Hotel Review: Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain, UAE

Accommodation: There’s a sense of ambient calm in the main lobby, despite it being reasonably busy. And it smells really good.

Cold towels and chilled drinks are dispensed and luggage is taken as contact and identification details are noted at the check-in desk before wood-effect keycards are issued.

Two lifts, clad in white boarding in keeping with the beach theme, open onto a stylish landing feeding off to bright corridors and the hotel’s contemporary accommodation, comprising 143 rooms in total.

Categories include the Deluxe Room City View King and Twin, Accessible Deluxe Room King, Deluxe Room Partial Sea View King or Twin, Deluxe Room Sea View Twin and One Bedroom Suite City View or Sea View with balcony. The largest, the Executive One Bedroom Suite Sea View, with a living room and spacious terrace, can accommodate four people. The two-bedroom Sea View Beach Chalets (of which there are eight in total) can accommodate five adults, or three adults and two children under 12.

Guests booked into one of the dedicated pet-friendly rooms can utilise pet accessories and beds on request for their four-legged family members.

Our Deluxe Room Sea View King feels large and uncluttered, with almost entirely white walls. Lighting is simple to control and furniture includes a modern armchair and small coffee table, a work/dressing table, a smoked glass wardrobe featuring a handwritten welcome message, and mirrors.

The bathroom is fresh and functional, with an easy-to-work Grohl shower in a large cubicle. Sustainability elements include glass-bottled water, signs to re-use towels and turn off the air-con if opening windows, plus delicious-smelling Grown Alchemist toiletries. Our comfortable bed faces a TV, and home comforts include a fridge, a kettle, an ironing board, and decent robes. 

Facilities: With its mid-boutique feel, this property is easy to navigate. The large but ambient lobby contains lots of comfortable seating areas either side of a central thoroughfare that connects the main entrance to an ocean view courtyard. Four large Macs decorate a dedicated co-working space while, Stage2 café serves sweet treats.

The Spa by Vida provides a range of treatments, and the Fitness Centre has country club vibes with dark wood flooring and armchairs beside state-of-the-art equipment. Guests can also use the tennis court free of charge for one hour a day. Plenty of loungers flank a generous infinity pool overlooking Vida’s private beach, just steps away.

Families with children can access the Qix play area (four to 12 years) and a dedicated splash zone.

Hotel grounds feature green landscaping, including a dedicated lawn for weddings and events. A third-party water sports concession offers guided dives, water bikes, wakeboarding and boat trips to nearby mangroves.

Guests can also rent turntables and vinyl records during their stay.

F&B: Origins is Vida’s signature restaurant serving breakfast and an international buffet for lunch and dinner. The kitchen excels at cold plates, including Thai beef salad and Vietnamese fish salad. Hot dishes rotate through tasty staples like Thai green curry, stews, barramundi fillets and pasta. The a la carte menu includes artisanal pizzas and a filling club sandwich at AED65.

Stage2 offers the same menu, and afternoon tea from 3pm to 7pm daily (AED150 per person). Evening meals at both venues can be enjoyed inside or on the terrace where live singers entertain during cooler months.

Alongside a good range of drinks, the Pool Bar’s culinary selection stretches from Bento boxes to panjabi samosa and spinach and cheese empanada.

Relaxed rooftop bar SoCal channels Californian vibes with ocean views. Its 7pm-to-9pm happy hour offers two-for-one drinks and the extensive bar menu includes a 200g filet mignon.

Rooms cost from AED414 (US$113) per night. Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain, Al Raudah, Al Khor 1, Umm Al Quwain, UAE. For more information, visit www.vidahotels.com/en/resorts/vida-beach-resort-umm-al-quwain