We arrived at Kempinski Ajman for our 3-day, 2 night stay after quite an easy drive. This was my first time staying in Ajman, so I didn’t really know what to expect. Usually when I hear of Ajman, it feels like it’s a huge distance away, but we learned through driving there, that it’s not far from Dubai at all! As long as the traffic is good, you can even get there in under an hour.

The valet staff and luggage clerks helped us with our bags, and we made our way to the reception area. The hotel is decorated like an Arabic oasis. There’s beautiful palm trees and fountains in the lobby, as well as fresh flower arrangements and lovely large chandeliers.

We learned that the hotel has been around for nearly 18 years, so it really is a testament and staple of luxury in Ajman.

During check-in, we were offered warm towelettes and fresh orange juice. After the formalities of checking IDs and signing a few papers, our room key was soon handed to us and we headed upstairs.

We were booked in for a Junior Suite and it was absolutely lovely and spacious. The design of the room is done in the same manner as the lobby area. The furniture and decor has an elegant arabesque touch to it. In the main area of the room, there is a large L-shaped sofa with a big coffee table. There’s also a small dining table for two behind the main couch.

On the coffee table was a beautiful platter; the staff were so kind to prepare a special welcome sweets tray for us, which had delicious Arabic pastries as well as lavish Medjoul dates.

The bed, although is in the same room as the seating area, is located in a way that keeps living and sleeping spaces somewhat separated. The bed is a huge king-sized bed that you just want to crawl into and never come out of– super comfy!  

On either side of the bed are two side tables, and across from the bed is a long work desk and chair. On the side table, there’s a listed selection of different kinds of pillows and even scents that you can choose from to have in the room. They really think of everything! 

There’s a TV filled with movies and family channels. Under the TV stand is a large cabinet, which has a mini bar full of drinks and drinking glasses.

The closet is marvelous; it’s a walk-in closet and there are many different sections to keep your clothes and belongings. In there, there is also a mid-size safe. In this closet, we could have easily fit a weeks worth of clothes and luggage for me, my husband and little Khalifa.

The bathroom has a sink with a large countertop and makeup mirror. There’s a bathtub, toilet and bidet area, and a large stand-alone shower that even has a built-in marble bench in it.

The bath products are really nice, they are all Kempinski-branded, smell great, and they’re very generous with what they give. Not only do they provide the basics of soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion, but they also make sure to supply the bathroom with dental kits, shower caps, bath salts, loofahs, mouthwash, and shaving kits.

Since they knew that we were coming with a baby, they even provided baby bath products, including Sebamed shampoo, bath wash and lotion. I thought that was incredibly thoughtful of them, as we’ve been to so many different hotels and this was the first time that we’ve seen baby bath products readily available without us having to specially order them.

Now, I was saving the best for last. The room, the bathroom, the closet, the space and decor were all lovely, but the best thing about this room is the breathtaking view! Our Junior Suite at Kempinski Ajman had an incredible balcony, with a view that is very hard to beat.

We arrived at the hotel right as the sun was setting, so we were able to catch one of the most beautiful beach sunsets that we’ve seen.

From the balcony we had the most gorgeous view of the ocean, the pool and the garden area. The beach has an abundance of palm trees and there’s so much greenery all around the property. Had I known there was something like this in Ajman, I would have opted to stay here ages ago!

We were so amazed by the view that we must have spent more time on that balcony during the weekend than inside the room.

After taking in the view, we freshened up and headed downstairs for our dinner at Sabella.

This Italian restaurant boasts delectable organic Italian food and it definitely didn’t disappoint. We had a lovely dinner here; the presentation was beautiful, the portions are generous and the dishes still had the taste of a very comforting home-cooked Italian meal.

To see how our experience went at Sabella, check out the full review here: Sabella Restaurant Review.

We needed to burn some calories after such a filling meal, so we decided to walk down to the beach and explore the grounds of the hotel. On our way out we heard live piano music being played in the lobby.

Kempinski Ajman’s garden and beach area are beautiful at night; the lighting and walkways are very calming and romantic.

When we were done with our round, we headed back upstairs to put Khalifa to bed and rest in the room. My husband had to go out for a shave, so while he had his man-time, I indulged in a bubble bath. Again, I love that the staff were so generous with the bathroom amenities. I didn’t ever have to pick up the phone and wait for them to bring missing products. Once I was done showering, I was good and ready to fall flat into those oh-so fluffy sheets and float away to dreamland. The sleep quality in this bed is wonderful and there was plenty of space for me, my husband and the baby.

They did bring up a baby cot for Khalifa, but I requested that they remove it from the room since he never even sleeps in his own crib at home. He likes to be cuddled at night and lucky for him, we don’t mind.

