Al Bustan Hotel Lebanon

Al Bustan Hotel Lebanon: Your Unforgettable Lebanese Escape Awaits!

Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Al Bustan Hotel in Lebanon. Forget perfect, polished reviews – this is the real deal, warts and all. And trust me, the warts are part of the charm.

Al Bustan Hotel: Your Unforgettable Lebanese Escape Awaits! – A Review (That's Probably Too Long)… and Honest

First things first: Accessibility. Now, I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I did scope things out. The website claims it’s accessible, but let's be real, sometimes "accessible" in the Levant means something different. From what I gathered, it's trying. There's an elevator (thank goodness!), and I think some of the rooms are designed with accessibility in mind. But always double-check and confirm specifics directly with the hotel. Don't just take my word for it, because I’m just some rando on the internet.

On-site accessible restaurants/lounges? Again, check. The website doesn't spell it out, so phone calls are your friend.

Internet: Yay, Wi-Fi! (Mostly)

Okay, this is crucial for me. I'm a digital nomad by choice (and necessity sometimes). Wi-Fi, baby! And Al Bustan, bless its heart, promises free Wi-Fi in all rooms. And…yes, it usually works. There's also the option for Internet [LAN] – for the old-schoolers, or if you need a seriously stable connection. Internet services are definitely available, and there’s Wi-Fi in public areas. But be warned, internet speeds in Lebanon are…a whole thing. Think "snail mail" but digital. Be prepared for some buffering. Still, better than nothing, right? I mean, I got emails, which is a win.

Things to Do, Ways to Relax…or, My Spa Day (And My Near-Death Experience)

Right, let's talk about the good stuff. The hotel screams relaxation. They lean heavily into their Spa/sauna. Okay, so I had to try the spa. I had to. I pictured myself, draped in a fluffy robe, sipping herbal tea, the works.

So, Body scrub? Yes, please! Body wrap? Sign me up! Massage? You think I'm dumb? Absolutely. And the sauna? Oh, was it steamy! I emerged feeling like a new person.

Now, here’s where things get…interesting. I decided to brave the Pool with a view. Picture it: turquoise water, rolling hills, the scent of jasmine in the air…and then… the heat. The sun was brutal. I think I actually saw my IQ points melting away. That Swimming pool [outdoor] is gorgeous, but pack the sunscreen. And maybe a small oxygen tank, if you’re a delicate flower like yours truly. I nearly passed out. True story.

But back to the spa. The Foot bath was divine. And the Steamroom…well, that was a whole different level of steamy. I highly recommend the whole spa experience, just…pace yourself. Hydrate. Don't be a hero.

They also boast a Fitness center (I glanced at it, looked intimidating, and ran away) and Gym/fitness (same deal). So, yeah, there's stuff to do besides lie around and nearly incinerate yourself by the pool.

Cleanliness and Safety: Did I Survive? (Mostly)

Oh, the age of Covid. Let's be frank - I've been more relaxed.

Anti-viral cleaning products: Good.
Daily disinfection in common areas: Good.
Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. Good.
Hot water linen and laundry washing: Excellent.
Hygiene certification: I'll take their word for it!
Individually-wrapped food options: Smart.
Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Mostly observed. (People love to hug in Lebanon, so… be prepared.)
Professional-grade sanitizing services: Sounds promising.
Room sanitization opt-out available: Awesome.
Rooms sanitized between stays: Good.
Safe dining setup: Generally.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Hope so!
Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed to be.
Sterilizing equipment: Good.

They also have a Doctor/nurse on call and a First aid kit. Which is a bonus given my penchant for near-pool-related collapses.

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Food Odyssey

Alright, food, food, glorious food! The hotel definitely does food.

They have Restaurants. Plural! Big win.
A la carte in restaurant. Fancy! (Sometimes.)
Alternative meal arrangement. For picky eaters like me.
Asian breakfast. I didn't try it, but hey, options!
Asian cuisine in restaurant. Ditto.
Bar. Essential.
Bottle of water. Always a good thing.
Breakfast [buffet]. The lifeline!
Breakfast service. Always.
Buffet in restaurant. Excellent.
Coffee/tea in restaurant. Yes, please!
Coffee shop. For the caffeine addicts.
Desserts in restaurant. Oh, the desserts.
Happy hour. A necessity.
International cuisine in restaurant. Wide range.
Poolside bar. Because why move?
Room service [24-hour]. Bless them.
Salad in restaurant. Health optional.
Snack bar. Helpful.
Soup in restaurant. Comfort food.
Vegetarian restaurant. Yay!
Western breakfast. For the non-adventurous.
Western cuisine in restaurant. Also.

