Spas Archives - Undefined Declarations

My Favorite Dubai Beach Club: Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa

I like to call this golf/beach resort my secret mini getaway destination. Sadly, the secret has already been out in the two older posts that I wrote on this magical beach club. You can check them out again here and here.

Now although I’ve been to most of the five-star Dubai beach clubs, and most recently have checked one out in Abu Dhabi, I must admit that I always find myself coming back to this lovely and secluded beach club: the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa.

There’s something about this beach club that is not found at any other location in Dubai. For the most part, its location outside of the city makes it perfect for a mini getaway when you don’t have time for a short or long trip on a jet plane. The atmosphere is unlike any other in Dubai….you feel transformed into a different and classy world. Where comfort, top of the notch facilities, and a chilled vibe are the only existing elements.

Honestly, I could go on and on about this place without getting tired. But let me take you on a journey of how I spent my day at the resort last week.

I started my day by chilling by the infinity pool…the pool is spacious with a shallow area for children. It also has these cool fountains that are fun to play with for the kids, or just lounge under as an adult 🙂

Peacocks are found everywhere at the resort

After lounging by the infinity pool and going for an incredibly refreshing swim, I headed to Captain’s bar for a light lunch. The bar is located by the 800 meter wide beach, and is completely shaded. I had the Arabic mezza plate and a Caprese salad.

Arabic mezza plate at Captain's bar — Arabic mezza plate at Captain’s bar

Caprese salad at Captain's bar — Caprese salad at Captain’s bar

I had booked a treatment at the spa at the beginning of my day, and so I decided to use the spa wet room facilities before my treatment starts.

The spa wet room facilities include a jacuzzi, a steam room and a sauna room. They can be used by anyone who books a treatment at the spa. My favorite part is without a doubt the jacuzzi. I’ve been day-dreaming about soaking in the jacuzzi for a couple of weeks, if not months!

Tip: Don’t miss out on the experience showers available at the spa. These are to be used in between lounging in the steam, sauna or jacuzzi!

Signature Treatments at the Spa:

The spa offers a variety of signature treatments on a daily basis. On Tuesday – the day that I was there – the treatment was for a traditional Hammam and scalp massage!

I’ve only had a Moroccan bath once, but this was my first time to try a traditional Hammam treatment, and I’m so glad that I did!

The treatment left my skin feeling baby soft and tender to touch. It also removed all the dead skin cells and left me feeling lighter, fresh and so rejuvenated. The therapist was also great as she exerted just the right amount of pressure while scrubbing my skin. I also have extremely sensitive skin and the treatment was gentle and didn’t irritate my skin or anything. The spa used Elemis products in all its treatments. In the traditional Hammam, a Moroccan black soap was used in addition to the Elemis products.

The treatment included a highly relaxing and soothing scalp massage. I didn’t want it to end!

After my treatment was over, I made my way to the beach to catch the last sun rays before the sun sets! and if you’ve been following me on my Facebook Page, you would know that I can’t be at the beach and not have an iced latte!

The JA Beach at sunset... — The JA Beach at sunset…

It may be the end of another day at the chic and classy Jebel Ali Beach Club, but I’m certain that I’ll go back there for more relaxation and unwinding by the beautiful and pristine beach…

All I could think of while waiting for the shuttle bus to take us back to the city, was: I want to just live out here and never leave!

I think the energy in that place is just so amazingly positive, that I always leave a much happier, peaceful and relaxed version of my typically sad and depressed self!

Do you want to know what makes this resort unique?

The fact that you have access to a great number of activities all in one single place! You can choose to do any of the following:

Activities for kids.
800 meter wide beach access.
Access to four swimming pools, including one with salt sea water!
Access to a variety of water sports.
Golf club.
High-end spa.
Two hotels; Jebel Ali Beach Hotel and Palm Tree Court.
A number of dining and bar options.
A boat marina!

As you can see the options are endless of how you can choose to spend your day at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa. In case I missed anything, have a look at their web site and plan a day out or more for you and your loved ones 🙂

http://www.jaresortshotels.com/Hotels/Home.aspx

A shuttle bus service is also available to transport guests to and from a number of landmark locations in the city!

