My love for the Fairmont brand is a strong and steady infatuation, built on years of admiration. The Fairmont Bab Al Qasr in Abu Dhabi offers my favorite weekend package in the Emirates (which I’ve taken advantage of on numerous occasions) and the Fairmont on SZR is full of great memories (including Thanksgiving dinner 2009, a quick stay with visiting girlfriends, and a fun Saturday brunch at Catch). Thus, with an invite to stay over while I reviewed recently opened (and recommended) Copper Lobster at the Fairmont Fujairah, I instantly accepted.
If I’m being honest, with all that’s going on the world, the idea of a bit of a road trip was a bit of a balm to my soul. Once you get past the Dubai traffic, the UAE is a fun place to drive through. With sand dunes, mountains, and eventually, the Gulf of Oman, the trip to Fujairah has always been a unique one (always be on the lookout for camels!).
After an easy check in (with one of my favorite lobbies on record, minus a poor font choice for the quotes), I was delighted to explore my suite, which, with the amount of space (two bathrooms, two balconies, two televisions!), was a fantastic place to hide out from the world for awhile. With an overlarge bed, bedding I sank right into and views of the sea, I was more than content to stay put.
Highlights
- My perfect aesthetic. Honestly, if you came to visit my dream home one day, it would feature many of the design elements from this property. Given all the little touches, my suite felt less like a room and more like my home (if that makes sense). The understated seaside color palate (turquoise and white), dark wood (no carpet!), and overall layout of the suite were very well done. Also, I sincerely appreciated the restraint not to commit to an arabesque design (as many of the properties in the region seem to love to do).
- So. Much. Space. Honestly, the suite clocks in at 80 square meters, which, for one person, felt like a palace.
- The details! Beautiful tile in the shower. Arabic lanterns nestled in the wall. Double sinks. Cozy bathrobes. High thread count sheets.
- Size. While there might be some who appreciate a larger resort, keeping the property to a perfect 180 rooms seems like a well-planned decision. With a smaller number of guests, amenities will never get too crowded and I never felt like just a number
(Atlantis, I’m looking at you). - Excellent dining options. Sure, I was on property less than 24 hours, but I got to try Arteasan, Copper Lobster and Canvas. Listen, I’m not going to disparage any of the other properties in Fujairah, I’m just going to say that new resorts offer excellent services that raise the bar in town. 😉
Lowlights
- With noise issues like mine, the ubiquitous sound of construction was constant throughout the afternoon and woke me up (7 AM) in the morning (ouch!). Had I known there was work being done, I would have asked for a room as far as possible from the noise. Don’t let this distraction put you off — there is an end date to the construction (summer 2017). Also, you really can’t hear the noise when at the pool.
- While not the fault of the property, not everything is open just yet. Yes, people, this is what ‘soft launch’ means. I would’ve loved to have checked out the Willow Stream Spa (the interior looks phenomenal), but I guess I’ll just have to plan a return visit when it’s open!
- Although many of the details are seen to… I would love a ‘beach bag’ in the room. I totally forgot to bring anything with me and ended up using a laundry bag to bring my stuff down to the pool. Of course, this is again my issue, but it would be great to see a jute bag in the room.
Would I go back? Most definitely! In fact, I’m going to have a difficult time deciding between the Banyan Tree Al Wadi (in the process of being rebranded), the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, and the Fairmont Fujairah for my go to get out of Dubai weekend. If you are planning a trip, my advice to you would be to commit to two nights to really get the most out of your staycation (and soak up all the resort has to offer).
Which Fairmont is your favorite property?
A to Za’atar was a guest of Fairmont Fujairah. Opinions are my own, just ask my husband.
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