Closest luxury hotel to AUH (Abu Dhabi) airport? (12 hour layover)
May 18, 2016, 12:59 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
Hey, no worries, your post sounded very opinionated and was so different
from our experience
Look, I don't think it's the brand.
We are at Shangri La Tokyo right now and it's a little strange.
The room is AMAZING, we have one of the best suites here, great amenities,
very clean, great view, great everything.
Service is wonderful, they are very helpful, no problems with anything.
But food is very strange. They are making this place look very snobbish
(I guess it's cultural), breakfast is awful to be honest, a very limited choice,
most of the items are tasteless. Lunch is borderline disastrous,
a tiny (I mean you need a magnifying glass to find it on your plate)
portion of chicken called some fancy name etc...
So I guess you can't have everything.
But we would still come back for the room, location and their service.
from our experience
Look, I don't think it's the brand.
We are at Shangri La Tokyo right now and it's a little strange.
The room is AMAZING, we have one of the best suites here, great amenities,
very clean, great view, great everything.
Service is wonderful, they are very helpful, no problems with anything.
But food is very strange. They are making this place look very snobbish
(I guess it's cultural), breakfast is awful to be honest, a very limited choice,
most of the items are tasteless. Lunch is borderline disastrous,
a tiny (I mean you need a magnifying glass to find it on your plate)
portion of chicken called some fancy name etc...
So I guess you can't have everything.
But we would still come back for the room, location and their service.
May 18, 2016, 1:02 am
#32
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,849
and eat mostly outside, breakfast is tough as it's convenient to get it early here.
A great trip BTW, after some heavy rain yesterday, AMAZING weather now,
probably the best couple of days here in Tokyo ever
The best flight with ANA First too, a very kind and helpful crew, we asked for low temps
and they kept it that way, even though everyone else was freezing LOL
They were pro-active, trying to help anyway they could, a really great flight.
Last edited by Big_Foot; May 18, 2016 at 1:07 am
May 18, 2016, 1:09 am
#33
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
Glad you're enjoying Tokyo, it really is an amazing city. I can't wait to be back!
BTW, did you eat at p&c by Sergi Arola at the S-L AUH when you were there? They make outstanding tapas (Michelin star level).
Aug 11, 2018, 10:33 pm
#34
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I have roughly 20 hours in AUH and just want to relax with a nice pool, shisha and like kebab. For such a short stay I wouldnt book a suite. I have been to Abu Dhabi multiple times and am very fond of the Rosewood but would be open to something else for my short stay. I read here the Fairmont is good, possibly another option is the St. Regis on Corniche. 4S pool seems small and like the Rosewood more of a business hotel. I dont want to be out at Saadiyat island. Thanks for current thoughts on luxury properties.
Aug 12, 2018, 12:52 am
#35
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Join Date: Mar 2013
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I had a good stay at GH Abu Dhabi in Corniche. Gorgeous lobby. They're still in a soft opening phase but had the pool all to myself during the weekday mornings. The 1 bedroom residence was very special. Even basic rooms are spacious as well.
Aug 12, 2018, 8:00 am
#36
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Thanks Aventine. My concern is the pool (if I am looking at the right photos) doesnt appear to have any shaded areas for relaxing, is this the case? I am curious if the pool area at the Fairmont is indeed as nice as seems in photos or if there are better properties now for luxury pool lounging close to the city?
Aug 13, 2018, 2:55 am
#37
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Thanks Aventine. My concern is the pool (if I am looking at the right photos) doesnt appear to have any shaded areas for relaxing, is this the case? I am curious if the pool area at the Fairmont is indeed as nice as seems in photos or if there are better properties now for luxury pool lounging close to the city?
Aug 13, 2018, 8:36 am
#38
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Am I overlooking a property (with exception of those on Saadiyat, although I didnt find the St Regis pool that nice) or does the Fairmont have one of the better pool areas?
Aug 13, 2018, 10:03 am
#39
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 97
I don’t think you’ve missed any in this discussion, however my 2 cents:
- FS: excellent hotel, small pool area that can get VERY windy. Service and hard product very good. I would recommend it. It is clear thought that you don’t get a resort feel here.
- Rosewood: same as FS, but service a slight notch below and hard product a bit tired.
- Grand Hyatt Pearl: excellent hard product, don’t know about service yet. Pool area small and as described by another poster above. Tiny beach area - you could argue that it gives you that little bit of a resort feel.
