DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island

The 5-star DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island is located on a peninsula west of Ras Al Khaimah. Thanks to our Hilton Honors Gold status, we received an upgrade to the new Bay Club Villas. Find out in our hotel review whether the room upgrade was worth it.

Arrival and check-in

After spending the past few days in Ras Al Khaimah, we drove to Marjan Island in the early afternoon. Access to this artificial peninsula was controlled by a barrier, which was open. As we approached the hotel complex by car, we were surprised by its size. We usually choose small to medium-sized hotels, but we had selected the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island because of its 600-meter-long private beach.

When I entered the lobby, I was initially shocked by the number of people. Several tour groups were waiting to check in or catch their departure bus. Fortunately, thanks to my Hilton Honors Gold status, I didn't have to join the long queue at reception. Instead, I was given a seat at a separate desk. The receptionist guided me through the check-in process very professionally and courteously. In addition to delicious warm cookies from DoubleTree, we also received an upgrade from our booked room with a king-size bed to a room in the more exclusive Bay Club Villas.

What are the rooms (Bay Club rooms) like at the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island?

Our Bay Club room had two queen-size beds, a sitting area, and a table with two chairs. The decor was a colorful but tasteful mix of oriental and modern styles. Many elements were paneled in light wood, mainly oak, and yellow and blue were the dominant colors.

In the hallway there was a sufficiently large wardrobe with a safe. Besides valuables, we could also store our laptop in it.

To our delight, the bathroom was very spacious. It had a bathtub and a shower. However, there were too few places to hang things.

Since our room was on the ground floor, we also had our own small terrace with a sea view.

The Wi-Fi in the room was free for us as Hilton status guests. Otherwise, it would have cost 30 AED per day. However, Wi-Fi was free in the public areas, including the beach.

What is the breakfast like at the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island?

When booking the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island, we had the choice between bed and breakfast, half board, or all-inclusive. After careful consideration, we opted for half board.

Breakfast and dinner were served in the exclusive Bay Club Restaurant. However, since this was connected to the main restaurant and there was no real separation between them, it didn't make much sense to us. We never had any trouble finding a table for the three of us in the large restaurant, though. We particularly liked the great layout with the different tables and table sizes. The noise level, however, was like that of a cafeteria. Perhaps room dividers or sound-absorbing elements could help with this.

The buffet selection was excellent for both breakfast and dinner. Breakfast included several omelet and egg dish stations, as well as a wide variety of desserts and salads. Themed evenings added variety to the dinner buffet.

Drinks (coffee, water, or juice) were included with breakfast. As half-board guests, we had to pay for drinks at dinner. A 1.5-liter bottle of water cost us 18 AED (approximately 4 EUR).

What does the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island offer for relaxation?

The hotel complex was very spacious and geared towards families with children. Our son particularly enjoyed the large playground and the children's pool. There was also a large pirate ship water ride, but at 1 3/4 years old, our son wasn't quite ready for it.

The highlight was definitely the long sandy beach right in front of our terrace. Sun umbrellas and loungers were included. However, you could really tell there were a lot of package tourists who insisted on reserving their loungers with towels first thing in the morning. We weren't bothered by such behavior and simply moved them while we searched for a shady spot. This often led to amusing discussions about ownership and claims! We had a great time!

The hotel complex included several pools, from which, unfortunately, loud party music blared. A special pool was reserved exclusively for guests of the Bay Club, where it was thankfully quiet. Regrettably, we must also say that package tourists have no place in a 5-star hotel. The behavior of some guests was simply unacceptable.

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