For the Eid holidays, similarly to many others we have decided to take a little last-minute road trip to the gorgeous island country of Bahrain.
The small Kingdom is famous for being the first one among its neighbours to capitalise on its oil reserves and hosting the annual Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 event. It's also more appealing to Western tourists than Saudi Arabia, primarily because despite being a Muslim country, it's more relaxed in its laws and regulations - yes, alcohol is legal. With its unpretentious, fun atmosphere it also attracts those that are tired of the shallow glam and kitsch of Dubai. It's also less crowded, which made us feel like we discovered a hidden gem of a spot in the Gulf.
How we got there from Riyadh
Manama, the country's capital is less than five hours drive away from Riyadh, which makes it an ideal escape from the desert for those craving a change of scenery. Our journey was alright, I made sure to pack enough goldfish crackers to last us the whole way. Border control was straightforward, and we were able to purchase obligatory car insurance on the spot for the duration of our stay. Those travelling with kids know that something is bound to go wrong - on this occasion, The Younger Sibling had a massive blowout just as we were pulling up to the hotel and I somehow didn't immediately realise when I unstrapped him from the car seat, so I showed up at our five star accommodations covered in poop scrambling to find a changing room before we even checked in.
Where we stayed
There are plenty of beautiful four and five star hotels to choose from, but prepare to have to pay as prices are relatively high. We were looking for somewhere with a private beach front and excellent facilities for the children, and based on recommendations we opted for the Four Seasons. The iconic building is located on its own little island in the heart of Manama in Bahrain Bay. As a family of four, we are usually presented a choice between booking a suite or adjoining rooms. After some trial and error, we learned that while the kids are so young, suites are )a better option budget-wise. The Executive Suite was really well equipped with a fold out couch, a beautiful walk-in closet, a lush dark green marble bathroom with double sinks and the deepest, largest bath tub I've ever seen and even a second washroom for the kids. Room service is quick and really efficient and can conveniently be contacted via WhatsApp.
Walking around the gardens felt like an Oasis - full of shaded spots, greenery and a private beach front. The facilities also include a large infinity pool with a kids area, as well as a shallow kids waterplay featuring different kinds of sprinklers and slides and is conveniently surrounded by shaded cabanas so little ones can play safely while parents lounge and supervise just a few feet away. There were also two lifeguards on duty every day, which really helped with my anxiety around having my kids near water. On the other side of the hotel gardens there is a hidden gem of a lounge with an adults only pool, private cabanas and loungers and a bar.
Needless to say, having everything available in the hotel, our original itinerary went out the window. We spent our days either beside the family pool or in the kids play area, where kids over four can be dropped off by parents to enjoy different activities.
What we ate
The Four Seasons has a number of restaurants on site, including a fabulous Japanese restaurant by Wolfgang Puck and the lavish Blue Moon Lounge on the 50th floor of the building. They're worth visiting for the views alone! The Manama skyline is a sight to be admired.
The poolside restaurant also offers small bites and warm dishes like shawarma and salads. The kids enjoyed fresh tomato pasta every single day..... When little ones are tucked into bed, the live DJ starts, the shishas get lit up and the drinks start to flow.
Thanks to the hotel's nanny service, Husband and I could get away for a night out to try one of the hottest spots in Manama, CLAY. It's nikkei cousine at its finest. We had a fabulous night enjoying pisco sours and flamboyant signature ceviches. The hotel also arranged a car for us, and the evening being a special celebration, we got upgraded to a Rolls Royce. That ten minute ride added an extra flair and a "once in a lifetime" feeling to our Manama experience. It was funny to note, however, that during the night, traffic gets nearly as bad as in Riyadh. Something we thought was unique to our new home.
What we did?
We did plenty of fun activities, but they were largely confined to the hotel premises. The poolside and beach alone provided enough entertainment for the entire stay. One kid loved splashing about or playing in the sand, while the other preferred reading, napping and watching cartoons with dad.
At our night out, I enjoyed a shisha and cocktail before heading over to the restaurant. After dinner we wandered around the Terminal in Manama soaking up the buzzing nightlife of the city centre. Similarly to Riyadh, in this heat the town really only comes to life after sunset. Manama is of course a lot more laid back than Riyadh, but less crowded than Dubai.
On our last morning, we decided to go down to the jetty to take a boat ride across the Bay and have a leisurely a stroll in the Avenues Mall. It's a surprisingly nice one, even for those like my husband, who doesn't find most malls appealing. It's full of natural light and provides a welcome relief from the harsh mid-morning sun.
What's on the itinerary for next time
I wouldn't change anything about this holiday since we had the best time and we all returned refreshed and energised. At the same time, I can't help but feel that we missed out on a lot Bahrain has to offer. Below are a list of things we planned to see during our short stay based on recommendations (and Lonely Planet), but these will have to wait until next time.
Boat trip to Al Dar Islands
Spending a day at Al Dar Islands promises to be an unforgettable experience. There are private chalets on the North side of the island so visitors can enjoy a little privacy on the beach front away from the crowds. There are also instagrammable beach huts scattered around the beaches.
National Museum of Bahrain
I always enjoy learning about the history, traditions and customs of places I visit and the National Museum seems like the best place to start learning more about the Kingdom of Bahrain. I'm not sure how child friendly it is though so I'll report back after our next trip, once we managed to visit.
Bahrain Fort
It's one of the few UNESCO world heritage sites in Bahrain. It's located at the site of what's believed was the capital of the ancient Dilmun Empire.
A'Ali Royal Burial Mounds
Another UNESCO heritage site. It's the largest Dilmun era burial site across the country boasting 17, 4000 year old royal mounds. Fascinating! It's definitely a place to visit during the cooler months though, because currently the weather is too hot to spend much time wandering around outdoors.
Have breakfast at the famous Haji's Cafe
Four different people recommended this place to us for a traditional meal, so it must be good!
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