Throughout my latest journey to the Center East, my hotel-hopping odyssey started on the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi.

The luxurious St. Regis Saadiyat Island is located on Abu Dhabi’s northwest coast. The resort is among the oldest properties owned by the St. Regis model, and is one among two St. Regis resorts positioned in Abu Dhabi.

I had heard many optimistic critiques of the St. Regis Saadiyat Island from buddies, and it gave the impression to be a good looking property judging from the pictures. I due to this fact thought it’d make the right place to remain for the primary evening of the journey as I adjusted to the time distinction.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Reserving

Redeeming factors on the St. Regis Saadiyat Island sometimes falls within the vary of 52,000–74,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening. I saved an eye fixed on the pricing, and was in a position to e-book on the center of the spectrum for 60,000 Bonvoy factors.

Nightly money charges on the St. Regis Saadiyat Island sometimes hover round 1,400 AED ($513 CAD), however can fluctuate to as little as 1,000 AED ($370 CAD) during times of low demand in the summertime and upwards of 3,000 AED ($1,100 CAD) throughout peak instances within the winter. 

On the dates surrounding my go to, money charges had been very inflated because of the Formulation 1 and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar each occurring that weekend. Luckily, I managed to squeeze nice worth out of my factors on this redemption.

When you’re going to pay money in your keep on the St. Regis Saadiyat Island, you’ll want to get in contact with a journey advisor who has entry to Marriott STARS. By doing so, you’ll get a set of additional advantages, corresponding to free breakfast, a room improve (topic to availability), and a $100 (USD) property credit score, with out paying greater than the most effective accessible versatile charge.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Location

Solely a brief distance from town centre, this resort sits on a stretch of pristine Persian Gulf seashore away from the bustling metropolitan space.

Whereas Saadiyat Island is a hub for a myriad of leisure venues, together with resorts, eating places, nightclubs, and museums, it’s primarily often known as a pretty resort vacation spot with among the finest stretches of beachfront in all the UAE. 

The island’s cultural sector might be reached by travelling westward for 10 minutes from the St. Regis. One of many important sights on this neighbourhood is the Louvre Abu Dhabi, residence to collections of works by Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh.

Different fashionable stops on the island are Saadiyat Seashore Golf Membership and New York College’s Abu Dhabi campus, each of which might be reached by car in 10 minutes.

The journey to St. Regis Saadiyat Island from Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport takes barely lower than half an hour by automobile.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Examine-in

The resort constructing has a refined Mediterranean character, with off-white and cream exteriors and terracotta roofs.

Upon arrival, I used to be proven to the foyer space for the check-in course of. It’s a grand, open house with luxurious touches, corresponding to shiny marble flooring and partitions.

The check-in desk was across the nook from the primary entrance.

Views of the resort grounds might be seen within the distance by the foyer’s expansive home windows. The grounds are fantastically landscaped, from the palm bushes that line the paths to the terraced lawns which were meticulously maintained.

Previous to my arrival, I had tried to “suite-talk” my method as much as the St. Regis Suite, which is a junior suite sort on the St. Regis Saadiyat Island, and the resort was completely happy to oblige.

Once more, town was extraordinarily busy on account of two main world occasions, so understandably, the resort’s bigger suites weren’t exhibiting as accessible. Due to this fact, I used to be greater than happy with the St. Regis Suite, as I might simply have simply wound up in a base-level room.

As a Marriott Titanium Elite member, I used to be additionally provided a welcome selection of 1,000 factors, a resort amenity, or breakfast. Naturally, I chosen breakfast, which is at all times essentially the most helpful selection at a St. Regis resort.

After being handed my keys, I made my method again by the palatial foyer and as much as Room 510.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – St. Regis Suite

The St. Regis Suite incorporates a personal balcony, an open-concept residing space, and an adjoining sleeping space with excessive ceilings. The suite instantly boasts a standard but up to date really feel, with a beachy contact from the big white curtains draped throughout the home windows.

Wood accent partitions and furnishings complement the room’s scheme of lotions and brown hues, including a pleasing contact of texture. Some vibrant accents, seen within the art work and pillows, brighten the in any other case impartial furnishings.

The lounge presents a snug seating association, with a settee and two wicker chairs centred round a recent espresso desk and positioned for optimum viewing of the flat-screen TV.

An alcove to the left of the lounge incorporates an oval desk and a minibar stocked with a Nespresso espresso maker, a kettle, and bottled water.

Adjoining to the residing space is the king mattress, flanked by nightstands with trendy bedside lamps.

To the left of the king mattress, a doorway leads into a large walk-in closet with ample shelf house, in addition to a desk and mirror.

The adjoining doorway results in the toilet, embellished in mushy tones with luxurious marble and pebbled accent partitions. Every finish of the toilet has a single vainness with a stone countertop.

Sitting entrance and centre is a pretty stone soaker tub, whereas a bathroom and bathe are hid behind frosted glass doorways to the left and proper, respectively.

Opening the lounge curtains grants entry to the personal balcony by the floor-to-ceiling home windows, which boasts beautiful views of the turquoise water under.

General, the resort has a reasonably traditional design that’s barely dated however nonetheless holding up effectively. The overall format and form introduced again recollections of the St. Regis Langkawi, the place I spent a while earlier within the yr.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Two-Bed room Ocean Suite

I additionally had the prospect to tour the Two-Bed room Ocean Suite, which incorporates a bed room with a king mattress, a bed room with two twin beds, a separate front room, and a big workplace with a glass desk.

