Review: Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Flying across the globe to Europe is tiring, but add a child to the mix and a stopover becomes an absolute necessity. Cindy Bingley-Pullin finds her oasis from long-haul languish in Abu Dhabi.

Six airports in half as many weeks, navigating almost 30,000 kilometres…our recent holiday in Europe was a thrill, but jam-packed and, admittedly, a rather lengthy trip for one weary set of parents with a 10-month-old baby in tow.

To break up the journey home – and to keep our sanity intact – we decided a stopover in Abu Dhabi was a necessity.

At the Abu Dhabi International Airport arrivals gate, we find the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa chauffeur waiting, a hotel signboard raised in his hands.

For privacy reasons, the Anantara doesn’t advertise guests’ names at airport pick-up – the gesture is a prelude to the discreet and discerning service that awaits.

A smooth 20-minute ride delivers us to the hotel where we are whisked straight into the lobby, an elegant space of marble and cream fringed by lattice walls, decked with armchairs and sofas redolent of precious metal, and a glistening chandelier centrepiece dripping from the ceiling.

The crisp, cool interiors are a refreshing contrast to the dry, soporific heat outside.

In line with traditional Emirate hospitality, we are offered a tray of dates and tea; and having pre-booked one of the Executive club rooms we are escorted to the club lounge reception on the fifth floor for a more personalised check-in service.

Our Kasara Executive Balcony Room is spacious, modern and stylish, with traditional Arabian touches and a warm, earthy colour palette that echoes its desert location.

Happily, our pre-arrival request for both a non-smoking room and baby cot has been obliged – the latter a full-sized crib in a solid wood frame (no flimsy travel cots here) that is easily accommodated in the vast 57-square-metre living area.

Equally enormous is the bathroom, which has a rain shower as well as a deep bath tub – perfect for reviving and relaxing tired bods respectively – and the Anantara’s signature range of toiletries, with squares of soap delicately perfumed with cardamom and clove.

Other noteworthy features include complimentary wi-fi, a Nespresso machine for impromptu caffeine hits (coffee is a new parent’s best friend), and a dreamy king-sized bed that has us drifting into slumber within seconds.

Access to the aforementioned club lounge is a welcome benefit: private concierge, laundry service, pre-dinner cocktails paired with substantial canapés, and a hearty breakfast among its generous inclusions.

With a prime waterfront position overlooking verdant wetlands of mangroves and the city skyline in the distance, the lounge offers spectacular sunset views.

With aperitif in hand come the evening, we marvel and watch as a giant fireball unfurls scarlet streaks across the sky, setting ablaze a silhouette of glinting skyscrapers.

Another highlight is the hotel pool – an oversized cobalt grid fringed by sentinel-like palm trees in a tranquil riverside spot.

With water the temperature of a calming warm bath and attentive staff on hand with iced drinks, cold towels and mini spritzers of lavender mist to keep the sweltering desert heat at bay, this is the perfect place to laze away languid afternoons.

When the scorching sun gets too much, I escape to the spa.

The Anantara brand is renowned for its superior spas and the one here is no different, offering a multitude of therapies to melt aches and soothe jet-lagged muscles.

I indulge in a Traditional Turkish Hammam treatment. Lying on a flower-shaped marble slab in the open hammam area, gazing heavenward at glossy mosaic tiles and a soaring domed skylight dotted with oversized dandelion-like sculptures, while being gently cleansed with a foam massage is an ethereal experience.

Refined yet relaxed, Anantara Eastern Mangroves has a level of service that is impeccable enough to impress business travellers, intimate enough for romantic getaways, and fun and child-friendly enough to appeal to families. For us, the hotel is a stopover sanctuary.

We ensconce ourselves for two nights where we have want for nothing, and neither need nor desire to leave the place during our entire stay.

But when the time does come to depart, we are ready to face the dreaded long-haul flight home, well-rested with baby, and sanity, in tow.

Details

Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa

Sheikh Zayed Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE

abu-dhabi.anantara.com

The IT Verdict

Mere minutes away from Abu Dhabi’s airport, Anantara Eastern Mangroves is ideally located as a luxurious transit accommodation option for travellers midway between Europe and the Antipodes.

Location = 8.5/10
Secluded riverfront setting, yet situated close to the lively heart of the city and easily accessible to many tourist attractions.
Style/character = 9/10
The décor marries traditional Middle Eastern architecture and contemporary design, providing a soothingly sleek ambience that is also opulent without ever being ostentatious.
Service = 9/10
Courteous, considerate and efficient.
Rooms = 9/10
Travelling with a baby (and the excess baggage this entails!) meant that we were appreciative of the ample size of our Kasara room, and the club lounge access with its multitude of perks.
Food and drink = 8/10
With five dining options ranging from casual pizzas poolside and authentic Thai dinners to wine and cheese in the glamorous bar, we were spoilt for choice without having to venture off site.
Value for money = 9.5/10
We paid $382 for two nights’ accommodation – a bargain given the thoughtful facilities and chance to recharge in luxury before the long-haul leg home.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.