The breakfast buffet was a glorious, chaotic affair. Tons of choices. I ate way too much. Totally worth it. The coffee was strong, the pastries were divine, and the fact that I could stumble out of bed and into a feast was a major selling point.

Services and Conveniences: Does It Make Life Easier (or Just More Complicated?)

Let's see what the hotel has to offer.

Air conditioning in public area. Essential.
Audio-visual equipment for special events. Likely.
Business facilities. For the working travelers.
Cash withdrawal. Phew.
Concierge. Helpful.
Contactless check-in/out. Excellent!
Convenience store. Score!
Currency exchange. Helpful.
Daily housekeeping. Always appreciated.
Doorman. Nice touch.
Dry cleaning. Luxury.
Elevator. Necessary.
Essential condiments. I hope so.
Facilities for disabled guests. Should be some. Check!
Food delivery. Good to have.
Gift/souvenir shop. Maybe.
Indoor venue for special events. Sure.
Invoice provided. A good thing.
Ironing service. Useful.
Laundry service. Helpful.
Luggage storage. Smart.
Meeting/banquet facilities. For business types.
Meetings. More business.
Meeting stationery. Yep.
On-site event hosting. Cool.
Outdoor venue for special events. Nice.
Projector/LED display. Yup.
Safety deposit boxes. Smart.
Seminars. Meetings and such.
Shrine. Possibly.
Smoking area. For the smokers.
Terrace. Loved it.
Wi-Fi for special events. Important.
Xerox/fax in business center. Good.

For the Kids: Probably Alright!

Babysitting service. Good.
Family/child friendly. Likely.
Kids facilities. Maybe.
Kids meal. Okay.

Access, Security, and All That Jazz:

CCTV in common areas. Standard.
CCTV outside property. Good.
Check-in/out [express]. Maybe.
Check-in/out [private]. Possible.
Couple's room. Romantic?
Exterior corridor. Probably.
Fire extinguisher. Essential.
Front desk [24-hour]. Important.
Hotel chain. Alright.
Non-smoking rooms. Good!
Pets allowed unavailable.
Proposal spot. Maybe.
Room decorations. Sometimes.
Safety/security feature. Great.
Security [24-hour]. Comforting.

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Okay, buckle up! This is gonna be less "precise itinerary" and more "scribbled-on-a-napkin-after-too-much-arak-and-sun" version of a stay at the Al Bustan Hotel in Lebanon. Consider this your chaotic, emotionally-charged companion piece.

Lebanon: Al Bustan Hotel - My Brain's Greatest Hits (and Misses)

Day 1: Arrival & That Whole "Jet Lagged Tourist" Thing

Morning (or, whenever the hell I woke up): Landed at Beirut airport. Honestly? Expected more drama. They did lose my luggage (classic), but the customs guy, a chain-smoker with a surprisingly kind smile, waved me through after I explained, in my best broken Arabic, that my "essentials" (aka, my emergency chocolate stash) were trapped in the abyss. He just chuckled. Lebanon already had me.
Mid-Afternoon (Probably 3 PM, don't judge): Taxi ride to Al Bustan. The drive? A sensory overload. Honking, vibrant graffiti, laundry flapping from balconies, and mountains that actually looked like they’d been painted. Honestly, I was too exhausted to be properly overwhelmed.
**Check-in: **The lobby? Think grand, faded elegance. Think chandeliers that have seen more parties than I've had hot dinners. The receptionist (a woman named Sarah, who I'm convinced is secretly immortal and knows EVERYONE) was ridiculously gracious. She probably takes this all in stride and has seen it all, i'm sure she has the patience of a saint.
Room Reconnaissance: My room? Sigh. A balcony with a view that was breathtaking but I was too tired to care. The bed? Impossibly comfortable. Honestly, I could have stayed there forever, but I had a hotel to experience.
**Evening: **Tried to be a sophisticated traveler and explore the hotel. Got lost. Thrice. The staff were remarkably patient with me. Found the pool. Looked at the pool. Decided to embrace the horizontal position on the bed. Fell asleep watching the sunset. Missed dinner. My stomach briefly staged a revolt. Zero regrets.

