Banyan Tree Al Wadi Reviews

Ritz-carlton RAK is the best for a staycation. Loads of things to do for the kids , adults... we were here last when it was Banyan tree, also been before to the Ritz carlton beach front.
THEY NEVER DISAPPOINT YOU . WE SHALL SEE YOU SOON AGAIN.

Beautiful place but over priced and the service is lacking

From the moment you check in to the moment you leave, the experience is like no other on this 6 Star secluded luxury desert resort.

We really wanted to experience a desert resort and The Ritz Carlton exceeded all our expectations.

The villa was stunning with a view of the desert for evening sunsets from the pool. You could not be disappointed with the size, there was times I thought my husband had gone missing! (Or maybe it was selective hearing !)

First night we dined in The Farmhouse and food and service were fabulous, my only qualm was the lighting could have been dimmed in the restaurant.

Next day we headed off to breakfast on our bicycles and then cycled around the resort, to then visit the stables and say hi to the beautiful horses, camels, Falcons and owls!

This enticed us to book in a morning desert horse ride, which I couldn t recommend highly enough, although you are riding Arabian race horses so best make sure you are an experienced rider. The view at the top was sensational!

We also experienced The Rainforest in the spa, this was a wonderful 1 hour of relaxation at our own pace, a series of showers & saunas to then spend time in the Vitality Pool!

We received a wonderful surprise for my 40th Birthday, where the lovely host Aquino organised to pick us up in a buggy and take us for photos around the resort, including the top of the tower and presented me with a birthday cake and wine to celebrate. It was so beautiful!! We were then dropped off to our room to enjoy the sunset, whilst Aquino edited our photos and created a wonderful video of all the moments he captured of my hubby and me for my birthday, it was a very special treat and we are so grateful to have this memento of our trip!

For anyone wanting to experience the desert in luxurious style, this is the place for you! I can not recommend it highly enough!

Good nature, environment....service, staff. Condition all fantastics

Amazing experience. We spent a weekend there during covid outbreak. The villa was amazing as well as the private pool. They have a nice buggy service to move around the place (very important during the hot season), although they provide also personal bikes. Unfortunately due to the situation we could not enjoy some places and activities, but overall we are very happy. The reason why I don't give 5 star is the restaurant. Being extremely hot, the restaurant in the summer operates only indoor which is fine, but the environment is not as beautiful as you would expect. Tables, chairs and the entire environment was very neglected, portable AC located everywhere like in cheap restaurant, and the food quality was not bad, but definitely not impressive.
Overall we are happy with the experience, we just would had expected something better from the restaurant

The resort is very excellent especially in the winter season all villas have privacy

Great experience, we booked villa 114, totally private spend most of the day in the pool. The villa was clean, staff was nice, water was clean.

Food is not that good, but since its in the desert no other option .

Because its in the desert, you should expect sand to be there too, but its not that bad. However since the pool is open flying insect might be annoying and maybe a bit scary for some, but over all its highly recommended.

Such one true oasis in the desert! Truly Ritz Carlton.

This place is awesome, breath taking view and very delightful to watch.
Need to visit again and again

we spent a wunderful 8 nights timeout at this place! mr. Arora and his team did everything possible (and impossible) to make our stay an unforgettable experience. thanks a lot.

Amazing Experience and helpful stuff, very nice view and the private swimming pool very clean

The resort is beautiful
The private swimming pool needs some adjustments

The hotel all the facilities that you can think of, I loved the area around the resort but was not impressed with the built quality. Service was good and meeting rooms were perfect. Need to work on the quality of the finishes

The place is not the finest comfort, recreation and privacy and the number one

Heaven on earth. Especially sound of wildlife and nature!!!

I'm mesmerized. Food is amazing and the villas are spacious and exquisite.

A few suggestions in order to improve the service:
- The pool edges are quite sharp and it's easy to cut yourself if you're not careful. They need to be smoother.
- At summer time obviously there are flies and they're quite annoying while you're having breakfast/lunch. Fly lights needs to be in place to draw their attention so they are kept away from food/customers.

Shame. A beautiful destination with v bad customer service and operation!
- the rooms are nice but very hot with a v old split unit!
- the pools lights do not work at night and must be operated manually
- horrible and slow customer service - you need to wait 40min to get a buggy to drop you anywhere!!!!
- the TV keeps pausing!