From this room, there are nice views of the resort and the close by seashore.

The primary bed room incorporates a second flat-screen TV, a desk, a wardrobe, and direct entry to the balcony. Adjoining to the lounge is a eating space with seating for six.

The toilet can also be in line with the opposite room varieties; nevertheless, there are two double vanities at every finish of the room, and there’s a second half-bathroom within the suite.

The inside design could be very related throughout all room and suite varieties, with pure hues, marble flooring, wood touches, the occasional burst of colors, and seaside motifs all through.

Because the resort is formed like a “U”, the suites at both finish provide panoramic views of the water; nevertheless, some base-level rooms face away from the ocean. Ideally, you’d wish to safe a room with a view of the ocean if in any respect potential.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Breakfast

Olea restaurant on the primary ground serves a breakfast buffet till 1pm, permitting company to sleep in with out concern of lacking out. 

The property incorporates a very complete breakfast buffet with stay cooking stations, drawing on a mixture of cuisines influenced by Abu Dhabi’s multiculturalism. As is widespread at Center Japanese resorts, there have been Indian, Center Japanese, Asian, and Western gadgets.

The buffet choice featured quite a few Western favourites, together with skillets, scrambled eggs, and a wide range of sausages.

The Arabic, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisines on the buffet included shakshouka, hen liver, potato harra, lamb sujuk, falafels, after which a station with labneh balls.

There was additionally a formidable providing of chilly gadgets, together with contemporary fruits, baked items corresponding to croissants dusted with zaatar, and a wide range of chilly cuts and cheeses.

Moreover, there was a bread station with six totally different sorts of jam, and close by was a yogurt station with a wide range of flavours and granolas to combine in.

The drink choice was additionally complete, with quite a few choices for smoothies and juices.

I stayed for fairly a number of hours with my laptop computer and crammed up on a hefty brunch, indulging myself in a number of servings.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Eating

St. Regis Saadiyat Island is famend not only for its breathtaking beachfront setting but additionally for the distinctive high quality of its eating and bar choices. There are a complete of six distinct eating institutions within the resort.

The primary restaurant on the resort is Olea, the place breakfast is served. The all-day eating choices have a largely Mediterranean affect, however persistently provide a myriad of delicacies, with stay cooking stations and à la carte menu choices.

Mazi has a recent menu with a deal with Greek delicacies. The environment is full of life and welcoming, with a backyard filled with olive bushes and luxurious flora.

Buddha-Bar Seashore is right for individuals who recognize stay music with its in-house DJ. You possibly can dine inside or on their seaside patio and revel in a fusion of East Chinese language, Japanese, Thai, and different Asian dishes blended with a Western twist.

Sontaya serves a mixture of Southeast Asian meals and signature cocktails. The restaurant is about on pavilions that float amid a community of linked swimming pools.

Searching over the resort’s shoreline, it gave the impression to be a beautiful spot to take pleasure in a pleasant dinner, and a good friend of mine swears by the curry right here.

Alternatively, Manhattan Lounge could possibly be a super spot to finish the day with a drink. The within bar and outdoors terrace provide up a shocking, subtle setting to unwind in.

Lastly, the foyer of the resort is known as The Drawing Room, the place the time-honoured St. Regis custom of afternoon tea is honoured. A wide array of home made desserts is supplied to pair with the distinctive blends of tea.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Swimming pools & Seashore

There are three outside swimming pools scattered across the resort. The grownup pool has many water options in distinctive types, with jacuzzi jets, shaded cabanas, and solar loungers.

Instantly subsequent to the pool is a bar the place you may order small bites and poolside drinks.

When you’d quite work in your strokes, there may be additionally a lap pool, or in the event you’re vacationing with your loved ones, there’s a big household pool with a separate youngsters’s space.

The resort additionally presents direct seashore entry, which is a significant spotlight of this resort. Saadiyat Island is broadly thought of to be residence to the UAE’s finest seashores, with its clear blue water and golden-white sand.

The one downside is the development within the distance to the west, which detracts from the surroundings considerably, however will at all times be an element on this quickly rising a part of the world. 

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi – Different Services

The Athletic Membership is located a bit additional away from the resort, nestled among the many surrounding related residences.

It has a formidable trendy design with vibrant partitions, wood flooring, and loads of pure mild. The gear is state-of-the-art, with Technogym weights and ample cardio gear.

Studio-based courses, together with spinning and yoga, in addition to private trainers, can be found upon request.

Furthermore, the two-level facility has an indoor pool, which counts as one of many 4 swimming pools on the resort grounds.

The in-house Iridium Spa is residence to 12 therapy suites with personal terraces and water options. The spa has its personal jacuzzi, chilly plunge pool, sauna, and steam room.

Conclusion

My time on the St. Regis Saadiyat Island was an exquisite method to begin off my journey to Abu Dhabi.

The resort sits amongst some of the fashionable seashores within the UAE, but it is usually conveniently accessible to different close by sights, do you have to want to enterprise off the resort.

The rooms might seem considerably dated and in want of a lightweight refresh; nevertheless, the place the St. Regis Saadiyat Island actually shines is with its many eating institutions, complete breakfast buffet, and direct seashore entry.

General, the St. Regis Saadiyat Island is a shocking seaside resort with a variety of choices for each sort of traveller, and I believe it’d be notably appropriate to households who wish to take pleasure in some downtime by the seashore, although with the sights of the UAE’s capital very shut by.