Where life’s a beach

AZQA HAROON DECIDED TO TAKE A WEEKEND BREAK TO HILTON SALWA BEACH RESORT FOR AN EXCITING GETAWAY WITH HER FAMILY. HERE’S HOW IT WENT!

There are some hotels which simply have it all. First impressions count the most in almost every kind of experience and Hilton Salwa beach resort not only gave an impeccable one, but also delivered.

With 45 minutes travel from the heart of Doha to the stunning resort, Hilton Salwa is everything you would expect from a 5-star beach resort – sun, sand and good times all round.

We checked in through the dedicated villa reception before being introduced to our personal villa host (Prakash) who promised 24/7 attention. Rest assured, this 5-star service also extends to each staff in the resort, and it is that kind of attitude that absolutely made our stay in Hilton Salwa an enjoyable and memorable one.

With a gorgeous 3.5kms of prime coastline, the largest water park in Qatar and 361 accommodations we stayed in the Arabian village luxurious townhouse — designed to reflect the beauty of Arabian culture. This exquisite town house combines enchanting, traditional style with outstanding contemporary amenities. Simple but elegant and in touch with tradition plus luxury finishes and a big courtyard and a private terrace — a perfect blend to get things right on a local getaway.

I absolutely loved how my bedroom window showed off the beautiful courtyard and fountain. The bathrooms are spacious with a tub as well as a separate shower.

But with so much to see and do at the resort, you probably won’t be spending too much time in your luxurious townhouse.

Depending on your mood or fancy Hilton Salwa has an extensive array of dining experience waiting for you. Our first night dinner was at newly opened Trader Vics with breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea, live band and serving cuisines that match the opulence of every detail — be it décor or service. In a nutshell, a complete epitome of fine dining.

The food is exquisite at the resort, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Levantine and a range of local and international varieties are offered as well as live cooking stations.

After filling up on a bountiful breakfast, we were ready for some water park fun. Desert Falls is one of the largest theme parks in the Middle East spanning 57,000sqm; the park features 18 attractions and 56 slides and rides. The resort paid a lot of attention to entertainment for children — laser tag and go carting just to mention a few. My husband and I spent time relaxing at the water park day beds while children enjoyed the thrilling rides.

The resort also offers Miss Wong, a Chinese restaurant and the Island’s very own authentic Italian joint dishing out a range of Italian cuisine, including some of the best pizzas in Qatar.

While I love lounging by the pool with a great book or relaxing at the sandy beaches, sometimes you crave adventure. Thankfully, Hilton Salwa offers an incredible array of activities for its guests. Everyone can enjoy banana boat, desert falls canyoning, marine world diving experience to begin with! If that isn’t enough, their Dolphin Cruise is an experience to remember. We hopped on to the sunset cruise and were lucky enough to spot a pack of these friendly mammals, it was a delightful site, a peaceful boat ride, with the perfect sunset and dancing dolphis, we couldn’t have asked for more.

It’s just blissful taking tranquil walks around the resort. However, there are constantly hop-onhop-off buggies driving for the convenience of the guests.

Overall, we were blown away by this resort. The setting was stunning, the staff attentive and friendly. We were able to truly disconnect and relax over the weekend. We would highly recommend this paradise to anyone and can’t stop dreaming about the blue waters and the stunning view. It is so picturesque you could easily spend your entire stay enjoying the water park, spa, pool and delicious restaurants.

Truly, if you want to invest your money into a luxurious getaway that has it all, this is the resort that you should book into. I guarantee that you will not regret it at all, and you might just keep on coming back for more!