Abu Dhabi is an up-and-coming destination that has really put itself on the map in the last few years. It is emerging as a popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the world, and with the increased efforts of the local tourism authority and regular flights from regional airlines such as Gulf Air, the number of weekend-breakers from Bahrain heading to the UAE capital continues to soar.
As a birthday surprise a couple of years ago for my son we set off on a day-trip to watch the stars of WWE rumble in what ended up as a longer stay than intended because we missed the flight home. The good lady wife, Kathryn, is all for forgiving my little mishaps but she ensured we were not going to be stranded in any shape whatsoever when we set off to watch our child compete for his school in a recent weekend sporting competition. We left it too late to book a room at the same hotel his party was staying at but we managed to secure accommodation in a little oasis in the desert called the Mafraq Hotel. This four-star independent hotel in Abu Dhabi is ideally situated away from all the hustle and bustle of the city and strategically located within close distance to some of Abu Dhabi’s coolest attractions including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yas Water World, Yas Island and Ferrari World. It prides itself as being the ‘ultimate local weekend getaway for the entire family’ and is a perfect place to set up base to explore Abu Dhabi while enjoying a relaxing escape away from home. The hotel also houses four excellent eateries and is great for a family get-together over a delicious meal. Mafraq Hotel offers 250 modern rooms boasting tranquil garden and pool views including 195 deluxe rooms, 50 executive rooms, four executive suites and one Royal Suite. The hotel boasts five outlets; the Burlington Grill, the hotel’s signature restaurant, specialising in meat and seafood steaks, while The Olive Branch, is an all-day dinning Mediterranean buffet and a la carte restaurant and dishes up a breakfast feast, with egg choices available. Hunter’s Bar is the hotel’s international pub, Rimal Bar is an Oriental bar serving a variety of Arabic and international snacks, while the pool-side Oasis Courtyard bar offers a selection of light meals and cocktails that guests can enjoy as they relax under the sun. Particularly impressive is The Burlington Grill which had a remarkable opening special offer during our stay of a la carte dining with a 60 per cent discount on all items on the menu. The steak and turf combination was worth the visit alone with attentive staff and tables inside the restaurant and outside too. With the weather cooling down, it is that time of year for alfresco dinning. The Oasis Courtyard is the hotel’s pool-side restaurant overlooking the beautiful garden and its brunch offers a wide range of dishes and favourites including a delicious BBQ, a meat-carving station, with candy floss and treats for children. Guests that enjoy the brunch also get complimentary access to the temperature-controlled pool and the health club facilities and a 20 per cent discount on food and beverage purchases after 4pm. Every Saturday at 6pm the hotel also sets up a popular open-air cinema screening a family movie for free. The Fitness Zone includes an impressive gymnasium, a Racquet Club with indoor squash and badminton courts, outdoor tennis and volleyball courts. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to pack my gym kit so had to settle down for a game of pool as I watched the fit folk sweat away from the corner of my eye. Our room was a restful retreat with a large comfortable bed, coffee-and-tea supplies with kettle, wide-screen TV, plus a neat bathroom and a shaving mirror which actually worked and was placed in a position allowing this wet shaver to lather up and adequately use. Well done, even some of the most exclusive hotels I have stayed in rarely get this element right. If I had to find one irritation it would be the flock of pesky pigeons nesting in and around the balconies of some of the top-level rooms. The answer is simple and very Arabic. Invite one of the local falcon-loving enthusiasts to visit and show off the bird to tourists with a flight demonstration. It would soon get them packing and have more folk flocking to stay for the next Gulf-wide school event, gourmet or film festival or visit to town by F1 drivers or wrestling superstars. It’s far more comfortable than a night on the Costa Coffee airport sofa! A deluxe double room starts from AED 800 low season to AED 1,550 high season, subject to a 10 per cent service charge and six per cent tourism fee. Check out online for special promotions. For more information on Mafraq Hotel, Abu Dhabi visit www.mafraq-hotel.com and for bookings call 009712-6596666 or email: res@mafraq-hotel.com Returns flights to Abu Dhabi with Gulf Air can start from as low as BD93. Passengers can book tickets online at www.gulfair.com through Gulf Air’s 24-hour Worldwide Contact Centre on +973-17373737, or by visiting dedicated Gulf Air offices and approved travel agencies.
