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Sassy Mama Chills Out With The Family At Riva Beach Club

Play & PartyPost Category - Play & PartyPlay & Party - Post Category - OutdoorOutdoor
What's OnPost Category - What's OnWhat's On - Post Category - Things to Do With KidsThings to Do With Kids

With Spring Break not far away, a lot of my fellow mamas are walking around with pensive looks on their faces. You can virtually see the words spilling out of their heads… “How can we keep our children occupied with activities for 14 extra days?” “If only we had booked a holiday and escaped to different shores…” “Can’t my husband just take a few days off that week?”

Well despite what you think, mamas, there’s actually a mountain of things to do in Dubai (check out our round up here) and one of our newest, favourite kid-friendly pastimes is a full day at Riva Beach Club. This weekend I decided to do a trip to The Palm and it certainly did not disappoint.

pool and palm trees

I bundled my kids into the car straight after breakfast (no hanging around in their PJ’s today I thought, we must catch the sun!) and headed to the Shoreline for a day of fun. As we booked in for the day, I was reminded that this resort actually is quite affordable which is undoubtedly one of its biggest selling points. It is also a really well rounded club with good facilities including main and baby pools (with lifeguard at the ready!), a pristine, sandy beach with sun loungers and day beds, and a range of sporting activities to keep you busy.

paddle-boarding

We started our day with an hour or two at the pool and beach, relaxing and enjoying the sun. I then tried my hand at a beginner’s session of paddle boarding which was both athletic, yet quite calming as I was out on the water on my own. It’s the first moment in a long time where I really experienced some “me” time, whilst my husband swam happily with the kids in the temperature controlled pool. Bliss! If paddle boarding isn’t your thing, fear not, there are many other sporting activities on offer, including kayaking and beach volleyball.

steak

Lunch at Riva Ristorante is fabulous for all the family. My girls loved the spag bol and my husband satisfied his hunger with a selection from the pasta dishes. On the other hand, I chose sea bass with broccoli and French fries, which certainly hit the spot. The menu offers a range of authentic, fresh Italian cuisine straight from the Mediterranean, featuring salads, pastas, delicious pizzas and seafood platters piled high with crab, oysters and langoustines. Apart from the food, which you honestly can’t fault, what I love about this place is that you could eat your lunch in a relaxed Gazebo area poolside (there is nothing better than an alfresco lunch at this time of the year), or opt for a more formal dining option in the restaurant if that takes your fancy.

We finished our day with a trip to the climbing frames on the beach – a lovely touch when the kids have had enough of the pool and have fulfilled their quota in sandcastles!

pool

As we started to leave Riva you could see that the venue was just spicing up. The gazebo had fast transformed into a lounge bar as the sun began to set and they had just fired up the barbeques for an even more casual approach to early dinner. The resident DJ took his stand and opened his set of chilled tunes, as the guests settled in to what I’m sure would have been a lovely evening. A touch of Ibiza in Dubai, who would of thought it…

Riva is a great place to go with all the family. If you decide to go in the week the entrance fee is AED 100 per person. On the weekend, the fee rises to AED 175.

Riva, Building 8, The Shoreline Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, (+971) (0) 4 430 9466, www.riva-beach.com

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