Husband and I recently took an escape from erratic Dubai life to the foot of Ras Al Khaimah to revel in a three-day luxurious stay, the one we have been thinking of in last one year; however couldn't realize it. We had our share of reservations and the last moment cancellations because something would erupt out of nowhere. But it was about time to atleast have a mini vacation in the country itself - to soak the autumn sun and unwind. We have been on many road trips and while Dubai has concrete structures to amaze us, RAK offers natural beauty and traditional simplicity which I really adore. There couldn't have been a better spot than Hilton Al Hamra Beach and Golf Resort and being RAK bank customers, we nailed a fantastic deal! Shhhh...!!
With a long stretch of pristine clear beach and a convenient kids and adults pool - both with numerous sunbeds, a golf course for the initiated and a water sports facilities at an easy disposal, it is an idyllic holiday resort with or without children. What helps more is that Al Hamra Mall is stationed at just 5 minutes drive from the resort, which if you ask me is an excellent phenomenon. It is absolutely suitable for families with smaller children in need of milk and other supplies that can be easily grabbed from the mall and many dining options if you are not keen in eating at the hotel.
We arrived at Hilton Al Hamra approximately an hour later we left Dubai. After a quick check-in and a complimentary valet parking near our villa, we were guided to our buggy service. The resort is extensive! It is broken down in separate ground + 1 villas each housing chalets and rooms instead of a huge building with many rooms. The whole structure is built like a small town with low-rise buildings to be exact. Our golf cart chauffeur maneuvered us through lush green patches giving us a short introduction of the place and directing us to hotel's locations given in the map at the check-in counter.
Amenities:
We got offered a sea-facing room at the beginning, which unfortunately has a pub located at the ground level. As it was a weekend and we were accompanied by Little A, we gave it a miss. Although the room in which we stayed didn't had an amazing scenic view from the balcony, that was compensated by two cosy beds with clean upholstery, large bathroom, huge moving space and brown rustic wooden furniture that accentuates the very history of RAK. We love hotel rooms with balconies - it gives us an extra space for those conversations after Little A snooze off to sleep. Hilton offers HHonors to their members who book directly and it is such an added advantage! I had a great free wi-fi service at every nook of the resort except at the beach, which is understandable. While swaying through many paths of the resort's premise, the direction signs are categorically displayed, while the hotel staff navigate around with buggies to escort at any given point of time.
Relax mode:
Strategically located against the Arabian Gulf, the main attraction is the beach and white sand; where we spent hours together playing with the sea, collecting shells, building sand castles or immersing in the setting sun. We found ourselves snagging into our swimming necessities and jump in the pool during the day while early evenings were set off at the beach - on repeat for three nights and two days.
Recreational:
Those who love to do absolutely nothing when on a holiday, the resort is perfect to loosen up with covered sunbeds and "Le Chalet" enough close to seize a drink or two. On the other hand, adventure seekers can arch towards Blue Coast Water Sports anchored at the beach on the other end of the resort without having to go anywhere else. We rented a double kayak for an hour that took us with a child and cost us just 150 AED for an hour which we split on our two nights stay. The Blue Water Sports staff is friendly, knowledgeable and take in the requests much politely. They also offer para sailing, jet-ski, fly board, banana boats, speed boat cruise, deep sea fishing, knee boarding amongst others.
Breakfast:
Friday and Saturday morning, we enjoyed exuberant breakfast at all day dining restaurant Al Shamal located in the lobby of the hotel with a spectacular sea view from their open terrace. As the weather was still not suitable to dine outdoors, we savored our eyes and taste buds under the roof. Our meal on both the days was hearty and filling with notable items on the menu such as oats porridges, muffins, pan cakes, fresh bread and a special shout out to Chef Nikhil for cooking the omlets to perfection as per each guests' desire.
All in all, Hilton Al Hamra is the finest resort in Ras Al Khaimah when you want to steer away from the hustle bustle of the city life. In addition to the facilities mentioned above, the hotel also has an in-house Kids Club which we didn't endeavor but looks promising.
We wrapped off our holiday in great mood and were ready to take on the summer weeks ahead in Dubai, only to anticipate cooler months and an escape from the humidity!
And here's a glimpse of a small video I made as a memory -
Al Jazeera Al Hamra, Location:
Hilton Al Hamra Beach and Golf Resort
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
Landmark - Al Hamra Mall.
For detailed directions, click here.
