Banyan Tree Al Wadi

(Dubai)

By adding a beach holiday to the desert holiday, the Banyan Tree Al Wadi now offers it all.

The Beach Villas are a complement the Banyan Tree Al Wadi Hotel in style, theme and with respect to the activities on offer. The 32 Beach Villas at Al Hamra in Ras al Khaimah are set along a man-made stretch of reclaimed land curling around a lagoon on one side, with the open water of the Persian Gulf on the other. Guests are actually transported by boat from the mainland, through the lagoon to the resort.

The Bedouin tent-theme is maintained at the beach as each Villa is internally enclosed by tent-like draped curtains from floor to ceiling.  The overhead fans, a modern addition to a tent (and don’t worry there’s powerful air conditioning too), add a beachy atmosphere inside the Villas and circulate the wonderful smell of Banyan Tree incense and oils – a perfect reminder that your tent is signature Banyan Tree.  Outside, each Villa has a view to the Arabian Gulf, a private deck with a plunge pool and cabana and a free-standing private gazebo set on the sand closer to the beach, also with curtain drapes for ultimate privacy.

The water-themed activities at the beach include, lazing in your infinity pool, lazing in your poolside cabana or lazing in your beach gazebo.  Too much lazing?  Well, there are a variety of water sports on offer including sailing, boat trips, scuba diving, speed boat sightseeing, sport fishing and a beach volleyball court.  And don’t forget that the 72 par golf course (managed by Banyan Tree) is a mere two minute boat ride back to the mainland.  Now too many exhausting activities?  Don’t worry, no Banyan Tree hotel would be complete without a spa at your doorstep.  Onsite – actually, in an exceptionally peaceful location at the very tip of the resort and almost totally surrounded by water – is a Banyan Tree spa.  There is no better compliment I can pay, other than to state that no visit to a Banyan Tree hotel would be complete without a visit to the spa.  It is a must.

The Beach Villas are not designed to be a stand-alone hotel.  The main restaurants and the fitness facilities are located in the desert.  But, the Al Wadi hotel is only 20 minutes away and a hotel shuttle bus runs throughout the day.

The tents in the sand of the Arabian desert and the tents on the sand surrounded by the Persian Gulf, are inspired by Bedouin tradition and beautifully Banyan Tree.  I don’t know if Bedouins actually pitched their tents on the beach, but I’d thoroughly recommend that you pitch up and try beach tent-dwelling Banyan Tree style.

Written by Helen Cook, Associate, Freshfields LLP