Since I didn’t get to spend much time on the beach this time, because of my spa treatment. I’m definitely planning another trip to this magical resort soon. Most likely it will be after my summer term at University ends. And I would love to stay at the Palm Tree Court residence for a night or two. I might even try out some water sports while I’m there. And who knows, maybe, I will finally finish reading that book about blogging!

Ending this post with a picture of where I would like to have a romantic dinner date with my potential partner (once I meet him) 😀

Seriously, who could wish for anything better than this? 🙂

Rebellious Diva signing off…

Dubai Beauty Center Review: Machka Beauty & Body Designs

I was delighted to accept an invite from May Khazal, Managing Partner at Machka Beauty & Body Designs and I was ecstatic after my experience at this top of the line beauty center.

When I asked May about what makes Machka unique from other beauty salons in the city, she said: “We want the client to feel like she is pampered and can do everything at one place. We offer superior quality while having competitive prices.”

May also explained to me how Machka’s concept is not just that of a beauty salon. “The salon is only part of the concept.” she said.

I personally believe that the strength of this high quality beauty center lies in its ability to act as a fitness center, beauty salon and spa all in one.

This proves highly convenient for Dubai’s fast-paced lifestyle, where one can’t afford to make several visits to different centers and spas to get their services done.

Machka has these main departments:

Hypoxi (slimming technique using special equipment).
Hair and Nail Services.
Facials.
A wide range of Body Treatments.
Other services (Waxing, Threading, Tinting & Bleaching).
Bridal and Makeup.

Why Machka

Another feature about this high standard beauty center is the superior levels of hygiene and excellent maintenance of the facilities. The center shines and smells of cleanliness and freshness, the decor is contemporary and inviting and the interiors are brand new and well-maintained. Anyone visiting the center can see the attention to detail and care given to every aspect of the place. I was truly impressed by how neat and clean the place looked.

Marrakech Moroccan Bath

The therapist doing the Moroccan Bath at Machka is undoubtedly one of the best in town. She is originally from Morocco and has a complete understanding of the treatment and products used. She also takes her time and does an authentic bath treatment in a highly professional way.

The Moroccan Bath at Machka takes from one hour to two hours depending on the type chosen by the client.

The steps taken during the Moroccan Bath include:

The hair is shampooed and a hair mask is applied. Then the hair is wrapped to retain the moisture.
A mixture containing Moroccan soap and Henna is applied all over the body.
The body is rinsed.
The whole body is scrubbed with a special Moroccan Loofah. The feet are also scrubbed using a foot scrub.
A combination of mud and herbs mixture is applied to the body and face.
After each application, the client gets to sit in the steam for 15 minutes.
After applying the mud mixture, the body is wrapped in a plastic wrapper.
The body and face are rinsed.
As a final step, the body is rinsed with a special water mixed with rose water, oils and natural herbs.
Rose water oil is applied on the face.

Benefits of the Moroccan Bath:

Removes dead skin cells.
Improves blood circulation.
Invigorates and refreshes the body.
Reduces stress.
Enhances the overall well-being and mood.
Relaxes the body and tired soul.
Proven to effectively aid in slimming the body.
Tones the body.
Regenerates the skin.

Results:

Shiny skin
Fairer skin tone
Brighter complexion
healthy, natural glow
Relaxed, less stressed self

What distinguishes the Moroccan Bath from other body treatments is that it uses all-natural ingredients which help detox the body and take it to its natural and original state. It’s also greatly useful for sensitive skin. And since I have extremely sensitive skin, I can say that the treatment worked wonders for my body and my skin had no reaction whatsoever to any of the products used.

Thai Massage

After my Moroccan Bath treatment, I got to relax and unwind with a Thai massage done by a professionally certified Thai therapist.

The massage was highly rejuvenating, the ambiance was truly relaxing and I left the treatment room feeling chilled with a sense of unmatched calm and peacefulness.

As the therapist has a total of 10 years of experience in the field, she is an expert in relieving tension from the muscles and focuses on problem areas with high professionalism.

Price

The Moroccan Bath treatment is priced at AED 200, while the Marrakech (special) Moroccan Bath treatment is priced at AED 350.

Contact

Check out Machka’s Website for a list of their extensive treatments and services. And don’t forget to check out their Facebook Page too!

