REVIEW DONE IN 2014 AND PUBLISED IN MEN’S ESSENTIAL GUIDE AN ITP PUBLICATION

The Ritz-Carlton Club Level offers a luxury hotel experience combining intimacy, comfort and exclusivity with the personalised service and attention to detail that arethe hallmarks of The Ritz-Carlton. The services, including complimentary food and beverage presentations, provide added value to a stay by solo business travelers or families on vacation.

Club Level Guest Rooms and Suites

The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal features 447 luxury suites and guestrooms, as well as 85 villas. Inspired by the 15th to early 17th century Renaissance architecture and the urban planning of the city of Venice, the villa hotel consists of ten stately buildings arranged in a crescent formation, completed with artfully designed water features and manicured gardens throughout the 230,670 square metre (57 acre) property. Enjoy magnificent views of the illustrious Grand Canal, stately gardens or breathtaking Grand Mosque as you step onto the outdoor terraces featured in all of the villas in Abu Dhabi.

Experience

This hotel was spacious and beautiful with high quality materials and workmanship. The building curves around a large landscaped garden and pool area and is styled like the grand buildings in Venice. Our room had a large King bed with plenty of room for a sitting area and work desk. The bathroom was beautiful with a large tub and separate shower and a separate toilet stall. The tub features frosted glass doors that fold open to the rest of the room and allow views out the spacious sliding doors to the balcony overlooking the garden and pool. The balcony is large and a pleasant spot to enjoy the views. The Royal Suite will be the most expensive suite in the hotel at AED18,000 per night. There has already been a keen interest in this suite with enquiries from people wanting to rent it out for a year. The hotel has declined these requests as they want guests to use the room.There was a large closet with an ironing board and shoe cupboard, and the dresser in the room had plenty of storage, in addition to the minibar and safe.

The pool was beautiful and the service is remarkable. There’s a decent menu of food and drinks to choose from, and they deliver it to you on a bike. The swimming pool is 57m in length with an area of 1,600sqm. It contains approximately 50,000 litres of water and the mosaic design on the bottom of the pool was from a design that the president of Ritz-Carlton saw on a fabric in Italy. The 350sqm beach area is formed with local sand from the existing beach locally.

The Forge, the hotel’s steakhouse, got its name from the steak knives that they will be using. The six knives were handmade in the Forge at Laguiole, France and are some of the best in the world. Taking its name from the intricate process of forging or shaping a high quality steak knife blade, the signature steak house is serving specialty cuisine in a stylish and contemporary setting paired with the world’s finest wines. Private dining rooms and a variety of seating options provide the ultimate dining experience. The Forge may well be crowned the best steakhouse in the UAE. The ambience is perfect with plenty of niches so that you are hardly aware of other diners. The services sparkles with military timing and a dash of theatrical flair. The uniforms are smart and modern just like the interior of this uber cool restaurant. The service was excellent and everyone was very eager to help.

Luxurious spa

The all-encompassing ESPA at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal occupies a 2,000-square-metre (21,500 square foot) beachfront standalone building and provides holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a serene, meditative setting. Taking inspiration in traditional Bedouin culture and their use of colours, textures and most notably their metal works in jewelry, the ESPA spa takes the guests on a journey intotranquility. In addition to 16 luxuriously appointed treatment rooms, guests can enjoy separate female and male outdoor areas and their perfectly manicured lush greenery that bring respite during summer months and offer a private oasis, complete with its own plunge pool and waterfall. A pristine private beach is reserved for the use of spa guests only, and they can also take advantage of the resort’s striking scene-stealer, the massive 1,600-square-metre (17,222 square foot) outdoor swimming pool.

This resort is a luxurious place to stay and definitely one of the best I have stayed in.

Delve into the unexplored and discover a different side of the UAE this summer with Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort and Fairmont Ajman. Ideal for family getaways or staycations with friends, the Spring Into Summer room package offers at each resort includes a 20 percent discount off any room category, breakfast buffet,  20 percent discount at select dining experiences and full use of a wide range of leisure activities. This offer is available until September 30, 2017. Quote “PSRO” to receive a complimentary room category upgrade when booking online at Fairmont.com or via telephone at +971 4 311 5568.

A short drive from the hyper-charged metropolis of Dubai lies two destinations lauded for their natural beauty. Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort, the northern emirates’ only art-inspired resort sits nestled amongst the majestic Al Hajar Mountains and surrounded by the dramatic blue of the Gulf of Oman, while Fairmont Ajman promises Arabian traditions and hospitality amidst the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf. The perfect destinations where guests can expect to embark on a truly memorable journey.

Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort offers 180 guest rooms and suites, a wide range of recreational activities that reflect Fujairah’s heritage and breathe new life into the Middle East. Surrounded by nature and luxury, even the most discerning traveller will indulge in its five iconic dining venues, while discovering peace of mind at Willow Stream Spa, the only other Fairmont signature spa centre in the UAE. Other leisure facilities include a Berber carpet inspired temperature-controlled pool, daily shuttle service to beach access and a kids’ club for a fruitful expedition into the imagination. From international cuisine at Canvas, Café Pronto’s Italian bistro and The Copper Lobster’s seafood and gastro-bar concept to Arteasan’s art-inspired tea room and IAMMAI’s serene pool lounge, five iconic dining options present a myriad of flavors and interior design intended to delight the eye and the palate.

Surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf and just 30 minutes from the clamour of inner-city living, Fairmont Ajman promises a gentler pace and luxurious services. Holding court along the corniche on a 200 metre stretch of pristine beachfront, the hotel features 252 guest rooms and suites including two double-storey Royal Penthouses and a wide range of recreational facilities such as infinity-edged pool, watersports centre, an award-winning spa and kids’ club. Fitness enthusiasts will benefit from the 24-hours gym, tennis and basketball courts for sporting action. Bringing a portfolio of world class restaurants to the emirate, an innovative culinary line-up introduces a truly upscale epicurean experience among eight distinct dining venues including XOLO Bar, Azrak Lobby Lounge, Gioia Italian Restaurant, Salt & Sea, Spectrum, Badr Lounge, Kiyi Turkish Restaurant and Driftwood Beach Bar.

The Spring Into Summer promotion at both hotels offers includes a 20 percent discount on the best available rate, breakfast buffet and a 20 percent discount at select dining venues. An exclusive promo code “PSRO” entitles guests to a complimentary room upgrade to the next room category, subject to availability. Reservations can be made online for Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort and Fairmont Ajman or via telephone at +971 4 311 5568.