The post Double Tree by Hilton Marjan Island RAK | Birthday Staycations 2020 – Episode 4/4 appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>Haven’t seen the previous episodes?
Watch Episode 1 – Taj Dubai
Watch Episode 2 – Radisson Blu Fujairah
Watch Episode 3 – Rixos The Palm
Check out the 4th episode of My Birthday Staycations in the UAE at Double Tree by Hilton, Marjan Island Ras Al Khaimah
Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to leave a comment
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]]>The post Rixos The Palm Dubai | Birthday Staycations 2020 – Episode 3/4 appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>Haven’t seen the previous episodes?
Watch Episode 1 – Taj Dubai
Watch Episode 2 – Radisson Blu Fujairah
Check out the 3rd episode of My Birthday Staycations in the UAE at Rixos The Palm Dubai
Watch Episode 4 – Double Tree by Hilton Marjan Island RAK
Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to leave a comment
The post Rixos The Palm Dubai | Birthday Staycations 2020 – Episode 3/4 appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>The post Radisson Blu Fujairah | Birthday Staycations 2020 – Episode 2/4 appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>Haven’t seen the previous episode?
Watch Episode 1 – Taj Dubai
Check out the 2nd episode of My Birthday Staycations in the UAE at Radisson Blu Fujairah
Watch Episode 3 – Rixos The Palm
Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to leave a comment
The post Radisson Blu Fujairah | Birthday Staycations 2020 – Episode 2/4 appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>The post Taj Dubai | Birthday Staycations 2020 – Episode 1/4 appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>Check out the 1st episode of My Birthday Staycations in the UAE at Taj Dubai
Watch episode 2 here
The post Taj Dubai | Birthday Staycations 2020 – Episode 1/4 appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>The post Tilal Liwa | Madinat Zayed – Abu Dhabi appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>This was my second visit to this property and that says a lot about the place, given I hardly ever repeat hotels in UAE. So what exception made me choose this resort again? An amazing all inclusive price (> AED 600 per room per night), a complimentary room upgrade, coupled with the chance to enjoy a 3 hour drive though nothingness, and of course, the 377383 hours that I could spend in their infinity pool, all came together to push me into choosing Tilal Liwa for a quick 2nd time summer staycay.
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While I was lucky enough to get an upgrade to the Royal Suite during my last visit approximately 2 and a half years back, this time we were upgraded to the 2nd category Sahab Room, which in my honest opinion was not at all bad. The room opened up into a hallway with the bathroom on the left and wardrobe on the right, and led to the main area featuring a king size bed, a TV table with a chest of drawers and two seating chairs.
Take a quick tour of my room at Tilal Liwa Hotel:
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In terms of amenities, everything we needed was present, except for the usual dental kit which I have grown into the habit of calling for at every hotel I stay. The tea and coffee facilities were as expected and the mini bar was well stocked (not that we made use of it). The wardrobe was good enough for a one or two night stay. And since this hotel is located quite literally in the middle of nowhere, which means you have to drive at least 15-20 minutes to get to the nearest supermarket, I don’t think anyone would want to stay here for more than 3 nights.
Quite spacious, and most certainly clean, I really liked how the bathroom was divided into well defined areas so you always have space to move around. The bath tub was absolutely soak-friendly and I had concrete plans to make full use of that just incase the pool got too hot for me. Luckily, the pool was perfect, but more on that later.
All the little tidbits like toiletries, towels, etc. were maintained well, and yes, the bathroom comes with a shattaf and a bidet, so suit yourself!
I really really like the pool at Tilal Liwa. Yes, there are so many gorgeous pools in Dubai and I have been to quite a few of them as well, but something about the calming infinity edge looking into the nothingness of the desert really soothes my senses. After seeing tons of people floating in pools, this time around, I picked up an inflatable from ACE Hardware along with a manual pump, and I really enjoyed floating on it. The afternoons did get hot and dry, but that was only if you were lounging outside the pool. The pool waters were cool and while we were inside, we didn’t feel the heat at all. We actually spent quite a lot of our two days soaking up the sun and wading through the pool waters. The depth wasn’t too deep like the one at Rixos, so I found it quite comfortable to walk around and do some posing for the gram!