Day 2

We woke up the next morning bright and early and headed downstairs to Cafe Kranzler for breakfast. Since we’re used to getting up early, we came before most of the guests had come down. We got a lovely seat in the covered terrace area of the restaurant. There was also an indoor dining space, as well as a fully outdoor seating area. From our table we had a view of the palm trees and beach in front of us.

The breakfast is buffet style but you can order eggs (made in any way that you like them) directly from your seat. We ordered omelettes and then headed indoors to grab a few things from the buffet. There was all types of wholesome breakfast options available, including both Western and Arabic cuisines. There were also fresh fruits, juices and coffees available.

By the time we were done eating breakfast, the restaurant had become a lot more busy.

We headed over to the pool area and spent a few hours waddling away until our little Khalifa got tired and was ready for his nap.

We went upstairs, let him sleep as we washed up and got ready to head down to the Friday Garden Brunch.

Now, this brunch is absolutely delightful. I could not have chosen a better day to go to it because the weather on this specific Friday was just perfect. It was sunny with a chilly breeze and just such a great day to be outdoors.

The music, the food and the atmosphere here are the epitome of a perfect Friday! To see what the brunch is like, check out this link: Friday Garden Brunch at Kempinski Ajman.

I would happily come back to experience this brunch on any other day, and would really recommend it to my friends and readers.

We came back upstairs to a clean room and I was really impressed that the housekeeping staff replenished all of the bathroom supplies, even the toothbrushes and loofahs!

I was scheduled in for a facial at Kempinski Spa, but since my baby Khalifa is teething and being very needy at the moment, I ended up having to (begrudgingly) give up my spa time to my husband, who opted for a 90-minute massage. He enjoyed a Seasonal Massage that focused on stress relief and relaxation. The massage definitely did the job, because he came back in such a relaxed state and in the best of moods. I am not jealous, I am not jealous. To see how his spa experience went, check out the review of it here: Seasonal Massage at Kempinski Spa.

 

Later that evening, we explored a little bit of Ajman. It’s known as the smallest Emirate in the UAE, but its got quite a few things.

We passed by a museum and a few shopping centers and even witnessed a pre-National Day maseera, or parade, where Ajman police and officials showed off their exotic cars on the street right in front of the hotel! Through exploring the city, we realized that the hotel is so centrally located, but you would never realize it if you stayed in the hotel the whole time because it feels like a million miles away from city life once your inside the grounds of the resort.

Once we were back at the hotel, we headed down to their famous Indian restaurant, Bukhara. I’ve heard about Bukhara before, but this is just one of those places you have to visit!

Their signature dish, the Tandoori Lobster is quite literally the best lobster dish we’ve ever had ,as well as one of the best Indian dishes we’ve tried. To see a full review on Bukhara, click on Bukhara Restaurant Review.

After dinner, we headed upstairs, put the baby to sleep and enjoyed the beauty of the balcony at night.

Day 3

After waking up we headed down to Cafe Kranzler for breakfast. This time we were quite late for breakfast, but the service was perfect once again. I opted for a lighter meal and went with a cappuccino and croissant, while my husband had his usual hearty meal of omelettes and fruits.

We went back up to the room, rested, relaxed and enjoyed most of our morning sitting and chatting on the balcony and taking in the view. We then got ready and packed our things.

Before checking out, we went down to Zanzi Bar which is one of the most beautifully set beach restaurants here in the UAE.

The setting makes you feel as if you really are in Zanzibar itself! Read the full review here: Zanzi Bar Review. It was the perfect way to end a beautiful 3-day stay at this fabulous resort!

Check out was very  easy and they brought down our luggage and loaded it into the car as we were taking care of formalities at the front desk.

I was actually sad leaving Kempinski Ajman! We had such a splendid weekend and tried so many different cuisines, all of which impressed us. The hotel, beach and pool are all so family-freindly as well as being great for couples. We’ll definitely be coming back here, now that we know how echanting the resort is! If you’re ever looking for a getaway that makes you feel like your a world away without having to drive for more than an hour or so, this is the place!

The price for one night in the room we stayed in (the Junior Suite) is around 1,200 Dhs (November 2015). 

Ratings (0-5): 

• Location: 4.5
• Hotel Ambience: 4.5
• Staff (Friendliness and Helpfulness): 5 
• Rooms: 4.5
• Room/Bath Products Provided: 5
• In-Room WiFi: 4.5
• Amenities: 5
• Housekeeping: 5
• Value for money: 5

Overall Rating: 4.8

To book at Kempinski Hotel Ajman, call +971 (0) 6 714 5555.