We had the best vacation ever at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, and I truly believe that if you are traveling as a couple or come on a business trip, this is the place to choose.
1) The room: it had everything we needed for the stay. Whenever we thought of something that was not there upon arrival (like a shaving kit), we would dial "0" and the item was at our door within minutes. There is complimentary tea and coffee - coffee machine with capsules (including decaf) and a tea kettle with tea bags (organic tea, by the way), sugar, and cream provided. It was nice to start a day with a good cup of coffee even before going down to the restaurant. Housekeeping did a great job keeping it clean and they respected our privacy when we had the "Do not disturb" on. The blackout curtains worked perfectly and the room was very quiet - no street noise, nor noise from the other rooms. This, coupled with supreme quality of the mattress, pillows, and bedding made us sleep like babies. Although our room was at the 48th floor, the water pressure at the shower was surprisingly good. Wi-fi worked flawlessly absolutely everywhere - in the room, at the gym, on the beach, you name it. The TV in the room allows you to use your YouTube account or connect your computer (you need an HDMI cable for that, which we had). If you are not from the UK, you may need an adaptor for their power outlets, but the Housekeeping can provide you with one. Since it was not our first time at the UAE, we had our own.
2) Dining: we had half-board with Dine Around option, which meant that we had breakfast buffet at Rosewater but for dinner could choose between dinner buffet at Rosewater or set menu at Sole (Italian), Li Beirut (Lebanese/Arabian), or Hub by Nahaam (Western). We tried all the dinner options, and, since we stayed for 2 weeks, it was good to have a variety. The portions at a-la carte restaurants were really big, so the set menu worked well, we didn't have to order any extra food (actually could hardly finish what was served, the portions were that big). We favoured Li Beirut, but that was us. Each restaurant is definitely worth trying. As for the buffet at Rosewater, it was fantastic. From the fresh juice station at brekfast to sushi and pasta stations at dinner, everything was fresh, delicious, and nicely served. The main courses are presented at four 'stations' - Indian, Asian, Arabic, and Western - each with a variety of the said cuisine. Besides, there is a variety of fruit, vegetables, salads, cheeses and meats, honey and jam station for breakfast and grill station for dinner. All in all, within the two weeks of our stay we did not get tired of the food and could always find something new to try. The desserts section at dinner is a selection of masterpieces. The chef in charge of the desserts is a genius - we could not believe the variety of recipes and the superb combination of flavours and presentation, a real 5+ star experience. Plan for a good long walk in the neighborhood after dinner to try at least 5 different desserts each time!
3) Service: it was superb! We felt special all the way, from the unexpected early check-in to the touching 'Have a good trip" card from the Rosewater team on the day of our departure. The staff is very helpful, always smiling, and always ready to help. This is true for everyone we turned to: Reception, Concierge, Housekeeping, Dining, etc. They did a truly great job - we felt so carefree and pampered, it was exactly what we needed for this vacation!
4) Beach, pool, and gym: Unlike the nearby hotels, Conrad has 3 pools: the infinity (with part of the pool in the shade), kids pool and the adults pool with a pool bar. All three are nice and clean, with the water just the right temperature. The beach is not huge but big enough to space out the beach beds quite nicely. The sand is nice and soft and the water is clear but you have to remember that this is not Saadiyat or other similar location - you will not have the view of the sea all the way into the horizon, nor the same clear blue water. We spent at least 2-3 hours in the water every day, saw some crabs and some fish, which was nice. There are enough towels, beds, and umbrellas for everyone, and you can get bottles of cold water at the towel station or have drinking water from the 'Water from Air' machine by the pool. There is music but it's not too loud. Sometimes they bring complimentary fruit ice or lemonade during the day, around 1 pm, which is really nice. As for the gym, it is really good quality, Technogym equipment for any exercise, a personal trainer to help you (if you need one), and complimentary yoga sessions every day.
5) Location: the hotel is very close to the Presidential Palace, which is definitely worth a visit. The best time to come would be a bit before 5 pm, cause they stop providing the audio guides at 5pm, and the audio guides are just great for a little extra cost. So, if you come a bit before 5 pm, you can still get the guide, you'll have enough time to explore the palace, and you will be there for the lights show at 7:30 pm, which is a must.
Another interesting place nearby is the famous Mandarin Oriental Palace, a luxury hotel across the road. You may walk through numerous halls to see the stunning design and order a cup of their famous gold coffee, served with real gold.
Marina Mall is nearby for shopping, and Monoprix supermarket is located in the same building with Conrad, at the Avenue Mall below, in case you need a pack of juice or a snack. We had their ready-made food for lunch, and it was really good. There is a designated area where you can eat. Try the drinks Snow Snow offers, they're really good, too!
Of course, when you're at Conrad Etihad Towers, you will go up to the Observation Deck at 300, located in the adjacent tower at the 74th floor. If you stay at the Conrad, it is free, and if you don't, the ticket is 95 dirham, including 50 dirham food&drinks credit. It is really nice and has great views of the city. Definitely a plus for those who stay at Conrad and get complimentary access.
There are a few bus stops near the hotel, in case you want to explore the local public transport, and you can buy the Hafilat card at the gift shop of the hotel. It will have 10 dirham on it, which will be enough for 4 bus rides, and you can charge it at the machines by the bus stops. However, there are many taxi services in Abu Dhabi, very reliable and not pricey, and the hotel is a comfortable distance from most of the sites. We ordered a taxi through the YanGo app, and sometimes would flag a cab on the street, both worked fine for us. However, flagging a taxi you may not wish to go with the first cab that stops, as different cabs may offer different prices, depending on the company.
My last comment about the hotel location: if you are there when it's not too hot to take a stroll, go to Corniche to take a nice long walk by the sea, it's nice.
All in all, when we were chosing where to stay in Abu Dhabi, we looked at different options and nearly booked the nearby Grand Hyatt. At the end, we chose the Conrad Etihad Towers, and it was the best decision we could have made. An ideal place for couples, singles, or business travelers. Whether you are in Abu Dhabi for sightseeing, business, shopping, or just to unwind and relax, Conrad is a great choice.
