Ras Al Khaimah’s Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort Offers A Dreamy French-Accented Family Staycation
Ras Al Khaimah’s Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort offers a dreamy high-end, French-accented family staycation
It oozes sophistication. From the moment you step into the light-filled mustard and duck egg blue lobby, with its discrete check-in counters and tempting patisserie display, it’s blatantly obvious that this new property, which is just celebrating its first anniversary, embraces both its French heritage and its Arabic location.
Just an hour and half away from the centre of Dubai, perched on a pristine beach in the centre of Al Hamra Village, the layout of this sprawling, low-rise resort is one of its biggest draws. You won’t want to – or indeed need to – step out. But the Al Hamra Golf Club is right outside if you’re a golf aficionado looking to perfect your swing.
Opt for a luxurious villa suite – dotted around the lush lawns, they come complete with huge terraces on the first floor, or attached gardens if you are on the ground – ideal for those with little ones keen to play outside. Some come complete with private pools.
Not that you’ll be short of somewhere to swim. A lagoon – the largest in the area –
is the ideal place to relax with a book thanks to in-water lounge chairs, shallow nooks and even a swim-up bar dispensing cocktails and ice-cold coconut water.
Waterbabies will be in heaven; a fully covered kids pool keeps them shaded, and sits alongside an exciting splash pad, with winding slides and sprinklers that elicit shrieks from the young and young-at-heart. There’s an additional pool with a waterfall feature, as well as a more serene option in the spa if you’re looking to relax and savour grown-up me-time.
Gastronauts will also be impressed. We felt transported to Paris while savouring delicious brasserie specialities like an expertly spiced steak tartare, and Dover sole at Reunion. Don’t miss the decadent profiteroles. Another highlight was Waka, with its bright Polynesian flavours showing five-star flair whether you sample a zesty ceviche or melt-in-the-mouth ribs with coconut rice. Crisp churros, live music and a dreamy waterside setting making the most of the sunset seal the deal.
Breakfast is served at East, adjacent to the lobby, which doubles up as an all-day dining eatery too. Start your day with an Arabic breakfast, before opting for an excellent burger at lunch. The kids’ menu was as tempting as options for adults.
What truly made this stay special were the people. From the buggy drivers always ready to pick you up and greet you with a smile and ferry you across the resort to those handling the kids’ club concocting arts and crafts, and the chefs happy to arrange an impromptu cookie-making session when temperatures rose, you felt taken care of and cossetted the entire time.
This truly felt like an elevated affair, with the whole family having different highlights that marked out their staycation. Our biggest compliment? We cannot wait to return.
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