Remember my trip to Al Qudra in March? We extended the fun road trip to a little weekend getaway in Jabal Hafeet, Al Ain. Escaping the city for a while to serene, sweeping views of the desert, felt good, especially if you can get to enjoy such little pleasures in life at a budget.
Al Ain is clearly still a developing tourist destination but what sets it apart from the larger cities is the cool desert air as opposed to the coastal humidity. The highlight of the road trip is the drive up the serpentine mountain roads to the top of the 1340-metre-high mountain Jebel Hafeet that stands as a sentinel to the green city of Al Ain.
The drive wasn’t complete without a few pit stops along the way and by that I mean short breaks for exercising our selfie-hand haha….Honestly though the views are unbeatable and totally deserve a DSLR moment. Don’t you think?
We checked in at Mercure Grand Jabal Hafeet Resort and were delighted to have secured rooms with gorgeous views of the endless dusty desert. The rooms were fresh, clean and spacious with a cute little balcony. The hotel does a look a little tired from the outside but for a resort perched up on a mountain, this place is great and has decent amenities and activities to keep you entertained.
After exploring the property for a while, we decided to hit the mini golf club which was quite exciting being a beginner. Having successfully completed all 12 terrains (which involved a little bit of cheating, because what fun would it be otherwise), I decided to hit the recreation center for a game of squash. Ahh what a workout that turned out to be! I swear I don’t know why I haven’t enrolled myself in a sports club because honestly it’s the best way to break into a sweat and get a full body workout.
So pumped from it, I couldn’t resist joining my cousins for a game of billiards. It would have felt amazing to jump and cool off in the pool to end the day’s activities, but my heart was calling out for a soothing hot shower only to be tucked into the comforts of a fluffy bed.
I wouldn’t say breakfast at Le Belvedere was spectacular but it had a decent spread to fill my hungry stomach. If you are looking for some variety to satiate your taste buds, they offer French, Italian and Arabic menu options for lunch and dinner with the popular dishes prepared in home-cooked style. I might add it is worth spending your tea time at the terrace restaurant as you do not want to miss watching the sun setting over the desert.
Before heading back home, we stopped by the highest point in Al Ain which is about 3 km ahead of the hotel. The views from here of the craggy Martian like terrains are stunning and you can enjoy a cup of ‘masala chai’ while enjoying the fresh breeze.
All in all a Jabel Hafeet makes for a smooth and scenic road trip and a budget-friendly weekend staycation where you can truly enjoy a few moments of peace.