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.

The Chedi - Muscat, Oman

Minimalist Chic, luxury retreat, where mountains meet sea, The Chedi Muscat ticks all these boxes - the perfect place for a relaxing vacation surrounded by immaculate landscaping and sleek architecture. Occupying 21 acres of the Gulf of Oman beach with a splendid back drop of the Jaajjar mountains, The Chedi provides guests with the space to escape from the outside world and slip into their own Arabian inspired dream. The decor is a mix of traditional Omani cultural in its most minimalistic form, with a modern touch which creates a fantasy world for all guests. While the interiors are spectacular, fitted out with smooth arch ways, traditional lanterns, Arabian furniture plus the flavorsome smells of incense,the exteriors really bring the WOW factor to The Chedi. Small pathways with immaculate manicured hedges cage small water fountains and pools creating an brilliant calm, each one leading to a different location on the grounds whether its rooms, one of the many pools or maybe just a 'chill' area decked out with plush seating and surrounded by roaring fire pots.

The hotel comprises of three swimming pools, all infinity in style dropping off onto the beach. Each pool is facilitated with a restaurant making life a lot easier when you want a bite to eat. Free mint infused water is also handed out throughout the day keeping you hydrated and feeling fresh. Each pool also accommodates massive double or triple sun loungers making star fishing and snoozing very do-able. The infamous Long Pool at The Chedi is definitely a must - see and probably a tourist attraction in itself. 103 meters in length, it is the regions largest pool. The Long Pool also sits next to the Spa which is 800 square meters of relaxation and fitness heaven complete with a large team of wellness professionals. There are also tennis courts at the guests disposal and a great beach - probably one of the better places in the hotel to watch the sunset.

Six restaurants and two lounges cover the culinary side of the hotel. They have everything on offer from Mediterranean to Middle Eastern, Asian to Indian  as well as a top notch wine and beverage list. Guests can pick from dining under the stars whilst wiggling their toes in the sand or they can dress up and dine in style - the option is there to suit every mood. The Fine Dining restaurant is the main spot, and also serves a fantastic breakfast with buffet and al a carte on offer. The Fine Dining also plays host to a small chocolate counter which are made daily - scrummy!

The rooms are very much in line with the rest of the premises, complete with over sized windows, sky high ceilings and minimalist decor. Each room is on the ground floor and each suite is decked out with an balcony or outdoor private seating area. To add to the excitement, each room comes decked out with a BOSE sound system, extensive TV and movie list, Nespresso machine and Aqua di Parma products - a real touch of luxe.

Sleek without being OOT, its a perfect place to wind down, chill out, eat well and relax. With an authentic Omani touch its a great way to get a feel for the Oman culture and with the fantastic and tentative staff its a no-brainer when it comes to picking places to stay in Muscat.

The Grand Hyatt - Muscat

Over the weekend, a friend and I were lucky enough to be able to spend a night at The Grand Hyatt in Muscat, Oman. Reasonably priced, great friendly service, an amazing pool and facilities and a beautiful beach - perfect for a stroll during sunset.

For further information please visit http://muscat.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, Jebel Ali, Dubai

One of the founding hotels in Dubai, Jebel Ali has become a firm favorite of the Haggas family. Back in 1999, 20 members travelled out into the desert to Jebel and we have never looked back. Since then my Grandparents (especially) make the trip from London to Jebel Ali twice a year (which is great for me now I live here!) and even though they have tried other hotels, they say the service and the atmosphere is the best they have seen. Even though its slightly off the beaten track (about a 20 minute drive from the marina towards Abu Dhabi) it is well worth the trip. If you live in Dubai like me, it’s also a great spot to escape to at the weekends and I would always recommend it to families visiting Dubai too.

Now split into two parts, you can pick between staying in the main hotel or in Palm Tree Court (the more expensive area). Palm Tree Court is full of small apartments in small white blocks, each either opening up onto a balcony or cute garden (if you are situated on the ground floor of course). The deco is simple but the rooms are nicely turned out – nothing overly fussy, and the beds are huge! Five of us could have slept in there and been comfortable. The rooms in the main hotel are themed similarly however they are probably half the size, but still extremely well turned out and perfectly comfortable for two. The only let down would be the general outdoor appearance of the main hotel – it looks slightly worn and aged (which in fairness it is quite old?!) and could probably do with a bit of TLC.  The gardens at Jebel Ali are lovely, continuing on from the sand, stretching from one side of the bay to the other covered in large sunbeds, lounge areas, and two beach restaurants. Beautiful large peacocks also roam the grounds, and if you are lucky you’ll get to see their gorgeous tail feathers. There are two hotel lobbys, one for each part of the hotel and four pools dotted around the grounds, decked out with sunbeds, water features, in-pool bars and life guards (of course!). In addition to this there is also a lovely spa in the middle of the two hotels (reasonably priced!), there is a watersport center called Watercooled where I spent many an hour learning how to sail, waterski and wakeboard. The staff are extremely friendly, helpful and great when it comes to teaching (they managed to get me up on waterskis which I never thought would happen – Im truly hopeless!). You can partake in almost all watersports at Watercooled including kite surfing, paddle boards, donut rides, mono skiing and wind surfing. They have two different types of specialized speed boats, each tailored to different types of sport on water.

