Occupying a prominent place in the tiny emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates is Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort, that is nothing short of a destination in itself.

It must have been just around 7 pm. I was sitting in the large balcony of my villa, overlooking a massive expanse of a beautiful beach that seemed endless. There was not a soul in sight and for once I felt that I was the Queen of all I could survey. Sipping a glass of chilled red wine that seemed to bring the tastes and smells of rich terroirs in excellent-quality vineyards in France that was thousands of km away, I just sat and watched, everything and nothing.

As it was almost the onset of the summer, days were long and the sun had just about commenced its journey to meet the vast sea that lay in front of my room. Ruminating, I asked myself, “Is this heaven?”. And I got the response moments later, when I saw the huge ball of fire that the sun had transformed into disappear, bit by bit, into the Persian Gulf.

I was in the Hilton Beach Resort in Ras Al Khaimah, which boasts of a 1.5 km stretch of white sandy beach. I had just checked in moments ago after a particularly trying day. It was my first day in Ras Al Khaimah and I had spent the whole day in the Jebel Jais mountains. For those who don’t know, Jebel Jais mountains have a plethora of adventure activities, ranging from Jebel Jais Flight- the world’s longest zipline to the Jais Sky tour, which gives you the thrill of ‘flying’ at an average speed of 60 kmph, with a bird’s eye view, as you fly 5 km through the mountains.

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Doing so many activities had left me completely drained. Therefore, when I reached the hotel I just needed to lie down and straighten my back. But one view of my room and the view from my room and I forgot everything. Like an excited teenager I started taking videos. Now, I didn’t want to sleep and miss the view for anything in the world. All I wanted was to sit in the balcony to admire and experience the heaven that I was in.

The villas at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort are ideal for families, while couples can opt for private junior suites. They come with a spacious terrace or balcony with views over the Persian Gulf and are fully equipped with lounge furnishings.

As much as I would have loved to spend the entire evening on the balcony listening to the sound of waves gently hitting the beach, I was also feeling pangs of hunger. The resort has almost a dozen food and beverage options, but I went to Piaceri Da Gustare as I was in the mood for some Italian. Let me tell you that the place won’t disappoint you at all. From Pizza to Pasta, I tried literally everything.

After a sumptuous meal, holding a glass of rosé that I had taken to help deal with a stomach full of a variety of Italian delicacies, I just sat in the open area of the restaurant admiring the nicely lit pool view. Soon enough though, the long day, the heavy meal and the rosé got the better of me and I literally wanted to jump in my bed. So much so, that I could not even motivate myself to take the 5-minute walk from the restaurant to my villa. So I asked for one of the golf carts that the resort provides to its guests.

As soon as I entered my room, I had just about enough strength to change. The moment I lay on my bed, I thought I was sinking into the soft bed and the pillows, but actually, it was a deep sleep that had taken hold of me.

The next morning I woke up at around 7 am, completely refreshed after a particularly deep sleep. I saw that some other guests were already on the beach. I quickly freshened up and changed into my swimwear and went into the sea. If you are a beach person let me tell you wouldn’t want to leave. The water was pleasant and I was out in the sea for almost half an hour. The calm morning breeze and the waves transported me to a different world.

Even though I didn’t want to get out of the water I convinced myself. I sat on one of the many lounging chairs that the hotel had put up for the guests, wrapped myself up in a fresh towel and sat down to listen to some music.

After a while, as I walked back to my villa, I saw an elaborate photoshoot taking place there. Right by the beach you can easily shoot the picture for the next cover of Grazia. It then struck me that the Hilton was indeed a great place for people to get married in, what with its ultra-luxurious facilities set amidst scenic settings. Moreover, with its sprawling size, it was a perfect location for even the biggest and the fattest of the Big Fat Indian weddings. After all, who in India can resist a private beach equipped with all the frills that an Indian wedding comes with?

The property has a large spa with nine treatment rooms, two hammam Moroccan baths, as well as a Jacuzzi, sauna and a steam room. The hotel’s well-trained and professional spa team offers a wide variety of body treatments, rejuvenating facials and blissful massages. It also offers ayurvedic treatments, provided by a qualified professional team.

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At the end of my two-night stay, as I packed my bags for the airport, I tried to think hard and remember how time could go by so fast, but drew a blank. All I knew was that one day very soon I would come back here to discover and rediscover this heaven.

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What it offers?

• 471 guest rooms, suites and beach-side villa rooms
• 1.5 km of private white sandy beach
•  7 swimming pools including 1 saltwater pool
• 11 restaurants & bars
• 3 meeting rooms with capacity to host up to 75 people
• Dedicated kids club and teens club
• Spa with 9 treatment rooms, Himalayan salt room, hammams, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms
• 24-hours fitness centre and watersports centre