Hot bars, cool stars, sweltering beaches and sizzling restaurants, Dubai has it all - and then some says MATT COPPOCK

There’s nowhere quite like Dubai. Where else in the world could you take a Jeep safari into the sweltering dunes one minute and ski down a snowy sub-zero slalom the next? Throw in some smooching with dolphins, a camel ride in the desert, a trip up the world’s tallest tower, exercise with your credit card in the mammoth malls and dinner in a seven-star hotel on a man-made island, and you really do have a truly mind-blowing holiday experience.

WHERE SHOULD I GO?
Millions of Brits travel to Dubai every year and it’s easy to see why. A seven-hour flight away, you’re pretty much guaranteed sunshine all year round. Summer months can be stifling – OK! braved August when temperatures simmered around 40˚C – but it’s a much more pleasant 25˚C in our winter.

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WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
OK! checked into the five-star Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa (www.leroyalmeridien-dubai.com), with its prime beach-front location overlooking the Arabian Gulf. We were treated like royalty on arrival, whisked past reception and straight to our elegant sea-view suite to be checked in. The hotel’s a favourite with families, and once the kids have seen the Penguin Club you won’t see them for dust – leaving you ample time to enjoy the many watersports on offer  or some serious pampering in the Caracalla Spa. If you’ve overdone the sun, the soothing waterlily body wrap treatment is a must – or a pounding Swedish massage to iron out those stress knots!

We were also curious to see what a seven-star hotel offered, so our next stop was the Burj Al Arab. Suites start at £1,500 a night at this sail-shaped icon of luxury, complete with indoor cascading waterfall, underwater restaurant, shark-infested aquarium and more gold leaf than Goldfinger’s garden. With a staff-to-suite ratio of 8:1, you get some idea of the kind VIP service you’ll receive.

WHERE CAN I SHOP?
Dubai is known as the shopping capital of the Middle East and with good foundation. Check out the sprawling Mall Of The Emirates and Dubai Mall for all your western High Street favourites. Cameras, computers and CDs are tax-free too. The Dubai Shopping Festival (January 28 – February 28 2011) sees prices drop, plus there’s live entertainment in the malls. There are bargains galore to be had in the souks either side of the creek too – especially jewellery.

WHICH STARS MIGHT I SEE?
Dubai seems to be the place for footballers fanning the flames of passion recently. Troubled Wayne and Coleen Rooney checked into the Burj Al Arab to rekindle their love. John and Toni Terry found the Royal Méridien the perfect tonic, as did fellow footballer Peter Crouch and his pregnant fiancée Abbey Clancy. Alex Gerrard is also a Dubai fan and recently holidayed there with her kids, while Myleene Klass says of Dubai: ‘The weather’s always good and the people are brilliant with children.’ If visiting during the annual film festival in December, you may see George Clooney, Matt Dillon or Gerard Butler, who have all attended in the past. While Tom Cruise is in Dubai now filming the next Mission: Impossible film.

WHERE CAN I EAT?
OK! was invited to attend the launch of Michelin-starred chef Gary Rhodes’ upscale grill restaurant, Twenty10, at the Le Royal Méridien – just one of the hotel’s 14 bars and restaurants. Gary sat with us and spoke passionately about his innovative tailor-made sharing starter platters (we loved the melt-in the-mouth mini fillet steak burgers), but if you’re missing home there’s steak and kidney pie, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding on the menu too!

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The Armani restaurant at the Burj Khalifa is as expensive and opulent as you’d expect, complete with massive screens playing Armani fashion shows. Trader Vic’s has two locations, one on The Walk, Jumeirah, and one at Madinet Jumeirah, with great happy hours. The rich and famous head to Indigo at the Grosvenor House Hotel, while OK! had a truly delicious fishy experience (lobster ceviche, rock shrimp tempura and king crab) at Nobu at Atlantis The Palm. At the Burj Al Arab, we dined at Junsui, its new Asian restaurant with no less than 45 specialist chefs. Verre By Gordon Ramsay at the Hilton Dubai Creek was an enjoyable experience, with the roasted fillet of sea bream the culinary highlight, along with theatrical presentations of the courses from the waiters! A branch of Jamie Oliver’s Italian eatery opens later this month at Festival City, while in January the world’s highest restaurant Atmosphere will be unveiled on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
OK! tried all sorts of weird and wonderful activities. Among the highlights was a camel ride, an adrenaline-pumping Jeep safari whizzing across the dunes with Desert Adventures (www.desertadventures.com) and snowboarding on real snow at Ski Dubai at the Mall Of The Emirates. Aquaventure at the Atlantis The Palm was a fun day out too – just make sure any swimming costumes are fastened tightly for the near-vertical Leap Of Faith ride! We also kissed a dolphin at Atlantis’s Dolphin Bay and went up to the observation deck on the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa.

WHERE'S THE NIGHTLIFE?
As drinking alcohol is confined to the Western bars and restaurants, you’ll find many of the hotspots within hotels. Slip on your Louboutins for the glamorous Buddha Bar at the Grosvenor House Hotel – enjoy dinner at the Asian-fusion restaurant before hitting the bar for a lychee Martini, à la Victoria Beckham when she was here. Located at the Shangri-La Hotel, which has hosted George Clooney, Matt Damon and Alicia Keys, iKandy has views over the Marina – think Miami glamour with Middle Eastern charm. Barasti, at the Mina Seyahi Hotel, caters for the young, hip Ibiza crowd. The Nasimi Beach party on The Palm next to Atlantis is the spot for an all-night shindig. Trilogy at Souk Madinat Jumeirah has recently hit the scene too, with Mark Ronson spinning at the rooftop bar launch. Or hang out at the Fairmont Hotel, where you’ll find the OTT Cavalli Club, designed by Roberto himself. Think oversized chandeliers and zebra-print chairs. Honourable nods also go to Sanctuary at Atlantis (Gerard Butler and Lindsay Lohan spotted here) and Plastik at Golden Tulip Al Jazira, complete with hot tubs at every table!

HOW CAN I GET THERE?
Emirates Tours (0844 800 1400; www.emiratestours.co.uk) offers a three-night package, with return flights with Emirates from Gatwick, Birmingham or Newcastle, hotel transfers and daily breakfast, staying in a deluxe room at Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa from £639pp. Based on two people sharing and valid for travel June 6–July 15 and August 11–-28 2011. Book by March 31 2011. A seven-night package costs from £899pp.