For more information, visit their website.
Disclaimer : I was a guest of Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort. As always, all opinions are my own.
I just returned from a 2 week vacation in Japan, but for some reason it still feels like I haven't had one in ages. Maybe I'm just been fussy. Lets face it, we want to be on vacation all the time. Now ... if only that was possible. Being in UAE, we are not short of places to explore. If you cant get a vacation, you might as well go for the next best thing - A Staycation!
I have been living in Abu Dhabi for nearly 30 years now and havent fully had the opportunity to explore my city. Abu Dhabi to me starts from Yas Island and ends at Marina Mall ... yup, thats about it! Last week I visited Abu Dhabi's western region.
THE JOURNEY - Stocked up with 4 Chiquitas (the bananas of course) and a pack of Cheetos, we decided to make the big trip to Jebel Dhanna for a 2 day staycation at the luxurious Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort. Google Maps showed a little over 2.5 hours which was probably the longest roadtrip we'd ever have to undertake in UAE. After what seemed like a never ending journey with 2 caffeine breaks, 1 pee break and dodging multiple monster trucks, we finally reached the resort at 5.30pm ... a little later than expected because Mr. D thought he was smarter than Google Maps!
CHECK IN - Thankfully, this was quick. I was rather surprised when the guy at the front desk greeted me with a "Ms Dcosta?".I asked him how he guessed my name. Apparently I was one of those guests with a non-Arabic surname. We were offered a nice cold towel and a glass of fruit juice. It was such a relief from the heat and long drive.
ROOM #404 - I was pleasantly surprised by the size of our room, it was huge. But what impressed me more was the view. Our window faced the big, blue sea. I'm not too particular about views, but heck, if I get one I don't complain! If only we could have this view everyday, sigh. On the table, lay a bowl of fruits and sweet treats sure to bring a smile on any weary traveller's face :D.
Oh, and did I mention that they made this towel arrangement for us as well which I very cheekily placed on the bed ;)
Our room was equipped with a safe and coffee/tea making facilities. The bathroom was spacious and well stocked. The only problem we faced here was with the bath tub. It was pretty high and I almost fell off the first time the I got out. I got the hang of it later.
There were two things in particular that I liked about our room (besides the comfy bed of course), the first one was plants. There were real plants in the room including the bathroom. It certainly brought life to our space. The second one was that all the artwork in the room was about the sea.
BODY & SOUL RECREATION CLUB - Danat Resort has a well equipped gym which I obviously didn't use. I'm the last person to go to a gym when I'm on holiday. But yes, if you're a gym freak, this is for you. They also have a squash court, tennis court, sauna & steam rooms and indoor play area for kids. I, of course had plans of my own. I decided to pamper myself with an amazing rose scented almond oil massage! It was 45 minutes of pure bliss. They do not have a dedicated spa area but just a massage room with one or two therapists. They offer various treatments, so make sure you book in advance.
Beach & Pool - The beach at this hotel needs no explanation. It in untouched! The sand is pure and the water is pristine. We chose to just relax on one of their many beach chairs and imagine that we were in Maldives. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try out one of their many water sports like windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, etc.
I loved their pool a lot, that's where Mr. D and I spent most of our time. Don't know whether it was because they had a pool bar? The water temperature was perfect. They even have a separate area for kids.
Playtime - As I mentioned earlier, the hotel has an indoor kids play area within their health club. They have an outdoor one as well. This is good for families with kids.
If you are a big kid (like me), you can try your hands at chess!
THE HOTEL IN GENERAL- They have a very eye-catching lobby. Basically everything revolves around the sea - the colours, paintings, arrangements. To me, blue is very pleasing to the eyes.
The hotel is green too. It isn't just a sandpit, but a tranquil green oasis with beautifully landscaped grounds. At times, I found some areas to be a bit secluded. Good for me though, as I generally prefer seclusion rather that crowds.
DINING - Well, they have 6 restaurants (pool bar included) and we had an opportunity to try 5 of them.
C-View - The lobby cafe that serves your favourite alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks and pastries. Watch out for the singer that comes there later in the evening. He's got some talent!
Tides - Brekkie was at Tides - their all day dining restaurant. I cannot say that it was a large spread, however, they did have different kinds of cuisine. There was sushi, pizza, muthabel and puri bhaji. There, you've already got 4 different kinds of cuisine. They had a live egg station too with a choice of egg benedict on the menu (which isn't a very common thing).
We also tried out the lunch at Tides, where they feature a live pasta and grills counter. I was not particularly fond of the grilled food, however, their salad and dessert selection were pretty good. Some of my favourites included fried sultan fish, hammour with saffron sauce and vegetable parmigiana.
Friday Beach BBQ - A perfect BBQ right by the beach. I especially loved the mac n cheese and lamb chops. Besides these, there were grilled veggies and salads as well. The food wasn't too bad but what could be improved on here is the setup. Summer has already set in the UAE and some of the tables were places directly under the sun without any sort of umbrella or anything. Luckily, we got a shaded table after we asked the staff to pull our table into the shade! No one there was willing to sit under the sun ... which is quite understandable.
Waves - The hotel's pool bar was fantastic. I had a tender coconut there and it looked something like this.
Couldn't figure out whether it was a mouse or what, but I liked the bartender's creativity!
Zaitoun - Read my review about the hotel's award-winning Italian restaurant here.
L'Attitude Bar & Restaurant - Read more about them here.
SERVICE - What can I say, expect for the fact that it was top notch. From Kushal at the front desk staff to Suchit my therapist, from Craig our server at Zaitoun to Ali at the pool bar. Everyone was warm, friendly and always willing to help. There was a smile on their faces everytime and it certainly made me feel like home.
THE VERDICT - If you are looking for a break from your 9-5 and prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, or if you are a big group looking for some fun under the sun, this is your place. The journey is long but well worth it. Just incase, you do not feel like driving, the hotel also arranges transportation.
For more information, visit their website. Disclaimer : I was a guest of Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort. As always, all opinions are my own.
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