Acollection of 33 islands, the Kingdom of Bahrain is known as the ‘Pearl of the Gulf’, with its name taken from the Arabic term al-Bahrayn, meaning ‘two seas’. It’s a country that thrives on a multi-layered approach to tourism, masterfully blending business opportunities with history, heritage and hospitality. Its pearl-diving past is rich in tales of treasure and trade, while its Formula 1 Grand Prix has put the country on the map for an altogether more modern – and action-packed – reason. However you choose to spend your time in Bahrain, there’s one hotel that promises to be the perfect launch point for all your island adventures.
You’ll find The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain in the heart of the Kingdom’s capital in Manama’s Seef District, yet with a coastline all its own to ensure maximum discretion, seclusion and solitude. This urban beachside paradise is a happy juxtaposition, where access to all the city’s activities and amenities are within easy reach, yet once in the resort you feel a million miles from the metropolis.
A further stamp of exclusivity, the hotel is home to The Royal Beach Club, which offers hotel guests and members access to a private beach, lagoon and marina, as well as a newly enhanced fitness centre, jogging trail, tennis and squash courts, temperature-controlled indoor and outdoor pools, a hammam and boating adventures aboard the resort’s Pearl 1, as you cruise the Kingdom’s coastline spotting dolphins.
From exclusive experiences to an elevated place to stay, and The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain certainly boasts some of the city’s chicest rooms, suites and villas. From a sophisticated Deluxe Sea View Room which looks out over the bay, to the sprawling Diplomatic Suite or Royal Suite, each with a living room, dining room and Majlis, there’s something to accommodate all your wishes and whims.
If you’re travelling with family or friends, reserve one of the 450-square-metre private villas, which comfortably sleep six. The three bedrooms are complemented with 600-thread count cotton sheets, Asprey products kit out the three bathrooms featuring opulent bathtubs and showers, and there’s a private outdoor pool and patio with sea views. And for when you need anything more, your personal Butler will be on call.
Minerals from the Dead Sea, thalassotherapy and plunge pools are just some of the water-inspired elements at the luxury, sea-inspired The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Treatments, from the Herbal Poultice Massage to the Secrets of Argan journey all draw on rituals from Arabia’s history. Once you finish your massage or facial, try the traditional hammam, slip into the atrium pool or just lie back and meditate in the soothing relaxation area.
There’s award-winning cuisine to be found when your appetite needs attention, with 14 restaurants and lounges focused around Bahrain dining with a global touch. While our advice would be to try them all, a good starting point is breakfast at Lobby Lounge, followed by an elegant Arabian-meets-Mediterranean lunch at La Med, or casual poolside bites at La Plage, rounding off the day with a contemporary Italian dinner at Primavera or a decadent evening of Indian food at Nirvana.
Beyond the beautiful beach and landscaped gardens of the hotel, lies a city filled with culture and commerce. Culture vulture’s can take themselves off to Bait Al Qur’an, a complex which houses a comprehensive and valuable collection of the Holy Qur’an, along with a mosque, library, auditorium, school and museum. Visit Bahrain National Museum or the Oil Museum to experience different exhibits and artefacts around archeology, culture, nature and Bahrain’s discovery of oil in 1932.
Other historical and heritage points of interest include Al-Fateh Mosque (one of the largest mosques in the world), Bahrain Fort, which dates back to 2,800 BC, and the Tree of Life, which is a mystical tree that stands alone in the desert, flourishing despite no known water source.
For sport enthusiasts, there’s diving, indoor sky-diving at Gravity Bahrain, golf at the Colin Montgomerie-designed 18-hole, par 72 championship course at the Royal Golf Club, and karting at the Bahrain International Circuit. Back at the hotel you can make the most of your stay until December 31, 2022, with the Stay Longer, Experience More offer, which allows you to spend two nights – or more – in paradise with a 15 per cent saving, as well as access to the Royal Beach Club, and the Club Lounge for Club Room and Club Suite reservations.