Where to Stay

Editor's Note: Some of our runners had their hotel reservations canceled by the hotel during the 2009 event, this despite having confirmations and deposits/charges pre-paid. It is unfortunate that some hotels chose to employ a rather unethical policy, possibly to resell these rooms at a far higher price due to unprecedented demand during race weekend. Whilst we endeavor to strike preferential hotel deals with as many local hotels as possible for incoming runners, we are unable to control individual hotel decisions. We suggest you read our Hotel Tips section below before booking.

The Cove Rotana Hotel - Official Race Hotel 2010

For the second consecutive year The Cove Rotana Resort is the official Hotel of the RAK Half Marathon

The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah is located at the entrance of the Ras Al Khaimah emirate on an idyllic water inlet at Arqoob beach. It offers the pleasures of graceful living and boasts more than 600 meters of white sand, stunning turquoise waters and a multitude of activities. Indulgent amenities such as a well appointed leisure and fitness center and excellent choice of restaurants, bar and lounge. Rooms, suites and villas at the Cove Rotana Resort redefines the abundance in resort experience, combining intimacy, comfort, exclusivity with the personalized service and attention to detail that are the hallmarks of Rotana.

The resort offers the discerning traveler 204 hotel rooms and 76 one, two and three bedroom villas ideally designed to accommodate families or a group of friends. With a Nubian touch in their design most of the guest rooms offer breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf private balconies or terraces; while the two and three bedroom villas are also equipped with a private plunge pool. All rooms include a wealth of attractive and contemporary accessories with modern day amenities such as multi channel TV, tea coffee making facilities, IDD telephone, mini bar and personal in-room safe box.

The Cove Rotana Resort -Ras Al Khaimah is all about fun, leisure and relaxation with its state-of-the-art recreational facilities such Bodylines leisure & fitness club, including a fully equipped gymnasium with advanced resistance training and cardio equipment, Jacuzzi, steam, sauna rooms and 7 exquisitely designed massage rooms. Water sports activities of every kind, Flippers Kid's Club, two temperature-controlled swimming pools of 700sqmt each and 600 meters of sandy beach.

As for Food & Beverage venues, the resort offers to the guests the casual and lively Cinnamon, the all day dining restaurant and Basilico the splendid Mediterranean restaurant, Sunset and Laguna Bay the poolside bars, Breeze the lobby lounge and Breakers the beach bar

All come together to create a new and irresistible oasis of enchantment in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

Special rates are available for Race Weekend on an availability basis only. Please mention that you're attending the RAK Half Marathon when booking. For reservations please call +971 7 206 6000 or email cove.resort@rotana.com

Tips for staying in Ras Al Khaimah

Staying in RAK pre-race has had an overwhelming 'thumbs up' from runners during the previous editions, but be warned that hotels book up very early and very quickly. February is peak season for tourism to RAK and every hotel is normally overbooked during Race Weekend. If you leave your booking to the last minute, you will probably find yourself with nowhere to stay.

If you are coming for the race, why not make a weekend of it - you may get a better hotel deal and the surrounding areas are a delight to explore this time of year. The Oman border is less than an hour away and Musandam is a firm favorite for boat trips/dolphin spotting.

If you're staying/reside in Dubai and traveling to the race on the day, please see our 'Getting There' section.

Hotels we Recommend
The Cove Rotana	The Official Race Hotel, venue of the pre-race Pasta Party - the center of the action pre-and post-race! (see above for more)
City Hotel	Two year old mid-range hotel in the center of RAK City opposite the Manar Mall. Forget any view and go for a rear facing room away from the street (although higher floors may also have some disturbance from the music in the restaurant/nightclub). Rooms are clean, fine and spacious enough, even if the furnishings are reminiscent of a 1970's motel. Staff are pleasant and courteous and to be honest, for a bed the night before the race the only thing that lets it down slightly is the poor breakfast offering.
Acacia Hotel	Brand new in 2010 we don't have much to go by to know if this is to be recommended or not. What we do know is that the rates offered to runners just about beat anything else in RAK hands down, surely THAT is a good enough reason to get yourself booked in? The hotel was built to serve the free zone community of businesses so don't expect a view of much. If it's a clean, comfortable place to sleep you're after and want a few hotel perks whilst staying on a budget, you should be calling the Acacia Hotel right now! Rooms feature tea/coffee facilities, there's a decent pool, good sized gym and plenty of parking. It's quite far from the start line but the hotel has a shuttle bus that (dependent on demand) could be used to ferry runners to the start line on race day. Early breakfasts can also be arranged if sufficient demand! For a day fee, residents can use the Al Hamra Fort Hotel Beach. Let us know what you think! This hotel is operated by Al Hamra Hotels Group.
Bin Majid Beach Hotel	Not to be confused with its sister property the Bin Majid Beach Resort, this hotel is situated in the heart of RAK, on the beach. It's one of the older hotels here and hence could appear a bit jaded to anyone more used to modern city hotels but do try to think of it as 'old world charm'. The hotel's sister company, Impala Rent a Car is the official transport supplier of the RAK Half Marathon and hence getting a ride to the start line should not be a problem - the hotel owners are good supporters of the event and will do their best to make you feel at home.
Bin Majid Beach Resort	We're recommending this hotel because it's quiet, on the beach, secluded and a charming little weekend getaway. It is however further away from the start line than almost any other hotel so your own transport will be required. It's about a 30-40 minute drive so be in the know before you book.
Middle of the Road Hotels
RAK Hotel	OK, we were in two minds as to which section to put this hotel - to be fair the location is great for the race being only a couple of minutes walk from the start line and on the actual course two times (good for family spectators to base themselves at). Unfortunately the hotel rooms are less than modern and could do with a thorough clean. We've never attempted to eat there - it didn't look like that kind of hotel. We also thought that the room rate was overpriced for what you get. If you're looking for a hotel that's on the lower end of the budget and are not too fussy, this'll do fine.
Hotels to Avoid
Hilton Hotel	Previously canceled runner's bookings at the last minute with no valid reason, notice or compensation. Not to be confused with the much newer Hilton Beach Resort, the older of RAK's two Hilton properties is jaded, musty and the food and service go hand-in-hand as the main reason to give this one a miss if you can - by all means go stay there, but you've been warned!
Al Hamra Fort Hotel	Has previously canceled runner's bookings at the last minute with no valid reason, notice or compensation. The more obvious disadvantage is being around 20km from the start of the race, however if you're wooed by the beach and get a villa room (which is quite lovely), please bear in mind the location may be first rate but the food on offer is certainly not - by all means go stay there, but you've been warned!
Khatt Springs Hotel & Spa	This hotel is operated by Al Hamra Fort Hotel who often try to re-book you at the last minute in to this, their sister hotel, Khatt Springs. This is more due to low occupancy at Khatt Springs than any other reason and the fact it's absolutely miles from anywhere. The pool as far as we know has never had water in it as it suffers from an array of subsidence cracks. We have never stayed there, nor do we know anyone else who has (at least, they've not admitted to us!) so we can't cast judgment on rooms/food or service. If you're looking for a (very) quiet hotel miles from anywhere and do not mind being the only guest, this could work out as a great choice!

Approximate distances from the Start Line

City Hotel	0.03km
Hilton (city) Hotel	1.9km
Hilton Beach Resort	5.6km
RAK Hotel	3.7km
The Cove Rotana	10.5km
Al Hamra Fort Hotel	24km
Khatt Springs Hotel & Spa	34km
Bin Majid Hotel	7.5km
Bin Majid Beach Resort	26km
Acacia Hotel	30.9km