Now that our annual vacation is over and my passport is still the terribly damaged passport, I couldn't see myself flying out the desert anytime soon. I had too much of the travel drama, so I'm not leaving until I get my hands on my new passport. But how about the itchy feet and the constant longing for sweet escapes? Well, I'll rely to my trusted and proven alternative to a pricey trip abroad: staycation!
Staycation is a relaxing break from the daily routine. It can be done in the comforts of home or in a hotel or resort nearby. I found it the best way to unwind without the long travel time and most importantly without depleting the funds! We actually had a good one at Centro Capital Centre recently.
The Hotel and The Location
Centro Capital Centre is a contemporary business hotel with a classy ambiance and an affordable rate. Despite being a budget-friendly hotel, I could sense that nothing will be compromised the moment I walked in! The lobby is elegant and the staff are polite, just like in every Rotana Hotels and Resorts we have been to.
Centro Capital Centre is located adjacent to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre; a prime venue for exhibits, conferences and events in the capital city of the UAE. The iconic Capital Gate tower, the world's furthest leaning man-made tower, is also a leisure stroll away. There are shuttle services to Abu Dhabi International Airport and to Marina Mall, hence I found the hotel ideal for business travelers and staycationers alike.
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| Centro Capital Centre: a contemporary business hotel in Abu Dhabi |
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| Centro Capital Centre's lobby |
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| a view of the Capital Gate tower from the roof deck It is the world's furthest leaning tower, but its stunning curve is not seen from this angle. |
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| aerial view of Abu Dhabi Capital Centre |
The Compact Studio
Our home for the weekend is a compact studio at Centro Capital Centre's 12th floor. It has a queen size bed covered with crisp white linens, a sofa, a kitchenette and a squeaky-clean bathroom! It is very spacious; quite odd to be called a "compact" accommodation. It is four times the size of our superior hotel room in Hong Kong!
Although there's a shuttle service to the city mid-afternoon, we chose not to dwell outside. The summer weather is unbearable! So, it was a weekend afternoon of lazing around, of Gossip Girl re-runs while the husband snoozed, of rest and relaxation basically.
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| our home away from home |
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| amenities in a compact studio: a cozy sofa, a 32 inch LCD TV |
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| the stylish kitchenette |
Recreation at the Rooftop
At dusk, when the summer heat finally toned down, Ed and I decided to catch a breath of fresh air. We headed to the 20th floor where the recreation facilities are. Centro Capital Centre has a well-equipped gymnasium and an outdoor swimming pool. The topmost floor also offers breathtaking views of the corniche and the city.
It was the high time for most hotel guests to leave their private nooks. There's a mixed crowd at the deck; a family with kids in floaters in the pool, a group of friends chilling with some drinks in a corner, business people in the sun loungers with their laptops and there's us, an expat couple breaking away from the monotonous expat life.
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| at the Centro Capital Centre's pool deck |
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| the hotel gymnasium |
The Dining Options
Centro Capital Centre has three food and beverage outlets in the lobby. For us who had no plans of going outside the hotel for our meals, it was great to have options. There is c.deli for quick bites like pre-packed sandwiches and salads. It is open 24/7, so guests need not worry if they go hungry in the dead of the night or have left something behind. Aside from food, basic travel necessities are also available at c.deli.
For those who need a drink and for sports fans who don't want to miss a World Cup match, there is c.mondo. I heard there's a World Cup promotion which includes bar bites and drinks, but I'd rather spend the night relaxing in our quiet room than be in a bar watching a game I don't really understand.
Then, there is c.taste; an all-day dining restaurant that serves a la carte and buffet meals. It is where we had our Italian lunch and buffet breakfast. The choices are vast both in the buffet spread and in the a la carte menu. The restaurant is sleek and casual; perfect for a relaxed meal with family or friends, and even for date nights!
For those who need a drink and for sports fans who don't want to miss a World Cup match, there is c.mondo. I heard there's a World Cup promotion which includes bar bites and drinks, but I'd rather spend the night relaxing in our quiet room than be in a bar watching a game I don't really understand.
