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Soft Touch Spa at The Kempinski Hotel has the best location for convenience; it's connected to Dubai's enormous Mall of the Emirates. This means after a day of exhausting wanderings through the millions of retail stores at the Mall, or snow fun and skiing slopes at Ski Dubai, you can easily unwind and relax with a rejuvenating facial or massage before even leaving the venue.
Walking into the hotel foyer of Kempinski Hotel foyer, almost directly opposite Ski Dubai, sit Dubai's elite guests who are in transit. You will take the lift up to Soft Touch Spa's secluded oasis. There is nothing to do but simply sit down and begin the unwinding process in the ‘peace room,' a haven complete with cozy beds and soothing music. Then you are escorted into a treatment room where scented candles set a tranquil mood.
I tried the blissful Ligne St Bath's facial. After an intense yet blissful cleansing, toning and moisturizing ritual using products from the luxurious St Barth's rage (made in the Caribbean and using 100% natural ingredients) I lay back to enjoy a heavenly hand massage to complete. Totally tropical pampering at it's very best!
There was a skip in my step as I left this spa feeling fabulous, blemish free and with skin that really did glow with health all week!
Chi Spa, at Shangri La hotel in Dubai, UAE, boasts a specialty Balinese massage so authentic your therapist is likely to be direct from Bali, Indonesia.
Located amidst the hustle and bustle of Sheik Zayed Road, the Balinese treatment is only one of the 90 minute massages listed on a luxurious menu of body massages and facials.
Chi Spa prides itself on drawing inspiration from ancient Asia's healing philosophies. Therapists work with Chi energy to encapsulate an authentic approach through movement, stretching, and hydrotherapy. Sound therapy is encompassed into the relaxation technique, which is something worth expecting, as the sound of a gong circling your half naked body - although beneficial with vibrating energies, may also result in a fit of the giggles, as it did with me!
I'd had an active day, so a few hours of pampering the mind and body Balinese style was not a bad idea. I easily relaxed; let my muscles and joints be manipulated by the gentle hands of a trained therapist. Delicious essential oils worked into my body's ligaments with wonderful ritualistic steps. Music enveloped a sensation of soothing and helped transport my mind to a tropical beach in Bali.
Staff were gracious and encouraged me to take extra time before the treatment by indulging in the spa's three temperature pools, steam room, sauna and sipping from an abundance of healthy ginger tea, great for the digestive.
All facilities are available to help return to ‘the real world.' Shower, dressing gown, luxe moisturizers, shampoo and conditioners, hair dryer and comb are at the disposal of every client. I emerged completely relaxed with energy centers re-balanced and a healthier feeling from the inside.
Valet parking is available.
High tea at the Burj Al Arab on glitzy Dubai's Jumeirah beach strip, is on every tourist to-do list. With celebrities like Naomi Campbell and Andre Agassi famous for frequenting the 7 star venue, it's little wonder, "When I think of luxury I think of this hotel." Says Claudia Schiffer of the city's iconic hotel.
Inside the dhow shaped building is so exclusive most local residents have never seen the interior, preferring to save such sight for a special occasion. A reservation is required to enter, or a price for the pleasure of foyer perusal. If residents have had the pleasure of dining they were probably wanting to show off Dubai's high life to visiting friends, themselves tourists at the time.
Three restaurants offer high tea, the most popular being Sahn Eddar. This is a first class lounge directly under the world's tallest atrium. Upon arrival, a smiling waiter addresses you as Sir or Ma'am and offers a refreshing glass of Moet or sparkling apple and peach. You will be seated by glass walls with panoramic views of sparkling aqua coastline and find yourself listening to a string quartet serenading diners to classical versions of pop music.
The arrival of absolute decadent afternoon tea begins with crustless cucumber finger sandwiches, pineapple and prawn h'ourderves, a beef carvery serving, followed by light sorbet, then tea selection, English style scones, whipped cream and a divine jam assortment. Yes, you read beef and sorbet mid way there - a good sign when one is required to de-sensitise one's palette, darling!
Not long into the many courses of tea and sandwiches, you will find yourself thanking the existence of the 7th Duchess of Bedford who accidently invented afternoon tea back in the 1840's. She would secretly binge on small meals to bridge the gap til dinner. When the world found out they embraced such a radical idea, and today we have the Burj al Arab to remind us of what a pleasure tea and scones really is.
Your extravagant treats continue with a mixed berry basket, French pastries, chocolates and petit fours and then more tea. A tip from me is to arrive with very empty belly and make no dinner plans, you will be too stuffed!
Whilst in the vicinity a must is to explore the interior of such an iconic building. Whereas a night's stay at the hotel will set you back a fortune, many people opt for high tea just to have a look around. The Burj Al Arab's reputation for tacky glamour precedes the hotel interior; its vibe is definitely elegance-meets-cinema-foyer. But after sussing out the entire building I have decided too much gold and Vegas casino reminiscent foyers are all part of the fun and it just wouldn't be a landmark for Dubai with any other design.
Viewing Time: If you want a sneak peek around go to a 3pm sitting of tea because between 5-6pm there is ‘viewing' time on certain levels and restaurants; Sky View for an amazing aerial over Dubai's shoreline, Swarovski Bar to see spectacular crystal elegance and the famous Fish Restaurant where diners are seated next to a fish tank wall which feels like the bottom of the ocean. Definitely worth a look in!
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The ultimate Dubai experience is a 6 hour sunset safari road trip deep into the desert, and Hormuz Tours Desert safari can take you there. Pack your camera to take your own amazing postcard pics on a great Arabian experience.
First up, a large eight-seater 4 wheel drive collects you from your designated point, along with fellow tourists in the area who have booked the same trip. The drive heads outside of the city of Dubai - actually straight in to the middle of beautiful wind swept sand dunes which continue into the distance for as far as the eye can see. In no time you are tearing up the desert with some major dune bashing in your large vehicle - keep your seatbelt on!
Next you are sand-surfing down enormous dunes. This is an activity easier than it looks - the sand moves for you, all you need to do is balance on the board and walk back up the dune..and again and again, beleive me - you'll want to!
As the sun sets, dunes are highlighted with a barren mars-like glow, and it's onto a group activity with fellow tourists where seperate tour companies who have been sand dune bashing now join together for the rest of the evening. Under the stars, you'll be camel riding, snapping selfies in authentic Arabian costume, and dining together with fellow desert safarians. Smoke from apple flavoured shisha pipe creates the perfect Bedouin camp atmosphere. You'll sip traditional Arabian tea and hold a falcon. Be painted with a temporary henna tattoo - all part of the tour. Under the night's stars you are then treated to an Arabian feast fit fot for a sheikh, and the entertaining skills of an expert belly dancer who works wonders with swords. The whole evening's experience won't break the budget, there are plenty of tour companies advertising online for around 160 dirhams and up, all Inclusive.
Recommended: Hormuz Tours Desert safari is perfectly entertaining way to explore the culture and landscape of Dubai.
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