Leija Graf - A journey in life: March 2015

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

Beach - city - haven

One of our most popular hotels for a family beach holiday, One&Only Royal Mirage has a backdrop of skyscrapers, but is a lovely low rise sanctuary with Arabian design, among green lawns and flowers. The beachfront is a whole kilometre long, and there are sparkling swimming pools along with tennis, watersports and more…

There is so much to do at Royal Mirage, so many shops and so many restaurants (nine), that you don’t need to leave…unless for some adrenalin fun at Aquaventure or to experience the highest building in the world.

One&Only Royal Mirage has three hotels – The Palace (231 rooms), The Arabian Court (172) and The Residence (48) – all with seaviews.

On my recent Dubai visit we called for lunch and hotel inspection. Here are a few of my snapshots…

Delicacies

One&Only Royal Mirage - relaxed lunch

Beachside and healthy

Nice company - Nicolas Messian, Hotel Manager Royal Mirage

Arabian style amidst palms, lawns, pools and flowers - with a backdrop of glittering Dubai city

Beautiful white sandy beach with view over to The Palm island

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

New look, old favourite

The Ritz-Carlton is one of our favourite hotels in Dubai. On the beach among palms and pools it faces Palm island over the water and is close to JBR Walk, the celebrated waterfront promenade. We called to dine with our lovely contacts and inspect the hotel's new rooms.

Great company...

Luca Guerra Director of Sales (right) and Nikita Leshchenko Sales Executive, who takes special care of our clients

Delicious food

And some of the beautifully renovated rooms...

Warm and mellow tones

Suite

After renovations and improvements the hotel now has 294 rooms and suites including 60 suites and 41 club rooms all with patios or balconies facing the sea, pools and/or tropical gardens. It has one of Dubai's nicest settings, just a few minutes walk from the upmarket boutiques, cafes and restaurants of the beach promenade and little over 1 km from Dubai Marina.

Select Collection customers get special treatment at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai, another reason that the hotel has an increasing proportion of Scandinavian guests. The hotel is known for its friendly staff and personal service.

Among the choice of restaurants and bars at the hotel ...

Great atmosphere in the Japanese restaurant

Dazzling Le Baie Lounge with swim-up pool bar

Friday, 20 March 2015

Lightly Four Seasons

Right on Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, Four Seasons is an attractive resort property with lovely light rooms, beautiful decor and sea views. Its closeness to the airport makes it very convenient for short stays - but why not linger longer - it is also close to Emirates Mall and all that shopping.

And has a beautiful pool area for relaxed and sunny days....

There are two big pools - one quiet pool and one active one

The gardens are well established as the new Four Seasons lies on the site of a former beach club.

Views are tranquil and the interiors full of elegance, atmosphere, and new fresh feel.

View from the lobby

Atmosphere

Space

In the bar

There are excellent dining alternatives, with several more Four Seasons outlets just outside the hotel.

SUQ is a nice new concept, perfect for lunch

It is like a market where you can choose between Chinese Italian etc.
Very casual. Nice!

Suq includes three open kitchens, a private dining room and an outdoor terrace with views of the gardens, pools and sea.

We had lunch at the beach restaurant with Mohamed Abou Doh, Assistant Director of Sales

Pleasant moments with Mohamed

The bedrooms are fresh and light...with attractive colour schemes and lots of space - all 237 accommodations have balconies and are from 70 sqm in size for the smallest.

Attractive colour scheme

Finally a gym and a spa with a 22 metre pool

Monday, 16 March 2015

Only in Dubai

Dubai is an exciting, glittering, sci-fi city. Best seen from over the water from the peaceful and luxurious One&Only The Palm.

This was the view from our plush room...

An oasis of calm on the celebrated man-made island, One&Only The Palm feels as if it has been here forever with its poise and certainty among an extravagant grove of palms. With the city and its attractions within easy reach, you can relax on the beach or by the pool and dine in pleasurable style at One&Only The Palm.

Gracious style

Spacious accommodations

Here are some of my snapshots taken on my visit 11-15 March...

Luxurious welcome with caviar and champagne

Moorthy Mudaliar Executive Assistant Manager welcomes us

Swan towels

Wonderful to get back together with our One&Only Mary Bishara, Director of Sales and Communications

Fantastic dining - here with Åke and GM Vincent Smarella

Succulent Signature beef just melts in the mouth

Luxury transfers and service by our agent Gulf Ventures

Friday, 13 March 2015

Beauty, class, lifestyle...

One&Only Reethi Rah is famous for its beauty, class and lifestyle. The island was extended to create the most amazing paradise beaches, 11 long white curving stretches of sand lined by coconut palms.

One of the beautiful long beaches

You can stay in a villa on one of those beaches, or nearby, perched over the water. We tried both types of accommodation. Our favourite was the Beach Pool Villa

Enjoying life

With our sweet beach friend

On a romantic and rather big tropical island...

Jungle and tropical flowers give the island a lush and natural feel. And there is lots to do – from tennis, snorkling, and diving to just enjoying the celebrated lifestyle with its choice of vibey restaurants, entertainment, DJs, wine tastings and lots of smartly casual sun-blessed fashion to please the eye.