Although the dining options at the hotel are limited, I didn’t really miss not being able to eat enough food, since the all day dining restaurant – Al Badiya – had new items on offer everyday. Since we opted for an all-inclusive stay, all our meals at Al Badiya were covered, in addition to drinks at the restaurant, the pool bar and Layali Bar. My only regret was not being able to order food at the pool bar or the lounge. Also, a heads up, the all-inclusive package sounds quite lucrative, but the spirits on offer are the most basic ones. Moreover, no cocktails included, so that was another minus for me, but I managed to sail through the weekend with a rose in my hand.
Well, to be honest, there are no such nearby attractions close to Tilal Liwa durng this time of the year, but it’s a great tourist spot during the annual Dhafra Camel Festival that takes place in December. A 15-day soiree, this cultural festival features a series of competitions, such as a camel beauty contest, falcons, community traditional dresses, archery, traditional food, music and poetry, and offers a great chance for visitors to experience Emirati hospitality.
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Of course, if you are visiting during the rest of the year, you can opt for one of the numerous activities the hotel offers at an extra charge like camel riding, moon gazing, dune bikes, desert safaris and more. If you like cycling, you can take a ride on one of their cycles parked outside for free, or if the weather is forgiving, you can walk barefeet on the sand and experience the raw beauty of nature. Tip: Don’t walk too far into the desert in the night, and beware of the creatures that hide under the sand.
Watch my room tour of the Royal Suite from my 2016 trip to Tilal Liwa
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Have you been to this hotel yet? What did you love/hate about it?
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]]>The post Hilton Garden Inn | Ras Al Khaimah appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>Enter Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah, that had a lovely under the Stay Longer Save BB package for just AED 977.95 per room for 3 nights. That, my friends is certainly a steal, especially given the peak time we were booking for.
Fast forward 2 months and we arrive at the Hilton Garden Inn Resort on a lovely June afternoon. I had got an email notification from Hilton asking me to check in on their app earlier, but I found only smoking rooms available when I looked it up. So while we were driving to the resort, I instantly called them up and asked them to make sure I had a non-smoking room reserved for myself. The lobby was understandably crowded, children running about, families waiting while one of them completes the check-in formalities, guests getting in and out of lifts towards the restaurant and pool, you get the picture.During our check-in, a little mix up at the counter was almost expected, but I insisted I get a non-smoking room since I had it confirmed over the telephone. Thankfully, within a few minutes it was available and ready for us to settle in.
The room was quite expansive, consisting of a large double bed, a corner desk with a chair, an arm chair with a pouffe and side table, a 4 door wardrobe, TV, mini bar and tea-coffee facilities. Very easy for moving around, there was enough space for up to 3 adults to live comfortably. The window in the room gave us partial views of the corniche, tennis court and next door Naeem Mall. The bed was up to my standards and I believe I had a peaceful sleep on 2 out of 3 nights, the odd one being the one where I had a terrible sudden cramp in my stomach, due to an earlier injury. Even then, I managed to get a pretty good sleep. The desk was the best part of the room. Luckily I was carrying my laptop with me, so I got the chance to finish quite a bit of my pending blog work, while also browsing IKEA to buy my own desk and chair at home.
While the bathroom was super convenient, the one thing it missed was a bath tub. I am not a big fan of having tubs at home, but when it comes to hotels, I certainly fancy a soak or two. This being a 3 night stay, I would’ve certainly preferred some me time with a bubble bath and a glass of grape, but well, I had to settle for my tiny space in the pool. The bath was neatly arranged with a WC (and a shattaf!), a wash basin with an end to end counter and a standing shower area. I’d have liked it if the shower area had a door, since that would’ve restricted any water flowing towards the other half of the bath, but we managed.
Our first instinct after settling in was to check out the pool, but then we didn’t want to face the blazing sun while it was right over our heads so we decided to nap a bit. I usually don’t like napping in hotels, unless I am really tired, and this time around I wasn’t, so we ended up watching TV instead and before we knew it, it was time to check out the pool. The pool was crowded. And I mean it. Super crowded. It was as though the entire hotel was in that pool. We managed to spot a couple empty loungers and stacked up our towels there so we had some place to sit and sip our cocktails. Have I not told you how much I love sipping on cocktails by the pool! Since we were starving, and the complimentary peanuts wouldn’t suffice our hungry tummies, we also ordered a sandwich to go with the drinks. Between the drinks and the food, we found a little space in the pool to just let loose and feel the blues. One thing, and probably the only thing I love about summers, is that I can walk out of the pool without any shivering at all. And that feeling is priceless.
