If you are expecting your bling-bling UAE luxury here’s a disclaimer for you first: this is not exactly a new hotel – in fact, it was one of the OG international-brand hotels in Abu Dhabi and was built as a part of the Abu Dhabi resort, and although renovations were done pretty recently, I could still pick up hints of how much older the property is (vs its newer competitors) even before I got out of my taxi. Did I let that ruin my stay? Absolutely not, and here’s why.
The team here did whatever they could to make my stay enjoyable. The gentleman who checked me in found me a nice suite as an upgrade, and sent up my welcome gift (a collection of local pastries) very soon after I checked in.
The suite was nicely renovated. It was roomy to begin with, and even though layout was fairly standard, the use of bright colors and local decor choices definitely added to the impression. Although I found a couple maintenance issues here and there, they were very minor and did not get into the way too much.
The bathroom was the only part of the entire suite that sort of showed its age through its tight layout, but they managed to fit a tub AND a shower room in there. The ceiling felt fairly low because of the lifted floor to presumably allow for plumbing, but other than that it was perfectly functional and very much acceptable by all means.
The club lounge was a small closed area off the side of the lobby lounge, felt claustrophobic but they had some good afternoon snacks, and the lovely team there never left my glass empty.
All those aside, the highlight of my stay was definitely the things to do here. The hotel shared the same resort grounds with the adjacent Sheraton resort, and the amount of entertainment options on offer here was truly amazing for a downtown property. We are talking all-inclusive level, like a private beach, multiple cricket/tennis/basketball courts, football fields, and multiple indoor and outdoor pools.
Not only that, the amount and quality of dining options here were mind-blowing. I was struggling to decide where to go each and every meal, and I was never disappointed by the food or the service at any outlet. I had the BEST octopus I’ve ever had my whole entire life anywhere in the world at Mykonos, thanks to chef Ahmed’s talent, and the team there was very courteous and delightful to chat with.
Again, although this place does not have the bells and whistles those new hotels have, I will absolutely not hesitate to return when my travels bring me back to Abu Dhabi. It’s truly one-of-a-kind as a resort, nestled right in the centre of the rich culture Abu Dhabi has to offer. Heck, it’s worth it just for the octopus!
RealScore
Service: 9.5
Design and Room Size: 8.5
In-room Amenities: 8
Bathroom Size and Layout: 9
View from (my) Room: 6
Hotel Location: 9
Available Guest Facilities: 10
Food Quality: 8
Food and Beverage Service: 8
Executive Lounge Quality: 8
Final RealScore: 8.38
Final RealRating: AA
Hotel is built/opened: 1979
Total number of rooms: 248
Length of stay: 2 nights
Membership level at check-in: Titanium
Room type experienced: Diplomatic Suite
Hotel4Real! 
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