QR F - Al Safwa - Dubai, Al Maha, Abu Dhabi & Memorable Events in the Desert
Jan 8, 2016, 10:06 am
#62
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Congratulations.
When I was last at the lounge/Al Safwa a couple of weeks ago, I ordered (not the first time) the Biryani and it was wonderful.
When I was last at the lounge/Al Safwa a couple of weeks ago, I ordered (not the first time) the Biryani and it was wonderful.
Jan 11, 2016, 12:31 am
#63
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
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Indeed. It is quite representative of how well the hotel takes care of its guests, one of the reasons I've been returning every year.
Thanks a lot for your comment and your kind wishes farbster! Glad you're enjoying the report.
Thank you for your kind wishes, Yahillwe! The Biryani is a wise choice as it is harder to overcook. I'll try it as well on my next visit.
Thank you for your kind wishes, Yahillwe! The Biryani is a wise choice as it is harder to overcook. I'll try it as well on my next visit.
Jan 11, 2016, 5:25 am
#64
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Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
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St Regis Saadiyat Island Part II: a lazy day on the beach
View towards the Park Hyatt in the distance.
The property seen from the beach.
Saadiyat Island's beach is one of the best of the UAE. Turquoise water and white sand make for perfect conditions and the fact that motorsports are forbidden even allows for the occasional dolphin sighting.
In the afternoon I went for a walk on the beach and on the dunes near the golf course.
The property seen from a distance.
My companion for a while.
Hole #5 of the Gary Player designed course.
A little souvenir I found on the way back.
The atmosphere on the beach becomes even more special once the sun starts to set.
Downtown Abu Dhabi is only a 20 minute drive away.
Up Next: St Regis Saadiyat Island Part III
View towards the Park Hyatt in the distance.
The property seen from the beach.
Saadiyat Island's beach is one of the best of the UAE. Turquoise water and white sand make for perfect conditions and the fact that motorsports are forbidden even allows for the occasional dolphin sighting.
In the afternoon I went for a walk on the beach and on the dunes near the golf course.
The property seen from a distance.
My companion for a while.
Hole #5 of the Gary Player designed course.
A little souvenir I found on the way back.
The atmosphere on the beach becomes even more special once the sun starts to set.
Downtown Abu Dhabi is only a 20 minute drive away.
Up Next: St Regis Saadiyat Island Part III
Last edited by JohnRain; Jan 13, 2016 at 1:55 am
Jan 13, 2016, 2:07 am
#66
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
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Posts: 1,880
Jan 13, 2016, 3:51 am
#67
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Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
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St Regis Saadiyat Island Part III: a plunge into the pool, a quad tour in the desert, some Thai food and happy hour at Etihad Towers.
The pool area is very well laid out, with many daybeds, a big family pool, a lap pool and a separate adult pool.
Lap pool.
Adult pool.
Day beds at the adult pool
These water-covered chaises are in high demand when it's really hot. The picture tells you how warm it was on that day.
After breakfast we left for a quad tour in the desert.
Back at the St Regis, we went for lunch at Sontaya, a great Thai restaurant with lovely outside seating on floating pavillions.
Grilled prawn salad.
Fried soft shell crab.
For dessert we had the famous mango sticky rice with a ball of cotton candy.
Back to the beach for some well-deserved rest.
I had the sea to myself as it was a bit cool.
The golfers on the other hand were enjoying the mild weather.
And to conclude this great day, happy hour and some bites at the Lounge of the Jumeirah hotel at Etihad Towers.
Elevator Bling.
The Emirates Palace hotel in the background.
Sunset from the Jumeirah lounge.
Up Next: Out and about in Abu Dhabi & a bit of hotel-hopping
The pool area is very well laid out, with many daybeds, a big family pool, a lap pool and a separate adult pool.
Lap pool.
Adult pool.
Day beds at the adult pool
These water-covered chaises are in high demand when it's really hot. The picture tells you how warm it was on that day.
After breakfast we left for a quad tour in the desert.
Back at the St Regis, we went for lunch at Sontaya, a great Thai restaurant with lovely outside seating on floating pavillions.
Grilled prawn salad.
Fried soft shell crab.
For dessert we had the famous mango sticky rice with a ball of cotton candy.
Back to the beach for some well-deserved rest.
I had the sea to myself as it was a bit cool.
The golfers on the other hand were enjoying the mild weather.
And to conclude this great day, happy hour and some bites at the Lounge of the Jumeirah hotel at Etihad Towers.
Elevator Bling.
The Emirates Palace hotel in the background.
Sunset from the Jumeirah lounge.
Up Next: Out and about in Abu Dhabi & a bit of hotel-hopping
Last edited by JohnRain; Jan 18, 2016 at 9:25 am
Jan 13, 2016, 7:02 am
#68
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QR F - Al Safwa - Dubai, Al Maha, Abu Dhabi & Memorable Events in the Desert
Wow big kudos for your engagement! I'm looking forward to your wedding & honeymoon planning locations!
Are you from Franconia part of Bavaria - do you like Radler as well as Hefeweisen? (I used to travel to Nuernberg and loved both).
Anyway this is a lovely TR - the Al Maha desert resort is so gorgeous. It's such an extreme from the bustle of Dubai!
