Al Raha Beach Hotel is a premier off island destination for families looking to stay and play close to home.
Located just a 20 minute drive from the city of Abu Dhabi, Al Raha Beach Hotel is a home away from home. Situated along the pristine Arabian Gulf coastline, the property offers guests the chance to enjoy a private beach, casual dining and a host of other amenities.
Safety first
In accordance with regulations mandated by the UAE government, Al Raha Beach Hotel has implemented protocols to ensure the health and safety of all guests. In fact, the hotel is certified under the “Go Safe” Certification program. Upon arrival we were directed to self-parking as valet service is not available during this time and thermal readers checked our body temperatures as we entered the lobby. Bottles of hand sanitizer were available at the check in desk as well as entrances to lifts and restaurants.
Accommodation
We were checked into a Royal Suite and a sanitization seal stretched across the doorframe. We broke the seal and entered to find a luxurious space, which featured an entryway, two bedrooms, three bathrooms and a sitting area. We were immediately impressed with how spacious the suite was. It featured one standard and two king sized beds with plush sofas and chairs for lounging. The accommodation superseded our expectations and more than met the needs of our family of four.
Inside the room, we discovered a generous basket of fresh fruit with everything from apples, bananas and oranges to rambutans. There was also a selection of nuts, pastries, coffee, tea and water to munch during the day. In addition to the snacks, the hotel provided personal protective care packs filled with gloves, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes and masks. The suite was very well appointed and lived up to its name.
Dining
Our staycation package included full board inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner at Sevilla, the hotel’s all day dining destination. The restaurant served up dishes with European, Mexican and Mediterranean influences in an open kitchen with stunning views of the beach and pool.
Each meal was served buffet style with small changes to ensure hygiene standards. The food was laid out behind plexiglass enclosures and served by chefs. We stood in socially distanced queues that were also managed by hotel staff and communicated our preferences to the servers. We had to wear masks in the buffet line but removed them at the table. The only drawback was that the process of getting food was a bit slower and telling someone else how to fix a plate for my picky kid got a little bit tricky. All-in-all the food and dining experience was good.
Amenities
The highlight of our stay was definitely the pool. There are two outdoor pools; a kids’ pool for ages four and under and a beautiful infinity edge pool that meets the ocean. The kids’ pool has a water play area with fantastic slides that were closed unfortunately due to the pandemic. La Piscine Pool Bar was open and serving up beverage deals to keep parents calm and cool.
Occupancy at both pools was closely managed and temperatures were taken upon arrival. Loungers flanked the pools and a sticker system was used to indicate which beds were sanitized. Towels were distributed in the rooms and we were tasked with taking them down and bringing them back up – yet another aspect of the hotel’s precautions against covid-19.
The gym was also open and available for use. There was a dispensary for antibacterial wipes to clean equipment after use and latex gloves also had to be worn.
The verdict
Al Raha Beach Hotel is the perfect place for a short stay getaway. If you’re looking to slow things down a bit, relax and live like royalty for a day or two, this is the best place for it.
Al Raha Beach Hotel | Channel Street, Abu Dhabi | 02 508 0555 | danathotels.com
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