The spa
The sparkling new Khalidiya Palace Spa ticks all the boxes you’d expect from a five-star facility – experienced masseuses, premium potions and lotions and, naturally, the fluffiest of fluffy towels. The spacious entrance has huge windows looking out on to the beach club, while the spa itself is made up of a series of treatment rooms surrounding a glamorous water feature. The sploshing sounds echo throughout the massage chambers and changing area, leaving the pampered punters feeling utterly soothed. A wet area at the back of the spa is available for all customers to make use of – this includes a plunge pool, steam room and sauna. We loved their Jacuzzi – big enough for four people, it is designed so each person can control the intensity of the bubbles in their own separate seating area. Surely there is no greater luxury than not having to put up with water jet-hoggers. As well as the predictable array of Thai, Balinese, and sports massages, the spa also offers a selection of facials that’ll make you look like you’ve had a week of lie-ins.
Our treatment: Step by step
We had booked in for the ‘real aromatherapy experience’ – an hour-long massage using Aromatherapy Associates essential oils. First, the masseuse sat us down in the relaxation area to fill in a questionnaire about what we wanted from the session. We really just wanted to relax, so she offered us options of soft-scented chamomile aromatherapy oil or a reviving juniper berry scent that’s recommended for de-stressing. Once we were settled on the treatment table, the masseuse washed our feet with a steaming hot towel, then the massage began with a combination of gentle kneading and long smooth strokes down our back. She moved on to working each limb before finishing off by placing a lavender-scented mask over our eyes and giving us a good hard scalp massage. Try as we might to remember details about the hour, the truth is we were lulled into a complete daze within the first 10 minutes. In fact our entire stream of consciousness was just: ‘Leg… mmmmm……legggg…..mmmm backkkk.’ In other words, we got exactly what we’d asked for – complete relaxation. After the massage, the therapist patted the oil from our back and finished up by giving us another hot towel foot wash. Then, clad in a cosy dressing gown, we padded off for a quick dip in the Jacuzzi before leaving feeling very chilled out.
The pros
The massage was note-perfect. The therapist had really listened to what we’d asked for and tailored the treatment accordingly – lots of pressure but not so intense we were wincing. We appreciated being invited to the Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. Usually once your massage is over, the therapist just leaves you to your own devices, but ours brought us a big red towel to wrap up in and escorted us to the rest of the facilities.
The cons
Although the massage was sensational we had one teeny-tiny complaint – the oil was cold when first applied, so we had one or two uncomfortable jolts. Also, while the treatments are of top quality, the generic menu doesn’t offer anything unique or special to the spa. The staff are very welcoming, but the venue lacks character and could do with a few creative touches to warm the place up.
The verdict
With the addition of a few unique options, this spa could turn itself into real competition for the rest of the city’s upmarket health and beauty spots.
Real aromatherapy experience. Dhs320 for one hour. Khalidiya Palace Spa, Khalidiyah (02 657 0181).