Situated at the end of the resort is a sports center fitted out with tennis, badminton, and squash courts, a sports bar playing all the matches/races of the day, a huge golf course, and a gym so you can fit in a work out if you want! There is also a small marina next to the club so its easy to moor your boats there (if you are lucky enough to own one!) or on the other hand it is possible to rent a boat to either have dinner on, to go fishing or just to have a drive on the sea. Al Boom Diving also has a shop there where they offer 4 day Padi courses with two dives in Fujairah. At the other end of the hotel you will find Animal Corner, another perfect place day for kids. There is also a riding school, fitted out with instructors, ponies (big and small) and a large outdoor ride full of pretty little jumps.

Kids activities run throughout the day varying from camel rides on the beach to mini golf, from outdoor painting sessions to football – there is something on offer for every one every day making it easy for parents to have a few hours of peace and quiet – it is supposed to be a holiday after all!

The hotel is overrun with restaurant options. You can opt for a casual dinner on the beach at the Captains Bar and hunker down to burger and chips, alternatively you can go up market and feast on Thai treats at the White Orchid in Palm Tree Court (my personal favorite!). In the mood for Italian? Why not head to the La Traviata in the main hotel offering a mix of pizza, pastas and meats. There are two buffets on offer every night which are themed depending on the day of the week, perfect if you are unsure what you are in the mood for, or if you are extremely hungry! The Haggas’s spend a lot of time in the buffets – it seemed to be the easiest option when it came to feeding 30 mouths! Both parts of the hotel also offer a fantastically large buffet breakfast, however if you are staying in the Palm Tree Court I would recommend heading to the White Orchid – it may be smaller but the selection is better and there is more pork on offer – a breakfast essential!

I highly recommend Jebel Ali – it’s the perfect place to go for an actual holiday. The beach is the biggest one attached to a hotel in Dubai and the atmosphere is laid back, peaceful and stress free!  The grounds are vast and nothing seems to cramped like it so often does in Dubai! 

The staff are extremely friendly and are always happy to help you with any of your needs from organizing fishing trips to sea planes, medical needs to taxis. They are a caring bunch and take care of their guests more than any other hotel I have been to! It is not overly expensive and they offer great deals throughout the year. Going for Christmas? Well no need to plan what to do.. on big holidays the hotel puts on a ‘do’, whether it be a big lunch on the beach or a party in one of the large board rooms where hotel guests can join in the celebrations. As far as hotels go, it’s definitely the best place to go on a family holiday, especially if you have young kids.  Kids at the hotel are extremely well catered for and all my cousins who stayed at Jebel (aged between 8 and 14) were entertained all day, whether they were at Watercooled or playing some form of sport or game with the other children staying in the hotel. Even though it is 20minutes from the Marina, taxis are very easy to get and also very cheap so as well as having the peace and quiet of the hotel, it is easy enough to pop into town to catch a piece of the action!

It rules – go visit! 

MJ's Steak House - Al Qasr, Jumeriah Dubai

MJ’s steakhouse – ‘fine feasting for meat lovers’. If you are particular about your steak, MJ’s is the place for you with its dedication to meat cooking perfection.

Situated in Al Qasr Hotel (next to the Madinat in Jumeriah), this classy restaurant resembles a mix between sophistication and cool, decked out in red and black, large street shots taking over the wall and polished brown wood floor to boot.

With MJ’s busy open kitchen you’ll see first hand the chef’s finesse and flair with flame and grill – all part of the entertainment with the added benefit of diners getting the chance to pick there meats from the counter if they wish.

Seating is also available outside (which is my particular favourite) where you can look out on to the water ways which make their way up to the Madinat – you can also see the Burj poking through the trees.

Being a steak joint, the menu is centered mainly around meaty dishes (with a few fish options inbetween!). Even though I am sure all the food is divine by particular favourites would be, to start, the dry aged beef tartar. This dish is presented in its separate elements and then mixed together in front of you, allowing the diner to have an opinion on how much of each element they want in the dish. When choosing a main choice, I would highly recommend the tenderloin, the Chateaubriand, or the Australian Wagu – and to accompany this I would always go for the parmesan truffle fries with a portion of the broccilini – perfect combination!

All steaks come with your choice of sauce too ranging from your classic béarnaise to MJ’s signature BBQ.

After selecting your dish of choice, waiters will then appear with large baskets of bread (with gluten free options too!) and a tray of knifes where the diner can selected there preferred slicing device. Palette cleansers are also offered before your meal – the last time I went we had a delightful bowl of mango sorbet.. yum! 

I would give MJ’s 10 out of 10 on all fronts. The service is great and the waiters friendly, the atmosphere is buzzy but the restaurant never feels cramped and finally, so far, it’s my favourite steak joint in Dubai. 

Dress code is smart casual and I’d recommend always booking before you go so you’re not disappointed! 

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/madinat-jumeirah/restaurants--bars/mjs-steakhouse/