Hilton Garden Inn RAK has three places to dine and drink – all of which we tried during our stay. The breakfast, which was included in our package, was all their all day dining restaurant on the lobby level – Garden Grille. Very spacious, this restaurant was sufficient enough to cater to all the Eid rush. They had an extension within the restaurant which was opened up during peak breakfast times and set up with all the buffet stations to divide the crowds. On the same level, they had another resto-lounge called Garden Bar & Lounge. We enjoyed one of our evenings at this place sipping some great cocktails during their happy hour and dining on their bestselling pizza. The Pool Bar, located next to the pool on the lower level, was our regular for poolside drinks, sandwiches and quick bites. On the Thursday evening during our stay, the hotel was hosting a Pool Party + Summer BBQ where they kept the pool open until late and offered all-inclusive packages as well as amazing prices on drinks and finger food coupled with great music. We spent quite a while of our Thursday night at the Pool Bar for this. The hotel also has a small convenience shop near the lobby where you can pick a snack or a drink (licensed) or buy items like soap, dental kit, etc.
While Ras Al Khaimah is known as a tourist attraction for its mighty Jabal Jais mountains, and has especially become a great choice for adventure seekers with the Toro Verde ziplining experience, we chose not to go toward the mountains since it was too hot, and instead just walked over to the Naeem Mall next door. Quite an expansive mall, this caters to shoppers and diners alike. With the best fashion brands in tow, a two storey supermarket, a petite food court and some great casual dining choices, we ended up going to this mall twice during our stay – once for a quick bite at the food court, and the second time for some shoe shopping and dinner at The Yellow Chili.
Apart from Naeem Mall, you can also visit the nearby Manar Mall, and if you are looking for more licensed options for food and drinks, you can walk over to the CityMax hotel located opposite to Hilton.
#RashidaReviews
Although a great choice for a quick break, Hilton Garden Inn RAK offers very little in terms of things to do. It is a great hotel for tourists who would like to go out, explore the city and come back to a clean room with an occasional dip in the pool. but if you’re looking for luxury or indulgence like spa facilties, you will be better off checking out the other Hilton properties in the city.
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]]>The post Rixos Bab Al Bahr – Ras Al Khaimah | Staycation appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>The property is located on a vast span of land adjoining other properties on Marjan Island and with a direct access to the beach. Apart from the multiple accommodation options, they have numerous restaurants (meals at which are free and included in your stay), three different pools, a nightclub, children’s activity center and a small souk – all within the property. As soon as we arrived, we were swiftly checked in and given a printed map/guide that highlighted the different areas on the property, the different restaurants, how to reserve a table and whether they have a menu that incurs additional charge. We asked if we could reserve a table, since reservation is highly recommended and we booked ourselves at their steak restaurant for dinner. I will talk about the additional charges in a bit, but first let’s have lunch.
The lunch buffet is open only until 3, so as soon as we checked in, the concierge asked us to first have our lunch or it would be closed. I found this slightly odd, since it creates a kind of havoc situation especially if you are travelling with children. You don’t really get much time to get freshened up. The best option would be to arrive at the hotel slightly earlier, get yourself checked-in, leave your bags at the check-in desk and head over for lunch while your room gets prepared. On the other hand, if you miss the lunch, you could also go to their 24/7 restaurant to grab a quick bite.
As for us, we asked the bell boy to take our bags to the room while we headed to the Seven Heights restaurant for lunch. The first thing I noticed as soon as I stepped in was the crowd! There were so many people, it was honestly surprising. We somehow managed to find a table, but the service was slightly slow at this point and we found it difficult to ask for plates or cutlery. The food was quite good though, and we weren’t looking at filling up anyway, because we had so much more to explore.
Following lunch we checked in to our room which was supremely big. We were given a double room apartment which had one room with a king bed and attached bath, and another room with two single beds, and one additional bathroom in the hallway. This made for the perfectly comfortable stay. I must admit, I did spend a few seconds running around the entire apartment like a little girl.