Until next time, Have a wonderfully pampered time 🙂

Treatment Room at Machka Beauty Center Dubai

Hair and Nail Care at Machka Beauty Center

Dubai Spa Review: Elixir Spa at The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa (Part Two)

While The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa may be well known for its lively and energetic beach party venue XL Beach Club (which by the way I still have to check out!) – this grand hotel and beach resort is also home to a hidden gem of a spa: Elixir Spa.

I decided to arrive 35 minutes or so before my appointment time so that I can relax in the spa’s locker room facilities; steam and sauna rooms before my treatment.

Steam Room

What makes this Ottoman-decor inspired steam room stand out from any other steam room that I had ever been to is the added detail in this room’s ceiling. Small light fixtures in the ceiling of the room change color simultaneously in a very subtle and relaxed vibe. The swift color changing movements help take your mind off whatever it is that it was engaged in and aids in clearing your head. The multi-colored lights definitely made me only want to focus on how the colors shifted and never want to leave the room! But I had to, since I still wanted to check out the sauna room next door.

Sauna Room

I thought that this spa’s sauna room was also different than others that I had been to. First, it was highly spacious. It could easily fit 15 to 20 people – perfect venue for a sauna party 🙂 Then, it had a furnace and nice interiors that emit a relaxed and chilled vibe. By staring at a light in one corner of this expansive and stylish sauna room, I could feel some calm and peacefulness overcome me. If I could use one word to describe this sauna room, it would be: authentic.

Relaxation Room

Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to lounge in this tranquil and peaceful room. Because it was already time for my treatment. The room had a relaxed air to it with the sound of soft chilled tracks playing in the background and cool dim lighting. It’s the perfect place for some meditation and quietness after or before a treatment at the spa.

Hot Stone Renewal Body Treatment

I’ve been wanting to try the hot stone massage for quite some time, and I’m glad that I did! as the therapist advised me, this massage is one of their best-seller treatments and it’s no surprise why it is. The type of massage used in the hot stone treatment is the popular Swedish massage. The therapist begins by rubbing some Moroccan Argan oil on the area, before using the warm yet soothing hot stones to massage the area in a smooth rolling motion. Circular, upward, or random strokes are used when massaging with the hot stones. What I found to be remarkable and highly comforting was that the stones glide on the skin so effortlessly. It certainly doesn’t feel as if an object is being pressed on your skin, but more like someone with unusually warm hands massaging your body 🙂 Simply divine.

After massaging with the stones, the therapist also uses her hands to complete the treatment with conventional massage strokes. The procedure is repeated on legs, arms, back, stomach and chest before ending with a stress-relieving head massage.

Needless to say, my one hour hot stone massage treatment made me feel relaxed, stress-free and utterly pampered. It also put me in a hypnotized sleepy mood which I loved except that I had to get some work done after the treatment 🙂

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage

Improves circulation
Improves blood flow
Eliminates toxins from the body
Helps relieve stress
Aids in relaxation and rejuvenation

Don’t Miss

I loved the still water with a hint of lemon that was served at the spa. It was a lovely addition to the conventional water, and was so refreshing to have before or after treatments. So if you visit the spa, you must have the lemon infused drinking water 🙂

Price

The hot stone renewal body treatment is priced at AED 500

There is an ongoing summer promotion at the spa which entitles you to a 20% discount on any Elixir signature treatment.

Contact

You can check out the Habtoor Grand’s web site for their contact information and details about the hotel’s restaurants, leisure and sports facilities, as well as their pool and beach club.

“like” them on Facebook to stay updated with their news here.

You can also read about my experience on a day at their beach club here.

Until next time, have a wonderfully pampered day!

Dubai Spa Review: N.A.I.L.S. Specializing in Organics

I had been living in Dubai for a year or so when I first found out about Nails Organic Spa. I think I was doing an online search for a salon close to my area when a link or a review led me to this hidden gem. Since then, I have been a regular visitor of this amazingly professional and relaxing spa.

Spa founder and CEO Jazz Bedesha explained to me how she wanted to bring something different to the spa market, so the concept of using organic products was introduced at Nails. Jazz also explains that: “although not everything is 100% organic, they try to source as many organic and natural products as possible.”

The spa uses and sells a number of all-natural and toxin-free cosmetics and skin care products. These include brands such as Zoya and Eminence.

