Ras Al Khaimah Holidays
WEL-COME TO RAS AL KHAIMAH
Ras Al Khaimah is the north of most of the
United Arab Emirates
and is found only ninety-five kilometres from
Dubai
, the international hub of the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah lies at the foot of the spectacular Hajar mountains, and borders the Sultanate of Oman to the north and east.
This beautifully scenic destination is also one of the main agricultural centres of the region, with fertile farmlands between the sands of the coasts and the mountains boasting over forty-five different types of date palms and producing a huge variety of other produce that then travels onwards to the other Emirates. Another of Ras Al Khaimah’s scenic features is its
hot springs
, famed for their medicinal properties. Ras Al Khaimah also benefits from sixty-four kilometres of pristine coastline with beautiful beaches and lagoons, while also being home to the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah in the heart of the old city, which is rich in antiques and treasures. Ras Al Khaimah is a fascinating destination for those who want something a little bit different.
The hotel has a varied selection of restaurants and bars for wining, dining and snacking. The main hotel is located overlooking Ras Al Khaimah creek 5 minutes from the city. All rooms are air-conditioned and are stylishly furnished. As well as
the restaurants and bars, there is also a swimming pool, tennis facilities, and a small fitness room. The free shuttle bus into Dubai is popular - please note that they must be prebooked with the reception desk.
There's a decidedly relaxed, resort feel. By day you can take one of the frequent shuttle buses to the hotel's beach club (approx 5 min), where you can lie on a lounger on the white sand, laze by one of the pools or enjoy water sports, including deep-sea fishing. In the evenings there's lively Cuban music and entertainment in the popular Havana Bar. The all-day brasserie, Al Khor, serves international fare with local touches. Hoof 'n' Fin offers the show cooking of steaks, chicken and fresh fish on the grill and rotisserie. Golfers must try out the nearby golf course. Not only is it floodlit, it has GPRS golf buggies.
This holiday offers a great opportunity to combine relaxing in a very well-managed Hilton, with its superb Beach Club just 5 minutes away by free shuttle bus. One of the 7 Emirates which make up the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Ras al Khaimah, is most northerly and runs up to the border with Oman's beautiful Mussandam Peninsula. Whilst Ras al Khaimah's infrastructure is rapidly improving to match that of it's more famous neighbour, Dubai, life remains generally quieter and slower here. The town itself is split into the 'old' (fort/museum, soukh) and the 'new' (port, Hilton). The two are linked by a bridge across the creek. There is also the opportunity to visit Dubai for shopping, exploring and sightseeing.
Apart from the soukh area in town, there is a modern shopping mall - small by the region's standards - which is a great place for people watching, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening. Shops range from traditional to a large Carrefour supermarket and there is a small food court with a range of styles of food, including Lebanese.
Camel racing, which is seasonal, tends to take place shortly after dawn, and is well worth seeking out as an unusual highlight. Car hire is easy to arrange and fuel is cheap, although the lesser roads can be rough (always travel with plenty of water in case of a breakdown) and the standard of driving can be described at best as 'different'!
