Embrace your Inner Ariel: Booking.com Shares Stays Fit for any Mermaid Inspired by Disney’s The Little Mermaid
The live-action re-imagining of The Little Mermaid hit movie screens on May 26 this year and reunited fans around the world with the beloved story of Ariel. Featuring singer and actor Halle Bailey as Ariel and award-winning actress, producer and Booking.com’s #1 Travel Fan Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, movie lovers can expect romance and adventure as well as aquatic inspiration both above land and under the sea. In celebration of the film, we’re inspiring travelers to make a splash and immerse in different waters of the world! Booking.com has delved into its more than 29 million listings, including more than 6.6 million listings in homes, apartments and other unique places to stay, to share eight mermaid-inspired stays where travelers can embrace their inner Ariel.
Malibu, United States
Malibu is synonymous with white sand beaches, glistening blue waters and sunny skies. Perfect for adventures on land and those looking to make a splash. The Little Mermaid fans can dive straight in this summer at Disney's The Little Mermaid Beach House, a bookable experience available exclusively on Booking.com. A Malibu beach house has been transformed into a limited-edition beachfront stay that features Insta-worthy rooms with decor inspired by Ariel, Ursula, King Triton and Prince Eric, a private dinner in the house with a personal chef, a screen of The Little Mermaid at a nearby theater and lots more! The Little Mermaid Experience will be bookable starting on June 7 at noon ET for three separate overnight stays taking place on June 9, 10 and 11. Each booking includes flights and airport transfers available on Booking.com, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for $5.26, in honor of the day the new film dives into theaters (26 May).
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
For a once-in-a-lifetime stay, travelers should look no further than Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. Located on Palm Jumeirah Island, guests can relax on the hotel’s private beach and dip into the shimmering Persian Gulf. With some of its oceanic-designed rooms connected to the hotel’s aquarium, guests can immerse themselves under the sea and feel connected to the majestic sea creature friends of Ariel. For those seeking family fun, enjoy complimentary access to Aquaventure, the largest waterpark in the Middle East with over 100 record-breaking slides and attractions, not one for guppys or those with cold fins! The Booking.com Travel Sustainable stay is also home to some world-class restaurants from Nobu serving exquisite Japanese cuisine to Hakkasan, famous for Cantonese, with all dishing up locally sourced food and making huge efforts to reduce wastage. After dining like a king, guests can hit the hotel’s high-end boutiques and shops full of gadgets and gizmos a-plenty. For travelers with strong sea legs, book a Dubai Marina, Atlantis, and Burj Al Arab Boat Tour to experience Dubai’s coastline on a thrilling speedboat.
Playa del Carmen, México
Situated between Tulum and Cancún, the Palafitos Overwater Bungalows is a magical destination. An adults-only stay, this resort oozes romance and would make a gorgeous honeymoon destination. For an exciting day out in Tulum, travelers can book a Turtle Bay and Cenote Snorkelling Tour to explore the rich underwater ecosystem, with the chance to spot colorful tropical fish, stunning rock formations and amazing corals. Back at the ranch, guests can dive into the Caribbean sea directly from their bungalow’s private deck overlooking the water and channel their inner Ariel as they cool down in the Mexican heat. To get into the vacation spirit, a tequila and wine-tasting experience is available onsite, or guests can venture to the accommodation’s karaoke evening – losing their voices from the raucous singing rather than a deal with the Ursula. At night, the gentle lapping of the ocean will lull guests to sleep after a day in paradise with thankfully no sea witches in sight.
Onna, Okinawa, Japan
Travelers can become one with the sea like Ariel at the Villa Valiosa on the Beach. This high-end resort along the sandy beaches of Onna Village features six two-story villas, each with its own jacuzzi and infinity pool which blends seamlessly with the ocean. Known as the ‘Hawaii of Japan,’ the southwestern island of Okinawa has white-sand beaches and azure blue waters made of tropical fantasies, plus magical star-gazing, diving and cherry blossoms. Travelers will find great diversity in the water at the nearby Blue Cave: from diving with mantas to super-accessible snorkeling, travelers of all ages can float around in bathtub-warm water, watching fish reminiscent of Flounder and spotting sea turtles grazing on algae. Back on land, the Okinawan arts scene is thriving, and this Booking.com Travel Sustainable stay offers local artists a platform to display traditional fabrics and glazed ceramics, and also has a ban on single-use plastic to protect its marine life. Top tip: Feast like a mermaid on the delicious sea grapes – a local seaweed delicacy that pops in the mouth!