Zoya nail polishes are non-toxic and have proven to be the only non-cancer causing nail polish brand available. By focusing exclusively on healthy, natural Nails, Zoya Nail Polishes has been awarded as the longest wearing natural nail polish by an independent panel in Women’s Health Magazine. Zoya Nail Polishes are free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor.

Eminence is an exotic skin care line that brings together high quality Hungarian ingredients with old world knowledge of herbs and fruits. The high-end organic brand addresses a variety of skin concerns such as premature aging and wrinkling, sun damage, acne, loss of vitality, tone and radiance. Despite Eminence being more on the higher price range, other herbal and natural line products are being sold at the spa.

Treatment: Half Lymphatic/Half Aromatherapy Massage

I was advised to do a combination of lymphatic and aromatherapy massages since each type serves different purposes. The aromatherapy massage uses softer strokes and helps you to relax, while the lymphatic massage uses strong strokes on areas that are susceptible to cellulite. The therapist used upward massage movements on my legs to promote blood circulation towards the heart and help reduce cellulite.

Benefits of lymphatic massage include:

Improving blood circulation.
Reducing body toxins and cellulite.
Toning and firming the body.
Tightening the skin.

Prior to the the treatment, my therapist Jen asked me to choose from a color palette the colors that I liked the most. Later, I got to smell the different oil scents corresponding to those colors and choose the one that appealed mostly to my mood at that time. If you’ve been following my blog, you might remember a previous review that I had done on a treatment with Nails. You can read all about it here.

All massage oils used in this highly rejuvenating and relaxing spa are 100% organic. Moroccan Argan oil is used in the massage treatment, and is also available for sale at the spa. I can honestly say that discovering this oil has been one of the best beauty secrets that I came across in my lifetime! Unlike many oils, Argan oil has a light texture and is absorbed quickly by the skin. It effectively nourishes thirsty skin, hair and even the rough skin on your feet! I highly recommend this oil to everyone and I believe that it’s one of the essential beauty items on your dressing table.

Staff Friendliness and Spa Ambiance

Honestly speaking, the staff at this spa (including the receptionists) are amongst the most professional salon staff that I have come across in this region! The appointments are always booked and started in a timely manner, the ladies are professional, polite and friendly, and most importantly, the appointments are ran smoothly and in a highly organized and systematic way. As you know, Dubai is a greatly fast-paced city and one can’t afford to loose time in waiting for an appointment or for the previous client to finish their time or anything of the sort!

Another element that I absolutely love about this spa is the relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. The soft background music playing in the spa is always calming and helps you to unwind from the business of city life.

Price

Once you visit Nails Spa, you will realize that this spa offers high quality services and treatments for great value.

The one hour Lymphatic Massage is priced at AED 375. You can try a package of 10 sessions and see how it enhances your body shape and assists you in loosing the extra pounds.

Contact Information

Web Site: Nails Organic Spa.

Facebook Page: N.A.I.L.S Specializing in Organics.

Final Notes

Nails regularly run special promotions on their various spa treatments and services. You can find out all about them on the spa’s Facebook Page.
From my personal experience, Zoya nail polish is way more long-lasting than other nail polish brands. The colors are solid and don’t chip off easily.
Argan oil is sold at the spa for AED 130 per bottle.

With a bagel shop just across the street from this heavenly spa (which I still have to try), all-natural and organic products, friendly service and a chilled ambiance, what better place to spend a day of unwinding and relaxation than at Nails?

Besides frequenting the spa for my waxing and nails services, I now look forward to trying their other massage treatments and services.

Have you been to an organic spa lately? if so, where was it and how would you rate your experience?

Dubai Spa Review: Tips and Toes (Part Two)

I’m a huge fan of massage treatments! whether it’s a stress relieving deep tissue back massage, a regenerating Balinese full body massage, a 30-minute foot reflexology treatment or even a strong scalp massage at the hair salon, I’m up for it any time of the year, month or day 🙂

I even booked another massage treatment today for this Saturday, so make sure you follow the blog to read all about it.

Exactly one month ago I had done a review on Tips and Toes‘ Rattan Foot Reflex treatment. If you missed it, hit this link for that review.

I was very pleased with my treatment that I decided to go back to the salon for a back and head massage. The back massage was a 30 minute Swedish massage. And the head massage lasted for 20 minutes.

