Sharjah Rotana, Sharjah - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report®: Sharjah Rotana

Sharjah Rotana, Sharjah

Hotel Address

Al Arouba Street
PO Box 5734
Sharjah
United Arab Emirates

Cranley Rating

Sharjah Rotana

Photo 1 of 22. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Hotel

Hotel Opened	2000
Refurbishment	Non-regular maintenance and decoration

Cranley Summary

The Sharjah Rotana is located in the city centre and is a hotel predominately targeted at the business traveller. The hotel was built six years ago and is spread over eighteen floors and has been maintained to a good standard. The hotels location means it has good access to both Sharjah and subject to traffic Dubai, to which the hotel runs a twice a day complimentary shuttle bus to Deira city centre. The hotel has four room types from a Deluxe Room to the Rotana Suite and additionally the Executive Suite can be made into a Two Bedroom Suite with the use of a connecting Deluxe Room. For dining there is an international restaurant which has a buffet and ala carte options at all meal times and 24 hour room service. For leisure there is a basic gym and small roof top pool and guests have access to the beach club at a nearby hotel. The hotel benefits from having complimentary wireless internet connectivity in the lobby lounge but also has the downside of only having dial up access in the rooms. Lastly the hotel as two small function rooms and a boardroom for meetings and banquets and has a well equipped business centre open 24 hours.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The hotel is located in the city centre next to the Al Zahra Private Hospital and the Rolla Souk and is also about a ten minute drive away from the beach facilities at a nearby five star hotel that guests can use at a charge. The hotel has easy access to the city centre shopping malls including the largest in Sharjah as well as the Old Souks. For guests wanting to get to Dubai for golf and shopping or evening activities it is about 20km away but travel time can vary considerably depending on the time of day so guests are advised to take advice from the hotels concierge. In addition the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus to Dubai twice times a day.

Airports
Distance	0 km
Airport Transfers	Chargeable transfers on the hotel bus or taxi

Cities and Sights
Distance	17 km
City/Sight Transfers	The hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus twice a day at 09.00 and 19.00 to Dubai City Centre (Deira) returning at 13.15 and 21.30 from the Dubai City Centre and 13.30 and 21.45 from Nasser Square in Deira.

Layout Description

The hotel is a city centre hotel where all the facilities are within the building and guests also have use of the beach facilities at a nearby hotel. The hotel is eighteen floors high with some of the rooms on the higher floors having a distant sea view. On the ground floor as well as the lobby, front desk and boutiques is also the location of the business centre. The Al Dar restaurant and banqueting facilities are on the first floor and the Bodylines gym and roof pool are located on the second floor. The guest rooms are located on the third to eighteenth floors.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours
Languages Spoken	Arabic, English, Tagalog, French, German and Italian.
Payment Methods	Major credit cards
Foreign Exchange	Major currencies exchanged
Taxis Arranged	Called off the street
Tours Arranged	A range of tours can be organised by concierge which include city tours of Sharjah, Dubai, Al Ain, East Coast and Abu Dhabi, sand skiing, helicopter tours, desert safari and BBQ’s, overnight safaris, musandam mountains trips and traditional dhow dinners.

Guest Relations	Standard
Concierge Services	Car hire desk
Medical Facilities	A doctor can be called from the hospital next door with ten minutes notice.
Parking	Complimentary valet parking

Cranley Comment

The lobby is a rectangular area with the front desk to the right, four large central pillars in the middle and the lobby cafe at the rear with a marble alcove and water feature. The lifts are on the left side and on the right side is a passageway with the boutiques and business centre. The lobby is overlooked from the Al Dar restaurant on the first floor which adds to a sense of space. Overall the lobby is designed in a contemporary style with marble flooring and light wood panelling.

Shops & Amenities

Description

Julnar Mobile Phones Open seven days a week
Al Balad Al Ameen electrical devices Open seven days a week.

Cranley Comment

The hotel has a range of boutiques offering electronic items, mobile phones and a florist. Immediately outside the hotel is a ladies saloon carrying out a range of treatments and additionally next door is the Rolla Souk with a range of shops. A short distance away is the City Centre Mall and the Sahara Centre as well as the Souk Al Arsah which is one of the oldest Souks in the UAE.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	18
Total Rooms	205
Elevators	3
Rooms per Elevator	68
Total Staff	150
Staff per Room	0.7

Check-in Time	14.00
Check-out Time	12.00
Late Checkout	16.00 subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	Two non-smoking floors
Room Service	24 hour ala carte menu
Laundry Service	Items dropped off before 09.00 are delivered back the same day at 17.00. Items dropped off after 09.00 will be delivered back the next day at 17.00. An Express service for return with six hours is available at a 50% premium. A Priority service for return within four hours is available at a 100% premium.

