Want a summer vacation but can’t leave Riyadh? Have a weekend staycation in the many chalets and hotels in the city! Better yet if you can combine the two in one place, right? The convenience and comfort of hotel rooms with the pool and outdoor lawn of chalets. It has always been our dream to stay in DURRAT AL RIYADH RESORT & SPA in Riyadh. Based on photos, the resort looks like a great place to spend time with family and friends. Because hello? Have you seen their swimming pool? It’s there sparkling under the heat of the sun, so inviting!

DURRAT AL RIYADH RESORT & SPA is “the only resort in Riyadh city” considering its location in the outskirts of Riyadh, in the neighborhood of Banban. It’s still 30- to 45-minutes away from the city center. The resort lies on 154,000 sqm of land and has different kinds of accommodations: 121 hotel rooms, 31 suites, and 10 private villas. The resort’s architecture is characterized by grandeur and opulence. It’s inspired by Arabic heritage and emanates modernity in its facilities and amenities. Going through their gate is like escaping the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle into a very green oasis that offers respite and rest to our tired and weary souls. Wow. Haha. But it’s true. The moment we walked into their reception area, we were welcomed warmly.

After a quick check-in, we were led to our private villa. There was a golf cart that brought us to the villa from the reception. It was quite a walk in the heat of the sun if it weren’t for the cart. We only brought a few things with us because we’re just staying overnight and we plan on spending most of that in the private pool.

Our private villa has 4 bedrooms. Yes, 4 bedrooms for 4 persons (2 couples; we were with our husbands). So tig-isa kami ng room eh noh? Haha. The villa is huuuge. Upon entering, the villa smells so crisp and fresh; a diffuser welcomed us that’s why. We were greeted by a spacious living room with a television and dining area with dining tables and chairs.

On the living room table is a tray of small sandwiches, macaroons, and fruits to welcome us. What a sweet gesture! There was a fully-equipped kitchen complete with refrigerator, stove and oven, coffee machine, and even a washing machine. There were also bottles of water to keep us hydrated all throughout our stay.

Turning right from the door, there was a bedroom with a king-size bed with its own bathroom. And get this, there’s an elevator! (At first, it wasn’t working but a staff came to fix it and it worked.)

This elevator took us to the second floor which has 2 bedrooms: one is the master’s room which has a bathroom complete with bathtub and shower area (the bathroom alone is huge enough to be our whole flat, haha); and a smaller room that has its own bathroom too and its own balcony. In the mezzanine area is another room that has twin beds, good for the kids (but we don’t have kids yet so that remained empty). There’s also an extra room at the basement for the staff (housekeeper, driver, or nanny, etc.). Ang shala talaga!

All bathrooms are equipped by shower areas with bath essentials from Byredo. Baka kaya ang mahal dito kasi Byredo ang shampoo, conditioner, lotion at sabon, hehe.

And of course, the swimming pool. A door in the living room leads to the outdoor lawn area where the swimming pool is. Three lounge chairs with towels await. The pool’s most shallow part is around 2.5 feet while the deepest part is around 5 feet. It was so blue we were mesmerized for a moment. We didn’t waste time and got in the water after putting out bags down. The water was warm, and it didn’t get any colder during the night. It was just warm and our bodies adjusted to it eventually.

Durrat has 7-8 private villas with their own private pools. They have 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom villas that are good for groups of people. For example, a 2-bedroom villa is good for 4 persons (either 4 adults or 2 adults+2 kids). A 2-bedroom villa rate starts at SR 2000 while the 4-bedroom villa we stayed at was around SR 7000 per night. That’s why need sulitin diba? To book these villas, you need to call their hotline as these are not available in their booking website. You also have to pay first to reserve the villas.

• WHAT: PRIVATE VILLAS at DURRAT AL RIYADH RESORT & SPA
• PRICE: Starts from SR 1995
• BOOK HERE: +966-11-411-8800
• LOCATION: https://g.page/Durratalriyadh?share

Before spending all our night in the pool, we also ate dinner in the resort’s restaurant named Desert Palm. They have an extensive ala carte menu which can also be ordered via room service. We went to eat in the restaurant to see it and it was quite a quaint, cozy, and warm dining area. Their restaurant has a fountain in the middle and also dining sets in small alcoves for those who want more privacy. They also have an outdoor area for those who want to enjoy the warm air (not sure who would want this considering Riyadh’s temp this summer).

