Reviewed : Asia took a break, for a weekend, on the beautiful Al Aqah Beach in the Emirate of Fujairah, at the Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. Our stay report below…
The setting
The Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort is a hotel nestled between the sea and the mountains. You can reach it from Dubai by several routes. One is by taking the Dubai-Fujairah highway, passing through the cities of Fujairah and Khorfakkan, a scenic route through the mountains, with an opportunity for a lunch break on the stunning Khorffakkan corniche.
The other route takes you in the direction of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Highway towards Ras al Khaimah, then branching off towards Masafi to arrive at Al Aqah directly and more quickly.
With a private beach of 230m, the resort is one of the largest in the region. The entire hotel has been completely renovated. Everything is brand new, starting with the completely redecorated rooms equipped with modern furniture and equipment.
"The hotel's staff is very welcoming and always ready to assist with a smile. ”
All the rooms and restaurants of the hotel are concentrated in a 24-story building. Between the main building and the beach, there are numerous leisure and entertainment facilities including a huge tropical pool with three basins.
The entire resort is lush with many trees, plants, flowers, and even several pools with fountains and pebble rivers that traverse the entire resort.
Walking in the gardens, you’ll truly feel like you’re far from the United Arab Emirates, in a tropical country: a guaranteed change of scenery! An ideal space for a moment of relaxation and relaxation away from the bustle of the city.
THE ROOMS
You will be welcomed at the hotel entrance with a red carpet leading you directly to the counter for check-in. In the entrance hall, the various awards accumulated by the hotel in the hotel industry are displayed in two showcases.
Our check-in was done quickly and smoothly. We were warmly welcomed by the customer relations manager who escorted us to our suite reserved for the weekend.
The suite we occupied was immense and more like an apartment than a hotel room in reality. The suite consisted of an entrance hall, a very large living room with a dining area, a living room area with a TV, a kitchen area with a bar and Illy coffee machine, a very large bedroom with also inside it a sofa area as well as a workspace and a bathroom with a shower and bathtub.
Our suite had no less than two balconies and a huge terrace with lounge chairs. The bedroom and the living room each have their balcony.
The living room also had a very large terrace, so large that it could easily accommodate about thirty people!
In addition to the main bathroom in the room, the suite also had a second guest bathroom, located on the entrance level, with a shower area as well.
Leisure & Well-being
Our suite gave us free access to the Club Lounge located on the 15th floor of the hotel. The lounge offers a program throughout the day between 9 am and 10 pm with cold drinks, hot drinks, snacks, and gourmet tea in the afternoon, as well as a selection of newspapers and magazines and a TV area where you can relax on armchairs and sofas.
The Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort offers a very large swimming pool with water slides as well as a kids’ pool for children. The entire resort overlooks the sea and offers a breathtaking view of the beach which is accessible directly from the hotel.
CULINARY EXPERIENCES
Tea and Dates
The lounge located just after the reception offers a selection of hot drinks and pastries. Open every day from 10 am to 10 pm and until 11 pm on weekends.
Taste
The hotel’s Thai fusion restaurant. Taste offers an à la carte menu of Thai specialties as well as a gourmet menu for 350 dirhams for two people. We were tempted by this menu for dinner.
The gourmet
menu offers shrimp slices on toast with sweet and sour sauce, the famous spicy Thai soups tom yum or tom kha gai with coconut milk to choose from as appetizers. For the main course, you will have the opportunity to enjoy 4 Thai dishes: a red curry with shrimp and pineapple, wok-fried chicken with cashews, a dish of fried beef with pepper and garlic sauce, and sautéed vegetables with oyster sauce. All accompanied by jasmine rice. For dessert, fried bananas accompanied by coconut ice cream will be served.
If you don’t have the appetite for such a menu, the à la carte menu offers soups between 45 and 60 dirhams, Thai salads for 60 dirheme, fried dishes between 65 and 75 dirhams, dishes with curry for 90 to 110 dirhams, and finally, desserts between 45 and 50 dirhams.
The Pirate Beach Bar and Restaurant
The Le Meridien’s Beach Bar and Restaurant offer a seafood menu and grills. Open from 12 noon to 6 pm, it’s a pleasant place to have lunch by the sea.
The Latest Recipe
The hotel’s main restaurant where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the form of a buffet for lunch at 120 dirhams and dinner at 165 dirhams. The buffet offers a wide variety of dishes from around the world and is one of the best-value buffets in the UAE!
Seaview
The main bar of the hotel facing the sea with a splendid view of the resort, the sea, and the swimming pool.
FINAL VERDICT
A stay at the Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort is ideal for a weekend getaway or even a longer stay as there are many activities to do in the region. The hotel offers a wide choice of rooms, including a magnificent suite with a large terrace, ideal for a romantic getaway or a family stay.
The hotel’s staff is very welcoming and always ready to assist with a smile. The various restaurants and bars allow for a varied culinary experience. The beach and pool area are perfect for relaxation. The overall atmosphere of the resort makes you forget that you are in the UAE; it’s like a tropical oasis in the middle of the mountains and the desert.
So if you’re looking for a change of scenery without traveling too far from the UAE, the Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort is an excellent option.
CONTACT INFO
For more information and reservations:
www.marriott.com
