Travel Review: Traders Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

Beyond the bling of Abu Dhabi’s domino-like deluxe hotels, the Gulf is an oasis and the city has retained seductive charms.

Traders Hotel is located in Qayat Al Beri, one of the first areas of Abu Dhabi you will see if arriving or departing from the airport in the Middle East.

It’s a modern ‘value for money’ sister hotel of the Shangri-La, which is situated right next door.

It’s a beautiful four-star accommodation with a colourful Arabic décor.

It boasts a beachside location with breath taking views of the Grand Sheikh Zayed mosque.

There are around 300 rooms across eight categories. Superior rooms are standard and of a good size.

 

Each has a king size bed, a working area with a desk and stationery, a reading zone and table and chairs for in room dining.  It has free wifi in all rooms and public areas and there is free parking.

The bathrooms are spacious with rain showers, baths and ‘his and hers’ toiletries as you would normally expect in any four or five-star hotel.

 

 

Floor space and Club Lounge access are the main differences between categories of the rooms.

Book a Traders Club room for perks like access all day to a lounge offering guests food and drink, an alternative breakfast option, complimentary drinks on arrival as well as newspapers and magazines.

 

Our room had a balcony with superb views over the Grand Canal. The private beach is one of the hotel’s best offerings with plenty of loungers, day beds, a shisha area and a cocktail bar. Some nights it hosts family barbecues.

 

The hotel also has a fitness centre [albeit a small one], a spa and a pool area. There is a relaxed vibe in public areas, although the service is still good.

It has a couple of bars and The Ayfa is the only restaurant in the hotel where there is a selection of food.

 

 

For breakfast and dinner there is the option of a buffet. Good for those that are hungry. An A la carte menu is also available although the selection of food on offer needs improving as does the wine menu.

However, if you keep walking within the hotel complex, you will find many other restaurants, cafes, souks and bars situated within the main Shangri-La residence.

Traders is great place to stay in Abu Dhabi with families and children as well as solo travellers that are restricted to a budget.

 

 

Affordability

We stayed at the Traders between 26^th – 29^th March. This is great time of year to visit Abu Dhabi when the temperature is bearable. It was sunny and 30 degrees every day.

Standard rooms from Dh345 (£73) in low season; and from Dh555 (£117) in high, including taxes but excluding breakfast (dh120/£25. Club rooms from Dh480 (£101) in low season; and from Dh630 £133) in high, including breakfast and drinks plus evening buffet in club lounge.

Visit http://www.shangri-la.com/abudhabi/traders/ for more information.

 

Getting there

With multiple airlines offering return seats from as little as a few hundred quid to Abu Dhabi, guaranteed sunshine couldn’t be more affordable right now.

We flew with Etihad, the second largest carrier of the UAE. Flights are twice a day from Manchester from as little as £346 return in economy. You can upgrade to business class from £350 plus taxes each way.

To book flights with Etihad to Abu Dhabi go to http://www.etihad.com/en-gb/

 

Five things to do nearby in Abu Dhabi

1.Visit Sheikh Zayed mosque, or the newly opened and striking Louvre museum.

2. Embrace the sand on a desert safari

3. Shop, haggle and people watch in Abu Dhabi’s chaotic souks

4. Get in the driver seat of golf cart or buggy at Yas Marina Grand Prix circuit

5. Explore the Unesco cultural sites in the ‘Garden City’ of Al Ain.