The bathrooms were clean, and extra spacious. The only thing missing though was a nice bathtub. I am all for standing showers, they make life simple, but if the apartment has got two baths, having one as a lovely tub to soak in won’t hurt.
In terms of amenities, everything was right on point. Wardrobes, toiletries, hot beverage stand, TV, etc, – you know the drill. One thing about Rixos Bab Al Bahr All Inclusive is that the mini bar is also complimentary, but before you get too excited let me tell you, you won’t find any of that premium stuff in here. Just a couple of casual chips and a couple of beers in addition to juices and soft drinks.
Watch a video of the room tour here:
The pools at Rixos Bab Al Bahr are beautiful. My only two issues – 1. The adult pool was a tad too deep for me and 2. It was freakishly cold which made it almost impossible for me to stay put on the lounger without shivering like a damp kitten. We somehow managed to spend some time in the pool to check that off our list, but while we were there we noticed quite a few people with foam on their legs – indicating they had gone for some sort of spa thing. We missed on checking out the spa, but as far as I am aware, the massages are not complimentary, but spa access is. Would be a good option to call the property and check it out for yourself.
Sitting by the pool, we also sipped on a couple drinks from Su Bar – the poolside bar – that serves cocktails, mocktails and snacks.
After the relaxing (and freezing) pool stint, we obviously felt hungry again. But we needed to make sure we didn’t eat too much for we already had dinner plans too. But it’s a human tendency, when you pay for something all inclusive, you are bound to overeat. We stopped at Toast’n Burger, which is a 24/7 diner, for some quick bites. We ordered a hot god sandwich and fish & chips to share, mainly because we didn’t want to fill ourselves up before dinner.
To settle all that food, we took a walk through the property and arrived at the petite and colorful Istanbul Bazaar which sells lovely souvenirs from Turkey, along with a little of UAE specialties too (like the sand glass).
We had been advised by a friend to make sure we reserve our dinner table as soon as we arrive. Luckily we had booked ourselves for dinner at Meat Point while we were checking in. After the evening snacks, we went back to our room for a quick shower, some TV time and then got dressed for the evening. I wore a floral skirt which I bought from Splash Fashions and paired it with a nude top. The stole was a real savior thanks to the chilly weather and sea breeze.
We stopped by for drinks at Mojito Bar and seated ourselves opposite the stage where we enjoyed live dance performance and acrobats. After a couple of drinks, it was time to head to Meat Point. The steak edition of Rixos Bab Al Bahr’s multiple restaurants, this spot offers an all inclusive menu along with certain items that are charged separately. This usually includes premium steak cuts. Call me a miser but we just opted to go with the items that were a part of the inclusive options. We started with a creamy potato soup and shrimp ceasar salad, followed by lamp chops and chicken mushroom for mains. We honestly had no place for dessert, so this was all we could manage.
My initial plan was to head over to the Inferno night club after dinner, but call it old age or whatever, we just decided to call it a night.
Like all hotel stays I have been too, I was really excited for breakfast at Rixos Bab Al Bahr as well. Breakfast was served at Seven Heights and the buffet spread was nothing short of impressive. Again, my only let down was the massive crowds. And also the fact that after having eaten so much the previous day, I was not really up for looking at any more food. But a breakfast is what it is and there was no way we were going to skip that. We stacked up on the usuals – omelette, toasts, potatoes, cereals, my favorite foul medammes, some pastries, juice and hot beverages. And we managed to eat most of this!
Finally, before heading back to D-town, we decided it was time for one last dip in the pool (which was much warmer now), and a refreshing Pina Colada by the poolside.
Here are some more pictures from Rixos Bab Al Bahr. The property at day and night, a box of complimentary macaroons, and the performance in the evening
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My only regret about Rixos Bab Al Bahr is not deciding to stay there longer. One night is certainly not enough for this expansive property. With so much to do and eat (and drink), you definitely need either a big appetite or a couple of days to let fully enjoy what the hotel offers and what you are paying for.
