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I’ve been wanting to go to Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE since writing about some luxury hotel deals on TLFL. Then I took a presentation at the Tourist Office and decided I needed to go on! I went to a press conference with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism to see what it had to offer (I paid for the airfare and they arranged the hotel and activities).
I’ve been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for about 15 years and have seen tremendous changes in both places. If I’m looking for a relaxing winter sun holiday, I sometimes find Dubai a bit much because it’s so developed now. Ras Al Khaimah is on the other end of the spectrum entirely.
After my visit, I loved it so much I’m already planning a trip there this fall! The emirate is far less developed than Dubai, but feels far more authentic. It’s slower paced than Dubai, but has plenty of luxury hotels and restaurants to choose from. However, it still has good infrastructure, good roads and all the basic services you could possibly need.
This would break the twin centers with Dubai. You can party in Dubai and then head to Ras Al Khaimah to relax and enjoy nature, and you can save money on hotels compared to Dubai.
It’s also worth mentioning that it’s usually a few degrees cooler than Dubai, which slightly extends the season for the best weather.
where is it and how to get there
Ras Al Khaimah is about 50-60 minutes drive from Dubai Airport. Currently, you can only go there by car, but Qatar will restart services to Ras Al Khaimah this year. The taxi fare from the airport to Ras Al Khaimah is approximately £50. I’d recommend considering hiring a car as it’s an easy drive and RAK doesn’t have much traffic so it’s a pleasure to drive around.
If you arrive in Dubai late and don’t like the drive that night, you can do like I did and stay at the airport Premier Inn Dubai Airport. This is my first choice if I arrive early in the morning and just want to sleep before continuing elsewhere. It costs around £65.
There is no Uber in RAK, but taxis are easy to get and cheap. If you don’t have cash, you can also use the Uber-like Careem app.
What is it?
No, it’s the same as in Dubai, hotels serve alcohol. It still has a 30% tax on alcohol, so the prices are a little higher than in Dubai, but with cheaper hotels you might end up spending less overall. In order to compete with Dubai, they may also eliminate taxes.
What is there to do?
If you want to get out and about, there are plenty of things to do here. It’s very different from Dubai, with activities more focused on nature.
Jebel Jais Mountain – Breathtaking Views and Thrills
The drive to Jebel Jais is amazing in itself, even if you just want to go to the lovely restaurant at the top of the hill and not participate in any activities. It’s fairly easy to drive on the new road that’s just been opened, and it’s pretty much a single road for the most part. Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from the beach hotel.
restaurant on the top floor, 1484 by Puro Do breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, so it’s worth going there early for breakfast on weekends. You can book a table in advance as it does get crowded.
Once you reach the top, there are multiple activities. These include the world’s longest Superman-style zipline, a series of 8 seated ziplines and toboggans. Hiking and cycling are also popular here.
Pearl farm outing – plus camels and flamingos!
At first glance, you might think a pearl farm doesn’t sound like much fun, but it’s one of my favorite outings. The pearl farm tour allows you to see more of RAK and see the huge differences between the emirates. The pearl farm is situated in a stunning location. You can take a traditional small boat to the floating farm, which is a scenic journey with mountains against the crystal clear sea. You travel along an island where you might see camels too!
Once aboard, you’ll learn about the harsh conditions of traditional pearl divers (freediving) and how the profession is dying out in the UAE. You’ll also have the chance to try your luck and pick an oyster to see if it has any pearls in it. With luck, you might also spot nearby flamingos with old-fashioned binoculars.
A hearty traditional lunch is also served while you relax and take in the views. Of course, there is a shop that sells some lovely pieces that are both traditional and contemporary.
Sonara Luxury Desert Experience
This evening’s event was held next to the Ritz-Carlton, but it’s not actually run by the hotel. If you’ve ever been on one of the Dubai Desert Experiences, this is in a whole different league. It’s a more elegant and upscale experience with great food and a relaxed atmosphere.
There are many activities including birds of prey, camel rides, dune surfing and entertainment.
I got to try the owl flying, a real highlight of getting up close and personal with such a beautiful creature. It feels surprisingly soft!
