AFTER a long day packed with meetings, the serenity of the mangroves at the Eastern Mangroves Resort & Spa by Anantara gave me a sense of calm. Located just five minutes from the bustling cityscape of Abu Dhabi, the resort offers a soothing ambience amidst architecture that is a mixture of modern and traditional Arabic.
Adding to this was the warm welcome by a friendly bellman who assisted with my bag and led me to a seat in the lobby where I relaxed with a refreshing drink and dates before I was checked in.
Within minutes I was escorted to my spacious 57 sq m ‘Kasara Mangroves Balcony’ room which offered a stunning view over the waterway and mangroves. The resort offers a variety of room types as well as suites and residences. My room featured a king-sized bed, a sofa to relax or read the newspaper or watch the flat screen television and a working desk as well as free Wifi which meant I could catch up on my emails and follow up on that day’s meetings.
The room is equipped with tea making facilities and a Lavazza coffee machine which came in useful for an espresso to get me through my emails. The bathroom was large with both a rain shower and bathtub. For me, the opportunity to soak in a bath after a hard day is a big plus to my hotel stay!
Although wanting to stay and enjoy my room, I pushed myself to head out to the gym which is fully-equipped with the latest state-of-the-art machines for a great workout allowing me to enjoy a scrumptious meal at one of the five dining options without a feel of guilt.
I chose the Ingredients, the all-day dining restaurant which was a great way to end the day in the quite serenity again looking out at the Mangroves. After a good night’s sleep and smooth check out, I was ready for another day and the drive back to Dubai. With its proximity to the city, airport and exhibition centre Eastern Mangroves is an ideal choice for business and of course, with the calmness of the mangroves and Anantara Spa, ideal for leisure as well.
By Kim Thomson