Palma Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain
Palma Beach Resort, Umm Al Quwain's five-star contender, is located on the inner harbor. The entrance, lobby and dining and entertainment areas are built in ancient Egyptian style with pyramids, sphinxes, obelisks, hieroglyphics, dog-faced gods and frescoes of sloe-eyed natives in abundance. The lodging section consists of poolside and beachside villas, with single poolside rooms starting at $US 285 per night and the Royal Suite Villas starting at $US 925 per night. The resort is located away from the center of town and is designed as a self-contained upscale community with 24-hour room service, a mini market, a kid's water playground, car rental service, a business center, an Internet cafe, a game center and two restaurants. Outdoor activities include jet-skiing, island eco-tours, crab hunting and deep-sea fishing.
Al Hamra Area Sheik Ahmed | Al Mualla Road
Umm Al Quwain 1279, United Arab Emirates
palmagroup.ae
Umm Al Quwain Beach Hotel
The Beach Hotel consistently gets top ratings from its guests as the best value for their money in Umm Al Quwain. The Beach Hotel is situated right on the Persian Gulf, with breathtaking sunset views over the ocean from the pool or from the private beach. Thirty-eight individual villas in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations are laid out along manicured walkways that complement a total oceanfront experience of peace and tranquility that many guests find unforgettable. Facilities include a coffee shop, gift shop, cocktail lounge, business center and restaurant. All villas have own entrance and covered parking area, with 21-inch television and multi-lingual satellite channels. The only drawback is that you'll need to contact the hotel directly as room prices are subject to change as new rates and promotions become available, but no worries here as English is spoken and the staff is gracious. American Express, Barclaycard, Diners Club, MasterCard, and Visa are accepted.
P.O. Box 158
Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates
uaqbeachotel.com
Flamingo Beach Resort, Umm Al Quwain
The Flamingo Beach Resort is located on the lagoon in Umm Al Quwain's Old Town Area, and of the three reviewed here is the closest to the local community, the souks (markets), the harbor area and the forts. The hotel has its own beach and is located between an ocean cargo facility and a marina for fishing and cargo dhows. Neither is visible from the hotel, but you will see and hear boats going by as you lounge in your beach chair. Flamingo Beach Resort offers crab hunting, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, fishing by the pier, speed boat riding and jet-skiing from its own facilities. Relax on the private beach, beside the pools or at the spa with an ayurvedic massage. The restaurant's international offering includes a vegetarian menu. Buffet dinners are served on the beach, and the café and pool bar are open between and after meals. The hotel also offers meeting and banquet facilities, airport shuttle, business center, laundry, currency exchange, gift shop, car rental and wireless Internet access in public areas (AED 20 per hour).
The Flamingo offers 48 standard double Rooms and four luxury suites, with all rooms facing either the pool or the lagoon. All rooms face the garden, the pool, and the lagoon and mangrove islands beyond. Extras (such as room service) are not added to your bill and have to be paid separately,so bring cash. Visa, Euro/Mastercard, and Maestro are accepted. You can have a great time here if you come prepared for three-star service and leave your five-star expectations in Dubai. Off the beaten path means exactly that, and part of staying in business at these prices involves catering to the surrounding community. The hotel periodically hosts events at which the locals can get raucous. Also, the air on the Gulf is damp, which can produce fungi and funny smells. Families with small kids tend to complain a lot about the resort, but if you want to visit the old town,and visit a society and ecosystem that survives pretty much intact from the headlong development that has paved over much of the old UAE, try out the Flamingo. Rooms start at $US 68 per night, with special packages and promotions available.
Ghoub Street
Umm Al Quwain
flamingoresort.ae
