Mirfa Hotel, Abu Dhabi - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report®: Mirfa Hotel

Mirfa Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Hotel Address

P.O.Box 77123
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Cranley Rating

Mirfa Hotel

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Hotel Summary

Category	Hotel
Awards Won	MENA 2006 Travel Awards Nominated for Best 4 star leisure hotel.

Hotel Opened

2003

Cranley Summary

Mirfa Hotel is a boutique hotel with 50 rooms. The hotel is located in the remote small town of Mirfa which is 140 km west of Abu Dhabi city, giving it a pleasant feel of seclusion. It is set in 2 square km of landscaped grounds with shrubs, plants and trees as well as grassed areas. The hotel is situated on the waters edge though swimming is not allowed by the municipality because of the deep water. There is a swimming pool with an adjacent toddlers/children’s pool as well as a children’s playground with a large variety of apparatus. For sports and recreation there are two tennis courts and two basketball/volleyball courts both of which are floodlit as well as a compact gym. The hotel has dining options in the restaurant and sports bar and there is the Oriental Café for shisha and drinks al fresco. For night entertainment there is an Arabic nightclub which is frequented by locals as well as hotel guests. The Mirfa hotel prides itself on its location and value for money when compared to city centre hotels.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

Mirfa Hotel is located in the west of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, 140 km from the city centre. The hotel is located in its own grounds overlooking the ocean but without use of the beach due to the deep water. The hotel benefits from its peaceful location away from the hustle of the city centre hotels and is easily reached from Abu Dhabi by dual lane highway with relatively little traffic to cause delay. There is almost nothing around the hotel other than desert, offering guests isolation and tranquillity. A particular feature of the hotel is its gardens with pathways meandering between flower and shrub beds.

Airports
Distance	100 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi

Cities and Sights
Distance	140 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi

Layout Description

The hotel is a small hotel with 50 rooms and an interesting design, as when viewed from the back of the hotel it resembles a Falcon with its wings spread. The main hotel amenities are located at the centre of the hotel with the rooms located on the two wings. Guests arrive at the ground floor which is on the first floor because of the elevated drive. The lobby overlooks the restaurant and pub which are set in an atrium that rises to the top of the hotel. At the rear of the hotel are the sports courts, swimming pools and children’s playground. The Oriental Café is set above the beach at the back left side of the hotel gardens.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours
Languages Spoken	English and Arabic
Payment Methods	All major credit cards accepted
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies exchanged
Taxis Arranged	Taxi’s called on request
Tours Arranged	Desert Safari’s, Sir Bani Yas Island excursion

Guest Relations	Standard Services
Concierge Services	Car hire
Medical Facilities	Doctor called with 30 minutes notice
Parking	Complimentary parking available.

Cranley Comment

The hotel lobby overlooks the atrium at the rear of the hotel with the Sports Bar and Al Manara restaurant on either side of the ground floor below the lobby. The front desk is on the right of the lobby with the bell desk on the opposite side. Also located off the lobby is the children’s playroom and gift shop. At the rear of the lobby are several salmon pink sofas.

Shops & Amenities

Description

Al Dhafra Gift shop: Open daily from 10:00 to 22:00
Sells a range of basic necessities, children’s toys and Chinese styled pictures and gifts.

Cranley Comment

The hotel is a boutique style hotel and has one small shop located in the lobby. Guests can purchase their basic requirements at the shops in Mirfa although for more substantial shopping guests will need to venture to Abu Dhabi.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	4
Total Rooms	50
Elevators	2
Rooms per Elevator	25
Total Staff	67
Staff per Room	1.3

Check-in Time	13:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	15:00 subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	No non-smoking rooms
Room Service	24 hours
Laundry Service	Same day service if dropped off by 10:00

Cranley Comment

There are three types of rooms; Deluxe Rooms, which are the majority of the rooms, 4 Executive Suites with a separate lounge and en-suite bedroom and 2 Royal Suites, of which one is a one bedroom and the other a two bedroom suite. The Deluxe Rooms are decorated in a different colour scheme on each floor whilst the Suites are decorated in richer, darker colours. The Suites are located on the higher floors affording them panoramic views over the Gulf although all rooms enjoy a clear view of the sea. All rooms either have a balcony or a grass terrace if they are on the ground floor and the rooms come with either a double bed or two single beds.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe Rooms	44	Seaview	Satellite television Air conditioning Safe Dial up internet Tea and coffee making facilities 2 Seat sofa and coffee table Desk/Vanity Unit Combined bath/shower IDD telephone 4 channels of in-house stero music Bidet Hairdryer Shaving mirror	2 Adults and 2 children under 11 or 3 adults at an additional charge	40

