One of the reasons (apart from LOVE which, of course, is a very obvious answer) my husband gave me when I asked him a few years ago why he decided to marry me was this:  "because I know you're frugal."

While I was taken aback by his response, I had come to realize that it actually makes sense for a hardworking bachelor to choose a low maintenance woman for his wife.  (Unless you're a billionaire, then I guess, having a shopaholic wife isn't going to be a problem.) 

Managing finances is known to be one of the most common issues faced by married couples.  Thankfully, my husband and I share the same principles when it comes to spending.  Hence, we never really had to argue about money matters.

Admittedly, both of us happened to be frugal spenders.  However, that doesn't mean we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to experience luxury.  We still do spoil our family every once in a while -- just not in the form of material things (e.g. gadgets, designer clothes, bags, shoes, etc.) but with travel, vacations, staycations, etc.  

So when my husband saw the flash sale of DoubleTree by Hilton two months ago, he knew we just had to go -- even if it meant driving 250 km away from home.  After all, it's not all the time that we get the opportunity to avail a low season sale + Ramadan promotion of such luxurious five-star resort hotel.

Upon check-in, the three of us were warmly welcomed by their staff with their signature chocolate chip cookie, which was absolutely delicious!  

The room where we stayed was spacious enough for two adults and one child.  It had a comfy king-sized bed, a sofa bed, a mini bar, a small dining area, a 46-inch Flat Panel HDTV, and complete personal amenities like bath slippers, bathrobe, toiletries, hairdryer, etc.  

On a separate note, what I didn't like about our room was its gloomy ambiance (because of the small window that didn't allow for natural light to come in) and the non-availability of free wifi service (which was only available in designated public areas).  Thus, guests had to pay an additional AED 40/hour if they wanted to use the internet inside their hotel room.  

The hotel's biggest selling point, in my opinion, is its superb facilities which allow guests to enjoy both sports and leisure through golfing, sailing, aviation, desert camping or swimming (either in a private white sand beach or in one of their seven temperature-controlled pools).  They also have a fitness center, spa, and several bar and restaurants.

Families with kids will certainly love this place for its impressive kid's club which features a climbing wall, an arcade zone, an outdoor playground, and a pirate boat aqua zone.  The photos below are a proof of how much my son had enjoyed the place.

Overall, I can say that my family really had a great time staycationing in DoubleTree, Ras Al Khaimah.  This hotel is certainly one of the best, if not the best, KID-FRIENDLY hotels we've been so far!  Their regular rates are just a little bit intimidating though (it's pricey, especially during the holidays), so I suggest try visiting this place during off season to score a great deal!