How To Lose Time

Somehow we find ourselves in September. As the world settles in to the ‘new normal’ of this COVID era, we are in need of a break. Big time. Double Tree Al Marian Resort & Spa lets me figure out how to lose time…

Needless to say, like everyone else, we have been juggling the pressures of homeschooling (mostly Jason), working from home (mostly me) and an unexpected familiarity with our four walls that, while not unpleasant is getting a bit tiresome. Whilst I have returned to the office a couple of days a week recently, the summer holidays and breaks that we had planned for the year have slipped away behind cancellations. The lack of social interaction has seen us all a bit testy at times and even going home for Christmas is looking pretty doubtful.

So, the thought of a staycation (albeit suitably socially distanced) has once again cropped up as a last minute option.

Tuesday

Having booked only yesterday, we arrive at the Double Tree Al Marjan Island Resort around lunchtime on Tuesday. Walid at the front desk is exceptionally friendly and helpful in checking us in, making sure to explain everything about out stay. By the time we have all the info we need to make our stay complete, our luggage arrives simultaneously with us in our rooms and we change and head to lunch before hitting the pool.

The boys are straight off to the waterslides. While it is not quite on the scale of Aquaventure at the Atlantis, it is big enough for them to be excited about and they can barely stand still for the necessary sun screen application before they are off. Then Jason and I kick back, order a couple of piña coladas and holiday mode really kicks in.

We readily immerse ourselves in the pool and cocktails and the afternoon disappears quickly. There are slides, swims, a chat with Grandma, a bouncy castle that slides into the sea and later we finish the afternoon off with a beach swim and a collection of starfish and tiny shells with even tinier crabs inside.

A later than usual dinner leads straight into bedtime for the boys. As I lay down with a little luxury face mask (the beauty kind, not the medical sort) I contemplate a movie, but with heavier eyes than usual, I find myself reaching over to turn out the light just before 10pm.

Wednesday

The next morning I am awake at the usual time and a quick check on the boys sees them happily bunkered down in holiday screen time. I leave them to it and log in to check a few things for work before rounding the boys up for a late breakfast, leaving Jason for a (rare) sleep in.

After breakfast the boys are keen to hit the kids’ club so I check them in and then join Jason for a coffee whilst he has his breakfast. We check in on the kids’ club activities but there has been the discovery of a play station offering and they beg to stay for longer.

Jason and I change and hit poolside again for the day. Today we find ourselves a palm shaded cabana. Spreading out our towels, we order sparkling water and kick back. Me with my writing whilst Jason reads the news.

After the allotted time we retrieve the boys from the play stations and hit the waterslides with them. They have maintained yesterday’s enthusiasm and are set for another afternoon of fun. We pause mid afternoon for some lunch and the pass the rest of the afternoon with more pool and slide activities as well as some table tennis.

I take a swim in the sea. It is salty and warm. There are no waves here, barely a ripple and I float, wriggling my toes in the sunshine, concentrating on keeping my mind as clear as the sky.

I bump into my friend May. It’s been so long since our last ladies night that it feels like distant memories and we catch up on news of the year. Everyone has been so cooped up over the last six months that the beach, sun and water feels like sweet freedom. We relish in the time away and the short reunion, particularly for the boys who are even more excited than we are to see each other.

After the chatter I wander back to our towels via the pool bar for a refreshment or two and we swim. Lazily, leisurely, splashing and playing. The pool has gotten decidedly busier after lunch.

We packed extra activities, just in case – books, puzzles, remote control boats and a birthday drone to try out. But both the boys have meet friends and after months of no one else to play with, they are happy with the company. No need for further distraction.

This leaves Jason and I free to while away the afternoon alternating once again between the cabana and the pool. The evening comes on quickly and too soon the sun has set and the lifeguards clear the water.

We head back to our rooms for showers and, fresh and clean, head down to the Al Majan restaurant for dinner. After a selection of anti pasta, followed by a deliciously cooked pasta and topped off with pear and almond cake for dessert, we head back for stories before bedtime.

Once the boys are tucked in our enthusiasm for heading out for a walk to find a bar wanes and we succumb to the drowsiness of too much sun and find ourselves dozing off as well.

Thursday

Thursday we leave the boys to screen time, having agreed to meet them at breakfast. We take a morning walk along the beach, then stop and do some stretching. When we eventually head to breakfast, we select a table by the pool. With the fountains bubbling and the birds chirping (and possibly eyeing off my fruit and pastry selection) we enjoy an adult meal, the boys, when they do arrive, selecting themselves a table inside.

Although we originally booked for 2 nights, we have enjoyed the short break so much that we made the decision to extend our stay for an extra night. Thus, finding ourselves with an extra day, we head back poolside.

On the way, the boys have spotted that the Jungle Float is open and we take a walk back along to the other end of the beach in order to check it out. There are a couple of slides, a rope to swing off and a diving platform right into the sea. As neither of the boys have much fear, they both take to it like, well, fish to water. I must admit, even I have a turn swinging off the rope and plunging myself into the salty green water.

After a bit of fun and way too many back salts off the diving platform for Jasper, the waterpark and friends call to the boys, the cabana and cocktails call to us and we head back to the main pool and the shade. I take refuge once again alternating between shade and pool.

After a morning on sun we head to lunch in the restaurant and then concede to checking the boys into the kids’ club for some play station fun whilst Jason and I have a coffee in the (air conditioned) lounge.

Once the heat of the day has passed we pack the remote controls up and head back out to carve up the smooth Arabian Gulf. The little boats are so fast and so zippy that they attract some attention from onlookers. Then the Jungle Float lures them again and they’re off for more adrenaline before finishing off the evening with a swim in the Bay Club pool as the sun sets once again.

Tonight after dinner at the Al Majan restaurant we decide to go for that walk after all. The boys are all tucked up in bed and completely tuckered out (with mobile phone by the bedside, just in case) we talk the short walk out to the Sanchaya restaurant for a drink on the terrace. I continue my piña colada phase whilst Jason sips a whiskey. The breeze is gentle and the lights on the mainland twinkle across the bay. All is well with the world right here, right now.

Friday

After packing up and breakfast on our last morning we are able to stay on and enjoy the resort for one more day. Today we have a bit of fun on the beach swings, we check out the sea pool and head back out to the Jungle Float for jumping, swinging and sliding. The pool, another cabana, more waterslides, park and drinks feature in our day with a short pause for lunch.

By 3pm it is time for us to seek some shade again, this time in the form of the car for the ride home. Reluctantly we return through the resort grounds. While the days have rather disappeared, the time hasn’t exactly been lost. The evidence of our new found holiday relaxation continues to glow on our skin.

Good To Know

The Double Tree Al Marjan Resort & Spa is currently offering stays from AED284 per room per night (plus taxes).

We stayed on an all inclusive package which included full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in the Al Marjan restaurant as well as drinks (12pm – 12am) daily.

The resort offers the following:

• various outdoor pools
• indoor ladies pool
• sea pool
• Jungle Float
• children’s waterpark
• water activities (additional charge)
• playground
• stretching, dance & aqua aerobics
• day beds
• cabanas
• towels
• various pool side bars & dining
• kids’ club
• various restaurants

Al Marjan Island sits off the coast of the UAE in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. It is around an hour’s drive from Dubai.

Would I Return?

Yes. I’m already looking at dates!