The Afamia Rotana Resort Latakia, located in Latakia, Syria, is an oasis for relaxation with spectacular views, spacious guestrooms, extensive water sports, a fitness center, two outdoor pools, and a long stretch of private beach and marinas, that finding time to relax is as easy as sifting sand through your toes.

I stayed at this new beachfront resort featuring 190 rooms, 42 villas, 14 cabanas, and a variety of dining and entertainment venues in September 2010, when I was attending the Silk Road Festival, held annually in Syria since 2002. The attractive resort is conveniently located on a peninsula 1.2 miles (2 km) from the center of Latakia, and is easily accessible for guests arriving by motorcar or by sea with its private marinas. 

Afamia Rotana Resort Latakia

The magnificent hotel lobby features gold trimmed Oriental lights suspended from the soaring ceiling, dark wood paneling and ivory painted walls graced with large paintings, and inviting sofas the color of the sea, that created a soothing and inviting ambience. 

Lobby

Off the lobby, there is an oval shaped atrium lined with plants and flowers, with a water fountain in the center, and a dramatic skylight that provides the three floors of guestrooms with a stunning view.  

Atrium

Hotel amenities include Wi-Fi in public areas and villas, a 24-hour business center, two outdoor pools, Jacuzzi, steam and massage rooms, fitness and leisure club with fully equipped gymnasium, as well as cardiovascular and weight training with professional instructors. 

My spacious guestroom featured a king bed dressed with a white duvet and a blue tartan throw with matching pillow, and a cream bed skirt that complemented the cream leather headboard. Nightstands held a telephone, lights, and the television remote.

Guestroom   

The gold-flecked cream marble bathroom featured a large vanity with an oversized mirror in a dark wood frame, a walk-in shower with dual showerheads, a toilet, and a bidet. Bathroom amenities included a hairdryer and a selection of Rotana toiletries. 

In-room amenities included a desk flanked by a leather chair, a mini-bar, a coffee/tea machine, two chairs, and a round table to the side of the bed, a 24" flat-screen LG television, a safe in the closet, and hi-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access for a fee. 

I had a spectacular view from my private balcony that featured three wrought iron chairs with yellow seat cushions flanking a square table that overlooked the hotel's private beach and marina, as well as views of the city of Latakia.

View from the Balcony

During my stay at the hotel, I had an excellent dinner at their restaurant, Al Manara featuring international cuisine and themed nightly menus. The Al Manara is an attractive oval shaped bright and airy contemporary restaurant with cerulean blue walls lined with arched windows on two floors that provide an outdoor feeling indoors, with Mediterranean-style lights hanging from the circular decorative ceiling painted with bright slashes of colors, red, terra cotta, olive, yellow, navy, and sky blue. Intricate wrought iron and wood railings, a large tile floor, and wood chairs with yellow cushions flanking wood tables dressed with linen placemats. 

Al Manara

There was a long, expansive buffet set up in the middle of the restaurant, with a vast assortment of cold and hot items, as well as carving stations, and an à la carte menu. I selected the buffet where a few of the highlights of my dinner included traditional mezze of eggplant stuffed with rice, tabouli salad, and marinated green beans with tomatoes, followed by my main course of chicken with sliced almonds, peas, and raisins presented on a bed of seasoned rice. 

Chicken, Sliced Almonds, Peas, and Raisins on Rice

The Afamia Rotana Resort Latakia is perfect for business and leisure travelers with its abundance of amenities and central location. I enjoyed my stay at the hotel by getting in touch with nature and taking time to relax and feel the warm breezes, the gentle sounds of the water lapping on the shore, and walking along the beach with sand shifting through my toes. 

Read about Afamia Rotana Resort Latakia in the Destinations and Restaurants sections. 

Afamia Rotana Resort Latakia
Blue Beach
P.O. Box 680
Latakia, Syria
Telephone:      +963.141.33.0033
Fax:                 +963.141.33.0034
Email:               This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website:          www.Rotana.com 

Read other materials on Syria in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Adventures, and Chefs' Recipes sections. 

For more information on Syria, please visit Syria Ministry of Tourism website: www.SyriaTourism.org. 

© November 2010. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.