Angela Beitz tries out a Swedish massage and manicure-pedicure at Tips & Toes in Marina Mall.
The promise
A Swedish massage that will help all the pain and tension in our back, neck and shoulders followed by a manicure and pedicure that should last for up to a week.
Step-by-step
We arrive at this well-known spa on a Saturday morning and it is buzzing. Nearly all the nail stations are full with happy ladies chatting while getting their nails done. We are led into one of the treatment rooms that is set up for our massage. The therapist gets to work on our aching muscles and tells us that we have a lot of stress in our back. She informs us that the Swedish massage uses regulated pressure which is excellent for releasing knots and tension in the body. Our therapist starts on our back and uses long, strong movements which quickly eases our pain and she works hard to get the knots out around our shoulders. She then continues with our legs and arms before turning us over to concentrate on our stomach. We are left feeling utterly relaxed and completely rejuvenated. We are ushered into the nail area and we pick out a colour for our nails and feet. Tips & Toes has its own brand of nail polish and it lasted longer than other ones that we’ve tried. Our hands and feet are thoroughly scrubbed and all the excess of our cuticles is removed before filing our nails into a beautifully rounded-off shape. Our nails are then perfectly painted and we walk out of the spa feeling amazing.
The results
All of our joints are no longer aching and our whole body feels relaxed. We are impressed that our therapist really listened to our concerns and made us feel better. The manicure and pedicure were excellent. It was quick but very well done and the polish itself lasted for a good week.
Pros
The spa is inside Marina Mall so it’s in a really convenient location and the parking here isn’t too bad either. The staff are friendly and incredibly skilled. No matter how busy it is they always strive to give excellent service. Prices are also very reasonable considering the treatment that you get.
Cons
Some people may not like the fact that the spa is housed in a shopping mall. There is no outside noise but sometimes it feels strange stepping out into the shopping area.
3/5
The Swedish massage is Dhs280 for 60 minutes. A manicure and pedicure starts at Dhs130 for both. Tips & Toes, various locations including Marina Mall (02 631 2730).
