Ras Al Khaimah Luxury Hotels

8th June 2017: After visiting Dubai and seeing what its hotels had to offer, Tom, Travel Specialist at our Gloucester branch, was unsure what to expect when visiting hotels in nearby Ras Al Khaimah. Dubai's luxuriousness was going to be hard to compete with. So, what did he think when he recently visited hotels in the emirate and what would he recommend?

The Waldorf Astoria

As we hopped out of our transfer and wandered inside the Waldorf Astoria I soon found Dubai hotels were easily rivalled here. Grand, bright and oozing luxury the Waldorf is more palace than hotel and as we approached the check-in desk, we were welcomed with a cooling and refreshing drink, befitting the hotel’s quality.

As I was so taken aback by the reception of the hotel, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed with the quality of the suite, but wow! As I walked further into the suite I was taken aback by the sheer size of the accommodation. The main living space included two double beds and a partition which led into the living area. From there, the room led onto a corridor which had access to a walk-in wardrobe and separate bathroom. The exquisite quality of the hotel was evident here and was topped off by the room's breath-taking view of the sea.

That evening we dined at one of the Waldorf’s most luxurious restaurants, the Marjan. We were told this restaurant was a personal favourite of Sheikh Saun, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah - it wasn’t hard to see why! The food here was incredible; the stunning sunset which completed the atmosphere here made for a truly perfect night.

Al Wadi Desert – Ritz Carlton

Arriving via a long, winding and sandy road it was hard to imagine any hotels would be built here let alone the luxurious resort which was awaiting us. As we drove through the palace-like gates we had stepped into the tranquil haven of the Ritz Carlton.

The spacious resort required a buggy ride to our villa where, upon arrival, looked more like a giant tent. However, looks can be very deceiving. As the doors opened we were welcomed to the very lavish surrounding of a five star hotel complete with views out to its private infinity pool. Its surroundings oozed style and sophistication.

Bicycles are readily available for guests to travel around the resort and the activities available at this resort are second to none. From horse riding to archery and everything in between there are many family friendly things to do here, everyone is catered for.

Tom Mayo, Travel Specialist