not only is it great to go for breakie, lunch and dinner, in the cooler months I can see myself taking a book and setting up camp in one of the idyllic hammocks whilst consuming copious amounts of coffee and dozing in the winter sun.

On this occasion the sun was beating down, however The Farm had it covered.. quite literally. The outdoor areas were covered and cooled so you could still enjoy the scenery without sweating. Breakfast was a mixture of eggs, fruits, amazing smoothies and truely scrumptious gluten free coconut and blueberry pancakes washed down with coffee. A combination of great food, perfect setting and friendly staff creates an incomparable ambiance of peace, calm and relaxation and even though you feel a million miles away from the flashing lights, The Farm is a mere 15minute drive away from MOE making it a weekend must! Be sure to treat yourself to a morning at the oasis of flavor and tranquility...