With two nights in Abu Dhabi, we were looking for some well placed accommodation that also offered resort like features. We ended up at the dated Sheraton Abu Dhabi, which is situated just off the corniche. The hotel was satisfactory for a leisure stay, but wasn’t all too inspiring as compared to the many other hotels in Abu Dhabi that were likely more interesting.

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This post is one chapter in our trip to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Maldives on United Airlines and Etihad Airways. This trip was booked and credited to Aeroplan and Etihad Preferred Guest. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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Booking and Getting there:

There were a multitude of places to stay in Abu Dhabi under the Starwood (now Marriott) brand. There were a multitude of price points from intermediate to very expensive. Having just stayed at a luxury resort, we opted for the more economical Sheraton. It was supposed to offer a Resort experience but it came up a little short on that. We booked into the hotel on an American Automobile Association Rate at $140 USD per night, for a two night stay.

On the day that we left, we got ready for the three hour drive to Abu Dhabi from the Qsar Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anatara to Abu Dhabi. We filled up our Hertz Rental, (an economical Toyota Corolla) for 65 Dirhams ($17 USD: 0.459 cents per litre or $1.75 a gallon). After getting stuck in an evening traffic jam, and after the wonderful stay at the Qsar al Sarab, the initial presentation at the hotel was slightly less than favorable. Sometimes, you just get stuck with a less inspiring hotel, and this was one of them. Admittedly, any stay after Qsar Al Sarab was likely to be a bit of a let down.

Our challenges started with no porters at the door, a valet rushing off with your car with your luggage still inside, and dated rooms with a tiny footprint. Unfortunately, during our visit, this place had all the cliché’s of a disappointing stay. 

The property is a little dated and is reminiscent of an older hotel from the Middle East. It was likely one of the original hotel structures in Abu Dhabi.

The Room: A Classic “Sea View” (now marketed as a Resort View)

We were led up to our room which was marketed as a Classic Sea View. Thanks to the older design, it was pretty compact without many windows.

In a positive note, we did receive a pleasant welcome amenity. This is always appreciated.

The view from the room was slightly challenged. The Sea View we were anticipating didn’t really deliver.

I asked the bellman who delivered the luggage to get the balcony door unlocked and he said he’d have to get housekeeping to come and look at it. Unfortunately, housekeeping never turned up and the balcony remained locked for the balance of the stay.

Overall:

All in all, our time here was quite a disappointing experience. I’d even go so far as to say that it was the worst Sheraton that I have stayed at, which is saying something. I won’t bother you with the details (yes – there were more let downs), but just make a note to stay elsewhere and you probably won’t be disappointed.

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