During the recent holiday, Ed and I ventured out to one of the most exotic places in the United Arab Emirates. We traveled to Sir Bani Yas - a natural island with a magnificent wildlife reserve situated miles away from the capital of the UAE.
Due to the distant location and the fact that we had to take two exhausting bus rides to reach Sir Bani Yas Island boat jetty terminal, we decided to rest for a while and spend a night somewhere close by. The good news is that our favorite hideaway - Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort - is the nearest accommodation we can find.
If you can remember, we have stayed at this wonderful 5-star property two years ago. Hence, I wouldn't deny that I was glad, or shall I say relieved, to see a familiar place less than 20 km away from the jetty when I looked into Google maps.
Due to the distant location and the fact that we had to take two exhausting bus rides to reach Sir Bani Yas Island boat jetty terminal, we decided to rest for a while and spend a night somewhere close by. The good news is that our favorite hideaway - Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort - is the nearest accommodation we can find.
If you can remember, we have stayed at this wonderful 5-star property two years ago. Hence, I wouldn't deny that I was glad, or shall I say relieved, to see a familiar place less than 20 km away from the jetty when I looked into Google maps.
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We're back!
Arriving at Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort felt like a homecoming! Ed and I were so delighted by the warm greetings, especially when the front desk staff said "Welcome back!" upon checking us in. The staff we have met during our previous stay remembered us, and the ones we have only connected with through email and social media are equally accommodating! I must stay, apart from the gorgeous location, it is the people that made this resort a gem!
Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort
This beachfront property is more than a decade old but impressively well-maintained. The lobby is glistening, it literally mirrors the beckoning blue ocean by the window. Aside from the calming sea view, the hotel is also surrounded by lush green spaces that instantly vanished the commute-related stress!
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| a 5-star coastal sanctuary in the western part of Abu Dhabi |
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| This property is unbelievably more than a decade old! |
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| The hotel lobby is accentuated with fresh blooms, beautiful paintings... |
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| ...and calming shades of blue! |
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| Tucked in between the hotel and the beach is a gorgeous landscape garden... |
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| ...with tree-lined pathways heading to the sea! |
Deluxe Grand Room
A few minutes after checking in, we were ushered to our room on the 3rd floor. It is a spacious accommodation with a large king size bed, a mosaic tiled bathroom with organic bath essentials, and a balcony overlooking the stunning pool and the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf!
What I loved most about our room are the little details that made us feel special... the fresh flowers, the pillow menu, and the welcome treats. This Deluxe Grand Room absolutely felt like a luxury suite!
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| This super comfy king size bed lulled me to sleep! |
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| Oh yes. I did sure feel I am a VIP staying in the most expensive suite. Heheh! |
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| It's all because of these fine things! |
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| And being pampered with an all organic bath set! |
While waiting for the temperature to cool down, I set up an impromptu Afternoon Tea in the balcony. The complimentary coffee/tea making facility came in handy, and the welcome pastries fitted so well to the occasion.
Thank you, Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort, for making our simple staycation oh-so-fancy! :)
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| Spontaneous yet it turned out perfect! |
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| Well, I think nothing could go wrong with this kind of view! |
Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort offers plenty of recreation activities. From water sports to therapeutic massages, from the swim-up pool bar to the pristine white sands, I could say that this resort can definitely satisfy all types of guests.
Ed and I's favorite spot remains to be the 800m long private beach, the temperature controlled pool comes next!
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| Nothing has changed. This part of the country has a great beach with clear waters! |
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| Hands down, my favorite spot in the resort! |
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| I could stay here all day if only the weather will let me! |
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| It is perfect for sunset sessions... |
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| ...and early morning strolls! |
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| For a relaxing swim, the temperature controlled pool is just as perfect! |
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| The swim-up bar is an added bonus. |
Where we ate
Just like the leisure offerings, the dining options are of wide-variety as well. We tucked into a sumptuous lunch at Tides and finished off the day with a romantic dinner at Zaitoun. The morning after, we went back to Tides for a fresh and healthy breakfast!
Here are the restaurants and bars at a glance:
Tides: Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort's all-day dining restaurant serves International cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Zaitoun: This award-winning restaurant is the place to go for special dinners. Fine Italian cuisine is served under an intimate and romantic ambiance!
L'Attitude: A bar and lounge with live music where hotel guests can chill and dance the night away!
C View: A casual cafe adjacent to the hotel lobby. Here, we listened to a live acoustic performance after our dinner at Zaitoun.
Waves: This outdoor bar attached to the swimming pool is the perfect place to grab a cocktail on a warm sunny day.
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| Tides all-day dining restaurant |
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| I adore the huge paintings which depict the wildlife in Sir Bani Yas Island. |
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| Good breakfast to start a gooood good day! |
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| Pancakes and more breakfast goodies! |
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| Sugar! Your choice: candies or fruits? |
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| Zaitoun Italian restaurant |
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| Love the romantic ambiance of this restaurant! |
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| Spigola! Still as delicious as I remember. |
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| Gamberoni - grilled jumbo prawns with herbs crumb |
And so, the next day...
We continued our journey to Sir Bani Yas Island with huge smiles on our faces. Fully energized with zero signs of commuter stress, we bid adieu to the resort that has given us so many beautiful memories to look back into. For sure, this stay at Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort wouldn't be the second and last!
How to get to Jebel Dhanna from Dubai by public transportation?
First, load up your NOL card. The bus ride to Abu Dhabi costs 25 AED one way. Next, hop on the E100 bus from Al Ghubaiba station or E101 from Ibn Battuta Mall. It is a 2-hour journey, but that depends on road traffic.
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi Bus Station, purchase a Hafilat (Abu Dhabi's version of NOL card). Make sure to have enough load for the bus to Al Ruwais. The 4-hour journey with a few stops in between costs around 40 AED. Make sure to check the routes and timetable beforehand since intercity buses are not that frequent.
Alight in Ruwais ADNOC Compound Bus Station. From here, you can take a taxi or arrange a hotel pick up. I highly suggest the latter as we hardly saw taxis in the area. Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort offers a private hotel shuttle at a reasonable cost.
Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort
Ruwais
Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 2 801 2222
Website: jebeldhanna.danathotels.com
Location Map
We were guests at Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort.
Opinions in this blog post are my own.
1 Blogger Comments
A Repeat Stay at Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort is one of the best resort to stay here because recently i visited here, the service and food was so good and the best thing is that they gives discount to hotel booking when you use Tajawal Coupon Codes
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