Shame on you Ritz-Carlton.

Horrible customer service, rude staff especially the reception and the rooms manager, they don't belong in the Ritz-Carlton chain.

Other reviews are clearly paid reviewed, just read through them.

Fantastic location. Large Villas are a must here. Second visit for us, we were also here for Christmas

An amazing location. We have come previously under old ownership and loved it but it's even better now. Staff are amazing especially Dickson and Rafi who are a credit to the brand.

The best hotel i ever stayed in , very welcoming and supportive staff , al Khaimah room was so big and very well arranged . Electric blinds which u can control with a press of a button to see an amazing infinity pool over looking the wild reserve . Kid enjoyed the hours rides also they offer riding classes.

The dinner at the Farm house was delicious and the steak was perfectly cooked. I recommend the passion fruit juice Which was refreshing.

I had mussel relaxation massage , this was amazing too.

In short , if u need a relaxing and quiet place to escape from ur daily busy life I highly recommend the Ritz wadi.

We stayed here for two weeks and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our children loved the horse riding and the desert safari. They have a lovely supervised playroom. Neyha the hostess and the other wait staff were lovely. We had an issue with our first room and there was no problem sorting it out, both the managers we dealt with were very helpful. We spent our second week at a villa with its own pool and I would really recommend this as the pools are a great size. My only suggested improvement is that they offer more vegan food in the restaurants.

What you ll get is seclusion, privacy, best-in-class service and an incredible steakhouse. All this without even mentioning the spa, which is an incredible experience. Highly recommend a long weekend here!

The hotel is beautifully set in the middle of the desert and is breathtaking.
Dinner at The Farmhouse was wonderful and the team at the Restaurant really make it what it is.
Upon arrival I was disappointed on how slow check in was and not even a drink is offered on arrival (considering most guests are travelling from afar). We were celebrating a special occasion and were not once congratulated despite informing them ahead of our arrival.
The room was amazing but the floor was super dusty. Each time we used the pool we would be covered in dust - the handrails or floor had not been cleaned in at least 3 days but the pool size and view was great.
We had 2 dead cockroaches in the room and the BOSE speakers was not connected.
Room service takes around 20 minutes at least.
A trip to Al Hambra is highly recommended - hotel offers a shuttle service.

Good place for weekends,
Tented Vila is cute, with a huge pool zone and nice bathroom. Unfortunately, doesn't have a separate room for kids, but sofa bed is available in the same room.

Rainforest is also good.
Spa experience was amazing, so and BBQ private dining at the desert. Team of chef Sanil and Rohlt did an amazing job, it costed every penny. Food was so great, i haven't tried so nice BBQ dishes for a long long time.

A lot of family activities. Son really enjoyed Kids Ritz Ranger's with Wilson. And almost spent the whole day with him, talking about snakes, scorpions, desert flora and fauna.

The territory is big, you can walk, can ride a bike, and meet gazelles just on a regular walk to breakfast.

We liked Kaheela restaurant, and service.

We've tried also Morish for dinner once, but maybe due to diner time, service was really slow and far not so good as in Kaheela.

In short sum: it close to be an amazing place, with a small remarks.

This was my favorite place once upon a time but really when i entered the rooms and spent the night there i realized its disgusting and full of flues! Its full of flies in your bedrooms! Flues that stand on you when you are asleep stand on your lips and eyes and everywhere! They don't like to be told that there are many flies. They say that a fly catcher machine is too noisy so its ok to have flies! Disgusting! I wonder how it would be in winter?

Had an amazing time at the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi desert! Everyone was very hospitable and the rooms were amazing! Highly recommend

I have bern enjoying this hotel for many years. Much better now after renovation.

Amazing people! Nice tent with private pool.
Really relaxing time
You should try the rain room (spa) it's a really good experience
Highly recommended

This is one of the best resort,hotel I've ever been to, it was my birthday and the preparation was excellent the staff welcomed me with smiles and surprised me, the most professional and friendly staff ever worth every moment.

