Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers

High-rise Abu Dhabi is the setting here, with city and Gulf views framed from rooms above the Corniche. Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers is a full-scale resort rather than a small dive base: three outdoor pools, a private beach, a spa, several places to eat and a fitness centre give you plenty to do once the mask is back in the case. The 74th-floor observation deck adds a very different view of the city; less coral reef, more skyline and desert geometry.

The hotel website is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Arabic, so you can check the essentials before travelling in the language that suits you. Inside the hotel, the useful rhythm is straightforward: air conditioning, room service, a minibar and free Wi-Fi when you return warm, tired and not particularly interested in making conversation with the outside world.

Families are catered for with connecting rooms, apartments, an indoor play area and a Kids Club for children aged 4 to 12. Babysitting is available too. The club is undergoing renovation until the end of February 2025, so families should check its current status before booking around it.

You are on Corniche Road in Abu Dhabi, directly beside the Gulf. The hotel has its own private beach area with sun loungers and umbrellas, so the sea is not a map exercise or a taxi ride. Corniche Beach is about 0.8 miles away on foot, while The Nation Riviera Beach Club is about 0.7 miles away; The Bayshore Beach Club is roughly 0.8 miles away by car.

The location also works when you want to leave the resort for a while. Marina Mall is about a five-minute drive away, and the city centre is around five minutes by car. Nation Towers and Abu Dhabi Breakwater are each within roughly 1 mile, Heritage Village is about 1 mile away, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi is around 7 miles away.

Zayed International Airport is about 18 miles from the hotel, with the journey taking around 30 minutes by car. Nearby dining includes Li Beirut, Rasoi Restaurant and Al Gusto Italiano, each roughly 300 feet away. Keki Japanese Bakery is about 1 mile away, useful if the hotel breakfast has not quite solved the post-dive hunger problem.

The room choice is mainly about how much space you want around the dive bags, not whether you will have a view: every room category has either a city skyline or coastal outlook. For two people, the sea-view rooms and studios keep things simple, with extra-large beds available in several categories. Twin rooms give two separate beds when sharing a room matters more than sharing a mattress.

Couples who want more room to spread out can look at the one-bedroom apartments or the Level 45 suites. Families have connecting rooms, family rooms and larger apartments, including a three-bedroom option for groups of up to seven. That is the practical difference between a room where you merely sleep and one where wet towels, tomorrow's clothes and everyone's luggage can coexist without a small diplomatic crisis.

Air conditioning matters in Abu Dhabi, particularly when you have spent the day in warm water and strong sun. Soundproof rooms, daily housekeeping, a minibar and tea and coffee-making facilities cover the unglamorous but useful parts of the night. You also have a desk, flat-screen television, bathrobe, slippers and free toiletries. A disability-access room is available, with accessible bathroom features and wheelchair access.

Food is not an afterthought here. Breakfast is included and comes as a broad spread: continental, full English or Irish, vegetarian, halal and Asian choices, served buffet-style, with breakfast to go also available. Breakfast in your room is another option, which has obvious appeal when an early start has made conversation before coffee an unnecessary risk.

The hotel combines international dining with named restaurants including Sole, Rey's Grill and Nahaam Restaurant. Sole serves Italian food across breakfast, lunch and dinner; Rey's Grill brings a view with its meals; and Nahaam focuses on quality and choice. The dining offer also includes two restaurants serving international cuisine, five more casual venues and two bars. The hotel description gives a total of nine restaurants, while its wider dining offer includes twelve restaurants and bars.

Room service, a coffee house, a minibar and a bar keep the evening flexible. Special-diet menus can be requested, and children's meals are available. Live music, themed dinner nights, happy hour and evening entertainment bring more activity to the evening, while a nightclub and DJ are available for anyone whose idea of recovery involves louder music rather than an early night.

Three outdoor pools give you a choice of water without needing to leave the property, including an infinity pool. Pool and beach towels, loungers and umbrellas are available, and the direct beach access creates an easy alternative when you want sand, shade and a horizontal position rather than another organised activity.

The spa is the more convincing recovery plan after several days in a wetsuit. It has thirteen treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge, steam room, sauna and hammam, with massages, facials, body scrubs, wraps, mud baths and other body treatments. A jacuzzi, foot bath and massage chairs are also available. Manicures, pedicures, hair treatments and beauty services cover the less aquatic forms of maintenance.

A large fitness centre offers modern equipment, fitness classes and yoga. If your travelling companion has no interest in diving, the beach, pools, spa, live performances and evening entertainment provide enough alternatives without requiring a daily expedition. There is also an indoor play area and the Kids Club for younger guests, although the club's renovation status is worth checking before you rely on it.

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by midday. You need a valid passport or Emirates ID, photo identification and a credit card at check-in. The front desk operates around the clock, with private check-in and check-out, concierge service, luggage storage, currency exchange, an on-site cash machine and a tour desk available for the practical jobs.

Free Wi-Fi covers the hotel, and free private parking is available on site without a reservation. Valet parking, car hire, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are also available. An on-site minimarket, room service and a barber or beauty shop help keep small errands from becoming a separate outing. An infirmary is on site, and lifts, step-free access and accessible rooms are available.

The hotel offers an airport shuttle service, with private or shared arrangements to be booked with the hotel. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested. Children of all ages are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the selected accommodation and availability. Pets are not allowed.