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]]>The post Al Ain Rotana + Zen Spa | Spacation appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>The expansive lobby with see-through lifts are the highlight as soon as you enter Al Ain Rotana. The hotel looked quite old in terms of interiors, but it was maintained quite well. We had some hiccups when it came to checking in – the room we had selected wasn’t available and we were being asked to settle for a smoking room – but we preferred waiting until our room was ready.
The room was gorgeous. Very spacious and with a balcony, it offered peaceful views of the garden city. The room offers everything you would need for a relaxing stay. The bathroom features a tub to soak in if you like, and there’s a bidet too, but the only thing missing is a shattaf, and I prefer shattafs over bidets. Right from a decent TV to tea and coffee facilities and a spacious wardrobe, the room is good enough even if you plan on staying more than one night.
With all the amenities in place and a comfortable bed, we would have almost preferred going off to sleep, had it not been for our spa appointment. We quickly parked our bags and walked towards the Zen spa.
We had booked an appointment at the spa way in advance even before booking the room, so obviously our entire stay was centered aroung this spa session. We arrived at the spa almost on time adn were offered a choice of different packages. We chose to go with the jacuzzi + massage + bath package which was priced at AED for two people.
Our first leg was the jacuzzi. Dressed in swimsuits, we set aside 30 minutes to enjoy the warm massaging waters in an otherwise quite chilly weather.
Next up was the actual massage. This 90 minute treatment was to take place in a remarkable room that housed two massage beds and a bath tub in addition to a toilet and shower room. The treatment room was probably bigger than our room at the hotel! With soothing strokes and lavender oil that almost instantly put me off to sleep, I enjoyed my blissful 60 minutes with a full body massage. The masseuse was really good at her job and managed to melt down most of my annoying shoulder knots.
Finally, after a good 45 minutes of sound sleeping during the massage, it was time to soak up in the bath. Fragranced with essential oils and all foamed up, we enjoyed the warm bath for around 30 minutes until it was time to shower, change and bid goodbye to the spa.
We were almost sure we would stop by at the pool for a little while, but after the massage all we wanted to do was bury ourselves into the comfy bed and grab some shut eye.
While Al Ain Rotana has an all day dining restaurant that serves buffet, it also houses a few other outlets including Trader Vic’s, which is where we decided to dine. The food was not too bad, but not too great either. And all we could think about was going back to the hotel and sinking into the bed!
As I always prefer, we had this staycation booked inclusive of breakfast. The breakfast options at the restaurant were perfect. It had all my favorites including omelet, cereal (with coconut shavings!), potatoes, foul medammes, and hot beverages. After a satisfying Saturday breakfast, we skipped the pool yet again, and instead chose to rest for a bit before we packed up for a 2 hour drive back home.
#RashidaReviews
A great option for a city break, Al Ain Rotana has got everything you need on the property. The Zen Spa really does live up to its zen like feel and adding this to your weekend getaway will really make it relaxing. The food options are decent and the room is quite comfortable which makes it perfect for a longer stay as well.
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]]>The post Bab Al Shams Hotel & Resort Dubai | Staycation appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>Since our stay was during the mid of a hot July, we were quite sure we would not enjoy the outdoors too much, but thanks to the cooling desert sands, the temperatures at this place, even at the peak of summers, are relatively low. This means taking a dip in the pool during late afternoons is comfortably soothing, while walking around the property after sunset might give you a slight chill. But more on all this later.
We arrived at the property by 3 pm and were greeted with a humbling welcome staff. The interiors of the hotel at the lobby made us feel as though we were walking on those same sandy surfaces that the bedouins and their flock traveled on a long time ago. After a quick check-in, we were led toward our traditional-esque room located in one of their many wings. The pathways were all made with stone and brick, and they had a lovely tree centerpiece near the entrance to the spa. The entrance of the room was no different than the rest of the property. An external grand wooden door, built to keep away insects, housed two different rooms within. We checked into what can only be described as one of the most traditionally modern hotel rooms of Dubai.
The room was simply put – gorgeous. Stone walls mingled with dark wood furniture, and a corner majlis seating to create an utterly bedouin-like ambiance, but with all the modern facilities of course. Our ground floor room was equipped with a grand double bed with curtain accents on top placed on a colorful woven carpet, a wooden almirah that hid a TV and safe within, a petite wardrobe, a corner desk with a chair, majlis styled seating, stone top table with coffee & tea facilities and a mini bar underneath. The outdoor space featured a dining set, and was more ideal for smokers who wanted to take a quick break, but we were advised to keep the doors shut at all times to avoid mosquitoes or insects from entering the room.