- Fairmont: good pool area but the hard product is far behind the three above. Service can be hit and miss in my experience.
And then... have we forgotten about Emirates Palace?! Well, pools and beach are beautiful. The main issue here are the walking distances as the property is HUGE. I’ve had very good service here. Hard product - depends on your taste, it is a palace in the end.
Full disclosure: I live in Abu Dhabi and my wife and I prefer the FS to lay by the pool due to the excellent service and hard product. We have, however, been to all the other ones.
if you consider Saadiyat, I suggest to go for Park Hyatt.
- FS: excellent hotel, small pool area that can get VERY windy. Service and hard product very good. I would recommend it. It is clear thought that you don’t get a resort feel here.
- Rosewood: same as FS, but service a slight notch below and hard product a bit tired.
- Grand Hyatt Pearl: excellent hard product, don’t know about service yet. Pool area small and as described by another poster above. Tiny beach area - you could argue that it gives you that little bit of a resort feel.
- Fairmont: good pool area but the hard product is far behind the three above. Service can be hit and miss in my experience.
And then... have we forgotten about Emirates Palace?! Well, pools and beach are beautiful. The main issue here are the walking distances as the property is HUGE. I’ve had very good service here. Hard product - depends on your taste, it is a palace in the end.
Full disclosure: I live in Abu Dhabi and my wife and I prefer the FS to lay by the pool due to the excellent service and hard product. We have, however, been to all the other ones.
if you consider Saadiyat, I suggest to go for Park Hyatt.
Aug 13, 2018, 7:11 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
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We often overnight between CAI and SYD flights, but take the earlier 1:30PM flight. The earlier flights are less busy in J.
I have a soft spot for the PH. On our last stay we were upgraded to a Private villa with pool which gave us the privacy we were looking for. We don't use it for overnights, though, as we are often arriving to the hotel at 8PM and our at 9AM the next morning.
I have a soft spot for the PH. On our last stay we were upgraded to a Private villa with pool which gave us the privacy we were looking for. We don't use it for overnights, though, as we are often arriving to the hotel at 8PM and our at 9AM the next morning.
Aug 14, 2018, 2:29 am
#41
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Good to know, thanks for confirming my concerns about shaded areas. Vuittons writes that via friends reporting the Fairmont is still decent but the clear standout is Four Seasons which is in a different league.
Am I overlooking a property (with exception of those on Saadiyat, although I didnt find the St Regis pool that nice) or does the Fairmont have one of the better pool areas?
Am I overlooking a property (with exception of those on Saadiyat, although I didnt find the St Regis pool that nice) or does the Fairmont have one of the better pool areas?
GH service was very attentive for the most part but a lot of their outlets and facilities aren't open yet. Only 1 restaurant, 1 lounge and 1 pool. Their beach is basically a 5 meter long sand bar with no view or anything else there.
Aug 14, 2018, 6:09 am
#42
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I think PH has a gorgeous pool configuration with palm trees and cabana covers over chairs and the seaside beach right there. Fairmont's interior choices are pretty hideous and service isn't anything near FS or Emirates Palace.
GH service was very attentive for the most part but a lot of their outlets and facilities aren't open yet. Only 1 restaurant, 1 lounge and 1 pool. Their beach is basically a 5 meter long sand bar with no view or anything else there.
GH service was very attentive for the most part but a lot of their outlets and facilities aren't open yet. Only 1 restaurant, 1 lounge and 1 pool. Their beach is basically a 5 meter long sand bar with no view or anything else there.
Aug 14, 2018, 6:40 am
#43
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I do like that particular PH style a lot, its much nicer than the St. Regis down the beach, but have found its often overrun with tour groups and unless I am misremembering the pool although beautiful doesnt seem to be really meant for swimming vs lounging? Its too bad the Fairmont seems not to have aged well as I was hoping it would be a good choice given the views of the mosque.
Aug 14, 2018, 8:30 am
#44
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Good to know, the 4S/PH style is more in line with what I enjoy. My sense is the Palace is well...a palace and over the top bling! I checked out photos of the 4S and it looks beautiful but my concern is the pool area doesnt even seem to have the shade that the Rosewood does and I think this might be intolerable during August.
Aug 14, 2018, 10:45 am
#45
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Good to know, the 4S/PH style is more in line with what I enjoy. My sense is the Palace is well...a palace and over the top bling! I checked out photos of the 4S and it looks beautiful but my concern is the pool area doesnt even seem to have the shade that the Rosewood does and I think this might be intolerable during August.