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The National
10 hours ago
- The National
Rove Al Marjan Island review: The budget-friendly brand drawing crowds in booming Ras Al Khaimah
The Rove Hotels format arrived on our shores in 2019 as a price-conscious but fun alternative for travellers seeking to enjoy Dubai without blowing their budget. Ten properties have since opened around the city and the homegrown brand recently extended its laid-back appeal to Ras Al Khaimah. Rove Al Marjan Island is a 441-room beachfront hotel that readily caters to couples, families and digital nomads who crave vibrancy and price over frills and formality. The welcome The vehicle entrance arrives suddenly on the main island road and opens on to a short drive and a spacious car park. Rovers – as guests are playfully referred to – can drop their luggage and passengers in front of the lobby or go straight to self-parking and wheel their bags across. We chose the latter on spotting a coach arrive. However, it's an immediate glimpse of Rove's refreshing less-fuss format, something echoed when we venture unaccompanied to the lifts after a swift and friendly check-in. The room Not really fans of an unnecessary curated room introduction, my wife and I find our way along a colourful corridor to our fifth floor, sea-facing accommodation. Breezy but formulaic designs prevail in Rove hotels, from licence-plate-style room numbers to the digs themselves. An open wardrobe and storage area flanks a comfy bed, opposite a widescreen TV that features seemingly every news channel except the BBC or CNN. There's no robe, but additional amenities such as extra pillows, shaving kits and an ironing board can be requested. There is, however, a fridge and an invigorating rain shower. Rove loves an inspirational message as well as seaside-inspired artwork. 'The beach is not just a place, it's a feeling,' the wall above our bed reveals. The food Rove regulars will be familiar with the brand's main dining option, The Daily. The venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner is spacious, but eclectic decor and furniture and smart layout lends it an almost intimate feel. Primarily buffet-orientated, guests can choose a la carte – although it was suggested on our arrival that only the former was available, only for ordered dishes to land on nearby tables. The organic sea bass (Dh99) and acacia chicken club sandwich (Dh71) looked promising, however, and serendipity meant buffet access to the finest paneer jalfrezi I've sampled in a while, with salads of pumpkin and squash, plus quinoa with molasses also shining. Grilled fish with beurre blanc and beef shashlik also proved a hit on our table, as did refreshing soft drinks named Floral Fall and Sunrise Surprise. Day-time snacks and refreshments can also be had from the Rove Beachside Truck and the Pool Bar, which offers a great selection of food including a tomato flatbread (Dh57) substantial enough for sharing. If you crave further evening options, you're a short walk from food trucks on the island promenade and F&B at neighbouring hotels. The breakfast scene Open only since in April, Rove Al Marjan Island staff seemingly have had to hit the ground running. Not least at the busiest breakfast session we've witnessed in a while. Everyone seems to find a table, however, before heading to a buffet that includes a decent fruit and salad selection, baked goodies and hot options such as ful medames, scrambled eggs and sausages. Guests can also order one item each from a menu that includes basil and rhubarb bircher muesli and mango lavender waffles. We can vouch for the semi-dried tomato-powered Mediterranean omelette and a decadent acai super jar that includes agave, basil seeds, almond butter, passion fruit and mint concasse. No shakshuka here (as previously swooned over at Rove La Mer), but the buffet does yield croissant and blueberry bake, a revelation washed down with TWG tea. Accessibility and sustainability Plenty of ramps in to and out of the hotel, across to the pool and through to the beach make this Rove very friendly towards wheelchair users. And the property's sustainability credentials are evident with its 'hang your towel to reuse' messaging in the bathroom and leave-behind shampoo and shower gels – plus its use of refillable glass water bottles with a label announcing 'plastic ain't fantastic'. The Rove's adherence to Ras Al Khaimah's Green Building Regulations includes composting all food waste. Hotel facilities The main pool immediately stands out. A sensible rectangle, generous in relation to the hotel, it is lined with plenty of loungers and shallow enough for supervised children to enjoy. The beach is a few steps away with a buoy rope boundary to keep jet-skiers and other water sporting folk a safe distance from swimmers. There's a quieter area with double loungers and cabanas to one side of the main pool zone. On the other side, a big screen shows movies and sports on a grassy area soundtracked by a DJ operating evenings out of a VW camper van, occasionally joined by a fire poi performer. Another nice – and practical touch – is a significant luggage storage area, each unit bearing the name of an area in RAK, and beyond. Beside this is one of two fitness areas. Inside features plenty of new Life Fitness equipment while outside there's a Woodsman Fitness 'Jungle Gym', a Flintstones-style workout area with wooden weights and more. The co-working space – typical of Rove hotels – is blessed with natural light and busy with digital nomads, some possibly making use of Rove's monthly stay deals. Family-friendly factor Younger Rovers were evidently part of the brief when designers pondered RAK Rove, from surfboard-adapted pool showers to the strong use of colour throughout. There's a dedicated indoor play area with TV and soft toys, and a soft-play zone outside beside a small, family-only pool. Value for money Rove Al Marjan Island combines good value with a fun vibe. A sea view room for Dh474 ($132), including taxes, for up to three people is hard to beat for a fresh property with direct beach access and a generous pool in one of the hottest real estate locations in the UAE – all close to the emerging Wynn resort. Check-in is from 4pm (earlier if pre-booked) and check-out is at 2pm.
