If you've been following this blog, perhaps, you might have noticed already how much our family loves to travel.  All the credit goes to my husband who's a naturally outgoing person and obviously, a hard-working head of the family.  He believes, it's better to spend on experiences rather than things.  And I pretty much agree with him on that!  Hence, here's another travel post of our staycation in one of the best hotels in Abu Dhabi and my most favourite so far.

I'm talking about Al Raha Beach Hotel.  It's a 5-star property that promises comfort,  satisfaction, and believe it or not, affordability (just make sure to book your room reservation online to take advantage of their special discount otherwise, you'll end up paying 10x more when you walk-in directly to the hotel).  Would you believe we only paid AED 400 for an overnight stay to this luxury hotel?  And that already includes buffet breakfast for two!  Super 'sulit' deal, right?

Here are six reasons why I think you will love this place and why I find it as the best hotel I've been to so far:

1.  Customer service is superb!  We've been through quite a number of five-star hotels already, but I must admit, the hospitality of the staffs in Al Raha is exceptional.  Everyone is genuinely warm and friendly -- from the very first person who greeted us in the valet service to the front desk officer who assisted us in checking-in and generously upgraded our room for free.  It was indeed a good first impression!  What's even better is that it doesn't just stop there, for ALL their employees -- I mean, EVERY.SINGLE.ONE that we have encountered -- had consistently made our stay feel very much like home!  Would you believe they even allowed us to check-out as late as 4 pm at no extra charge!?!  Ahhh... they really spoiled us in the best possible way!  Now tell me, how can I not love this place?!?

2.  It's a very very spacious property!  Pardon the redundancy, but really, it's the most spacious hotel I've ever stayed in.  The guest room that was given to us, the Gulf View Room, looked more like a suite at 55 square meters with a marble bathroom and an oversized balcony.  Even their lobby and hallways are also bigger and well lit compared to other five-star properties. 

3.  It's conveniently located next to Al Raha Mall so you can save yourself some cash by just dining out or buying snacks at the grocery store instead of availing room service or consuming items from their mini bar.  Nonetheless, there are seven bars and restaurants in the hotel -- Azur (Mediterranean Restaurant), Sevilla (International Restaurant), La Piscine (Pool Bar & Restaurant), Black Pearl (Piano Bar), Cafe Mozart (Lobby Lounge), and Wanasah (Oriental Bar Lounge)-- should you wish to have a gourmet meal and enjoy a sophisticated ambiance.

4.  Facilities and amenities are world-class.  Every room comes with complete amenities you'll need -- fast wifi, electronic safe, mini bar, bath and face towels, toiletries, iron with ironing board, and a digital bedside switch panel that allows you to control the room's lighting and air conditioning system without having to get out of bed in the middle of the night.  Also, I appreciate it a lot that this hotel has an indoor pool which is perfect and safe for a pregnant woman like me who easily gets dizzy (to the point of passing out); it allowed me to enjoy a leisurely swim without having to worry about the summer heat which could trigger a syncopal episode.

5.  Their breakfast buffet is love!  They have a wide array of selections to choose from -- (1) bread section:  they offer different kinds, you name it, they have it; (2) savory option:  Chinese style noodles, beans, boiled/scrambled egg/omelet; (3) sweet option: pancakes, hash brown, french toast, waffle, cereals, and (4) healthy option: fruits, salad, yogurt, and fresh juices.  Coffee and water are also complimentary, so you'll surely enjoy a hearty breakfast meal!

6.  Definitely, family-friendly!  Another important consideration that we always take into account before booking a hotel is the availability of a kid's club or play area.  Of course, we want our little Rafa to enjoy the experience as much as we would!  Hence, it's really a great advantage that Al Raha Beach Hotel has it all -- a kiddie pool, an outdoor playground, and an indoor playroom!

To say that our family had a great time in this hotel is an understatement because obviously, we had such an amazingly EPIC weekend with them!  It was, indeed, the best staycation ever!