Expat Travel Mom

You wouldn't guess this was Rotana's first property in the UAE. Usually hotel brands get better with each new location, building on feedback along the way, but Rotana nailed it on the first try. The Cove Rotana sits on a hill in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the UAE's northern emirates, overlooking the Arabian Gulf and its famously pristine beaches. Over our years here, we've stayed at several Rotana properties, from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi's Yas Island to right here, and each one has its own personality, its own take on Arabian hospitality.

A quick honesty note: this stay was generously hosted by the hotel. As always, everything I've written here reflects our actual experience, the good and the not-so-good.

The Villas

The Cove Rotana offers both hotel rooms and villas, spread along the hillside, but only the villas put you right up against the lagoon or the green hills, an easy walk to the beach. Each one has a spacious living room, a family-ready kitchen, an LCD TV, and two levels of living space. The architecture leans Mediterranean, gorgeous ceilings and accents, winding pathways throughout. Choose a two- or three-bedroom villa and you get your own plunge pool, deep enough for the kids to actually swim in, with supervision. The two-bedroom worked perfectly for our family of five, private space downstairs, a bedroom and bathroom for the kids upstairs. One catch: Wi-Fi isn't available in the villas themselves, only in the main building and restaurants, so plan accordingly if you're dependent on it.

Dining and the Friday Brunch

Seven dining options await, from room service to proper fine dining. We had breakfast at Cinnamon, an international and Asian buffet, the kids gravitated to the crepe and waffle station while I went for mini appetizers and my husband tackled the rack of lamb and salmon. Cinnamon is also known for its Friday Bubbly Brunch, and Cinnamon turns its lower level into a genuinely thoughtful kids' area during brunch, a bounce house, a ball pit, kid-sized food, face painting, and a mini chef zone where kids decorate their own pizzas and cupcakes. My kids barely sat with us, only stopping by the table between rounds of play. They'll even make a birthday special, singing, dancing, a photo moment, the works.

For dinner, Basilico offers a fine-dining Mediterranean and Italian menu. I had the ladies-cut fillet with mashed sweet potatoes, cooked perfectly, melt-in-your-mouth good, good enough that I told friends back home this was my new go-to fine-dining spot in the UAE.

Flipper's Kids' Club

Don't judge this one by its modest indoor footprint. We dropped the kids off expecting a call within the hour to come rescue them. Instead, my husband and I swam in the villa's plunge pool, then the infinity pool, wandered the resort, watched some TV, and three hours later, I was the one calling the club, just to check in, they were having a blast the entire time. Dancing, singing, games, face painting, pure creative chaos. We ended up picking them up a full hour later than planned so we could actually make our dinner reservation.

Bodylines Spa and Getting Around

Rotana's Bodylines fitness and leisure club delivers the same quality wherever you find it. We booked an indoor couple's massage (this was peak summer, though beachside options exist too), peaceful room, wonderful massage, a large jacuzzi room with relaxation chairs alongside a full gym.

Since the resort spreads out across the hillside, a buggy service will pick you up within about five minutes of a call and shuttle you wherever you need to go. Our kids treated every ride like its own attraction.

Kids' rating: six thumbs up, they still ask to go back. Parent rating: four out of four stars. The Flipper's Kids Club alone bought us four hours of genuine peace. Whether you live in the UAE or you're just passing through, this is a great family getaway, close enough to central Ras Al Khaimah for shopping or Al Hamra Village for golf that you'll have everything within reach.