Bahrain: Accommodation

Overview

First up. Accommodation in Bahrain ain’t cheap. Many people in the Middle East make good money, so prices are reflective of this. For the international tourist though, it’s probably not your standard price point. It’s worth knowing this before booking your flights as you may even wish to change your destination. For younger travelers or those who don’t mind bunking in together, you could reasonably book a room to share and split the cost.

Hotels in the Middle East pride themselves on being 5 star. Keep in mind that many of them provide themselves with their own rating. That being said, if it’s 5 star, you can be fairly certain its dripping in opulence.

First, have a look at the activities you wish to undertake and think about choosing accommodation accordingly:

• If you’re wanting a holiday complete with cultural site visits as well as freedom to move around the island, good options are in Manama central, such as the regions of Adliya or Juffair.
• If a party weekend is your main agenda, you might want to choose your location based on the places you will go. Adliya is well known for it’s upmarket bar and cocktail scene (although there are also a few grungy Irish pubs!), whereas Juffair is near the US Marine base and is a bit more of a beer and brisket type pub affair (excluding one of my favourites, Coda Jazz Club). It’s here that you will find many unusual places if you dig only a little deeper …
• If you desire a holiday based purely in a hotel full of luxe detailing and relaxation, go with one of the fail safe options like The Ritz Carlton, The Sofitel Zallaq Thalassa (keeping in mind this is a bit further away from the main tourist places and bars), The Four Seasons or The Gulf Hotel.
• For extreme decadence during the Grand Prix, check out Al Areen Palace & Spa in Sakhir. The International F1 circuit is more than half way down the island of Bahrain and a good one hour drive from Manama (depending on F1 traffic!), so it’s well worth looking into this hotel nearby. The Sofitel is also in close proximity to the circuit.
• The Amwaj Islands are listed as a new development with restaurants and waterside dwellings but I must say I was a little unenamoured with them and they are on the other side of the airport to all the action. They would be a reasonable place to live but not a practical holiday destination. The central section holds a ‘Lagoon Park’ which is flanked with restaurants aglow with neon lights in the evening but I found this to be a little less exciting than elsewhere in Bahrain. So Art Rotana Hotel, sorry, you’re out for me.

Regions

• Manama
  • Seef
    • The Ritz Carlton (5 star)
    • Jumeirah Royal Saray (5 star)
    • Wyndham Grand (5 star)
  • Adliya
    • The Gulf Hotel (5 star)
    • The Palace Boutique Hotel (4 star)
    • Ramada by Wyndham (4 star)
  • Diplomat Area
    • The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa (5 star)
    • Crowne Plaza Manama (5 star)
  • Bahrain Bay
    • The Four Seasons (5 star)
• Outside Manama
  • Zallaq
    • Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa (5 star)
  • Sakhir
    • Al Areen Palace & Spa (5 star)
  • Hawar Island Archipelago
    • Hawar Beach Hotel (4 star)

Below I have detailed the hotels that I have personally stayed in and then included a quick reference list of other great/comparable ones in these regions that have come with a personal recommendation from friends.

Seef Region, Manama

The Ritz Carlton Hotel (5 star)

The Ritz Carlton has spoilt me. At least once in your life – you should stay here. Imagine waking up at your own leisure, heading downstairs via a glass elevator looking over the marble lobby, enjoying a lazy long breakfast, then hitting the pool, beach or private island for a swim and later, a cocktail or cold beer. Not to mention it has 12 restaurants and lounges on site, an outdoor cinema for the kids, a world class newly renovated gym and two spas in a secluded area that are the antidote to any stressors in your life. Bliss.

