Movenpick Hotel Beirut

The Movenpick Hotel Beirut is a resort-style property on the western coast, close to the Pigeon Rocks at Raouche and not far from Hamra and the Lebanese American University. It has 297 rooms and suites, most with views of the sea or the city, and it is arranged around a private beach peninsula with a small marina. For travellers who want a holiday atmosphere within the capital, it is the most complete option in this guide. Rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen televisions, workspaces, safes and bidets, and 24-hour room service. Suites include a Royal Suite with a beach or ocean view and an Ambassador Suite with a sea view. Facilities are generous. There are three outdoor pools, including an Olympic-length lap pool, plus a daylit indoor pool, a swim-up bar and a beach bar. Three outdoor tennis courts and a fitness centre with classes keep active guests busy, and the Essential Spa and Health Club offers facials, scrubs and couples' treatments. Water sports such as kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving and water skiing are available in season.

Dining is varied. The sea-view Madinati restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and serves Lebanese and international dishes, there is a rooftop option for sushi, and bars cover the poolside, the beach and the terrace. Because there is so much to do on site, many guests spend entire afternoons here, and families appreciate the pools and open space. Children up to a certain age stay free using existing beds, and cots are available on request.

The location trades walkability for leisure. The hotel sits a short taxi ride from downtown, the Corniche is right outside, and the Pigeon Rocks boat rides leave from a jetty nearby. Hamra Street is within a short drive, with shops, cafes and nightlife. For day trips to Jeita, Byblos or Baalbek, you will want a car or tour, which the front desk can arrange. Airport transfers are available for a charge and need advance notice.

Staying here suits travellers who like to combine sightseeing with beach time, especially in the warm months from late spring to early autumn. Ask for a sea-view room on an upper floor, and note that guests must be adults to check in alone and that pets are not allowed. In winter, the indoor pool and spa still make it comfortable. Compared with the city-centre boutiques, the Movenpick is bigger, more relaxed and more family-oriented, and it gives you a base where the beach is your back garden.