Review : Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi | Marriott Bonvoy

As lovers of travel and unusual adventures, we chose to discover Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa. Nestled among the golden dunes, this hotel is a perfect blend of modern luxury and authentic desert charm, suitable for couples and families alike. Having stayed at Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort in the past, the comparison was a natural one. You’ll find my final Review at the end of the article.

We had booked a superior room with a double bed for a two-night stay at $360 per night including all taxes, or 40,000 points per night. We were upgraded to a classic suite, ideal since we were with our children.

You’ll find more than a dozen room categories available at Hotel A Wathba, furnished in Bedouin inspirations:

• Superior room with king-size bed, view of the resort and balcony,
• Superior room with two double beds, view of the resort and balcony,
• Deluxe room, king-size bed with view of the complex and balcony,
• Deluxe room, king-size bed with pool view and balcony,
• Deluxe room, one king bed with desert view and balcony,
• Deluxe room, two double beds with desert view and balcony,
• Classic one-bedroom suite with king bed and balcony,
• Classic two-bedroom suite with king-size bed in each room and balcony,
• Suite with infinity pool, one bedroom with king-size bed, Bedouin installation and Jacuzzi,
• One-bedroom villa with king-size bed, desert views, infinity pool and terrace,
• Suite with swimming pool and two bedrooms with a king bed each and Bedouin facilities
• Two-bedroom villa with king-size bed, desert view and terrace,
• Two-bedroom villa with pool, each with king-size bed and pool view,
• Villa Royale, 3 bedrooms, two with a king-size bed each and one with two single beds.

Each unit has modern amenities, including high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and marble bathrooms.

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Al Wathba Resort is less than an hour from downtown Abu Dhabi. You can ask the hotel for a shuttle service or drive yourself.

Once through the large outer gate, we park in front and enter through a small door into a small reception hall with a fountain at its center, overlooked by a beautiful Arabic chandelier. There are two counters: one for check-in and the other for concierge services.

A non-alcoholic welcome cocktail will be offered to all four of us. The same applies to the swimming pool. A small buffet is available for guests, offering dates and Arabic tea. Not far from the reception area are several attractive indoor lounges that follow on from each other, as well as an enclosed business lounge.

We then walk through the village-like complex, accompanied by a butler, to our suite on the first floor of one of the two-storey buildings.

The whole is charming. The aisle decorations are simple, with beautiful hanging lights or traditional objects on the walls; the aisles are shaded in places, but a play of light takes place throughout the day, making them very pleasant to walk along. They are laid out with pretty flowering plants, clearly delineated by plots on the site. A pure pleasure for lovers of flower gardens.

I enjoyed walking around in the evening, with the lights on, which create a warm and mystical atmosphere.

On arrival, we were upgraded to a classic suite. Located on the ground floor, it features a dining room with an Arabic lounge and access to a small terrace. A powder room is also available at the entrance to the large suite.

A hallway off the entrance leads to the master bedroom, featuring a king bed, master bathroom and small terrace in the greenery. The furniture is of good quality wood, and the decor is warm and inviting. We walk on a concrete floor with tiles in some areas. The decor is well thought-out. Flower petals had been placed on the bed. The bathroom is large and includes a freestanding bathtub and enclosed walk-in shower. A double-sink countertop and large mirror complete the room.

The terraces are intimate. Some suites are of a higher standard and even boast a private pool terrace.

The hotel offers the Bait Al Hanine restaurant for the breakfast buffet. A very pleasant location with tables in the sun or half-shade half-sun, it overlooks a beautiful central square fountain. Birds add to the enchanting setting.

The buffet is placed indoors and protected from flies by baskets. The food was good and varied, with pastries, waffles, eggs Benedict, tropical fruit, salads, hot dishes and much more. The chefs wanted to offer our children Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes, a nice touch even if they already had full plates.

Platinum and Titanium members enjoy a 20% discount on all restaurant bills.

There’s a lounge bar on the upper floor, the Al Mesayan, with its unobstructed view of the desert. It’s a lovely spot, perfect for watching the sunset and enjoying an assisted mixology session for the hotel’s signature cocktail!

Terre Secca is the hotel’s chic gourmet restaurant. We spent a lovely evening there with the children, with the added bonus of free-roaming horses for them to stroke.

