THE OVERNIGHT AT HOLIDAY INN ABU DHABI DOWNTOWN
It was getting late at night, my friend Issa, who was driving the car the whole day showed no signs of exhaustion while we navigate the main thoroughfare of Abu Dhabi to locate my booked transient abode after the whole day road trip and tour from Dubai and within Abu Dhabi. Non-stop conversations ensued as we haven’t seen each other for more than 2 years I suppose. We stopped in one corner and later found out that it wasn’t the hotel where I was booked.
Apparently,
we were at another branch of the Holiday Inn and that I was booked at Holiday
Inn Abu Dhabi Downtown situated at the city center and business district. It was the former Sands Hotel, to make it
more familiar to residents.
I
was after the fact that I would be getting the good night sleep I was longing
for since I arrived in UAE. I had no
expectations of the hotel. After
presenting my passport and confirming my reservations, the receptionist checked
me in swiftly. He is a Filipino, born
and raised on the same region that I am – Eastern Visayas. It felt like I was just in Metro Manila as we
converse and informed me that I would be assigned to a room where I could get a
good vantage of the city as viewed from my window.
The Room
The
humidity obstructed my view of the city lights as I hurriedly went to the
window upon entering my assigned deluxe room.
And so I sit back and open my
laptop to stay connected with my family and friends back home through my social
media accounts, with their wifi that
is fast and reliable. The room is decorated
in warm maroon tones featuring the low-back arm chair in a working space at the
corner. I opened the flat-screen TV
which has access to multilingual satellite channels before I finally sleep at
the comforts of the soft pillow and the king-size bed. Beside my bed is an alarm clock and there is
an available closet as well. (click to check rates and room types)
 |
| THE DELUXE ROOM |
 |
| THE KING SIZE BED |
The
room was indeed spacious that I keep on thinking it would have been great if I
have my family and friends with me. I am
not used to solo travel.
The
morning after, the panoramic city view was a sight to behold while I peek on
the window. It was a scene that seduces
me to brave the scorching heat of the sun and the 45-degree weather in acquainting
myself of the city. As what I imagined for an Arabic city, the hues of cream
for a cityscape, the remarkable architectural details and the towering skyscrapers
as backdrop makes my second morning in United Arab Emirates an exceptional
visual treat.
Bathroom
 |
| MOSQUE AS SEEN FROM MY WINDOW |
 |
| THE CITYSCAPE |
The
spacious clean bathroom separates the shower and the toilet area. Bathrobe and
slippers are likewise available. Free
toiletries and towers are also provided.
Service
 |
| TOILETRIES |
The
hotel provides a myriad of services ranging from the 24-hour front desk,
currency exchange, luggage storage, concierge service, babysitting/child
service, laundry, dry cleaning, ironing service, shoeshine, trouser press,
daily maid service, meeting/banquet facilities, business center,
fax/photocopying, barber/beauty shop, gift shop and of course the room service.
The
hotel has the most accommodating and friendly staff. A number are Filipinos. As I check-out and head for Dubai, I have to
commute on my own since my friends have work, and directions to where I am
headed to, were clearly given by the staff.
Since I should have loose coins, two dirhams for the bus ride, I
requested my paper bills to be changed.
But they have no change for my bills, so the receptionist gave me two
(2) dirhams for the bus ride. Service is
indeed exceptional and I commend a fellow Filipino who works on the hotel, Ms.
Sotomayor, for the kindness.
There
are a number of facilities that unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try due to time
constraints. The hotel features a
rooftop swimming pool which I only learned later on when I was about to
check-out.
 |
| THE LOBBY AREA |
 |
| THE RECEPTION AREA |
 |
| THE BUSINESS CENTER |
 |
| THE LOBBY AREA |
The
location, service and quality sleep I had makes Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi Downtown
one of the most recommended places to stay while in UAE.
HOLIDAY INN ABU DHABI
DOWNTOWN
 |
| ELECTRA STREET |
Electra
Street, Zayed The 1st Road
Abu
Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
+971
2 615 6666
1 comments
I really appreciate your professional approach. These are pieces of very useful information that will be of great use for me in future.
ReplyDelete