BACKGROUND: Having been to the hotel last year for the afternoon, I was initially skeptical about staying. At the time of my last visit, the hotel was being refurbished and the property was fairly dark and uninviting.
The beach was of course stunning, but I was anxious the interior would not do the exterior justice. My anxieties evaporated as soon as I walked into the new lobby.
Sporting magnificent chandeliers and imaginative flower arrangements, the area was light and inviting. Furthermore, the receptionist was friendly and helpful and made me feel incredibly welcome. My bags were taken care of and as I walked to my room there was a vibrancy about the hotel that created a fun and upbeat ambience.
ACCOMMODATION: I stayed in an Executive Club Room and was immediately impressed with the décor. Tastefully furnished and sporting an incredibly large mirror, the room felt bright and airy, combining Arabic chic with modern touches.
A great USP for the hotel is the fact that all 182 rooms have balconies and are sea facing. The balconies are large and allow for magnificent views over the beach, undisturbed until you reach Iran (powerful telescope required). With the range of suites, rooms or cabanas, differing tastes and budgets are well catered to.
FACILITIES: The options are varied and impressive. Besides offering standard hotel fare, there are a number of unique options in terms of entertainment. The Cosmic Bowling centre offers lanes of ten-pin bowling, pool tables and other treats.
The PADI Gold Palm dive centre offers a variety of courses for beginners to experts while golfing enthusiasts can hit the putting green. There is a superbly-equipped modern gym with a large aerobics studio room for classes. The Health Spa boasts a steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi.
DINING: Café Kranzler is the all-day dining restaurant, where I had breakfast and lunch. There was a great variety of food to cater to all tastes and a live-cooking egg station to boot.
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However, it was Bukhara that stole the show — an exceptional Indian restaurant where you eat with your hands. The ambience was superb and it was understandable why the restaurant was practically full. The Entertainment Lounge provided live music and an incredible beverage range that kept me going through the evening.
Other dining options include an Italian and an Oriental restaurant, pool bar and Beach Comber for snacks and refreshments. Furthermore, for sporting enthusiasts the World Cup Sports Bar provides must-watch games on a giant screen in a US/UK-style bar.
THE SPA: The hotel boasts a variety of spa treatments in the Laguna Spa with its range of St. Barth treatments and recently added hot stone, chocolate and coffee treatments.
I went to the Softouch Ayurveda Spa where, following a consultation, an Ayurvedic doctor recommended a therapy with natural oils and herbs. The massage room was airy and created a superb ambience with soft music and an incredibly good masseur.
I left the massage feeling relaxed but invigorated and would certainly have similar treatments in the future. The Laguna Spawill have additional treatment rooms following the completion of a refurbishment currently taking place.
Editor's Verdict
I was thoroughly impressed with the hotel, its offering and the majority of its staff. The beach is a real selling-point, but certainly not the hotel’s only one, hence the wide variety of guests and the hotel being at 89% occupancy when I stayed.
Families are superbly catered for, with the children’s pool, activities and bowling, while adults can enjoy superb gym facilities, a wealth of spa options and the various food and beverage outlets.
The German and Russian market is very strong for the hotel, but there are also a lot of visitors from the UAE. It is a great property for those looking to escape the city, or for those who want to explore Dubai, but stay outside the city. I will be returning as 24 hours simply isn’t long enough to experience all the hotel has to offer.
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