Hilton Al Hamra Beach and Golf Resort - Al Hamra, RAK

Previously the Al Hamra Fort Hotel, Hilton has now taken over this hot spot in Al Hamra, sandwiched between The Waldolf Astoria and The Banyan Tree. Situated conveniently 50 minutes away from Dubai, 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah, and an hour from the Omani border (which leads up to the beautiful Musandam Peninsula), Al Hamra is a great place to be to experience the best of both worlds (the city and the mountains) as well as being a great place for a weekend stay cay. It is also very close to other local attractions including Ice Land and Dream Land.

We went to Al Hamra for a night to stay at The Hilton and even though it was definitely not a 5 star resort it was comfortable and had all the amenities which make stay-cays enjoyable. The complex was huge, and all the rooms were separated into Arabic style building with winding pathways laid down between  gardens joining up the resort. From the outside, the buildings looked authentic and painted a lovely picture of the resort, however the inside could of done with a bit of work. The corridors and stairwells resembled my old boarding school - stone and cold - and the rooms looked dated. Even though they were clean, the beds were comfy and there was a large balcony attached, the paint work looked chipped, there were water stains on the wall and the AC didnt seem to be working well (it was also very noisy!) which obviously made things slightly uncomfortable in the middle of summer. However, on the plus side, we ordered room service for breakfast which made up for what was lacking in the room. They offered a proper full English breakie with PORK bacon and they also served gluten free bread. Not only was it probably one of the best breakfasts we have had from room service in a hotel, it was also the cheapest and after our first nights stay, gave us a little more hope in terms of what else The Hilton had in store for us.

The Hilton offers up a range of sporting activities, on the water and the land. They have an 18 hole golf course (and a mini golf course too - more my style), tennis courts, two swimming pools, plus a gym and water sports center. There are also eight onsite dining venues, including a gastro pub, a pool side lunch spot and the infamous Mai Tai Lounge (AKA Trader Vics). The pools are nice however quite small in size and were far too warm for the summer months, however the main delight was the beach. RAK is known for its white sandy beaches and this one did not disappoint. It was an enjoyable stay for one night, however its a better place for a family holiday rather than a relaxing weekend away.

The Rixos - Bab Al Bahr

I somewhat feel that I didnt get to experience the full benefits of Rixo Bab Al Bahr and all it has to offer but compared to other all inclusive hotels, this one is surely more classy than others, even though I don't think it could be classified as 5 star when you are comparing it to other 5 star resorts such as The Chedi or the Shangra-La. Right on the beach on route to RAK sits the Rixos, plonked inbetween other hotels of a similar style which stretch across the coast line.

Made up of six pyramid shape towers, the Rixos is vast accomodating 655 rooms as well as host of restaurants, activities, bars and a long sweeping beach with the whitest sand i have seen in a while (all complete with a banana boat of course.). For a new hotel, as expected, the rooms were clean, with plain and un-fussy furnishing, rugs and bathroom - classic and simple! Our room wasnt huge, but cosy, fitted out with a large bed, sofa, desk and TV. The bathroom was also nice (it was lacking a bath..) however the main feature was the balcony. The largest of any of the hotels I have been too, it wrapped around the side of the building slightly making a massive square terrace, which conveniently overlooked the sea, making it the perfect place to watch the sunset. The hotel also offers up a number of multi bedroom suites for families or larger parties and due to the all inclusiveness of the hotel, the contents of the mini bar are also complimentary... bonus!

The grounds surrounding the pyramids are vast with small winding passages in places (I got lost a few times after a few free Pina Coladas), playing host to 3 large swimming pools, 7 restaurants, 6 bars/cafes and 1 funky disco suitably named Infernos. We had dinner at Meat Point which serves up a selection of grilled meats from Argentina and Brazil. With a great selection of wine and tasty tender meat, it was definitely the best meal of our trip and definitely won over the other restaurants where we had lunch and breakfast. However, no kids are allowed - strictly adults only. The beach is another brilliant addition to this hotel - a huge stretch of white sand dotted with sunbeds. They also offer activities on the beach including football as well as watersports including diving, sailing and wakeboarding.

We stayed at the Rixos one weekend during Ramadan, and considering the rest of the country was dry, its was unbelievable how The Rixos got away with keeping the all inclusive offer going (booze included). Due to this and the 899aed price tag, The Rixos turned into the UK version of Bultins for the weekend. Pools filled with people and Pinas, volley ball and water polo, karaoke and all you can drink daiquiris - heaven on earth for all expats in Dubai during the holy month.  However, due to this, it has slightly tainted The Rixos for me and I look forward to returning to make the most of the hotel, facilities and especially the beach. Only an hour from Dubai its well worth it for a stay-cay and a place to visit whilst its still under a year old.

Bounce - DUBAI

BOUNCE is the latest craze in the UAE covering exercise and fun in one foul swoop. They have taken over a warehouse in Al Quoz and literally covered the floor and the walls in trampolines giving each customer the experience to fly through the air and bounce off the walls. The moto: jump high, land soft and still be safe - and this couldnt fit more perfectly with what Bounce is about.

Originating from Australia, this is definitely the first of its kind in Dubai and from I have seen, it has attracted thousands since it opened its doors a few weeks ago. To add to what already is pretty darn cool, there are other things you can take part in (obviously still involving trampolines..) including dodge ball, shooting hoops and free jumping.

Starting with free jumping, BOUNCE has set up super springy trampolines which one bounces a few times on before catapulting onto a massive air bag, cushioning your fall. Great for all sorts of flips, tricks or even just belly flopping in to...  There is also a free jump 'pro' area where you can see all sorts of weird and wacky tricks including walking up walls, flips which seems to last for minutes and odd trampolining dancing..

When it comes to shooting hoops its quite self explanatory... trampolines are set in front of hoops - the aim of the game is to bounce high enough to 'slam dunk' the ball through... We participated in a few races - its safe to say that due to my short legs and lack of hand eye co-ordination i failed miserably..

Dodge ball was the final activity we took part in.. quite daunting at first but hilarious. Balls flying, people bouncing, lots of squealing (from me anyway..) - definitely one of the highlights.

So if you feel like doing something different, a fun form of exercise head down and try it out - however, be prepared to sweat and feel inferior to the 15year old pros.

To Note: BOUNCE provides socks on arrival and there is a cafeteria where you can purchase soft drinks and snacks. 

Blue Marlin UAE

Blue Marlin might just be my new favorite spot in Dubai..

This Ibizian beach brand brings something refreshing and new to beach club chic in Dubai and unlike Nasimi Beach, this joint is more about party and less about relaxing.
During the day, people prance about in bikinis, swim in the sea, enjoy some light lunch, however, around 4pm the crowds from Dubai and decent on Blue Marlin and the atmosphere becomes raucous.

Expect intense beats from world renowned international house DJs, a crowded dance floor, oversized shades (even when its dark!) and a party to rival Dubai's best.

Note: Blue Marlin is about 25mins out of Dubai toward Abu Dhabi, and as you can imagine the queues get big quickly. Be sure to leave enough time to get there and get in.