In the Panache restaurant, you can dine poolside or enjoy a drink at the poolside bar, with your feet in the water.

Last but not least, more intimate square facilities are available by the pool, for a family event or romantic meal.

On the day of our departure, as we had a 10:10 AM flight to Abu Dhabi and couldn’t have breakfast at the hotel, we had asked the evening before if boxed breakfasts could be prepared for us by 6:30 AM, but nothing was ready that morning.

The receptionist called three times to rush her team. Finally, at 6:50 am, we got four not very tasty boxes containing an orange juice, two croissants, a fruit pastry and a small chocolate muffin. This adrenalin rush for both them and us could have been avoided if they had taken into account our request of the day before.

The hotel boasts a large outdoor pool overlooking the desert, perfect for relaxing under the sun. There are also areas where you can enjoy the sunset and evenings around the campfire.

The pool area is pleasant and there are plenty of sun loungers, but it’s a shame the water was a little cold when we were there. The children were able to enjoy themselves in an adapted swimming pool with water games and a slide, which was very much appreciated.

You can enjoy various activities, including horseback riding, desert excursions on quad bikes, 4×4 safaris and camel rides.

At the hotel, you can try your hand at wave surfing, badminton and archery. The hotel also offers yoga and fitness classes for those wishing to maintain their wellness routine. On the outskirts of the hotel, you’ll find a stable for horses and camels, which you can visit. There’s also a store selling pieces, sculptures and traditional art.

The kids’ club was closed at the time of our visit, but a babysitter was available around the pool to keep the children occupied. The program includes decoupage, coloring, face painting and games. The nanny even brought them an ice cream.

A small business lounge is available not far from the hotel reception, more reserved for companies with refreshments, but there are no lounges as such for members.

The hotel boasts a beautiful spa. At the time, we couldn’t find it, as the signposts were wrong. Eventually we made our way around and discovered a lovely entrance once again, complete with fountains and flowerbeds. An enchanting setting with a change of scenery.

As Jean-Maximilien and I arrived at the sanctuary, we were invited to go our separate ways, one for women and one for men, but both identical.

Spa facilities are presented to each guest. The spa offers a full range of body and facial treatments, massages, hot and cold baths, sauna and hammam. We enjoyed this moment of relaxation even if separated.

Before arriving at the hotel, we pass by this festival created to bring together young and old around the culture and history of Abu Dhabi and the Arab Emirates. Several pavilions are themed on other countries, and there’s plenty to keep you entertained: attractions, playgrounds, rides and a fireworks display every Saturday at 10 pm.

The Emirates International Endurance Village is a world-renowned equestrian center located in Al Wathba, just a few minutes from the resort. This center is dedicated to equestrian endurance competitions. The stamina of horses and riders is put to the test over long distances and varied terrain.

Whether you’re an equestrian enthusiast or simply curious about this fascinating sport, a visit to this village offers a unique immersion into the world of equestrian endurance. There are children’s play areas, with giant chessboards and inflatables, as well as food and drink stalls.

Nearby, the wetlands reserve is a protected area that offers a stunning contrast to the surrounding desert, home to a beautiful biodiversity, such as pink flamingos and a fine variety of birds and plants. It is possible to hike 1.5 or 3 km.

Pros:

• We appreciated the setting and the friendliness of the staff. The pool facilities are beautiful and luxurious, the activities atypical with the discovery of surfing or the presence of horses and falcons.

Minuses:

• Service was somewhat irregular over the two days we spent, with attentive service at the pool and bar, but sometimes with requests from some waiters for positive reviews on the internet. This type of request surprises me in hotels of this range.
• You feel like you’re in a small Arab village, cut off from the rest of the world, but with no real panoramic view of the desert, unless you take the high ground at the hotel bar, unlike the Al Maha. The latter is, it has to be said, hard to beat in terms of service and environment. It’s worth remembering that service is all-inclusive at Al Maha, whereas every expense is brought to the room here.

In any case, we’d like to point out that much effort is generally put into satisfying you and ensuring you have a wonderful stay. The setting is a change of scenery and we really enjoyed our stay. I, for one, would love to go back.