Cranley Comment

Deluxe Rooms either have a balcony or a patio and grass terrace if they are located on the ground floor and are well sized at 40 sqm. On entering the room there is an entrance hallway off which is a dressing area with wardrobes that lead to the en-suite bathroom. The bedrooms are decorated in different colour schemes on each floor and include a pink, blue and beige scheme. Deluxe Rooms are furnished with a sofa and coffee table and there is a plastic table with chairs on either the balcony or the patio. The bathrooms have white sanitary wear and pink floor tiles with very pale pink wall tiles, whilst the bath has a stand-up shower and hand shower. Given the room's size there is ample space for a third bed for two young children. The rooms come with either a double bed or two single beds.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive Suites	4	Seaview	As per the Deluxe Room with the added benefit of being larger and: Lounge with: Round dining table for 8 2 Seat sofa 3 Comfortable armchairs Satellite television with DVD Stereo system Kitchen with: 2 Ring hob Kettle Fridge Sink WC Bedroom with: 2 Armchairs Desk with chair Satellite television Bathroom as per Deluxe Room	2 Adults and 2 children under 11 or 3 adults at an additional charge	90

Cranley Comment

Executive Suites are two room suites with a separate lounge and separate bedroom which has an en-suite bathroom. There is also a small kitchenette and WC. Entrance is into the lounge, with the kitchenette and WC located off the lounge. A door leads into the bedroom which has an en-suite bathroom as well as a wardrobe and dressing area. Executive Suites are decorated in an Arabic theme with rich colours and benefit from having a balcony off the lounge as well as the bedroom. As well as having extra space, Suites benefit from additional amenities such as music systems, DVD players and larger televisions.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
One Bedroom Royal Suite	1	Seaview	Lounge: Large lounge Large satellite television & DVD 6 Two seat sofas 4 Armchairs 5 Coffee tables 2 Balconies Dining room: 12 Person dining table Bedroom: Dressing table 3 Seat sofa 2 Balconies Large satellite television Bathroom: Shower Bath with shower	2 Adults and 2 children under 11 or 3 adults at an additional charge.	166

Cranley Comment

The one bedroom Royal Suite is sizable at 166 sqm and has an entrance hall which leads to all the other rooms. The suite benefits from having an oversize lounge which leads into the dining room to create an L shape, giving it a double aspect over the front and back of the hotel. The lounge has ample furniture and has two balconies whilst the dining room seats 12 comfortably with views over the gardens at the front of the hotel. The bedroom is also a substantial size and has a large en-suite bathroom with separate shower and dressing area. The suite is decorated in rich colours.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Two Bedroom Royal Suite	1	Seaview	Lounge and Dining Room as per the one bedroom Royal Suite. Master bedroom: Dressing table Satellite television Sofa Balconies En-suite bathroom Second bedroom: Twin single beds Satellite television En-suite bathroom	4 Adults and 2 children under 11 or 6 adults with an additional charge for more than 4 adults	166

Cranley Comment

The Two Bedroom Royal Suite has the same size and layout as the one bedroom Royal Suite with the exception that the master bedroom and en-suite bathroom has been converted into two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Despite this the bedrooms are of ample size and this is more a reflection of the size of the master bedroom in the one bedroom suite. The room has the same décor as the other Royal Suite and is ideal for families, with two single beds in the second bedroom.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Al Manara

Restaurant Type	International
Restaurant Capacity	Total 66 inside
Opening Times	Open from 06:30 to 22.30 Breakfast buffet 06:30 to 10:30 Lunch buffet 13:00 to 15:30 Dinner buffet 19:00 to 22:30
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Separate non-smoking tables
Children’s Facilities	Children’s menu Children under 11 pay 50% of the full price Children under 5 eat for free
Breakfast Options	Buffet with live cooking stations on a Friday

Cranley Comment

The Al Manara restaurant is located on the ground floor opposite the Sports bar. The restaurant’s specialty is the buffet which is served three times a day and guests can also choose from an al a carte menu. The restaurant’s location provides guests with views of the hotel’s pools and gardens with the ocean beyond. Dining is casual with a number of tables in the open, as well as several in private bedouin style tents for guests who want more intimacy.

Bars

Number of Bars

Sports Pub and Lounge

Bar Type	Sports Bar
Bar Capacity	Total 56 all inside
Opening Times	12:00 to 00:00
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking areas
Admissions Policy	Over 21’s only

Cranley Comment

The Sports Pub and Lounge is located on the ground floor of the Atrium and has a three floor high ceiling. It faces the ocean with the front having a floor to ceiling glass wall that gives it the feel of a conservatory. The pub has a casual environment and features a bar at one end with bar seating, armchairs and tables throughout the venue and has a stage located at the front where a live band plays six nights a week from 19.00. There is also a plasma screen showing the latest sports events and a darts board. The pub serves a range of beers, cocktails and mocktails as well as a selection of snacks such as spring rolls, samoosas, chicken wings and beef burgers.

Oriental Cafe

Bar Type	Al Fresco Cafe
Bar Capacity	Total 40 outside
Opening Times	19:00 to 00:00
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	No
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking tables
Admissions Policy	Children allowed

Cranley Comment

The Oriental Café is located on the edge of the hotel grounds overlooking the ocean. It is an open air bar which serves a small range of beers, soft drinks and coffee as well as a range of Shisha. There are plastic tables and chairs for seating set on a patio that is surrounded by ornate fencing. The cafe is a short stoll through the gardens from the main hotel and benefits from being near the children's playground so adults can keep an eye on their children from the Cafe.