As international travel is still quite difficult with entry restrictions and a lengthy quarantine on arrival at many destinations, we no longer have the luxury of just jumping on a plane for a few days’ getaway from Dubai. But fear not because the UAE offers many great options to spend your weekends and public holidays and feel like you have actually done some travelling!
Getaway to … Sharjah!
Sharjah may not be one of the places that would necessarily come to your mind when thinking of a luxe getaway, but the recent addition to the local luxury hotel scene – The Chedi Al Bait – is guaranteed to change your mind. The Chedi Al Bait is located in the Heart of Sharjah only 20 minutes away from Downtown Dubai. The Heart of Sharjah is the largest historical preservation and restoration project in the region due to be completed by 2025 according to its dedicated website. As part of this Sharjah heritage conservation project, the old houses that once were home to prominent Sharjah families have been carefully restored and transformed into a luxury resort that brings the olden days back to life.
The 53-room boutique resort first opened its doors to guests in December 2018. It features a mixture of the restored historical buildings, which used to be family homes, and the new buildings constructed in line with the heritage style of the original houses. The resort recreates the experience of a historic village with its narrow streets (with minimal signange due to it being a heritage project and to maintain authenticity), charming courtyards, and traditional architectural details such as wind towers.
The resort’s 5 historical buildings are:
Bait Ibrahim Al Midfa- the Library;
Bait Eissa Al Midfa – the Reception;
Bait Abdulrahman Al Midfa – the heritage guestrooms;
Bait Abdullah Al Mahmoud – the Arabic restaurant; and
Ibrahim Al Midfa Majlis – the Café.
Al Bait heritage suite
I was very lucky to experience the hospitality of The Chedi Al Bait staying at one of the heritage suites in Bait Abdulrahman Al Midfa end of September just before the heritage guestrooms closed for renovations (I believe they are now available for bookings). I was shown other suites in the newer buildings before I was led to the heritage guestrooms in one of the five historical houses, Bait Abdulrahman Al Midfa.
I was instantly charmed by the simple and authentic décor and the privacy of these rooms as there are all located in a private courtyard with only 5 rooms (3 heritage rooms and 2 heritage suites). Bait Abdulrahman Al Midfa has a separate entrance with card access so it is possible to request to close the door leading to the courtyard accessible only to those staying there to enjoy some privacy.
As I was the only guest staying at Bait Abdulrahman Al Midfa, I was fortunate enough to have the whole courtyard all to myself so I enjoyed a lot of privacy. These buildings are one-story only as they were preserved in their original design, as opposed to the newly constructed buildings that feature two floors.
I was told that the heritage rooms have repeat visitors who book only the heritage rooms because of their special ambiance, and I am no exception as I absolutely loved the heritage suite and would not swap it even for a more spacious Chedi Suite located in the new building.
The suite is decorated in a simple summerhouse style with heritage-style detailing such as hand-woven rugs and meticulously crafted wooden furniture which adds to its understated luxury. Some of the more unusual details of the suite are its traditional-style bamboo ceiling and low windows overlooking the courtyard. Staying there makes you wonder what life was like for the family that once lived in the very same house.
One of my favourite features of the suite is the four-poster bed with the most amazing mattress and bedding. I have stayed at many luxury hotels around the world, but this bed takes the crown as it is an absolute dream to snuggle in and you will not want to leave this place! I was tempted to extend my stay just to enjoy another night there but sadly it was closing for renovations.
Another wonderful feature of the suite is its free-standing copper bathtub. I recommend booking a camel milk bath ritual and you will be treated to a soak in camel milk with rose petals scattered everywhere while listening to a gramophone playing ABBA (so retro!). Don’t forget to bring your boukhour (or ask one of the helpful hotel staff to get you some) and you are guaranteed to have the most wonderful and luxurious bathing experience.
The grounds of this beautiful place ooze history and subtle whispers of the way of life that is long gone. You will find yourself wandering the narrow “streets” leading to the different historic houses and admiring the simple architecture and unusual details such as coral in the walls. Houses made from coral were popular among the wealthy from the late 1800s to early 1900s due to its properties to absorb heat during the day and release it during the cooler hours of the night.
The Library and museum
If you love books and are interested in learning more about the history of the place and its former owners, the Al Midfa family, I highly recommend visiting the Library which also houses a small museum. The Library is located in one of the 5 heritage houses – Bait Ibrahim Al Midfa. When exiting Bait Abdulrahman Al Midfa, turn right and the street will lead you past the wind tower on your left and the reception on your right.
You will see the Elephant door in front of you which will lead you to Bait Ibrahim Al Midfa. If you get lost navigating the streets as there is very minimal signage due to this being a historical project, just ask one of the helpful staff members and they will show you the way.
In the Library you will find a carefully curated selection of books, mostly in English, including some books for children. The Library displays a great variety of books dedicated to the UAE that you may have seen in the local bookstores so book lovers can easily spend hours there.
The right side of the Library houses a small museum where you can take a journey back to the past and learn about Al Midfa brothers and their great achievements and how the houses have been repurposed over the years.
One of my favourite pieces in the museum is the original Elephant door that you can admire upclose. The Al Midfa family commissioned it on one of their trips to India and it is a stunning piece showcasing great craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Final thoughts
I absolutely enjoyed my time staycationing at Al Bait and can’t wait to be back in the near future. If you are looking for a peaceful getaway close to Dubai and appreciate understated luxury with a bit of history, I strongly recommend you should visit this gem of a place. I am planning to write a separate hotel review of this place with details about the rooms, service and the overall experience but I’m hoping that this post has piqued your interest and you got a good idea about what this amazing place has to offer.
In terms of other things to do while on a staycation in Sharjah, I was quite happy to stay within the hotel grounds and did not venture outside but if you are looking to explore a little, there is an array of museums and also the Arabian Teahouse within a walking distance from the hotel. You can also visit the famous Rain Room which is nearby and it is open to the visitors at the time of writing.
What is your favourite staycation place? Please share with us in the comments below.
Bisous,
Yasmina
