There is a clock right in the middle of the entrance lobby of the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah with these words inscribed in Arabic: “From your homeland travel abroad to find glory”.
Taken from a Bedouin song, the line and clock perfectly encapsulate what this new property represents — a hotel chain with a rich legacy meets Khaleeji sensibility and Arabian grandiosity.
Every Waldorf Astoria in the world — 23 and counting — has a distinctive time piece, inspired by the famous clock in the original New York property. It’s an iconic structure, under which statesmen, royalty and celebrities would have likely sat when the hotel opened in the 1930s.
The people who made this clock — Smith of Derby, a family of clockmakers for more 300 years, based in the United Kingdom — seem to understand this legacy perfectly. At three metres high, it’s a striking addition to the lobby but with its own unique regional touch, it also shows the exact minute of each prayer time throughout the day.
That’s what is special about the hotel. Every aspect, right from the marbles used in construction to the fancy Middle Eastern restaurant Marjan and the décor largely inspired by the sea to the Art Deco patterns on the lift doors and furniture, seems to hark back to its glorious past but is infused with elements from its surrounding.
The Peacock Alley lounge, another of the hotel’s tradition, at the lobby level is impressive as it is grand. Split into two levels with a massive water feature in the middle, it seats about 220 people and serves light bites and signature dishes, including the world famous Waldorf Salad.
We got a taste of what the hotel, a luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide, touts as its True Waldorf Service. It’s a concept where a personal concierge is assigned to each guest and becomes their primary contact before, during and after a stay. The “after” service includes help with your onward journey to ensure you arrive safely at your next destination.
Besides all the niceties you can expect from a five-star hotel, one of my personal favourites was what they call The Master collection. There’s a Sleep Master (God knows we all need one!) who basically helps you with a pillow menu from which you can take your pick from organic, feather or pillows with heated cherry stones for that ultimate beauty sleep.
A Fragrance Master will help you create a special ambience in your room at turndown. Pick from a range of preselected essences from the hotel’s spa and when you head to your room to retire for the night, that soothing smell will stay to ensure you have the best night’s sleep.
And then there’s the Bath Master, who will draw that perfect bath for you from a menu depending on what you’re feeling that day. It doesn’t get more luxurious than this.
And it doesn’t end there. Rooms at this Waldorf Astoria, including the junior suite we stayed at, offer amazing views of the sea and the Hajjar Mountains. There’s nothing quite similar to waking up to blue waters in the morning.
Besides Marjan and Peacock Alley, dining options include steak house Lexington Grill, the all-day-dining Qasr Al Bahar, Japanese restaurant Umi, poolside restaurant Azure and open-air eatery Al Fayrouz. There’s also Camelia, a tea lounge; 17Squared, a lounge and nightclub and a cigar bar.
The hotel’s crowning glory is the Waldorf Astoria Spa, complete with a VIP treatment room where couples can enjoy treatments together and a gym. For those that need their own space, each men and women’s section comes complete with steam and sauna rooms, herbal baths, ice chutes for quick cool-downs and scented showers.
And the spa’s lounge is where, following a pamper session, we sat down and pondered life’s quandaries ... and wished we never had to leave.
Rooms at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah start at Dh1,050 for a Classic Room. For bookings go to www.waldorfastoria.hilton.com or call 07-2035555.