We wanted to go somewhere very quiet and tranquil away from the hustle of city life.
This place was just that. Views of wildlife and sand dunes were relaxing and peaceful. Our villa was to a decent standard however there were a few issues which put a slight damper on our experience.
On our first day our toilet got blocked. It seems to have a very small flush hole so we would recommend to flush anything straight away!
The pool light wasn't working throughout our stay so we didn't use the pool at night.
The shower temperature was inconsistent, it kept switching from cold to super hot.
The room had a film of dust which triggered off my rhinitis - which is a rare occasion.
The iron supplied was a faulty one, it kept making a crackling electrical sound, it then triped the meter leaving us in darkness for 20 minutes. I explained this to the staff when they came out to switch the power back on but nothing was suggested. I used the iron again with caution - again the same problem happened. We were left in darkness again for a while. Eventually, I asked for a new iron after fearing that I might be electrocuted. New iron was delivered and the problem was solved. In hindsight, the technical staff should have picked up on this high risk problem.

Next day after breakfast, we returned to our villa only to find our key card wasn't allowing us entry. We called for assistance and waited for some time in the mid morning heat. When a member of staff arrived, he gave us a new key card at the bottom of the walk path and with that drove off in his buggy. By the time we walked back to try again, we realised it still wasn't working and was left in the heat again until the assistant returned after hearing on his radio that we were still locked out. However, when he approached us he was very concerned and apologetic. He admitted his mistake and said he should have checked to see if everything worked before driving off. He tried again with is master key but to no avail. We were told that the key system had malfunctioned which needed technical attention and would take some time. We were delivered back to the restaurant to cool down with some refreshments. Later on in the day, we received from the same assistant a complimentary tray of fruit and juice for the inconvenience caused. It was very thoughtful and kind of him to act in this way, even though the malfunctioning of key system was not in his control.

Following day, we missed the morning slot of house cleaning, so we called in the evening and booked an evening slot instead. We explained to house service that we would leave the villa for dinner so the staff could do their job. They assured us that they would clean it in our absence. But then when we returned, we were disappointed to see that no one had arrived. We then had to vacate the villa again so the cleaning could be carried out. We were told there was a miscommunication and we received a personal apology from the head of house service.
We went for a bike ride after dinner to help with digesting the rich food. The bikes were good but the path was poorly lit and with no bike light it was very difficult at times to see and follow the path. A couple of times we ended up on the dead ends in the sand.
I suggested to the checking out manager Umi, that it would be helpful if the bikes were fitted with something like 'pedalite' which powers light by the rider, so not only would it be eco friendly but safer too!

After all the above, I could not but mention the staff. They were impeccable and indeed gave a 5 star service! Everyone was smiling, helpful and attentive -constantly. But it's so unfortunate to say that the facilities did not match their league and hence for the 3 star rating.
The facilities definitely needs tweaking so it can reflect and complete the beautiful landscape as well the beautiful staff. We would definitely return once the facilities are improved!
Lastly, my husband and I would like to thank Umi for offering us a complimentary lunch before setting out.

Worth every penny. Its amazing. You meed to go in the cooler months

Arriving at the hotel, very friendly receptionist who assisted us with our check-in requests.
The location is perfect for a relaxing getaway, not to mention the great service and spacious villas that enhanced our experience, and allowed us to have an unforgettable weekend staycation.

Highly recommended, from friendly staff to great service and most importantly beautiful Al Sahari tented pool villas.

Looking forward to come back soon.

Perfect for a getaway weekend, even more so during Covid days when its isolation has allowed the hotel to stay open throughout and retain its experienced staff. Just a long hour by car from Dubai and you can pull up into a desert paradise! The tented villas are well worth the splurge, the BBQ menu at The Farmhouse deliciously unique, featuring activities aplenty and very kid-friendly.

One of the best locations in the world .. i really enjoy it

We stayed in the last week, we had experiences in different Desert Resorts in the same concept before, so we have the chance to compare, the moment you step into the resort, it reminds you of 1001 nights' tales, we stayed in the top segment villa and I have to admit that it met the romance we expected, but I have to admit that it met the romance we expected. Ten office services are very but very poor. I think the sentence that will best express our feelings is "we felt very lonely". Unfortunately, we could not get the service we were used to and expected. It is very sad, but you have doubts about the hotel management, you feel very unwelcome.

Ask for privacy. Check the room first. Nice escape.

