Aldhafra Resort, Vignette Collection, by IHG — Hotel in Zayed City

Stayed on: 20th Aug 2021

We did not had a very good experience this time, this was our 4th trip to the hotel, we have been visiting and taking our guest here since last 4 years.

We along with our friend booked an all inclusive package for 1 nights.

The Check-in process was very good.

They had very limited options in - all inclusive package.

During the lunch we got to know that even after having an all inclusive package there are no non-Alcoholic/ virgin drinks included (apart from soda and packed juices), which was a surprise for us. In alcoholic drinks NO cocktails and mocktails were included.

Max food items in the Buffet were Beef and very less option for vegetarian and non-Beef eaters.

On our discussion with the Manager, they offered us the non alcoholic drink, which was not upto the mark and looked like a favor on us.

Our 2nd bad experience was when we went to pool around 6.00 pm, when the heat had reduced and the temp. and ambiance became enjoyable. We order snacks at the pool, that was included in our package and we were told that the snacks time is over as the dinner has started. I didn't understand that during summers and when we have bar near pool and the pool time is till 8 PM how can snacks time be till 6 PM (which was never briefed to us during time of booking or at arrival time), again we had to call the manager and then he arrnaged the snacks for us. The service was SUPER SLOW and food quality was not good at all. Any drink or snack took almost 25 to 30 mins to reach us. When we ordered non alcoholic drinks at the pool bar we again faced the same issues of no mocktails or virigin drinks apart from soda or juice is available. On insisting they offered milk shakes as if they were doing a favor on us.

On our request (during lunch time) the chef prepared paneer and chicken curry for dinner, for which we are thankful to him, but the preparation was NOWHERE near to the original preparation. The food was full of oil.

Lastly in the Dinner when we asked for drinks(alcoholic or non alcoholic) to be served along with food we were told that you have to go to Bar(which closes by 10PM for the people having an all inclusive package and is paid after 10PM and the dinner time is till 10PM). Also they said they can not serve drinks in restaurant , where as we have got the alcoholic drinks in restaurant during the lunch time, on continous insisting they brought the mocktails and cocktails,. Everytime it looked as if they are doing a favor to us, where as we have actually paid for all these items as per the package. It would have been much cheaper to go for A-la Carte menu.

Moverover in the name of Breads we only got frozen chapati and Paratha which was not a part of the main Buffet In lunch and Dinner and was prepared only for us.

Next day during our breakfast, I being a vegetarian was excited to see Chole Bhature in the Menu, after seeing the Bhature I was really shocked as those were the same frozen chapati which were deep fried 😳 and were no way near to the original Bhature.

We drove over 200km to enjoy the place but these small small constant issues our mood and trip was spoilt and was not very pleasing.

We do understand that there might be a shortage of staff due to Covid , due to which the service and food was not upto our expectation, but this affects their reputation and loss of regular guests.

They should improve on their customer service and should not make the guest feel as if they are doing a favor on us. I had to ask all this at every step because I felt they did not take care of us properly and when all services were...

Absolutely stellar experience from start to finish and total worth the scenic (and exhilarating 95mph) drive from Abu Dhabi City.

The hotel is well-situated in Liwa, only minutes away from where the yearly camel festival happens as well as only an hour or so drive away from the Moreeb Dune - the tallest sand dune in the world. Moreover, the roads leading to the hotel are all paved and well-lit so there is no issues from non-4x4s.

On our visit, the hotel was running an all-inclusive package - totally worth it. Despite the hotel being sparsely occupied during these covid times, everything ran very smoothly and all safety procedures being followed. Check-in and check-out was a total breeze and the hotel was even very accommodating in letting us check-in super early and use the hotel facilities - customer service is definitely a strong point!

Food was also on point! Honestly, with so few guest I was a little worried about the food quality especially as they had a smaller menu that usual. That concern was immediately dispelled on the first bite. For lunch and dinner, while there was no buffet and everything was a la carte, all the menu items were made extremely well. My favorites over the course of two days must have been the steak (tender and juicy at medium rare), lamb biryani (finally a biryani with good amounts of juicy, boneless lamb), and their hummus (just goes with everything). The breakfast was a semi-buffet with the serving staff helping you get the food items; again the quality was there especially in the fruit selection. The chef really does the food right!

The rooms were adequate whereas the big draw has to be the instagrammable pool looking out into the desert. Being on the ground floor there was easy access to the pool which was great but otherwise nothing to write home about in the room. As for the pool, its pretty big, but a little cold to swim in by December. Nevertheless, one has to check it out if only to get a few pictures in of the infinity pool to desert. Other then that they have the usual amenities (i.e., gym) as well as some additional paid activities such as quad bikes. In my opinion, nighttime is when the hotel grounds really shine. Again with the pool and the pool lights make for an amazing picture of an oasis surround by the desert and stars! Also if you are brave enough to venture out back of the hotel and into the desert you can easily be stargazing.

Definitely would recommend this hotel for a visit...

The hotel itself is in a beautiful wild place. It is the hotel itself that is good. BUT there are a huge number of disadvantages that began from the moment when we arrived by car to the hotel. No one came out to meet us, did not even pay attention, the Parking staff did not deign to even leave the hotel, so the car had to Park themselves. Accordingly, we carried heavy Luggage to the reception and to the room by ourselves. It would be possible to skip the opinion about the reception, but this I write below. Coming into the room we found a lot of dust on the surfaces. The faucet near the sink was not fastened and just hanging out. The toilet shower was broken and could only be closed with a tap. The lamp above the sink didn't work either. The room we booked for two, we are a couple, but very surprised when we saw not a double bed, and two beds pushed together. The sheets on the bed were all in pile. On these it was very uncomfortable to sleep. A separate story about the pool bar, the hotel management simply could not calculate the number of guests and the bar just could not cope, they did not have drinks and the bartenders did not have time to serve the assembled large queue. All this feedback would not have been, but one major point played a very important role... The front Desk staff who tried to hang us on someone else's check without a signature. This receipt said that we ordered VODKA with an energy DRINK at 10: 40 PM. We don't drink vodka ! And we're already sleeping. And we as young children had to justify ourselves to the staff, who do not respect their customers and did not even thank for their stay in their hotel. After we left the hotel we got a call from the reception 7 times and 1 time some brazen worker and shouted that we had not paid for vodka with energy. So if you do decide to go to this hotel, be prepared for the fact that there are scammers who are trying to fool their customers, and cut down more money for nothing. One person in this hotel deserves to be seen. I don't remember his name, he's bald and wearing glasses and a jacket. He always (1-2 June 2018) was in the pool area and all day in the open sun helped to solve standard issues and provided assistance to customers....