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THERE is an alternative for families thinking of spreading their wings around the Gulf States for a short-break holiday … right on their own doorstep in Bahrain.
Instead of the hassle of heading for the airport, a growing number of expats and locals are saving the money they would have wasted on airport taxes and using the cash
towards booking overnight stays at the kingdom’s leading hotels. The Friday brunch experience is now becoming a leisurely, fun-filled occurrence, with families booking rooms on a Thursday or a Friday night to take advantage of the facilities, particularly the soft sandy beaches of the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa and the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa.
Editor Stan Szecowka put them to the test.
JUMP in the car and head for Zallaq and at the end of the highway you have to blink twice and pinch yourself to realise you are still in Bahrain.
It’s such an easy journey on the highway and a destination quicker to get to from our home in Janibayah than the daily jaunt to the office in Manama and locals have obviously cottoned on to that fact too.
The Szecowka family managed to secure the last two rooms for our pre-Ramadan weekend break which coincided with a brunch-time meeting with friends; again I’m glad we booked in advance because the brunch was sold out when we arrived for our sitting.
I remember when this esteemed establishment first opened its doors and people were predicting it would be too far out for locals to take to. Wrong.
In the six years we’ve lived in the kingdom I have probably sampled the vast majority of hotel brunches available in a social or professional capacity.
The Sofitel, however, was a new experience and the fare was spread across three of its most popular adjoining restaurants and the diners made up a virtual ‘who’s who’ of executive life on the island.
On one table I waved at an ambassador and his wife, on another was a VIP from the Bahrain International Circuit, on another, a leading businessman and restaurateur (obviously checking out the opposition) … such a gathering of the great and good would have had The Whisperer salivating at the bit.
We, however, were salivating at the superb array of food available and although this isn’t an Eating Out review, it was not at all surprising the venue was proving so popular.
Earlier we had been shown to our adjoining rooms, both on the ground floor with doors leading on to a patio and a short hop, skip and jump to the pool and beach. The master suite was magnificent, large TVs in the lounge and bedroom, a self-standing bath, a power shower and a giant bed with a mattress made in heaven, utterly marvellous.
The children, Immy, 12, and little Stan, nine, had a smaller version and two single beds and it was possible to connect the two rooms via a private passage behind the main door.
The pool has a bar for refreshments, the water is clean, clear and inviting and there were plenty of lifeguards on hand. Family-friendly is a constant and enduring theme.
A feeling of welcome isolation overwhelms you when you step onto the beach. The La Mer restaurant is featured on the edge on the complex and, apart from that, all you can see is clear blue skies and the beautiful sea.
Zallaq beach is famous for its pristine white sandy beach. The Bahraini businessman we met for lunch insisted it was the softest sand he had ever stepped on in the island.
Breakfast was served in Saraya, the all-day dining restaurant and did not disappoint with an impressive selection of European and local fare with a live cooking station for omelets.
It’s hard to pass up a chance of a treatment at The Thalassa Sea & Spa and Kathryn and I took one-hour turns to pamper ourselves whilst the other swam with the kids.
We finished the day with Saturday lunch at the Fiamma Italian restaurant with seafood delights which must come under the Eating Out scrutiny too at a later date.
This hotel’s team provides a fine example of the kingdom’s legendary hospitality, enhanced by a touch of the French savoir-faire cherished by Sofitel.
There is only one word to describe the weekend break experience … Magnifique.
Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Spa Bahrain.
There is an overwhelming sense of calm the moment you step inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Spa Bahrain.
A delightful piano player tinkling the ivories helped spread the peaceful ambience as I walked towards the reception area. It was just what the doctor ordered after a stressful day in the office.
This was the second of our family ‘one-nighters’ in Bahrain and the good lady wife Kathryn and the children had already enjoyed Thursday afternoon soaking up the sun on the beach by the time I placed my briefcase by the bed and changed into casual clothes.
Shortly after we arrived on the island six years ago we took up a summer family pass which allowed us to use these facilities on a daily basis and even enjoyed a weekend stay in one of villas (butler thrown in too) which proved to be a memorable experience. My eldest son Louis was visiting and I’m sure he left with the impression we lived in this type of luxury all the time by the number of texts he sends me asking for money. I promise you, we don’t.
Although we’re pretty familiar with the surroundings as occasional visitors to the restaurants, we had never stayed in the hotel itself overnight.
The same question comes to mind, why waste time at airports and money on landing taxes for a weekend break away when there is a facility such as this on your own doorstep?
I also took great pleasure on being able to travel up to floor seven (this must be where the saying ‘seventh heaven’ comes from) in the hotel’s amazing glass lift.
In fact my nine-year-old son, Stan, normally has a phobia about travelling in lifts, but enjoyed the experience so much he wanted to keep going up and down it.
Our club suites had excellent views over the facility, were comfortable and cleverly designed with sliding doors to save space in one of the bathrooms.
Those lucky folk staying in ‘club land’ also have their own checking in and out reception, manned at my time of arrival by the delightful Varsha Bhatia, club level manager, and a real peach of a personality.
She’s a great ambassador for Ritz-Carlton, sells the hotel and its lounge facilities with her soul, and has a real rapport with guests. In fact, we want to return one weekend just to see her welcoming smile.
This really is a sanctuary full of elegance and style, offering the ‘ultimate relaxation’ during this year’s summer season and worth paying a visit if you’ve just returned from one of those vacations visiting friends and family back home … and are in need of a holiday!
The pool is cool but not as chilled as I recall when it used to put you off stepping in even on the hottest day. The management has obviously listened and reacted to feedback from guests.
What I’m also intrigued to report is that the hotel, which has always been an icon of excellence, is not resting on its laurels.
As we soaked up the sun on Friday before enjoying a lunch inside the La Med Restaurant and a treatment in the spa, a hive of activity was going on behind well-placed borders, displaying artists’ impressions of what will be the finished products of the work force’s endeavours.
There is a huge investment on dining and eating out facilities taking place as well as plans to place an infinity pool lapping its way towards the sea.
Competition in the hospitality sector is hotting up in the kingdom and it appears the Ritz-Carlton is ready for a battle royal to not only keep, but grow its clientele.
