TRIED AND TESTED
Hotel spot check: Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
BACKGROUND: Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort is the hotel that put Fujairah on the map as an alternative UAE holiday destination to Dubai. Standing tall against the backdrop of the dramatic Hajjar mountains on the country’s east coast, the property has not only become a weekend break stalwart for the UAE market, but also a holiday resort of choice for thousands of European holidaymakers each year. The hotel now has neighbouring resorts either side, with more to follow, yet due to a continuous upgrade programme is still considered the most comprehensive resort on the Al Aqah strip.
LOCATION: Le Méridien Al Aqah is located on Al Aqah beach in the north of Fujairah. It is easily accessible by road. Our journey from Dubai took just one-and-a-half hours by car.
ACCOMODATION: The resort has 218 rooms, each with floor-to-ceiling windows boasting views of the pool, beach and gardens. We stayed in one of the 88 Superior Rooms, which had its own balcony and offered ample facilities including tea- and coffee-making, a fruit basket, a mini bar and basic bathroom amenities with extras available on request. The décor and furnishings are starting to look their age in terms of style, rather than wear and tear, and could probably do with an update, but the room was comfortable with a decent-sized bathroom.
LEISURE FACILITIES: This is where Le Méridien Al Aqah really comes into its own. The pool and sunbathing area are huge, so too is the beach area, and there are activities galore on offer to keep all the family occupied.
Watersports include banana boat and donut rides, water skiing, boat cruises, fishing charters, snorkeling and glass bottom boat trips, while the professional dive centre even offers night dives or adventure day trips to the Musandam. Back on dry land and there’s a gym, tennis and squash courts, cinema and games rooms. There’s the Penguin Club for kids aged four to 12, which recently introduced a pets corner, as well as babysitting services.
The resort’s concierge team can also arrange excursions. The only problem at the resort is that it is so busy at weekends that it does get a little crowded around the pool making it hard to get the attention of a waiter when you need a drink to quench your thirst!
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SPA: The Spa Al Aqah offers Thai-, Balinese- and European-inspired treatments using Elemis products and there is also an Ayurvedic Centre. The spa is currently located in the leisure complex and so it can get a little noisy at times, however, the facility is undergoing a massive refurbishment, which will see the area re-designed and more treatment rooms added. I had a facial, which I usually find a bit boring, but this involved massage, many different products and a bubbling seaweed back treatment thrown in for extra measure, so I was pleasantly surprised.
DINING: With seven F&B outlets on offer — and another soon to be built — you are spoilt for choice when it comes to wining and dining, but we opted for the Gonu Bar and Grill for dinner on the shores of the resort’s private beach. The quality of the food and the service was superb.
The waiters were friendly, helpful and attentive and we were served simple, fresh and very tasty fish and seafood dishes. The only issue was the heat and humidity, which made me lose my appetite. I felt that fans should have been offered for guests who required them.
SPECIAL DEALS : Summer prices, valid until September 20, start from as low as AED 349 (US $95) per night on week nights only, including breakfast and either lunch or dinner.
EDITOR'S VERDICT
Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort provides all the ingredients needed to make an action-packed family break. There’s the spa for mum, watersports for dad and activities galore to keep the kids occupied. It’s perfect for GCC residents looking for a quick getaway in a location where the breeze takes the edge off the summer heat.
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