Day 2: Mountains, Mezze & Minor Existential Crises

Morning (Like, actually morning this time!): Breakfast. Holy. Cow. A spread of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Labneh, fresh-baked bread, olives that tasted like sunshine, and a coffee strong enough to wake the dead. Tried everything. Regretted nothing. Stared at the mountains whilst eating the best food.
Mid-morning: Wandered around the hotel gardens. They're huge. Seriously, you could get lost in them. Kept feeling like I was being watched…probably by a particularly judgy pigeon.
Afternoon: Hired a taxi to Deir el Qamar, a mountain village. The drive? Ooof. Winding roads, dizzying drops, and the driver, a man named Antoine who looked like he'd been driving since the Phoenicians, told me stories about the area. It was beautiful, and I got a little bit of a thrill. Felt a strong sense of longing for home as I enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Mezze at a local restaurant in Deir el Qamar. Ordered way too much. Ate everything. The hummus? Divine. The kibbeh? Perfection. The wine? Flows like a mountain river and will probably take your tongue right off.
Evening: Back at the hotel. Sat on my balcony, listening to the crickets, wrestling with the big questions. What is the meaning of life? Did I buy enough sunscreen? Why did I choose to wear white pants today? Watched the stars, got lost in thought, and for the first time I felt a tiny bit of peace. Feeling small and insignificant in the face of the majesty of the mountains, the history of Lebanon, and the sheer deliciousness of the food.

Day 3: Doubling Down on My Favorite Experience

Morning: Woke up. Saw the sun. The mountains. Back to the breakfast buffet. Honestly, could survive here forever.
Mid-Morning - Afternoon: So, I was so moved by the scenery yesterday and Deir el Qamar, I thought, let's do that again. Hired Antoine again. Told him, "Wherever you think". He took me to another village, a church, a ruined castle, and all the while telling me stories.
Afternoon: I'm going to be bold and say it. Sitting on the mountains, drinking Arak with Antoine, listening to the local music, and staring at the hills and valleys that span across the country. That was the best experience I've had in my life.
Evening: Back at the hotel. Tried to eat dinner. Failed. Still full. Sat and watched the sunset in peace.

Day 4: The "Leaving Lebanon is Hard" Phase

Morning: Breakfast. Final farewell to the breakfast buffet. Sobbed a little.
Mid-morning: Packing is hard. Leaving is harder.
Afternoon: Checked out. Sarah gave me a hug, which made me weep. Said goodbye to the luggage-carrying porter at the hotel.
Evening: Back at the airport. My luggage magically reappeared. Took the flight home, feeling a profound sense of loss.

Quirks & Observations:

The Cats: The Al Bustan has a resident cat population. They're majestic. They own the place.
The Staff: Seriously, the staff. They're patient, kind, and seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs.
The Food: My waistline will never be the same.
The Arak: A warning: It's delicious, and it's strong. Pace yourself. Or don’t. I’m not judging.
The Mountains: They call to you. They whisper secrets. They'll haunt your dreams (in the best way possible).
The Whole Vibe: It's chaotic, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. GO. Just go.

Imperfections & Rambles:

I didn't see all the sights. I got lost. Several times. I spent way too much time doing nothing. And I embraced it.
I have no idea what the "official" itinerary would say. Screw the itinerary.
I’m already planning my return.

So, there you have it. A messy, honest, and utterly human glimpse into my Al Bustan adventure. It wasn't perfect. It won't be the same for anyone else. But it was mine. And it was glorious.

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Okay, so, Al Bustan Hotel… Is it really worth the hype? (And should I pack my fanciest kaftan?)

Alright, let's get real. The hype? Oh, it's *there*. But is it *always* justified? Mmm, depends. If you're expecting sterile perfection, maybe not your vibe. BUT, if you're after a genuinely enchanting experience in a place that feels like it's been plucked from a fairytale (with a few wonky edges, mind you), then YES. Pack the kaftan. Pack the breezy linen pants. Pack the… well, pack what makes *you* feel good. It's that kind of place. I, personally, wore a slightly-too-loud floral shirt the entire time and felt *fantastic*. You know, embrace the glorious chaos.

The rooms! What's the deal? Are they actually palatial or just… pretentiously oversized?

"Palatial" is probably the right word, but with a caveat. My room? It was HUGE. Seriously, I think a small family could have lived in it. Picture this: soaring ceilings, antique furniture that looked like it'd seen a few generations of Lebanonese history (and maybe a few good parties!), and a balcony overlooking… well, *something* beautiful. The view was constantly changing, the mountains, the clouds... BUT, here’s the messy truth: There was a slight, *very* slight, musty odor. Nothing major, but it added to the 'lived-in' charm, you know? Like, okay, this place has CHARACTER. It’s not a perfectly-pristine airbrushed holiday. I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything.