Tips and Toes Greens Branch

I would like to note to all of my readers that while I went to the spa’s Dubai Media City branch for my foot reflexology treatment, my back and head massage was done at their usually busy Greens branch. Unfortunately, the space in this branch and the size of the treatment room doesn’t allow for a good amount of privacy and peacefulness required for any massage treatment. That’s why I would highly recommend a different branch if you were planning on getting a massage done. The Greens branch is OK for nails and other services though.

My Therapist

Being a highly talkative person in certain situations, I couldn’t help but start a conversation with my massage therapist. And I’m so glad that I did. Because she turned out to be very friendly, kind and wise too! Although she asked me the common question that spa and salon therapists like to ask their female clients: “Do you have a boyfriend?” twice, and me answering with the same reply (obviously, it was within a short period of time): No, I’m too picky – I truly adored that therapist for her wise response to my answer when she said: “All men in Dubai are players. If you don’t like to play, you will loose.” Or something of the like 🙂

Right. Thank you for reminding me of yet another challenging aspect of my current life while I was trying to get a massage done to relax and forget about stressful issues! (honestly, I’m only joking, I absolutely love wise and life-smart individuals.)

My Massage Treatment

The treatment as a whole was highly rejuvenating and soothing at the same time. It greatly helped me to unwind and forget about life’s stresses (including bad boy types) 🙂

My therapist also used some hot towels to help release the tension in my muscles and tight knots. This resulted in reducing the size of the knots to almost diminishing them altogether! Which as you all know is not an easy thing to do especially from one massage session!

As a result, I left the treatment room feeling more relaxed, much less stressed and in an overall more positive mood.

Cost and Contact Link

Since the spa was running a special summer promotion at the time of my treatment, I was able to get a 30% discount on the service. So I ended up paying AED 119 for my massage treatment.

You can contact the salon, find the branch nearest to you and ask about promotions by checking their web site below:

HOME

Conclusion

I would highly recommend Tips and Toes for a mid-range revitalizing spa treatment. Their many branches offer a wide selection of services with professional therapists at very reasonable prices.

Personally, I have been dreaming of sitting in a warm jacuzzi or hot tub and never having to get out! EVER!

What treatment do you find yourself daydreaming about? which one is at the top of your list right now? what type of spa service do you like to get most?

Dubai Spa Review: Tips and Toes

First, I would like to wish all our Muslim readers a blessed and peaceful Ramadan. I hope that you are trying to take things at a slower pace like we are. And maybe you can take some time off to pamper yourself and treat your body for a relaxing and detoxifying massage.

Today, I headed to Tips and Toes salon at Dubai Media City to try out their new Rattan Foot Reflex treatment.

Summer Promotion

The spa is offering a 30% discount on all full-priced services booked between 9 am to 3 pm throughout July.

What is a Rattan Foot Reflex treatment?

I was told by my massage therapist that foot reflexology has originated from China. And of course is practiced all across the globe. In China, hot stones are used in the foot reflexology. Which is unfortunately not available at this salon. The Rattan Foot Reflex is a foot reflexology treatment where rattan sticks are used to massage the feet instead of the hands!

The therapist alternates between two rattan sticks during the treatment. A short, small stick is used to target the pressure points on the sole of the foot. While another long stick is used on the side of the foot, and held against the bones. It’s also used on the lower half of the leg in a massaging motion.

The therapist explained to me that extra care must be taken when using the stick to avoid injury. So the person doing the massage must hold the foot with the other hand.

Facts

Foot reflexology can be done on a daily basis. Anyone can do it for themselves by using their hands to exert pressure on the points matching the different body organs.
At first instance, the rattan treatment can be painful on some points such as the tips of the toes. So I must add that this treatment is not for the fragile souls! I would say it suits anyone who loves strong massages that use hard pressure. Even when a solid object is used to apply that strong pressure.
The pain associated with the rattan treatment pressure motion will lessen with regular massage sessions.

Benefits of foot reflexology

Improves blood circulation.
Reduces stress and body tension.
Strengthens the immune system.
Cleanses the body.
Purifies the body from toxins.
Helps to regulate periods and relieves other hormone-related issues.
Makes the body feel lighter.

