Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

The restaurants were a real highlight. At Marcos Italian restaurant, May looked after us wonderfully from beginning to end, while Akhil gave excellent service at Marcos steakhouse and grill, where the dishes were very high quality. Our room was also cleaned brilliantly every day, with special thanks to Yougal and Raz for their kindness and attention. The Volt Fitness Gym next door was incredible, with a huge range of brand-new equipment.

Sarah from housekeeping made my stay at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr especially comfortable. She kept the room immaculate, with fresh-smelling linens, neatly arranged towels, perfectly fluffed pillows, and spotless floors, bathroom tiles, and countertops. Everything was organised with remarkable attention to detail. Sarah was also cheerful and full of positive energy, and her pride in her work was clear in every interaction. She represents the hotel’s hospitality and cleanliness standards extremely well.

The pool area was genuinely impressive, and the food was consistently good at several places in Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. My room was comfortable enough, though nothing special for the price. The real problem was a billing dispute. Before making a local call, I asked the front desk and was told it would be free, but AED 91.90 later appeared on my folio. The hotel admitted the call happened but ignored the fact that their staff had given me incorrect information. I even asked them to check the front desk call logs and never heard back. It’s not about the amount, it’s about not being able to rely on what staff say or get a response to a legitimate complaint. The pool and meals may be fine, but keep your eyes open.

The breakfast buffet was extraordinary, and the breakfast team were attentive throughout. Around the pool and beach, the Flamingo kids and the staff responsible for everyone’s safety helped make it a good family holiday. Mr Elias and the reception team were welcoming, helpful, and always smiling. Housekeeping was also very helpful, especially Roy Goncalves and his creations. This is one of my first excellent reviews of Fairmont Abu Dhabi, and certainly not my last.