Are you from Franconia part of Bavaria - do you like Radler as well as Hefeweisen? (I used to travel to Nuernberg and loved both).
Anyway this is a lovely TR - the Al Maha desert resort is so gorgeous. It's such an extreme from the bustle of Dubai!
Jan 16, 2016, 7:46 am
#70
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
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Wow big kudos for your engagement! I'm looking forward to your wedding & honeymoon planning locations!
Are you from Franconia part of Bavaria - do you like Radler as well as Hefeweisen? (I used to travel to Nuernberg and loved both).
Anyway this is a lovely TR - the Al Maha desert resort is so gorgeous. It's such an extreme from the bustle of Dubai!
Are you from Franconia part of Bavaria - do you like Radler as well as Hefeweisen? (I used to travel to Nuernberg and loved both).
Anyway this is a lovely TR - the Al Maha desert resort is so gorgeous. It's such an extreme from the bustle of Dubai!
Yeah the food pictures have the same effect on me offerendum!
Sontaya is one of the best Thai restaurants I've eaten at and that includes Nahm in Bangkok. Their lobster curry is so good that I forgot to take pictures of it.
Last edited by JohnRain; Jan 18, 2016 at 9:47 am
Jan 18, 2016, 9:44 am
#71
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
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Out and about in Abu Dhabi & a bit of hotel-hopping
Heritage Village, a reconstruction of a traditional oasis village.
Traditional Arabic coffee pot
Abu Dhabi in the 1960s...
...and today...
Ceiling of the Emirates Palace
Only in the UAE
The Emirates Palace fountains & Etihad Towers
The Shangri-La Abu Dhabi Qaryat Al Beri
Fantastic tapas at Shangri-La's p&c by Sergi Arola
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, seen from p&c's terrace
Up Next: All good things come to an end
Heritage Village, a reconstruction of a traditional oasis village.
Traditional Arabic coffee pot
Abu Dhabi in the 1960s...
...and today...
Ceiling of the Emirates Palace
Only in the UAE
The Emirates Palace fountains & Etihad Towers
The Shangri-La Abu Dhabi Qaryat Al Beri
Fantastic tapas at Shangri-La's p&c by Sergi Arola
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, seen from p&c's terrace
Up Next: All good things come to an end
Jan 20, 2016, 2:00 am
#73
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
Hey, not true! We have such things in Germany too! It seems to be quite popular, here you find the whole list
But I'd guess that the turnover of the Abu Dhabi ATM is quite a bit higher than of those in Germany...
Jan 21, 2016, 6:14 am
#74
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
The next morning I woke up at 7.30AM and as I stepped out on the terrace I was surprised to see that there was already a lot going on at the beach. I later learned that it was a UAE lifeguard competition.
Watching sports always makes me hungry, so I went for breakfast a bit earlier than usual. After that, more of the same, wonderful routine: Beach, Pool, Happy Hour. Rinse and repeat.
Lifeguard Competition.
The yellow buoy is the one to reach if you had continental breakfast. The orange one if you had the buffet. I swam to the orange one twice.
Leaving a mark (for one minute).
Treasures of the sea.
Naptime.
Burning off a few calories in the lap pool...
...only to add them again during happy hour on my terrace. I'll really miss that view...
The last day of my holidays usually puts me in a bit of a sad, melancholic mood, but this wasn't the case today as it would soon be Christmas. The hotel did a good job in creating the right, festive atmosphere.
Christmas carols performed in the lobby.
Bye bye Abu Dhabi, see you in 2016.
I had booked the hotel limo at 7PM for the 60 minute drive to DXB, but traffic was heavy and we arrived only around 9PM. The flight back in QR regional F to DOH was uneventful, as was the last leg to CDG where I slept the whole time.
I started this trip report with a Krug shot so I thought I'll end it with another one, this time taken in the Al Mourjan lounge in Doha.
Thank you all for following along and for taking the time to comment. I hope you enjoyed this report and I look forward to publishing my next one. Cheers!
Watching sports always makes me hungry, so I went for breakfast a bit earlier than usual. After that, more of the same, wonderful routine: Beach, Pool, Happy Hour. Rinse and repeat.
Lifeguard Competition.
The yellow buoy is the one to reach if you had continental breakfast. The orange one if you had the buffet. I swam to the orange one twice.
Leaving a mark (for one minute).
Treasures of the sea.
Naptime.
Burning off a few calories in the lap pool...
...only to add them again during happy hour on my terrace. I'll really miss that view...
The last day of my holidays usually puts me in a bit of a sad, melancholic mood, but this wasn't the case today as it would soon be Christmas. The hotel did a good job in creating the right, festive atmosphere.
Christmas carols performed in the lobby.
Bye bye Abu Dhabi, see you in 2016.
I had booked the hotel limo at 7PM for the 60 minute drive to DXB, but traffic was heavy and we arrived only around 9PM. The flight back in QR regional F to DOH was uneventful, as was the last leg to CDG where I slept the whole time.
I started this trip report with a Krug shot so I thought I'll end it with another one, this time taken in the Al Mourjan lounge in Doha.
Thank you all for following along and for taking the time to comment. I hope you enjoyed this report and I look forward to publishing my next one. Cheers!
Last edited by JohnRain; Jan 21, 2016 at 6:19 am