Halki, Greece
The Mediterranean 19th-century mansion, Halki Sea House is located on the island of Halki, a hidden gem nestled amongst turquoise sea. With waves lapping onto its terrace, guests can enjoy the waters of the Aegean touching their feet without having to leave the house, and incredible sea views from first sip of morning coffee to sunset cocktails. This Booking.com Travel Sustainable stay, with a private beach, offsets a portion of its carbon footprint and invests a percentage of revenue back into sustainability projects to protect sea life. Blessed with stunning beaches, Halki is a charming island with a seafront village home to restaurants and cute boutiques selling their own whozits and whatzits. Travelers can explore the island’s port in Nimporio and venture up to the medieval castle located on a hill above Chrorio village. For a water-themed day out, take a short ferry over to Rhodes Island and embark on a Sun & Sea Swimming Cruise to explore wondrous beaches, bays and caves just like Ariel and Triton.
Malé Atoll, Maldives
Located in the breathtaking north Malé Atoll island blessed with palm trees and turquoise water, Huvafen Fushi is a luxurious stay fit for a prince or princess from the land or the sea. The resort offers incredible overwater and beach bungalows poised right on the water, each with its own freshwater plunge pool, as well as the world’s first and only underwater spa. For a restorative day, guests can book a treatment and unwind amongst the magical panoramic reef views and soothing design inspired by the ocean – perfect for those happy under the sea. To protect its natural surroundings, this Booking.com Travel Sustainable stay provides guests with information regarding local ecosystems and culture and has a ban on single-use plastics. Outside of the spa, visitors can get up close and personal with marine life at one of the resort's many snorkeling and diving spots to encounter under the sea friends that remind them of Flounder and Sebastian. After a day immersed in the natural wonders of the underwater world, guests can relax on the resort’s sunset deck for a fairytale end to a perfect day part of this world.
Lahaina, Hawaii, United States
Located in a small town in West Maui in Hawaii, the Puunoa Beach Estates, a Destination by Hyatt Residence are set directly on the beach and guests can step outside to enjoy the luxury whirlpool spa and heated freshwater pool. The picture of paradise with large dunes and trees that line the coast, these upscale condos offer oceanfront living at its finest, fit for Disney royalty. A white coral reef just off shore makes for a tranquil haven where guests can swim, snorkel and paddle board, all in blissfully calm and shallow waters – so parents can allow kids to splash about carefree. Wake to the waves, toast the sunset and, in between, guests can do as much or as little as they like. From hiking tropical forests to discovering towering waterfalls and snorkeling through schools of tropical fish, or simply enjoying a nap under a swaying palm. Travelers can channel their inner Ariel and explore the Pacific’s wide world of wonders with excursions to swim with the dolphin or scuba dive. Landlubbers fear not, head to Lahaina’s Front Street which offers a variety of restaurants, bars and art galleries all to the backdrop of a colorful Hawaiian sunset.
Wilson Island, Australia
Travelers can’t get much more remote than the picturesque Wilson Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Surrounded by pristine white beaches and crystal blue seas, the island covers just two hectares of seclusion in a setting of unrivaled natural beauty. Hosting only 18 guests at one time, the eponymous Wilson Island offers nine designer-inspired tents for overnight stays each with a balcony and a sea view, and an island host catering to guests. Dinner is served from an open kitchen setting at The Longhouse, a central dining area for chilling out and socializing perfect for those who love to explore that shore up above. This eco-friendly island is powered by battery and solar energy only and, due to its secluded location, there is no WiFi so guests can completely switch off from the outside world. Spend time instead snorkeling with the turtles, parrotfish and clownfish in the Coral Sea. In January, guests might even spot loggerhead turtles lugging their way up the sand to give birth. In respect of nature, this Booking.com Travel Sustainable stay has a ban on single-use plastic and serves locally sourced food.
“The Little Mermaid”
“The Little Mermaid,” visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall’s live-action reimagining of the studio’s Oscar®-winning animated musical classic, opens exclusively in theaters nationwide May 26, 2023. “The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy. The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Eric; Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton,” “Snowpiercer”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca,” “Room”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as The Queen; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.
“The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 42,513 respondents across 33 markets (2,000 from USA, 1,008 from Canada, 2,000 from Mexico, 1,000 from Colombia, 2,000 from Brazil, 1,000 from Argentina, 2,000 from Australia, 1,000 from New Zealand, 2,000 from Spain, 2,000 from Italy, 2,000 from France, 2,000 from UK, 2,000 from Germany, 1,000 from Netherlands, 1,000 from Denmark, 1,000 from Sweden, 1,000 from Croatia, 1,000 from Switzerland, 1,000 from Belgium, 1,000 from Ireland, 1,000 from Portugal, 1,000 from Israel, 2,000 from India, 1,000 from China, 1,005 from Hong Kong, 1,000 from Thailand, 1,000 from Singapore, 1,000 from Taiwan, 1,000 from Vietnam, 1,000 from South Korea, 1,000 from Japan, 500 from UAE). In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have traveled at least once in the past 12 months, and planning to travel in 2023 and be either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel. The survey was taken online and took place in January and February 2023.