Club or Executive Facilities

No Executive Club facilities

Cranley Comment

The Sharjah Rotana has four primary room types with a fifth being a Two Bedroom Executive Suite with the use of a connecting Deluxe Room. The hotel has two non-smoking floors and some of the rooms on floors above the sixth have a distant sea view. The beds come in either a king or twin single configuration. All rooms are all decorated in a contemporary style.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe Room	155	88 City 67 Sea	Satellite television Individually controlled air-conditioning Tea and coffee making facilities Mini bar Safe Desk/vanity unit Two arm chairs Round occasional table Hairdryer Water and fruit basket on arrival	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	32

Cranley Comment

The Deluxe Room is the standard room of the hotel. It comprises of a small entrance hallway off which is the bathroom and leads into the bedroom. The bedroom is decorated in a contemporary design with light coloured wood furniture, gold/beige curtains and light brown carpets. The bathroom has white tiling on the walls with a green marble sink top and a combined bath and shower. None of rooms have a balcony and they come with either a king or twin single beds.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Junior Suite	30	20 City 10 Sea	As per the Deluxe room plus: Kitchenette Dining table and three chairs Two seater sofa Two arm chairs Coffee table Hair dryer	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	55

Cranley Comment

The Junior Suite is a one room suite that benefits from additional space, a lounge area with sofa and arm chairs, a dressing area and a small kitchenette although guests should note that although there is a twin hot plate cooking equipment is not provided. On entering the suite the doorway leads into the lounge side of the suite with the kitchenette immediately on your side. The bathroom and dressing area are next to the kitchenette and opposite the bed. The room is decorated in a similar style to the Deluxe Room and comes with all the same basic amenities.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive Suite	18	14 City 4 Sea	As per the Junior Suite plus: Separate bedroom Guest toilet	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	65

Cranley Comment

The Executive Suite has an identical layout and amenities as the Junior Suite with the exception that the bedroom is a separate room, there is a guest toilet and additionally there is more space. Overall the suite is decorated in a contemporary style with light brown wood furniture, gold/beige curtains and light brown carpets. The bathroom has white tiling on the walls with a green marble sink top and a combined bath and shower.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Rotana Suite	18	2 City	As per the Executive Suite plus: Dining table for six persons Full size fridge	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	86

Cranley Comment

The Rotana Suite is similar in layout as the Executive suite but benefits from additional space, a larger kitchenette with a full size fridge and in the lounge a dinning table for six persons. Overall the suite is decorated in a contemporary style with light brown wood furniture, gold/beige curtains and light brown carpets. The bathroom has white tiling on the walls with a green marble sink top and a combined bath and shower.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Al Dar

Restaurant Type	International
Restaurant Capacity	Total 92 all inside
Opening Times	Daily 06.30 to 23.00 Breakfast 06.30 to 10.30 Lunch 12.30 to 15.30 Dinner 18.30 to 23.00
Dress Codes	Smart Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking area
Children’s Facilities	Children under six have a complimentary buffet and children six to twelve years old pay 50% Children's menu High Chairs
Breakfast Options	Full buffet breakfast with live cooking station.

Cranley Comment

The Al Dar is an international restaurant located on the first floor overlooking the Lobby Cafe. It serves an international buffet at each mealtime as well as having an ala carte menu available during and outside of the buffet hours. The ala carte menu contains a range of soups, sandwiches, grilled meats and fish, pasta and some Indian and oriental options to cater for most tastes. Like the rest of the hotel the decor is in a contemporary style.

The Lobby Cafe

Restaurant Type	Cafe
Restaurant Capacity	Total 30
Opening Times	08.00 to 01.00
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking area
Children’s Facilities	No specific menu but special orders can be accommodated.
Breakfast Options	None

Cranley Comment

The Lobby Cafe is located at the rear of the lobby and is an open plan design overlooking the front desk and the lifts. The menu consists of a basic range of teas, coffees and juices as well as made to order sandwiches, soup and salads. The interior is a contemporary design with marble flooring and a water feature set in a marble alcove at the rear of the cafe.

Aquarius Snack Bar

Restaurant Type	Pool side snack bar
Restaurant Capacity	Drinks bar with food from the room service menu.
Opening Times	07.00 to 22.00
Dress Codes	Casual/swimwear

Air-Conditioning	No
Smoking Policy	No non-smoking areas
Children’s Facilities	No specific facilities
Breakfast Options	N/A

Cranley Comment

The Aquarius Snack Bar is located next to the pool and consists of a wood constructed serving area. It is normally operational outside of the summer months and has a range of soft drinks and juices and takes orders for food from the room service menu. There are molded plastic table and chairs for guests to eat at.

Bars

Bar Comments

There are no bars in the hotel owing to the fact no alcohol is allowed in Sharjah