In a fast-paced world, it can be oh-so easy to forget to allocate time for some highly deserved pampering. On these rare occasions when we can treat ourselves, it’s very important to invest the time wisely. A trip to the spa is the ultimate way to de-stress and calm the mind. No matter the chosen treatment, strains and tension of normal life immediately dissipate when entering the welcoming ambiance of a luxurious wellness centre. With this in mind, I left the laptop closed for the morning and made my way to Silk Spa in Al Habtoor Palace.
THE FACILITIES
Set upon the sixth floor of the luxury five-star palatial property, pristine, marbled-floors guide guests from the elevator to the elegant, award-winning Silk Spa. A boutique gym sits to the right where one can work up a sweat before experiencing a relaxing cool down in the comfort-inducing surrounds of the spa. To the left is the beautifully appointed Le Patio. Adorned with vibrant and colourful flowers, the restaurant specialising in Middle Eastern bites is the ideal location for a post-spa snack.
Upon entering the spa, the aroma of incense fills the air in a gently lit welcoming area, infusing a sense of immediate calm and relaxation. Divided into separate sections for men and women, guests may choose a male or female therapist to take them on their wellness journey. The spa is home to six treatment rooms, steam and sauna facilities, hammam rooms and a spacious relaxation space where one can kick back with a flavoured pot of tea or cool water while enjoying some reading from a selection of magazines and books.
THE SIGNATURE TREATMENTS
Crafted with ancient techniques and science, Silk Spa offers guests a plethora of exclusive treatments to savour. Inspired by high-end skincare line, Margy’s Monte Carlo, those craving a facial should choose the 60-minute Margy’s Brightness Revealing Facial, an anti-aging treatment that leaves skin feeling firmer, tighter and ultra-luminous. Or if you’re going as a pair, opt for Couple Time – Cinnamon and Spice, where you and your partner will luxuriate with a 60-minute Swedish massage before being served with cinnamon tea while relaxing in the couple’s room, replete with private Jacuzzi.
Summer sees a host of special seasonal treatments. On Thursdays, ladies take centre stage alongside a friend for a 30-minute back tension massage and 60-minute Margy’s Brightness Revealing Facial for Dhs700 (US$190). Men are not forgotten, with the Gents Treat serving up a 60-minute deep tissue massage for just Dhs375 (US$105). Or cool off with a pool day that sees guests enjoy a dip at the rooftop pool combined with a one-hour bespoke massage for Dhs450 (US$125) on Fridays. Today, I have decided to detoxify with a 30-minute sea salt scrub and one-hour Swedish massage.
THE EXPERIENCE
Every Silk Spa journey starts with an assessment of your needs – medium pressure with special attention paid towards the shoulders and back for me, plus a guided tour of the spa. I quickly peer into the relaxation room decked-out in luxurious furnishings. Plush armchairs with gold trimmings are begging to be enjoyed, with gold curtains surrounding each chair for those seeking to escape into their own little world.
The tour continues into the spa area where a bubbling whirlpool, a ginormous sauna, steam room and a fantastic shower room await. Simple by name but thrilling by nature, this sensory shower room allows guests to immerse themselves in four states of weather: Tropical Rain, Spring Rain, Cold Mist and Caribbean Storm. Expect flashing lights, powerful bursts of water and incredible sounds that replicate thunder and lightning as well as the calls of jungle animals.
Tour complete, I slip into a fluffy, Silk Spa-embroidered gown and enter the treatment room. My therapist beckons me to sit where she soaks my feet in warm water, replete with pebbles. It is an unexpected little touch which Silk Spa and indeed Al Habtoor Palace has become so well-known for. Hopping onto the treatment bed, my skin is caressed by indulgent silk sheets for the scrub. Offered in either salt or sugar using Natura Bissé, the scrub experience lasts for 30 minutes and after a quick shower to remove the granules, the effects are already noticeable with my skin being as soft as one can remember.
A 60-minute deep tissue Swedish massage is up next and powerful motions on muscles, assisted by lavender oil, sends me into a dreamy state with the only hindrance being my own snores as I flit between consciousness and sleep. A whisper lets me know that the treatment is over. I pull myself from the nest of comfort to continue my wellness journey with visits to the sauna, steam room and the whirlpool.
FINAL WORD
It’s time to bid adieu to the Silk Spa. There’s a connecting Tony El Mendelek Men’s salon where I could spruce up my look but alas, the office calls. It has been a morning well spent and I’m ready to face the rest of the day with fresh positivity, revived muscles and exquisitely silky-smooth skin.
