A family break at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi

During our holiday in Abu Dhabi, after spending 4 nights at the Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island in a beach resort environment, we stayed 2 nights at the St Régis.

Located along the Corniche, facing the sea, right in the heart of the city, the St Régis is a city hotel that offers all the advantages of a child-friendly holiday destination. So it’s a perfect, central choice for families.

Access to the beach is via a sumptuous tunnel built under the Corniche. The beach club is very pleasant and houses a private pool, as well as a whirlpool, sauna and hammam. The kids’ club and children’s pool are also located here.

The hotel is very luxurious and we were lucky enough to be upgraded to a lovely Deluxe Suite. This corner suite on the 42nd floor offers breathtaking views of the sea and the city. Our son’s bed was set up in the living room; note that it is not separated from the parents’ room by a door.

A butler was on hand 24 hours a day. We used his services to unpack suitcases and it was much appreciated. When you stay in a suite, you can have two items of clothing per person per day ironed free of charge. How convenient!

As a welcome gift, we received facial cosmetics and a game for our son.

The service at the St Régis is really excellent. A multitude of little touches make your stay unforgettable. For example, when the concierge booked a visit to the Great Mosque for us, he also offered my wife an elegant abaya, on loan free of charge, so that she could cover herself and respect local traditions.

The breakfast is simply incredible. It’s served until 11am and even until 3pm on Sundays, which is handy if the kids want to sleep in!

We had lunch at the beach club one lunchtime and were a little disappointed with the menu and the quality of the food we ordered. We probably should have opted for the fish restaurant next door.

The beach (and all the hotel’s pools) is supervised by a lifeguard.  A beach volleyball court and table tennis table provide great options for family fun. The sea is shallow and very calm.

We met a lot of families during our stay. They came mainly from the United States, Russia, England and France. Some of the hotel staff are from North Africa, so they speak French. It’s easy for the children!

Our stay at the St Régis Abu Dhabi was everything we expected. Our memories of this experience will be exceptional.

One last tip: I’d recommend a kayak trip in the mangroves, a twenty-minute drive from the hotel. It was a lovely experience that we shared with friends!