Occidental Sharjah Grand 4*

+++

Clean and spacious private beach with sufficient number of sunbeds (for free). This is definitly the greatest asset of the hotel. Beach towels are changed all day, exchange point runs as a clock.

Incredibly deep (up to 3 meters) freshwater pool with a waterslide is the second pillar of the success. It is not very large though has rectangular shape which provide enough space for hotel guests (small paddling pool also exists).

The hotel also provides jacuzzi with warm (over 32C) water which is very appropriate for the evening bathing (pools are open till 20:00)

In total pluses: this is firstline hotel with private sandy beach, the number of sunbeds and size of freshwater pool correspond to the number of guests, safe but high enough waterslide will make happy everyone from 4 to 84 yrs, jacuzzi with warm water combined to long working time of pools

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Now the cons. A lot of them.

Superior rooms are terrible! Mold, dust, dirt, oldness! When arrived we had to spent several towels to make the room livable. Clean service absolutly to match rooms: unpredictable hours, superficial (e.g. for 7 days he never cleaned the balcony).

No euro sockets in the room. Adapters proposed at reception bar are simply plastic plugs and don't work (and they know this and continue to offer!). Fortunately some sockets are busted by previous guests (help yourself is the motto of this hotel). Huge balcony and nothing for hanging clothes (help yourself again). A kettler and cups and no teaspoons: everything from reception girls to porters and cleaners cries "don't bother, where possible".

If you can't take the hint they switch on prohibitive prices: enormous cost of meals in hotels's buffet restaurant! Anybody knows what meals they offer for such price? In the buffet!!! Be aware: additional bed for kid is charged extra and cost is also enourmous. Even hotel parking is for extra cost.

Animation is completely absent. Hm... don't need it, but wonder, why?

So this is 3-star hotel with small, nasty rooms and poor service. The worst rooms (though see advices below) and personnel among beach hotels I ever been!

Advices:

1. Each seaview (seaside) room located at 2nd floor and upper has spacious balcony with amazing views of Arabian Gulf which will be will be for you the only consolation in the evenings. Don't skimp: the fee for seaview is absolutely appropriate in the case of this hotel.

2. Book RoomOnly even with a kid. The nearby supermarket "Sharjah Co-Op Society" will provide you everything for breakfast and evening tea: necessarily taste their yummy and very cheap yogurt, fresh juices and croissants. Nearby restaurants Kazan (200m) and Sanobar (500m, be aware, tripadvisor lies about sanobar's location!) will feed you for competitive price (be ready, portions are huge for one!) Very cheap emirate's taxi for 10-15 Dhs will take you to "Al Qasba" or "Al Majaz Waterfront" very nice places to spend the evening.