A very unique resort in middle of desert with 5* Ritz-Carlton service

Stayed at the Al sahari tented villa -
First day - electricity goes bust and the maintenance team take hours to fix it as a result ruining our plans for the evening .
Inconsistency in food served in our villa everyday - no steak sauces served with the steak and no bread basket on day 2
Mattress looked like they haven t been replaced in ages with torn sheets , unclean carpets , The television remote and the land phones were not cleaned / sanitized as they looked filthy .The alcohol / beverages were never chilled as the mini fridge didn t function properly . We kept waking up in sweats in the middle of the night due the air-conditioner not working optimally .
All In all not something you would expect from a 5 star property ! The General manager of this resort is not someone who takes action as there were no apologies nor a call from her side to check if the issues were resolved.

A Very disappointing experience!

I love the tranquility of the place and the nature. Fabulous. The staff are extra nice too.

Beautifully appointed villas in a desert setting. Very cool kids club too. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

What can I say about this resort.... breathtaking
We spent 2 nights in the Al Khaimah Tented Villa Wow wow wow !!!!
We did the camel ride, falconry, star gazing, spa. Watched the Oryx early morning from the pool. The food and service impeccable. Nothing was too much trouble and they knew each and every guest by name. Will be back ...

The hotel is nice but the staff are not kind and professional for this kind of hotel. They are not willing to assist and aren't good im communication skills.

Very nice facility with good service. Equipment of the villas high quality, however, some things are repaired or renovated. The whole area is very well maintained.

Stunning place. You must do it :-). Excellent Service and the place is one of the most beautiful I have stayed.

Simply The Best. What an absolute joy to spend time at this desert retreat. Check-in ... perfect. Villa ... beautiful. Dinner at Farmhouse ... exquisite. Massage ... sublime. Serice ... the best ever. Many hotels try to make their guests feel special ... not many achieve this goal ... this hotel surpasses that goal by a mile ... we were made to feel the most special people in the world. Thanks so much to all the staff. We will be back ... very soon!

Very nice place for a short break with the family since we can t leave the country.
Excellent pool and they have a good variety of cuisines in the restaurants

Nice place I visited in winter. And the second time in the summer is beautiful and amusing, with camel animals, horses, and birds. I hope, God willing, to see him again.

Incredible resort in the middle of desert. Villas are very spacious. Specifically as they all have a private swimming pool. Restaurants serve top quality food. Well maintained and very service oriented staff.

Amazing resort
Amandeep from Kaheela restaurant and Rajesh from first aid have exceptional customer service.

Great service. And amazing food.

Beautiful property in a majestic surrounding with tons of activities to keeps the little ones occupies. Each room is a detached villa with a private swimming pool and you bike around to get to activities. Highly recommended.

Lovely hotel in the middle of the desert private pools in each Villa ;lots of activities and stars gazing; Don't miss

The place and atmosphere are excellent.
The services are good and the staff are wonderful and serviced.

The best get away of my life. This spot is my get away spot

Explained! Amazing place, stunning look, various activities provided by the hotel!

Very excellent especially the cottages are completely private

Top resort for relaxing. Retreat suitable for families and children. For 2-3 days a wonderful hotel with wonderful and friendly staff. The private pool in each villa makes it a suitable hotel for children and our son loved it. Falcon show, camels, horse riding ... there is something for everyone and camel and gazelle. Impressive, if you can watch the animals in the morning from the pool.
Also the restaurant is recommended, especially the farmhouse directly at the water hole has a very good selection (here is the focus on meat) and a beautiful terrace with a great view.
We had nice and relaxing days there.

Beautiful hotel with nice rooms and nice views in ras al khaimah...

One of the best weekends away I have had for a long time. The ultimate experience from the moment you arrive to the moment you sadly leave!

Oasis in the middle of the desert, beautiful ground, fantastic villas w heated pool, free bikes, lots to do. The food at the Farmhouse is excellent, the deco at the Moroccan is gorgeous although the dish selection is quite limited, I had to request a chicken Tajine which should be a stable for a Moroccan restaurant. The outdoor seating is cool for us tourists to experience some desert atmosphere. I wish they could made it bigger like the one in BAB al shams in Dubai desert. The breakfast is served and is of very high quality. The only disappointment is there is too much plastic in the resort, plastic bottled water, shampoo and bath gel... it should be a top priority for Ritz to be environmentally sustainable. The desert dune is not what I expect, no high sand dunes. Here it is pretty much covered by bushes and trees, which is great for birds and desert animals.

Excellent for those who want to seclude themselves from the world in the darkest place