Travel Daily News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
The advantages of eSIM for modern business travelers
For business travellers who are tired of managing SIM cards, paying roaming charges or facing connectivity issues abroad, eSIM offers a definitive solution. It's not only convenient, it's a competitive advantage. We live in a highly connected world today, and the corporate world has become more globalised than ever before. Executives cross time zones, digital nomads run companies from cafes in Bali, and remote teams work effortlessly across continents with no expectation of a drop in productivity. In this changing world, connectivity is crucial and the eSIM is transforming the international use of mobile internet and phone services. Unlike traditional SIM cards, which need to be physically inserted and replaced, eSIMs are embedded directly into the device, allowing consumers to activate a mobile phone contract without the need for a physical card. Let's explore why the eSIM represents a significant advance for modern business travellers. 1. Instant Connectivity, Anywhere in the World Maintaining connectivity abroad has always been a major problem for business travellers. Usually, you either have to pay exorbitant roaming charges or sign up to an international tariff that cuts into your revenue or, worse still, visit a foreign location to get a small chip for your devices. With an international travel eSIM, such inconveniences are eliminated. You can download and activate a local data plan from your destination before you leave the airport — or better still, before your flight takes off. This means that you can activate your smartphone as soon as you get off the plane and immediately access your local data. So you can check your emails, order an Uber or join a Zoom call. 2. No Need to Swap Physical SIM Cards The actual SIM card exchange is a challenge for regular travellers: Where do you keep all those little SIM cards? What are the consequences if you lose your SIM card at home? How can you return the card without misplacing anything? eSIM simplifies all these unnecessary complications. Your device lets you save many profiles that you can change in the settings. Travellers who often cross many countries or pursue global business activities in several areas benefit greatly from this. Imagine you live in New York but often fly to Tokyo and London. With eSIM, you can save three active profiles and easily switch between them. You won't lose any more small cards and you won't have to fiddle with ejector pins in airline lounges. 3. Reduced Costs and Better Budgeting Using traditional roaming can incur significant costs, especially if you don't switch it off or monitor how much you end up using. By using eSIMs, you can avoid these costs entirely by choosing local or regional tariffs that offer more favourable prices. You can also compare providers and costs instantly, allowing you to choose the best tariff for your data needs and the length of your trip. With many eSIM providers, you can top up or renew your tariffs directly from your mobile device, eliminating the need to visit physical shops or kiosks. This level of control prevents unexpected expenses and greatly improves budget planning for both individuals and companies with travelling employees. 4. Enhanced Security and Peace of Mind Losing a physical SIM card abroad is not only annoying, but also a security problem. Especially if it is linked to two-factor authentication or corporate programmes, a lost SIM card could be maliciously misused. Since eSIMs are integrated directly into the hardware of your smartphone, it is more difficult to lose or steal them. For added security and peace of mind, there are also certain devices that allow remote deactivation of eSIM profiles in case your phone is lost or stolen. When dealing with mobile fleets or devices for travelling employees, this provides an extra layer of security for corporate IT departments. 5. Dual SIM Functionality for Work-Life Balance Many current mobile phones with eSIM capability enable a dual SIM function — a physical SIM and an eSIM. This is ideal for business travellers who want to keep their private and business numbers separate on the same smartphone. For data consumption during your holiday, you can install a local eSIM plan but use your home number as the main SIM. While you're surfing with local data, you'll receive important business calls — all without having to carry two phones. This dual approach — cleaner, more efficient, more professional —allows business travellers to stay within their limits without compromising connectivity. 6. Environmental and Logistical Advantages While it may not seem like much, the elimination of plastic SIM cards and packaging supports environmental initiatives — something that is even more important for modern businesses. eSIMs reduce waste, transport and reliance on actual distribution systems. From a logistical point of view, eSIMs can simplify the supply chain for organisations providing mobile devices to teams or employees abroad. Everything can be managed electronically and remotely instead of collecting SIM cards and shipping them everywhere. 7. Supports the Rise of Remote Work and Digital Nomadism With the advent of remote working, the distinction between 'business' and 'travelling' is blurring Professionals now work from ski resorts in Switzerland, villas in Tulum or coworking buildings in Lisbon. eSIM fits this way of life. It offers digital nomads and remote workers the opportunity to travel between different countries without having to rely on a mobile data connection. With a six-month remote work visa or a one-month work trip, you can stay available, connected and productive. 8. Corporate Management and Centralized Control For companies with an internationally mobile workforce, eSIM technology simplifies the management of devices and plans. Many corporate eSIM providers offer standardized dashboards that allow IT administrators to assign data plans to employees. This level of control is ideal for companies looking to increase their telecoms spend, ensure compliance and optimise their operations. Final Thoughts In a world where online presence is essential, connectivity drives productivity and global mobility characterises modern business. Travel can be streamlined, expenses minimised, security improved and the adaptable lives of remote workers and global teams made easier. For business travellers who are tired of managing SIM cards, paying roaming charges or facing connectivity issues abroad, eSIM offers a definitive solution. It's not only convenient, it's a competitive advantage. The era of the eSIM has begun. For the smart, mobile and international business traveller, it changes everything. Photo by Jack Sparrow from Pexels