The bathroom was beyond beautiful. With granite-like finishing with stone accents and the same sandy hues, the bathroom was built to represent a hammam. And that bath tub though – cleverly designed with sandy walls featuring intricate work, it almost transported me to an olden Turkish or Moroccan era for a bit. Obviously the best part of the room, this was something I was looking forward to the most, and I knew it would turn out to be the most relaxing bath I’ve had in a long long time.
Bab Al Shams boasts of temperature controlled twin infinity pools with Jacuzzi spots and a swim up pool bar. Unfortunately during our stay, the infinity pool was under renovation, but their main pool didn’t disappoint. We spent a whole lot of time over the two days simply lazing in the pool sipping on drinks while sitting atop their submerged bar stools. And thanks to the temperature controlled functionality, despite the summer heat, we didn’t feel hot one bit. The pool waters were in fact quite cool and a good respite from the otherwise tiring city life.
After the soothing pool time, I got back to my room to this! I was really impressed by how sweetly the staff had decorated the bath for me. I guess shouting it out every single time that I love the bathroom really helped.
A good thing to keep in mind is that Bab Al Shams is located in the middle of nowhere, which means it does get quite challenging to find something to eat, except for the restaurants located at the property. If you’re not so fond of hotel food or room service, you might want to carry some snacks along or else do what we did. Since we already had a dinner booked at the hotel for our 2nd night, we decided to drive out to the nearest possible place where we could find some grub – Last Exit Al Qudra. It took us about 10 minutes to get there and we spent about 30 odd minutes eating our wraps from Jaldi Jaldi DXB before heading back to the hotel
Thankfully, and quite obviously, the package we had booked included breakfast. And since it is something I always look forward to, I was well prepared the next morning to head over to Al Forsan for the buffet breakfast. As we walked through the tiny lanes of the property, we came across beautiful attractions like an outdoor majlis, a courtyard with lake and lots of palm trees. We really felt as though we had traveled back in time.
The buffet, needless to say, was brilliant! Right from cold and hot food, salads, eggs and breads, to pastries, juices and hot beverages, Al Forsan had it all. And since they cater to such a varied group of travelers from different cultures, nationalities and backgrounds, the variety was only fair.
Similar to dinner the previous night, lunch on our 2nd day required us to take a drive to the Qudra cycling spot. We were already booked in for dinner that night, so we decided to keep it light and picked up a club sandwich from a local restaurant near Last Exit. After lunch it was time to go back to our favorite place for some more pool time.
Bab Al Shams offers a variety of dining options within the property. From the Arabic dining at Al Hadheerah amidst the dunes complete with live music and belly dancing, to the buffet restaurant Al Forsan, Indian Masala and Italian Le Dune, you get to choose the cuisine you prefer. Apart from these, they also house the two level Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge offering stunning views of the desert and Ya Hala Lobby Lounge for quick bites and coffee. I had always wanted to dine at Masala ever since I had heard about the restaurant. There was something about it’s deep teal interiors and Indian royalty feel that I wanted to see and experience for myself. So for our celebratory dinner on the second night we booked ourselves at the Indian restaurant Masala.
As soon as you step inside this quintessentially North Indian restaurant, you are greeted with bright firoza blue interiors, your olfactory senses seemingly welcomed with a strong fragrance of incense sticks and melodies of sufi music lightly humming into your ears.
We started off with two of their highly recommended drinks – Anarkali and Rum Ananas along with a complimentary side of Papad & Dips. For starters, we opted for a Dilli Chaat Sampler and Amritsari Machli. For mains, we went classic and indulged in a big portion of Chicken Biryani. Honestly all that food was too generous to leave any room for dessert, so we simply skipped the sweet.
Read my detailed review on Masala here
The next morning was pretty much the same like the previous one. The breakfast at Al Forsan was great but I was just too sad to be leaving this place so soon. I would have loved to spend some more time at Bab Al Shams Hotel & Resort and I really wanted to try out their spa as well, but I had to keep my indulgences in check. And after all that rose petal decked bath tub met all my expectations for a relaxed soak.