Others:
Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain
Wyndham Grand

Adliya Region, Manama

The Gulf Hotel (5 star)

Ever since I first ascended the escalator into the open plan lobby of lights and glistening chandeliers, I have referred to the Gulf affectionately as my ‘Bahraini home’. This might be a bit far fetched given its grandiosity however I have stayed here on three different occasions and it really is a great all-rounder. Arguably it has the best hotel breakfast of all listed, with the most food options, the most instagrammable little yoghurt pots and a gorgeous honeycomb with honey spool to scoop off that runny goodness from the most appealling looking hexagon to adorn your freshly baked bread. Their pool is delightfully refreshing on a hot day and has a little waterfall cave to keep out of the sun. It is great for families with a kiddy pool also! The rooms vary in size but even their base room is spacious and kitted with all of the necessary mod cons. There is a luxurious spa on site, a hairdresser and multiple restaurants and bars to enjoy a sundowner in. The Gulf is located in the trendy area of Adliya, which is within walking distance to many bars and great nightlife. Adliya itself is a maze of narrow one-way streets which become difficult to navigate in a taxi on weekend evenings, so you will be grateful to be able to have this as an option!

The Palace Boutique Hotel (4 star)

This hotel is smaller, as its name suggests, but still packs a punch. If you’re looking for somewhere quieter and with fewer children around the place, The Palace Boutique is an alternate option in Adliya. With a total of 20 rooms, the views over the pool will ensure you feel on vacation. This is the only hotel I’ve stayed in where every evening, a newly created dessert was waiting for me within my room. With Masso restaurant, The Orangery Tearoom & Patisserie and Polo Gastropub on site, you won’t be short of some delicious tucker. Great for a short business stay or travel base.

Budget Option:
Ramada by Wyndham

Diplomat Region, Manama

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa (5 star)

For a luxury stay in the Diplomat area, the Radisson Blu will meet all your wants and needs! This hotel has a similar feel to The Gulf in terms of size, rooms, amenities, pool atmosphere and breakfast options. You might choose this hotel if you wanted to be closer to the Diplomatic area – or close to The Crowne Plaza for brunch if you’re game! It was a delightful stay over Christmas: the Radisson had a wonderful outdoor Christmas market including all things from mulled wine and celebratory champagne to hot meats and mince pies, as well as a huge Christmas tree in the lobby.

Others:

The Four Seasons (Bahrain Bay)
A striking metal and glass tower on a private island with a jaw dropping lobby and the most magificant sky scraper views from their rooftop Moroccon-inspired lounge, Blue Moon, as well as world-renowned rooftop restaurant, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, will have you craving more.

The Crowne Plaza
This is hands down the craziest brunch of them all. You’ll be dancing on the tables at 1pm to their friendly Philippino rock band.

Outside Manama & Further Afield

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

Granted I have not stayed here overnight but I have certainly been here, seen the hotel interior and used the magnificent grounds for one of the greatest Halloween parties of my life, complete with DJ on a huge stage, full buffet dinner, private beach, pool area and glimmering lobby and interior design. I’ve known people who have stayed the weekend and were not disappointed. It is a little bit further to the city for a night out but to be honest, if you stay here, I don’t think you’d want to venture out. A great option if you are attending the full Grand Prix weekend.

Hawar Beach Hotel (4 star)

Hawar Island is an archipelago of islands off of the coast of Bahrain, close to Qatar. They can be reached by private jetboat and Hawar Beach Hotel has the monopoly on island accommodation. The team has a noble focus on ecotourism and you can choose from multiple day or half-day tours, including visiting dugongs, archaeological sites and various arabian animals. We chose to visit the island of Rubud Al Sharqiyah, the world’s largest breeding colony of cormorants, as well as the safari jeep tour on Jazirat Hawar, the main isle. Unfortunately the dugongs were not in season but this would be well worth a return trip. The hotel has comfortable rooms, a pool with water slide and options for water sports such as stand up paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkeling. It’s a great getaway for a family and nature photographers.

Others:
Al Areen Palace & Spa, Sakhir
As mentioned, an astounding option for Grand Prix action.

AirBnB

Yes, AirBnB has hit the big time in Bahrain also! If you’re younger and after a bit of a crazy night out, it might be worthwhile staying in Juffair. Whilst there are many hotels in this area, there are also many high rise apartment complexes, and for the same (or better) dollar value, it might be preferable to have the independence of your own apartment.