Food, glorious food! What’s the grub like? Specifically, that breakfast everyone raves about…

Okay, breakfast. *That* breakfast. Prepare to loosen your belt. Seriously. It’s… well, it's legendary. A spread of mezze items that will make your eyes pop out (labneh! za'atar! olives! hummus that's so good it'll make you question your life choices!), fresh-baked bread you could build a small fort with, and eggs cooked every single way you can imagine. I maybe, *possibly*, overate. I'm talking, like, three croissants deep before remembering I hadn't even touched the savory stuff. And the juice! Fresh-squeezed everything. Honestly, I think I gained five pounds just from the first morning. SO worth it though. Worth every single calorie. That breakfast is a *game changer*.

Is it kid-friendly? (My little monsters… I mean, angels… are coming with me.)

Hmm. This is a tricky one. The hotel is beautiful, calm, and… well, maybe not *designed* for epic toddler meltdowns. I saw a few families, and the staff seemed very accommodating, always smiling (brave souls!). There's a lovely pool (though maybe not a dedicated kids' pool), and the gardens are HUGE for running around. But, if your little ones are particularly prone to tearing up five-star establishments, maybe ask for a room away from the quiet areas. They'll be fine, of course, but It does have a touch of elegance that might clash with the full-blown chaos of small children, you know? Consider this as a soft, maybe-not-perfectly-suited-for-small-children hotel. It's not a water park environment!

What's the vibe? Is it fancy-pants, or can I rock up in jeans and feel (mostly) comfortable?

It’s… a mix. Definitely leans towards the fancier side. There's a certain understated elegance, and people tend to dress nicely. But, and this is important, it’s not stuffy. Honestly, I wore a pair of slightly-too-worn jeans the first night and didn't feel *completely* out of place. The staff are wonderfully warm and welcoming, and they make you feel comfortable no matter what you're wearing. Ultimately, the vibe is all about relaxation, and enjoying the beauty of the place. So, yes, dress up a little, but prioritize comfort and feeling at ease. It's the kind of place where you can be your best self, dressed or un-dressed (within reason, of course!)

The spa? Is it worth the splurge? I need some serious pampering.

Oh. My. Goodness. YES. The spa. It’s a true sanctuary. And yes, it *is* worth the splurge if you can. I had a massage that left me feeling like a noodle, in the best possible way. The whole atmosphere is incredibly relaxing, the smells are divine (seriously, I could have happily lived in there), and the therapists are skilled and attentive. It's not just a treatment; it's an *experience*. Plan on making half a day of it—sauna, steam room, relaxation area… pure bliss. Seriously, book the massage. You’ll thank me later. Actually, book two. You deserve it!

Okay, spill the tea! Any drawbacks or things I should know before I book?

Alright, the *real* truth? It’s not *perfect*. As I mentioned, the rooms have certain charms (musty-ness), and the Wi-Fi was a little… patchy. Not the end of the world, but if you're glued to your phone for work, be warned. Also, a few of the rooms are a bit...far. Be prepared to walk. But Honestly, none of it is a deal-breaker. The beauty, the charm, the wonderful people… they more than make up for the small imperfections. This place isn't a sterile, perfect hotel; it's got character and a soul. Just go with an open mind and embrace the slightly-imperfect perfection. You won't regret it.

Do they have a good bar? And more importantly, what cocktails should I order?

The bar! YES! A proper bar, with cozy nooks and crannies, perfect for late-night chats or a quiet drink after dinner. The cocktails? They're fantastic. They're creative, they're beautifully presented. I'm kind of a cocktail connoisseur (don't tell anyone!). I tried, like, all of them. The mojitos were PERFECT. They made a killer margarita. But, *my* favorite? They had a cocktail that included fresh pomegranate juice. My God.. It was like a taste of heaven. I think I ordered five in a row. They made it with just the right amount of something I can't quite place. You. MUST. Try. It. Seriously! Go. Now. Order it. Tell them I sent you! (They won't know who I am, but still. Tell them!).

What's the staff like? Are they genuinely nice, or is it just… service with a smile?

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Al Bustan Hotel Lebanon: Your Unforgettable Lebanese Escape Awaits!