Then, there is c.taste; an all-day dining restaurant that serves a la carte and buffet meals. It is where we had our Italian lunch and buffet breakfast. The choices are vast both in the buffet spread and in the a la carte menu. The restaurant is sleek and casual; perfect for a relaxed meal with family or friends, and even for date nights!
Lunch at c.taste
We went to c.taste an hour after we checked-in. The lunch buffet was enticing. However, knowing that we have the tendency to binge whenever we are in buffet restaurants, Ed and I agreed to choose from the a la carte menu. Thus, saving our souls from gluttony and our waistlines from gaining more inches.
c.taste also has a great array of International cuisine in the a la carte menu; from burger to biryani! We didn't want to jump start our staycation with an unfamiliar flavour, hence we settled with our favorites. We had penne with chicken and pesto and Quattro Formaggi pizza! Both were freshly prepared, served hot and taste really good! The servings are way too generous that we had to take almost half of it in our room!
c.taste also has a great array of International cuisine in the a la carte menu; from burger to biryani! We didn't want to jump start our staycation with an unfamiliar flavour, hence we settled with our favorites. We had penne with chicken and pesto and Quattro Formaggi pizza! Both were freshly prepared, served hot and taste really good! The servings are way too generous that we had to take almost half of it in our room!
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| Centro Capital Centre's c.taste menu |
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| penne with chicken and pesto |
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| Quattro Formaggi pizza |
In-Room Dining
Since the compact studio has that home-away-from-home feel, we decided to make the most of our stay and had a comfortable private dinner in the kitchenette. We ordered Fish and Chips over the phone and it was delivered to our doorstep promptly. It came in foil box, just like our lunch left overs, hence we had a no-frills intimate dinner. For dessert, we shared a heavenly cup of Rocky Road from c.deli. It's actually fun to have a fuss-free meal in pajamas and slippers in a hotel! It was our first and definitely will not be the last.
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| food bags from c.deli |
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| no-frills dinner: Fish and Chips in a foil box |
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| Rocky Road from c.deli |
Breakfast at c.taste
Our Saturday morning started with an excellent breakfast at c.taste. The buffet spread was fantastic! I know I've said we are avoiding buffets, but breakfast is an exception. As they say, eat breakfast like a king... and so we did! :)
I made my own salad and had it with cold cuts on the side. I also asked for an omelette from the chef at the live-cooking station and filled my plate with yummy breakfast goodies! My big breakfast ended superbly with a doughnut, a pastry and fruit slices. There's actually a whole lot more on the buffet table, I was just too keen on the weight gain that I had to stop myself from getting that fourth plate!
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| a portion of the breakfast buffet at c.taste |
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| salads and starters |
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| my big breakfast plate at c.taste |
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| pastries and fruits |
Our staycation at Centro Capital Centre was another sweet escape at its finest! So far, it is the most budget-friendly Rotana Hotel we have been to, yet we still got the unparalleled service that the hotel company is famous for. Centro Capital Centre offers all types of escapes you can think of; be it a romantic escape, a business escape, a tee-off escape! You can find out more about affordable hotel packages here.
Location:
Centro Capital Centre
Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street
Abu Dhabi Capital Centre
Contact # +971 2 409 6666
How to get there via public transportation?
*Catch the Centro Bus from Abu Dhabi International Airport or Marina Mall
click here for the bus schedule
*You can also take a cab (fare from Abu Dhabi bus terminal: 20 AED).
Disclosure: I was invited at Centro Capital Centre.
Although the weekend stay was complimentary, all opinions are my own.
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2 Blogger Comments
We got a promo in one of Rotana Resort and I love it. Will try the other hotels and resorts too. This one is so affordable, yet it looks posh too!
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely a best value for money! I'm also on the look-out for good deals! Last year, we were able to book a stay at The Cove at half the price during the Ramadan Sale. :)
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