Enjoy drinks and snacks (alcohol available for purchase) and activities in the evening while watching the sunset. It’s chilly and all the chairs are spread out, and it’s going to be a particularly romantic evening, even though you’ve got family there too.
After the sun goes down, you head to the restaurant for dinner. This is served in three courses, each offering a variety of dishes based on local cuisine. Everything is delicious and the food is plentiful, so bring your appetite!
As the dinner progressed, there were two performances that were spectacular. The first was balancing and juggling, but it was the Charizard who stole the show.
Hamra, Mosques and Museums
Al Jazeera Al Hamra is the only remaining historic pearl village in the entire Gulf. It’s also home to the annual Fine Arts Festival, and even if you’re not particularly into art, it’s worth a visit as there’s a lot going on during the festival.
Al Jazeera Al Hamra features forts and watchtowers, mosques, bazaars and spacious courtyard houses. It’s a great place to try some traditional dishes from the souks, such as kanafa, which is shredded filo and cream cheese soaked in rosewater syrup. If you like cheesecake, this shop is for you.
You can also visit the Mohammed bin Salem Mosque, which dates back to at least the 18th century, and the Ras Al Khaimah National Museum. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque may be one of the oldest places of worship in the United Arab Emirates. The façade has been restored, but its architecture still retains vestiges of Sheikh Saqr bin Rashid Al Qasimi’s time.
Shopping
If you want to get serious about shopping, some hotels have daily shuttles to Dubai, however, RAK itself has a few malls as well.i went Hamra Shopping center, just a short walk from the Waldorf Astoria. It has all the shops you’d expect to see in a UK mall such as Boots, H&M, Starbucks, Nandos etc plus Sephora and a great beauty salon called Tips and Toes which is great for a manicure or pedicure Says great deal, but they offer many different services. I just walked in without an appointment.
What luxury hotels are available?
I will be reviewing in more detail shortly the two hotels I have stayed at, the Waldorf Astoria and the Mövenpick. I will also cover InterContinental in more detail in a future article. If anyone has stayed there recently, please feel free to comment below to gather more information.
Waldorf Astoria
Having been to several hotels, this one is the most relaxing of the three for me as it is spread out over a wide area so it feels very calm. The hotel is the original luxury hotel here but still has a modern and grand feel to it. There’s an adults-only pool, a huge white sand beach, and two main restaurants. I found both restaurants to be very good. I like the fact that they also have happy hour to keep down the cost of drinks.
There’s also a spa, offering Margaret Dabbs foot and hand treatments, a variety of massages and facials, and more.
Low season prices start at around £230 per night.
you You can check prices and find more information here.
Movenpick 5* Signature Beach Villas
Hotels in the UAE may not meet our usual standards for a brand and Movenpick is luxurious compared to some of the brand’s hotels you may have experienced elsewhere. Movenpick is also part of the Accor group, so you can earn Accor points there.
It’s very new, opening in 2022, with a modern beach vibe. It’s definitely more aimed at the younger demographic of the clientele, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable there.
The hotel offers a wide range of food and drinks, including a lively rooftop bar, beautiful Mediterranean restaurant Ula (with a touch of Santorini), French bistro and beach house restaurant Beach house.
The beach villas are stunning with private pools and direct access to the beach. The room interior is spacious and modern.
Low season entry level rooms from £133 per night.
you More details and prices can be found here.
Intercontinental Hotel
This is also a brand new hotel opening at the end of 2022. The hotel features six different dining experiences, from Levant & Nar’s 360-degree ocean view restaurant to NoHo’s New York vibe.
If you’re looking for an adults-only experience, they dedicate an entire wing of the hotel to club rooms, which also has a separate pool and lounge.
Prices start from around £200 per night.
you More details and prices can be found here.
The Ritz-Carlton – Al Hamra Beach and Al Wadi Desert
There are two Ritz-Carlton properties in Ras Al Khaimah. One is located in the desert and the other is a beach hotel.
Al Hamra Beach has some gorgeous beach villas with spacious private pools. However, in low season, even the lowest category starts at £570 per night.
Al Wadi features pool villas, spa spa and access to the nearby golf club and beach. Prices start from £369 per night.
You can check the price hamra is here and Al Wadi Desert is here.
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