My Therapist

I was pleased to get the treatment done with a Balinese therapist. She’s actually based in the salon’s “Greens” branch, but was at the Dubai Media City salon for a temporary period. So if you want to get a massage done with her, just call up “The Greens” branch and ask for the Balinese massage therapist. She’s the only one 🙂

Treatment Cost

The regular price for the Rattan Foot Reflex treatment is 150 AED for 40 minutes. But I only paid 105 AED since I booked the appointment between 9 am to 3 pm. So I got a 30% discount off of the regular price.

Contact

To find the nearest Tips and Toes branch, check their website at the following link:

HOME

I decided to get a polish change as well!

Dubai Spa Review: Elixir Spa at The Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa

There’s always a story behind everything that I do. Sometimes, it’s funny. Other times it’s sad and this time, it was ordinary. I had written a review on The Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa beach club very recently. If you missed it, you can read it here.

As I was leaving the beach club that day, I was handed a voucher for a 20% discount for a massage treatment at the hotel’s spa: Elixir Spa.

So, I naturally booked a massage appointment to make use of the promotion before it expired and before Ramadan started.

Summer Promotion

When I called to book my appointment, I was informed that I can get a 60 or 90 minute massage treatment. I went for the one-hour option. I inquired about the prices before and after the discount. The 60 minute Elixir Therapeutic Massage’s regular rate is 450 AED. After the summer promotion discount, I paid 360 AED. I asked about the type of massage and I was told that it’s a Swedish full body massage.

Here’s a list of the spa services included in the summer promotion (valid until July 31, 2013):

Main Drawbacks

I was asked to pay for my massage before the treatment. I don’t think that it’s a welcoming or nice gesture to ask the client to pay for the service prior to getting it. Especially in a spa environment.
I wasn’t informed at the time of booking the treatment that use of the steam and sauna rooms is included in my treatment. I only found out about this from my therapist right before the massage. I wasn’t able to make use of the full treatment offer since I had already made plans to have lunch with my dad and so I couldn’t just stay and use the other facilities available with my treatment. The staff at the reception didn’t inform me of this neither at the time of booking nor at the time of the appointment.

Massage Rating

I found the massage to be up to professional standards. I had asked the therapist for a hard pressure massage with a focus on my shoulders and upper back. The therapist did a great job with a consistent pressure throughout the whole treatment. Overall, the massage was very relaxing and soothing and I almost fell asleep by the end of it 🙂

Oils Used and a Balinese Tradition

The Moroccan oil used in the treatment was a combination of both Argan and Jasmine oils.

Benefits of Argan oil:

Helps relieve muscle tension.
Promotes hair growth. It can be used in scalp massage as well.
Highly effective in moisturizing dry skin and hair.

Benefits of Jasmine oil:

Jasmine can significantly aid in the rejuvenation of the skin and in making women look younger. My Balinese therapist explained to me how Indonesian ladies eat fresh Jasmine petals in search of a youthful complexion. She also told me about a famous Indonesian movie actress who at 95 years of age looked as though she was only 40, simply because she followed a regular “Jasmine Petal” diet 🙂

My therapist hadn’t tried it though. I think we can safely stick to the jasmine oil for now 🙂

My Massage Therapist

Luh Sri is the only Balinese therapist at Elixir Spa. With over seven years of experience in various spa treatments at world-class properties; including a couple of years at the Hyatt hotel in Bali, she has the professionalism of a five-star hotel spa therapist. Not to mention the knowledge, friendliness, and positive spirit that are essential traits of any beauty therapist.

Will I make another visit?

I would love to go back to have another full body massage with Luh. Maybe next time I can try the hot stone massage, or another type of massage or treatment. In case I decide to make another visit, I will make sure to check the offers before booking and to make use of the locker room facilities such as the sauna and steam room should they be included in the treatment package.

Conclusion

The staff at the reception need to be informed of all the promotional offers (and their perks). And they must be trained to convey complete information to the clients.Whether these guests are visiting from outside the hotel or are staying at the resort.

I believe that the spa management can do more to attract outside clients as well as in-house hotel guests. At least that was the message that I got from the way the promotion and my booking were handled.

Contact Link

http://grandjumeirah.habtoorhotels.com/site/general/LeisureAndSpa.aspx

Dubai Spa Review: Zen Asia Spa

Zen Asia Spa is your local area type of spa. The one that is conveniently located within walking distance from where you live. And since I happen to live a few blocks away from their JLT branch, I decided to drop in one day to try their back massage treatment.