We really enjoyed the Mushroom Soup and Seafood Soup; they were packed with flavors. The Beetroot Salad was good; a fun medley of different flavors and textures: salty from the smoked salmon, tangy from the dressing, sweet from the fruit pieces and crunchy from the lettuce and beetroot.

The Ribeye for the husbands were not cooked medium and a bit tough on some parts. The Grilled Salmon was a bit dry but the lemon butter sauce it came with saved the dish. I also liked the sautéed mushrooms I ordered as side dish. The Lamb Chops were tender; it also looks so appetizing from its sizzling plate.

They also brought another dish of lamb chops that was so eye-catching in its plating. Our desserts were Blackberry Cheesecake which is quite unique considering the use of this berry variant (it’s usually strawberries and blueberries right?) and a Coffee Eclair which everyone loved. It wasn’t too sweet and has a cream that was smooth, velvety. Overall, a nice dinner with some misses but mostly hits. Service was also friendly and attentive.

Before retiring to our villa, which was a 5-minute walk from the restaurant, we also got coffee from the Oasis Cafe. It has the basic hot and cold Starbucks coffee drinks, although at more expensive price rates. They also have a nice coffee shop interiors and an outdoor area with plush seating. It has a good view of the pool which was empty by 8:00 PM.

The resort’s main pool closes for swimmers at 8:00 PM but it’s also a good time to spend some time in this area and relax, take photos, and just savor the night.

In the morning, we had a buffet breakfast at the Desert Palm Restaurant again. Check if breakfast is included in the room rate because it’s quite a worthy addition. They have a lot of food to choose from: Arabic hot and cold mezzes, pancakes, congee, cereals, sausages, eggs, bread, fruits, juices, coffee and more. They’re the perfect food to start the day.

• WHAT: DESERT PALM RESTAURANT
• TIMINGS: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM (breakfast) / 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM (lunch) / 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM (dinner)
• BUFFET BREAKFAST PRICE (if not included in room rate): SR 120 (adult, above 12 years old) / SR 60 (6-12 years old) / FREE for kids below 6 years old
• LUNCH and DINNER: Ala carte menu
• LOCATION: https://g.page/Durratalriyadh?share

We also had a good look at the resort’s pool. It was huge too and great for both adults and kids. Only men and kids can swim in this pool for most of the days. Ladies can hang around the pool as it also has lounge chairs and a snack area. However, on Wednesdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the pool is reserved for ladies only.

If you’re not staying in the resort, you can avail of the DAY PASS. However, you have to call the resort ahead to know if their pool is open for this because it depends on the volume of guests for the day. The pool is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Men and kids can swim in the pool for most of the days. Ladies can join them in the pool area but can’t swim with them. Ladies can only swim on Wednesdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We’re not sure why this is their schedule but that’s the information we were given.

• WHAT: POOL DAY PASS
• PRICE: SR 105 (4-12 years old) / SR 210 (above 12 years old)
• Option with sandwiches and drinks: SR 132 (4-12 years old) / SR 265 (above 12 years old)
• SCHEDULE: Everyday from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM – Kids and Men, except for Wednesdays (8:00 AM – 2:00 PM) – Ladies only
• BOOK HERE: +966-11-411-8800 (again, call first to confirm if they’re issuing the pass for the day before going)
• LOCATION: https://g.page/Durratalriyadh?share

The resort also has pools in their fitness facility which are open for guests. There’s a pool allocated for men and another one for women. As of the moment, their spa services are not available.

For big events, Durrat has its Grand Durrat Hall and outdoor spaces perfect for soirees, corporate meetings and exhibitions. Their ballroom can also be used for weddings and other events. For smaller business meetings, they have function rooms.

We enjoyed the facilities and the food. It was also a nice place to take a stroll with its mini waterfalls and lakes with ducks and birds. For those looking for a quiet sanctuary, these pockets of greens are the places to be. It was truly a luxe weekend at the Durrat Al Riyadh Resort and Spa for us.

• WHAT: DURRAT AL RIYADH RESORT & SPA
• CONTACT: +966-11-411-8800 / info.icdurrat@ihg.com
• BOOK HERE: https://icdurratalriyadh.com/
• CODE: You can use the code PINKTARHA and get 5% off on your booking/reservations through the website. This is not an affiliate code and The Pink Tarha will not get anything when you use this code.
• LOCATION: https://g.page/Durratalriyadh?share

Soak in the sun and water in this resort. Have fun!

DISCLAIMER: We were invited by Durrat Al Riyadh Resort & Spa for a stay in their resort. This is not a paid post. All comments and opinions are ours.