The Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort and Spa has proved to be one of the most exciting additions to the Kingdom’s hospitality sector. The Bahrain This Month team shares their thoughts on the magnificent property following a relaxing staycation.
The word ‘staycation’ seems to grown in popularity in recent years (for obvious reasons!), but it’s a wonder that the concept wasn’t as popular as it is now in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It’s the perfect opportunity to recharge your batteries and enjoy a luxurious hotel or resort without having to be too far from home!
Located in Zallaq, the picturesque Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort and Spa presents the perfect opportunity for a staycation. The prospect of staying at the hotel is even more exciting considering the fact that it is a brand-new addition to the hospitality sector in the Kingdom.
With everything well within reach in Bahrain, the drive to the resort can feel like quite a long one but it is well worth it. Our first impressions when we arrived at the hotel was that it is truly something phenomenal and a first for the Kingdom. It is absolutely palatial and feels as if you are at an all-inclusive resort in a far away land. The resort has all the factors that promise a relaxing vacation: great hospitality, world-class facilities, comfortable rooms, delectable food, pools and a spectacular beach.
The hotel’s lobby décor in pristine white and calming shades create a true sense of tranquility. After a quick check-in, we were led to our room which was quite spacious, comfortable and beautifully designed. The hotel boasts a total of 196 rooms with a wide range of amenities including coffee machines, luxurious linens and more, but the best part had to be the stunning sea views – absolutely breath-taking. After putting away our belongings, we made our way down to explore the property and take in the lush greenery.
Being a beautiful and bright sunny day, we decided to take a dip in the property’s expansive swimming pool which weaves around an island complete with a waterslide that other adults at the pool joined in on while we were there. We appreciated the perfect temperature control and the facilities were incredible. The day beds felt like being on a tropical island and were very comfortable. A great touch was the sun loungers in the pool which made for comfortable tanning and endless sun beds – so you never need to worry about getting up early to reserve a good seat.
Thanks to its location on the south-west coast, Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort and Spa offers spectacular views of the sunset – the right way to end an eventful morning at this magical resort.
Later that evening we decided to dine at one of the many sophisticated restaurants at the resort. At the helm of the culinary team is Executive Chef, Olivier Catora – a French native who interestingly enough used to work in advertising for 10 years and followed his passion for food! We loved the fact that the resort uses only the freshest and high-quality ingredients across all its restaurants, but ultimately, we just could not resist the thought of savouring some delicious Lebanese food at Zahrat Al Fayrouz.
Just like the rest of the property, the restaurants are opulent. Our host seated us as at a cosy table where we went through the menu at leisure. The restaurant offers set menus that are good for four and a la carte dining too which features Lebanese classics, Arabic dishes and some creative fusion dishes too. Soon our table was laid with a kaleidoscope of delicious dishes including irresistible hot and cold mezzas – kibbeh, felafel, fatayer, sambousek and more. They were all perfectly made and the best start to our feast.
For our mains, we opted for delicious skewers of Shish Taouk and the Mansaf. How flavourful! The chicken was perfectly grilled and spiced while the Mansaf had generous servings of meat, a rich laban sauce and garnish of toasted almonds. It was a wonderful dining experience which exceeded all our expectations. The dinner and some much needed sleep was the perfect end to such an eventful day.
In the morning, we were looking forward to another marvellous pool day but Bahrain had other plans with quite the rainy day. With such an expansive resort, though, all this meant was that it was going to be a fun spa day! So, after a lovely continental breakfast we made our way to the wonderful ladies’ spa. Jumeirah’s Talise Spa is the ideal place to relax and charm your senses with its indoor pool, relaxation room, sauna and wide range of spa treatments. With 13 treatment rooms and skilled staff, a massage was definitely a welcome treat.
One of the many factors that sets Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort and Spa apart is the fact that it has a range of unique facilities. Aside from the gym, the resort boasts a 36-seater theatre - a first for hotels in Bahrain!
As much as we would’ve loved to explore more of the resort, our stay was coming to an end. That being said, that leaves us with more to explore for our next visit.