Facts

The spa offers a wide array of services ranging from Moroccan baths and slimming treatments, nail and hair care services, to waxing, threading and massage treatments.
They have two locations in Dubai; one in Jumeirah Lakes Towers and the other in International City.
They offer gift vouchers, loyalty programs, customized packages and children spa birthday parties.

My Personal Experience

I try to get a back massage whenever I get the chance and time. And I usually go for chain massage centers, reflexology centers, or hotel spas. This time however, I decided to try a place located in my area. Mainly to save on the time and hassle required to reach the place. But also because I heard and read a lot about Zen Asia Spa and I was curious to try it out for myself.

The Therapist

My therapist was a friendly lady from India. Her name was Fatima. I found out from her after the treatment that she is a physiotherapist. Therefore, she knows the right spots to exert pressure on the back or body. I prefer a strong massage and I asked for that when I called to book my appointment. I also informed Fatima about it before the start of the treatment.

Overall Impression

I have to note one thing that I found different from other massage treatments that I had in this country. The therapist was practicing some breathing techniques (not sure if they were intended or not), but this made me feel a bit uncomfortable during my treatment. It took away from the “professionalism” of the massage and place. It kind of set the line between the chain reflexology centers and the hotel spas and the “local area” massage place.

I don’t want to sound obnoxious and I didn’t go there expecting a five-star treatment or service. But at the same time, I was hoping not to feel a considerable amount of difference in the service level and quality of treatment.

Prices

The 30-minute back massage costs 85 AED

Will I Make Another Visit

Honestly, only if I didn’t feel like taking the metro or cab to another place. And wanted to just walk a few blocks (hopefully not in the mid-afternoon like this time) to get a reasonable massage.

Cons

After I had paid, the lady at the reception didn’t seem to care to reply to my good-bye or to even put some effort into maintaining a good relationship with a client who may decide to make another visit. I found this to be the case in many service establishments in Dubai. Except that for massage centers in particular, I think they should pay more attention to their friendliness and behavior with their clients if they wanted to retain them and grow their business. Maybe they could train their staff on customer service or any other related courses.

But I will leave the decision for you ladies to make. If you have tried Zen Asia Spa before, what did you think? what services did you try? which branch did you visit?

If you haven’t then I would recommend it as an option if you live in the JLT area, and would like to go for a massage but are tight on time.

After all, I am called the Rebellious Saudi Diva 😉

Organic Therapy

I was getting a manicure at Nails; an organic beauty salon and spa conveniently located on the other side of the road from where I live…the nail therapist suggested that I go for the November promotion of a full body scrub and half or full body massage for a fairly reasonable fee. It was the perfect therapy following my dad’s visit and our usual running around the malls, restaurants, cafes and this time, exhibitions!

As I went into the dimly lit treatment room, the therapist held a chart with different colors to me and asked me to choose the color that I disliked the most. After a quick glance at the cards, I chose a bright yellow. I always hated the color yellow. It tends to get on my nerves! My lovely therapist then explained how that color represents the element that my body needed the most at this very moment! Yellow was meant to heal the stomach and it is the color of emotions. She later rubbed the oil from that element onto my hands and I was laughing shortly after that. That’s when she said: see, now you are happy 🙂

The white oil scrub from organic French brand Eminence was used and applied in a gentle scrubbing motion all over the body. As we all know, a body scrub specifically helps in getting rid of ingrown hairs, as well as the obvious skin regeneration benefits. Once the polishing was done, I was directed to a modern shower just a hop away from the massage bed. Where I took a quick warm shower in preparation for my soothing back massage. I went for the half body massage only, which is what I usually request whenever I decide to go for a massage treatment anywhere. The therapist applied just the right amount of pressure; strong yet soothing and relaxing. A quick scalp massage was the perfect addition to the treatment. All I could think of during the session was that I must go back for another massage treatment since it was so comforting and since I always suffer from tight knots on my back that don’t seem to ever disappear!

After my highly rejuvenating and gratifying therapy, I headed to a nearby Starbucks for a light tuna sandwich and a decaf Caramel Macchiato. All in all, I’d say I had a pretty chilled and rewarding afternoon/evening.