#RashidaReviews
I cannot possibly decide what, if anything at all, I did not like about Bab Al Shams. The location, facilities, room, and of course bathroom – all all exceptional. The bathroom had a shattaf so that was a big plus for me, although given its style, an additional standing shower would’ve been nice. Although I have a feeling the more expensive rooms might have that option. The restaurant choices are great, but might be a little pricey. From where we dined, the portions were really big, so I feel you might not really need to eat every single meal after all. And even if you get hungry, there’s always room service, or a short drive to last exit! The pool bar is simply perfect. I really want to go back and experience the infinity pool though.
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]]>The post Luxury by the beach – Park Regis Boutique Hotel appeared first on Rashida Blogs.
]]>Cosy, quiet and distinct, this boutique property combines luxury and elegance with an Arabesque appeal. Decked with wooden accents, and bathed in tones of earthy hues, the room is a spectacle of heritage meets modern. Read on to find out about the room and my experience at the hotel.
We were offered the classic room for our one night stay at Park Regis Boutique. When we arrived at the hotel, the check-in process was quick and easy, which was followed by a staff member leading us to our room and helping us understand the different amenities available.
The bed was absolutely comfortable. There are two things I look forward to in hotel rooms, and the bed is one of them. Thick mattress, medium heavy duvet and double pillows meant we were all set for a good night’s sleep (and an afternoon nap as well). There was an extra throw as well, just in case the temperature got too chilly.
Equipped with all the basic amenities, the room included a free non-alcoholic minibar with soft drinks, juices, chips and chocolates. We were impressed with the abundant closet space, which also featured an iron and ironing board. The huge balcony was perfect for Jumeirah road views, but the wall was a little too high for me. A glass facade would’ve been better.
Bathroom
Although compact, the en-suite bathroom at our room in Park Regis Boutique was definitely classy. I have come across a lot of hotels that have their soaps and lotions conveniently stocked up but fall back on providing other essentials like dental care. Thankfully, with all the expected toiletries already in place, we were glad we didn’t have to ring up the room service for anything extra.
The bathroom offered a constant supply of hot water, and featured a small bathtub which was good enough for a quick soak. The downside – there were no shower curtains or enclosure, except for a small glass separator, that would keep the water from splashing outside the tub. This made it quite a challenge to bathe while making sure the floor outside doesn’t get flooded.
Despite the fact that this property doesn’t have its own pool or spa, the best part about Park Regis Boutique Hotel is that its located at a stone’s throw from the Jumeirah public beach. This makes the perfect choice when you need some Vitamin Sea.
Not your normal in-hotel restaurant, 21 Grams Urban Bistro offers a unique selection of Balkan inspired cuisine. Probably the only one of its kind in Dubai, this chic cafe flaunts its own individuality and is already the talk of the town for all the right reasons.
Our encounter with 21 Grams was during the breakfast. Not the usual buffet that we are so used to at hotels, this restaurant offered a bread basket with jams, coffee, juice and two of their bestselling breakfast dishes.
Find out more about the breakfast at 21 Grams Bistro here.
Summary
While the ambience at Park Regis Boutique exudes elegance, the hotel slightly struggles in terms of hotel facilities. Lack of an in-house pool or spa might make it a slightly unfavorable choice for those who prefer not stepping out of their hotels. On the other hand, beach lovers might just opt for a resort with private beach access at the same price.
Same is for those who want to dine at in-house restaurants. While they offer in-room dining, there is no menu available in the room, so the options at hand could be slightly dicey. However, being based in Jumeirah means there are plenty of curated food options available within the area, especially for city walkers.
The bathroom is clean, until you take a shower. A petite white curtain would really make it a 10/10
The breakfast at 21 Grams was the highlight. More than perfect, we were glad we could sample something so unique yet very close to my preferred palate.
The basic amenities provided are just right – coffee and tea, bath essentials, closet, mini bar and all the jazz!
Website: https://www.parkregisboutiquedubai.ae/
Contact: +971 4 332 2277
Location: Jumeirah Street, next to Umm Suqeim Park, Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai UAE
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