Hey
jphripjah... Apologies for the late reply.
I can't really comment on the hotel but I can tell you that the area might be a bit boring for you. You say it is "outside of town" but it's really a 10 to 15 minute cab drive to the center of the city
Problem is, there is nothing around for you to just go out of the hotel and walk around. Granted, there is a mall attached to the property (aptly named Le Mall
) but that's about it. Personally, I would try staying somewhere downtown (Le Grey or Four Seasons), especially since it's your first visit to the city and you want to soak up the atmosphere. Tons to see and do there and all within walking distance of those hotels.
As for tours in and outside Beirut, there are a few operators who can do group and individual tours; up to you really. The best one out there is Nakhal. Beirut has a very lively nightlife. Zaytouni Bay (across from the Four Seasons), Uruguay Street (across from Le Grey), Gemmayze (a whole street with tons of restaurants and pubs), Hamra and Makdassi streets and whole slew of other areas offer all sorts of entertainment.
Beaches are already open and are very lively during the day (obviously). If you're into that sort of thing, head to Riviera Hotel (along the beach) or St Georges Club (across from The Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel). You will need to pay an entrance fee of about $20 to $30 and the locations are fun. Mind you I say beaches, but both properties have pools. Riviera has access to the sea (but the water is not that clean here in Beirut) while St Georges doesn't. Alternatively, you can just lounge about the hotel pool
Hope you enjoy your stay in Beirut