'Twas the day before Christmas. Almost everyone I know was busy whipping up something delicious in the kitchen, wrapping gifts, and sending out some virtual Christmas love on Facebook. Ed and I, on the other hand, went off to a non-traditional celebration.
We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the first time in Sharjah. Perhaps you're wondering why we wanted to be there when all the yuletide fun is in Dubai. Well, we both have been very busy lately. Ed even spent half of his holiday at work, hence quality time was the best Christmas gift that we could ever give to each other.
So, we gleefully agreed to a Christmas staycation in Centro Sharjah.
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| Centro Sharjah |
Centro Sharah: Chic and Affordable Hotel in Sharjah
Centro Sharjah is a stylish yet budget-friendly business hotel. It is adjacent to Sharjah International Airport; quite a convenient choice for travelers who are flying in or out of Sharjah in the wee hours. It is kept in a lush surrounding, secluded from all the hustle and bustle. So, it is also a good option for UAE residents who need a relaxing break.
Since December 24 was a holiday in the UAE, the hotel lobby was buzzing when we arrived for check-in. Although there was a queue at the check-in counter, it was bearable as the staff handled it quite well. We had to wait for a few minutes to be attended, but things were eventually settled with our patience intact.
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| Centro Sharjah hotel lobby and restaurant |
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| Christmas cheer at Centro Sharjah |
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| view of c.taste restaurant at ground floor from the 2nd level |
We stayed in a spacious Classic Studio. It has a comfy queen size bed for a good night's sleep, a sofa for serious lazy lounging, a kitchenette for the late night food cravings. It is airy with floor-to-ceiling window that offers a tranquil view of lush greenery and the outdoor pool. It basically has everything we need in our Christmas Sweet Escape.
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| contemporary furnishing in a studio at Centro Sharjah |
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| because happiness is... a cozy Christmas break! :) |
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| kitchenette with complimentary tea and coffee making facility |
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| my kind of view: outdoor pool and lush greens |
The only downside for me is the compact bathroom. It has no bath tub and no fancy toiletries. But, at least it has the basics: shampoo, bath gel and Rotana's very own vegetable soap bar which we absolutely adore as it is milder than the regular soap.
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| bathroom at Centro Sharjah's Classic Studio |
Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Breakfast at C.Taste
Located at the hotel lobby are two dining options: C.deli and C.taste. C.deli is a 24-hour food outlet where guests can purchase light meals at any time of the day. C.taste is Centro Sharjah's all day dining restaurant serving international culinary dishes a la carte and in a sprawling buffet.
During our stay, Ed and I had our meals at C.taste. We first went there for Christmas Eve dinner. The ambiance was intimate and the spread was fabulous. The highlight of the buffet was the roasted turkey with all the trimmings, but we also couldn't forget the large selection of starters and salads, the grill station for seafood and the sumptuous dessert spread especially the passion fruit pannacotta and the date brulee!
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| Christmas Turkey at c.taste |
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| a portion of salads and starters at the Christmas Eve buffet |
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| Prawn heaven! I love this fresh succulent seafood! |
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| That's my I-am-greatly-satisfied look! :) |
The next day, we went back for breakfast. The choices were vast, ranging from brie cheese to blueberry muesli, from potato croquettes to freshly made pancakes!
What we love other than the food was the bright atmosphere. The glass ceiling provides soft natural lighting that richly enhances the ambiance. The staff were cheerful and friendly, making our nth Christmas morning away from home a pretty good one.
What we love other than the food was the bright atmosphere. The glass ceiling provides soft natural lighting that richly enhances the ambiance. The staff were cheerful and friendly, making our nth Christmas morning away from home a pretty good one.
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| Started Christmas Day right with a good healthy breakfast! |
Location:
Centro Sharjah
Al Dhaid Road
near Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
For hotel booking and current promotions, please visit Centro Sharjah's official website: www.rotana.com or contact # 06 508 8000
We were invited to stay at Centro Sharjah, but opinions in this blog post are my own.
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