Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
THE kids were up for it ... but mum and dad were keeping their feet firmly on the ground.
"I'll catch you at the bottom," I said meekly.
How come the older you get, the more of a 'wuss' you become? In my prime I didn't think twice about jumping out of an aeroplane for charity yet 25 years later I can't face a theme park slide.
Mind you, it wasn't any old attraction; it was THE 'leap of faith' at Aquaventure, the spectacular water world of over 18 million litres, consisting of extraordinary rides with cascades, tidal waves and rapids and several heart-pumping slopes attached to one of the hottest tourist attractions in the Middle East.
And, Atlantis, the Palm, Dubai, is not any old holiday destination, even on one of the busiest dates on the calendar.
The Szecowka family booked a short break after its youngest members, Imogen, 11, and little Stan, seven, had pestered me into submission after playground chatter had made it a 'must visit'.
It was Eid, the kids' were off school, Kathryn, the good lady, had been giving me earache about taking some time off from work during the break and we managed to secure a suite in the east tower.
Although the royal towers boast 1,539 guestrooms and suites, there was no other room left in the inn. It was packed to capacity. We hoped the crowds would not spoil our enjoyment.
I should not have worried. It was a test Atlantis passed with flying colours. From check-in to restaurant dining, to cleanliness and room quality, from queuing for the rides to booking a massage (I know, I deserved it) ... seriously slick was the overwhelming impression.
My verdict was music to the ears of Brett Armitage, senior vice president, sales, who explained that delivering the dream was all part of the service. "In all honesty we have a more demanding audience than other holiday destinations and we have to be at the top of our game.
"For example, take expats who live in the region and are looking for a short break. They are lucky to live a certain lifestyle out here with maids at home and fine dining restaurants to enjoy in the evening and we have to provide a world class service that lives up to their expectations."
Brought up in the north of England, Brett had his first taste of the good life in the Gulf at a well known rival establishment close by before sampling the challenges of a far chillier New Zealand. Ironically, I stayed at the same hotel during Bahrain's ill-fated World Cup Finals play-off journey and can assure readers that Wellington lives up to its 'windy city' reputation.
The chance of returning to the sunshine and helping to set up the Atlantis dream understandably proved irresistible.
I liked the merry mixture of cultures with West meeting East meeting Middle East. With Gulf nationals making up 22 per cent of its regular clientele, having Arabic-speaking staff in the sales team, lobby, restaurants and spa ensures the holiday experience is enjoyed by locals as well as visitors from around the globe.
At present half the annual visitors come from Europe but a charm offensive in China is likely to see a growth in the number from the Far East in the near future.
Dolphin Bay is one of the major draws of Atlantis and offers guests the chance to interact with its most playful residents.
At the very mention of dolphins, I always endure a lecture from a former colleague who is fervently opposed to these creatures being kept in captivity. However, this is a 4.5 hectare state-of-the-art education and conservation centre, and I haven't met anyone more passionate about the mammals than dolphin bay's vice president, Heidi PerezCao.
The experienced Cuban marine biologist believes the work being undertaken on their husbandry and well-being will provide vital information and understanding to ensure their preservation in the wild, in seas spoiled by pollution and intensive fishing.
A hands-on experience watching and touching the dolphins in small groups with marine mammal specialists proves to be a breath-taking experience. "The dolphins are the ambassadors of the oceans," said Heide, who believes they leave a life-long impression in the hearts and minds of younger guests, perhaps the movers and shakers and decision makers of tomorrow. "They will have been touched emotionally and I'm sure they will become excited about animal conservation in general from that moment on," she said with confidence.
Another close encounter we experienced was with a shallow pool full of hungry cownose rays that slivered up our legs and arms to suck down a feast of fish food from our hands. These creatures do not have the dolphins' charisma and didn't touch me emotionally ... although they tried very hard to become intimate in an experience that could be best described as being French-kissed by a vacuum cleaner.
I prefer my fish in a tank ... and I wasn't disappointed with the Ambassador Lagoon, an 11 million litre marine and underwater exhibit which is home to several hundred species of marine life, with incredible viewing panels.
Fish and a variety of other seafood were also on the menu at the tasty array of restaurants nearby. Our particular favourites were Kaleidoscope, a warm and inviting venue focusing on Mediterranean cuisine, Rostang, a French Brasserie with a special night for moules and fries and Nobu, an upmarket Japanese affair.
The Atlantis Kids Club offers a supervised activity programme on a daily basis for children aged 4 to 12, so Kathryn and I took advantage of the facility to test the hotel's impressive health and fitness spa alone.
Massuer Kadek Rasmawan's gentle back treatment had me comatosed within moments and the female masseur worked wonders on Kathryn whose only complaint afterwards focused on my snoring. I never heard a thing.
Fully refreshed, with my credit card in check thanks to little Stan blocking Kathryn's entry into any of the outlets along the shopping avenues (he even lay across the floor blocking the entrance to Tiffany's, bless him) it was over too soon and the short flight home beckoned.
Virgin Holidays last year crowned Atlantis the 'best family resort' in the Middle East and Africa, a well deserved accolade from my experience.
As for the leap of faith ... four seconds and it was over (next time, I'll do it). The memory of our holiday, however, will last forever.
For prices and further information, visit www.atlantisthepalm.com
