Staycations or local holidays are becoming more and more popular nowadays. The current international travel limitations and uncertainties have reduced the long-haul appeal and boosted local holidays instead.
With the limited possibility to travel abroad, weekend staycations have become our go-to escape. For Mara’s birthday we decided to go to the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa, which is about an hour drive from Dubai. It’s probably one of the oldest resorts in the emirate but it has recently been refurbished so it doesn’t feel dated. They also have pretty good deals during the summer, so we got a generous online discount directly on their website.
The resort spreads on a 1.5 km private beach and offers several pools, including a saltwater one. You can stay in a regular room or choose a private family villa with direct beach or pool access. We saw both and the villa is definitely worth a try even though it can be pricey.
The check-in process was smooth. Even though we had to wait a bit at the reception since there were quite a few people checking in for the weekend. Since our room was not yet ready, we left the luggage with the concierge and headed straight for the pool. While COVID-19 protocols were efficient, though the general cleanliness could have been better. Some of the pool towels were torn and the tables were dusty. There was also some maintenance going on around the main pool deck when we visited. We shared our feedback with the management before leaving so we hope it has been taken into account.
Go for a Villa with Beach Access
One of the main reasons we chose the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah is the villas with direct beach access. The villas are along the coast, to the right of the main hotel building. The ones on the beach offer an amazing view of the sea and all have either a balcony or a veranda with sun beds and coffee tables. Other villas have access to one of the backside pools. There is also a sunset pool-bar on the beach, very useful for a drink without the need to walk to the main building.
It can get noisy around there though, so make sure you get a room far from it if you want peace and quiet. You can walk from your villa to the pool or the main building or use the boogie service.
Our room was comfy, with 2 double beds and a sliding door opening on the patio just in front of the beach. We liked being able to walk straight to the beach from our room. Something that reminded us of a recent trip to a tropical destination, if only the grass was green.
It is very difficult to get a late check-out if you stay in a villa, because they are always in high demand. We were lucky enough to be assigned a regular room the day of our departure instead of a late villa’s check-out. The room was nice and comfortable, but surely less special than the beach villa.
Pools at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah
The resort has 7 pools, so there’s plenty of options. From the temperature controlled main pool to the uncooled saltwater one, as well as a kids pool and one for adults only. The saltwater one was our favorite because it was the biggest and most spectacular and has a swim-up bar. However, the water can get hot during the summer, when air temperatures are generally above 40C. And no floats are allowed – sorry, pink flamingoes!
All the other pools in the resort are temperature controlled. The one next to the villas is usually preferred by families with children which have direct access from their villas.
Restaurants at the hotel
There are 8 bars and restaurants at the hotel. However, when we visited only 3 were open due to the pandemic. We had to book the table for dinner and breakfast in advance since there were reserved time slots. Breakfast was served in the main restaurant and for dinner we opted for the Italian Piaceri da Gustare. The food was not bad but nothing to brag home about either.
The breakfast buffet was done in social distancing manner, with staff serving the people waiting in queues. We also had some lunch and drinks at the Sunset Bar next to the salt water pool. The other restaurant that was open was the Lebanese Al Maeda. Being at the farthest end from the main building, is a good option if you are staying in the villas.
What to do at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah
The hotel is quite large and offers a lot of activities in high season. It has a large spa, gym, kids and teens clubs and outdoor play area, a beach volley area, football pitch, eco golf, as well as a watersports center with diving, banana boat and kayak rentals among others. The hotel can also organize different excursions and tours in the emirate. But if you’re coming for a weekend staycation, our guess is you’ll just want to relax on a lounger with a cold drink in hand. And for that alone, the Hilton will do just fine.
READ ALSO OUR STORY STAYCATION AT JUMEIRAH AL NASEEM DUBAI
