#360fit: Unwind at Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa

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  • A serene stay: Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa.

    Sometimes city life can be unyielding. Living in the metropolis which is Dubai, it’s only natural that the fast-paced style of life can weigh heavy from time-to-time – especially in the scorching summer temperatures.

    The same daily routine can wear you down as the cyclical nature of life robs us of the vitality to really get the most from it. It’s crucial, therefore, to occasionally put everything on pause, give yourself time to breathe and take a step away from it all.

    You don’t need to leave the UAE to achieve this, though. Nestled in the foothills of the Hajar Mountains at Al Aqah is the picture-perfect escape: The Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa.

    Now, as someone who has scarcely explored the outer reaches of the UAE, it was difficult to grasp the idea of how a break outside of Dubai could surpass a location built on its five-star style tourism.

    However, the recently spruced up Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, with its incredibly courteous staff and beach-side setting, immediately put you at ease, replacing wave after wave of work with just the overlapping sounds of the Indian Ocean.

    We break down the key takeaways from a weekend stay at the resort.

    THE WELCOME

    Driving from Dubai to Fujairah seems like a little bit of trek with a glimpse at Google Maps but once you hit the roads, you’re soon charmed by the be the impressiveness of the rocky Hajar Mountains.

    For someone who is atrocious with directions, the resort was easy enough to find the help of Maps and once there, you’re greeted by well mannered and considerate staff. In particular, Gabriel, the front office director, was extremely welcoming and despite a busy morning speaking to other customers, was always on hand to deal with any requests.

    A serene stay: Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa.

    A serene stay: Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa.

    THE ROOM

    Spacious, comfortable and serene, everything is as you’d expect from a Rotana chain. The bathroom is well-designed with a generous amount of cupboard space. The view, though, was something else.

    My room was situated right beside the beach and you could not have been any closer to the sandy shores. Almost all of the 250 rooms and suites offer a stunning backdrop of the Hajar Mountains.

    And the ability to get up fresh and early in the morning, walk straight from the room to the private beach was a real pleasure.

    THE FACILITIES

    Zen the spa serenity suite - Fujairah Rotana

    The award-winning Zen the Spa, several water sport activities, snorkelling, a well-equipped gym and tennis courts are just some of the fantastic facilities on offer.

    For someone like myself who likes to keep active to intersperse the periods of relaxation, the resort had all which was needed. Now, the obvious highlight was the spa. We’ve made use of Zen the Spa in previous hotels and for a feeling of wellbeing and mental repose there are few better.

    With eight single treatment rooms, a couple’s room, one Serenity Suite with private entrance and one Thai massage room open from 09:00 to 21:00, the spa caters to all.

    Since our stay, the hotel has made adjustments to further enhance the popular experience. The Thai massage I received came in handy having made use of the Bodylines Fitness & Wellness gym. In previous hotel stays, the gyms are ordinarily a letdown, so it was a pleasant surprise to see state-of-the-art equipment set just in front of the tennis courts.

    THE FOOD

    There are six options when it comes to dining and beverages: the Waves Beach restaurant, Mozaique, Bar Muda, the Tropicana Pool Bar, the Al Falaj Lobby Cafe and finally the Sharkeys Bar.

    Of course, there’s also 24-hour in-room dining, too. For our stay, Mozaique was our place for breakfast while the Tropicana Pool Bar and the Waves Beach restaurant served up the day’s remaining dishes.

    The only downside was the international buffet which was a little light on options and uninteresting. However, the Waves Beach restaurant was delightful and again has since been given a make over since our visit. Watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean with freshly caught fish was a flawless combination.

    What: The Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa
    Where: Fujairah
    Verdict: 8/10: The location was utterly serene with a variety of facilities on offer to keep you occupied. The staff were incredibly polite, the only slight negative being the breakfast.

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