Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche

The Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel is one of the city’s oldest and smallest hotels, and has a little bit of old Las Vegas charm, but against the backdrop of Abu Dhabi’s showstopping futuristic hotel towers the Hilton could use a style revamp. Still, the hotel is warm and inviting, and the Hiltonia Beach Club, across the busy Corniche via an underground tunnel, is its centerpiece. The private white-sand beach covers almost three acres, with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas, and a cute palapa-shaded beach bar. Gardens surround the beach, with peacocks roaming, and a duck pond. The lobby, with lots of marble and columns, can feel crowded, and resembles other Hiltons in other countries, but everything is clean and the vibe is more family-friendly than at many other area hotels. The location is great for tourists and many business travelers, but the hotel needs a little refurbishing.

The Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel sits on the western end of the Corniche in the heart of Abu Dhabi. Behind the hotel are smaller service roads with lots of construction underway, but there are interesting places for walkers to explore, despite the busy traffic. Marina Mall, Heritage Village, and the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club are a 15-minute walk away. There is a golf course two miles from the hotel. The Famed Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a 20-minute drive, and the airport is 30 minutes away by car.

Rooms at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel are on the small side and somewhat generic and dated in decor, with mirrored closet doors and lots of marble that would fit in at any Hilton anywhere. Furniture is dark wood, and desks are cluttered with coffee and TVs, not great for business travelers who need to work. Ocean-facing rooms have beautiful views but get street noise from the busy Corniche. Guests may want to request a nonsmoking room. Rooms come with flat-screen TVs with premium channels and DVD players, minibars, laptop safes, and free toiletries. Connecting rooms are available.

The centerpiece of the Hilton Abu Dhabi is its beach club, with windsurfing, sailing, paddleboarding, and water sports galore, plus several pools with waterslides. The hotel’s spa offers awesome spa treatments, including hot stone and Thai massage, scrubs, and wraps, mani pedis and salon services. The Hilton has 15 different restaurants, including Italian, pan-Asian, Japanese, and Lebanese. The Jazz Bar offers live music each evening, and Hemingway’s is a South American-themed sports bar for catching up on futbol. Executive club members have access to a dedicated floor with a private lounge, free Internet, breakfast, and all-day snacks.