The Beach: Madinat Jumeirah
Stay
Styled to resemble an ancient Arabian city, it’s easy to see why Madinat Jumeirah is a longstanding favourite among Dubai residents as well as tourists. The resort grounds are absolutely idyllic; a serene, luxurious oasis of canals, ornate bridges and landscaped gardens brimming with birdlife. By contrast, the buzzing waterfront dining precinct and retail area of Arabian bazaar Souk Madinat Jumeirah, are happening destinations in their own right, drawing lively crowds each evening. You can choose from the resort’s two luxury hotels Al Qasr or Mina A’Salam, but for total escapism, staying in one of the 29 Dar Al Masyaf villas is best, quite simply because it feels worlds away from the rest of Dubai.
With wind towers, stone courtyards and timber Arabian latticework verandas overlooking the tranquil waterways, the two-storey villas are designed to emulate traditional Arabian summerhouses. There are nine spacious suites in each villa, styled with opulent fabrics and heavy wooden doors and fitted with Cremessa coffee machines. The bathrooms are exceptionally large with deep bathtubs and Amouage amenities. Guests have access to the small swimming pools shared between villas, while the private reception is staffed by impeccably dressed butlers. Whisper quiet in the evenings, the sense of peace and exclusivity is palpable; it’s almost as if you are staying in a boutique resort within a resort, but with Madinat Jumeirah’s far-reaching facilities at your fingertips.
There’s the flawless two-kilometre beach, with the Burj Al Arab looming to the right, where you can snooze on a daybed in one of the shaded cabanas, or try your hand at any number of water sports. There are plentiful pools, a mini waterpark at Sinbad’s Kids Club, while Wild Wadi waterpark is only a buggy ride away. The real highlight however, is travelling aboard an abra – the resort’s traditional wooden boats, which glide noiselessly along the four kilometres of canals, between serene Arabian architecture, date palms and brilliantly coloured bougainvillea, ferrying you wherever you wish.
Dine
From exquisite seafood at Pierchic, perched on a pier above the water, and flavourful Thai cuisine at Pai Thai to the buzzing Mexican restaurant Tortuga, there are more than 40 places to dine at Madinat Jumeirah. For breakfast, Al Muna overlooks the waterways while Khaymat Al Bahar is set beneath Arabesque tent on the beachfront, both offering a dizzying array of options, including health-focused food and juices inspired by Talise Spa.
Unwind
The inimitable Talise Spa is a hallowed haven of pampering. With 26 treatment rooms, there are countless treatments and wellness experiences on offer, but the classic 60-minute Talise Therapeutic massage is custom designed and certainly lives up to its promise of tackling stress and tension. Choose from two deliciously fragrant therapuetic oils, and leave feeling soothed and pampered, with any knots in your shoulders a distant memory.
A two-night stay is priced at Dhs1760 (US$479) excluding taxes, including breakfast and lunch or dinner for two at selected restaurants and entrance to Wild Wadi. Until September 30, 2015.
Tel: +971 4 366 8888; www.jumeirah.com/mjstaycation
The Palm: Anantara, The Palm Resort & Spa
Stay
If it wasn’t for the glittering Dubai skyline that dominates the horizon, a stay at the Anantara Palm Resort and Spa could almost pass for an exotic resort in Thailand. Located on the crescent of the iconic Palm Jumeirah, the sprawling resort is a Thai wonderland of pagoda style rooms and villas, set among shimmering turquoise lagoons, lush gardens and a 400-metre stretch of pristine beach. This is a beachfront, urban retreat with an Asian flair, blending cultural elements from Anantara’s Thai roots in an Arabic setting. Thai traditions are woven into the fabric of the hotel, from electric tuk tuks that zip you around the resort to the colourful longtail boat, shipped all the way from Thailand, which whisks guests over to the Dubai Marina.
The main complex of the hotel is set beneath a huge triangular roof, with 260 rooms clustered around three winding swimming pools (or lagoons). The lagoon rooms feel more like a suite or the ground floor of a villa, with steps that lead down a private deck into the water. Styled in a clean aesthetic combined with subtle Asian design, each room has plush sofas, crisp white linens, Thai hardwood floors, large minimalist bathrooms and Nespresso machines. Facing the beach on the inside the Eastern crescent, the row of 12 beach villas have private infinity pools and a Siam-style sophistication, perfect for guests craving a little more privacy.
But the resort’s piece de resistance has to be its 18 ultra-chic, expansive, over-water villas – sporting glass floors and unrivalled views of the Arabian Gulf, they are surely Dubai’s answer to the Maldives. Water babies will be in their element here, with a whopping 10,000 metres of temperature-controlled waters, including the resort’s vast infinity pool, which has a lively atmosphere and a swim-up bar for sundowners. If lounging lagoon-side is more your thing, look out for the small Thai boats that criss-cross the lagoon pools, dispensing all manner of fruits, cold towels and refreshments to keep you comfortable in the daytime sun.
For guests craving something more active, head to the watersports centre, where you can rent wake boards and hobie cats, and try your hand at kayaking, windsurfing, water-skiing and banana boats. Watch the sun go down at the sleek Lotus Lounge, and soak in the Thai magic as night time sets in, lighting up the resort’s pretty pagoda roofs.
Dine
The hotel’s signature restaurant Mekong serves Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. With a live cooking station and a quirky setting, guests can devour king scallops and barbecue prawns while sitting in a rickshaw or tuk-tuk. For dinner with sensational skyline views, The Beach House serves up Mediterranean fare, or for a taste of down under, Bushman’s serves classic Australian fare such as baked barramundi, kangaroo steaks or emu. For exclusive dining, opt for the Dine by Design bespoke service, where you can dine on the beach or on the privacy of your own terrace.
Unwind
With a exciting hammam facility scheduled to be unveiled early October, the Hotel’s Spa treatments will be temporarily rehoused in two of the resort’s over water villas and a luxurious beach cabana, available for daytime treatments until early June. Guests can also indulge in Thai, Swedish, Arabian, deep tissue or Anantara’s signature massage, in the privacy of their own room or villa.
Prices begin at Dhs1,350 (US$370) excluding taxes
Tel: +971 4 567 8888; www.dubai-palm.anantara.com
The Desert: Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa
Stay
Sun, sea and sand is the tried and tested trifecta of any bliss-infused Dubai escape, but in this case, the “sea” is composed of sand, and the once-imposing city skyline is long since lost in the rear view mirror. The sun, however, is certainly still in the picture, warming the rough, stone walls of Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa. The low-rise getaway, styled to resemble a traditional Arabian fort in the desert, is a 40-minute drive from the city, and is set among undulating, terracotta-toned dunes adjacent to Dubai International Endurance City. The jockeys, trainers and even the horses themselves are currently enjoying a vacation of their own, spending the summer in some of the lushest English paddocks, a far cry from these sun-baked Arabian sands where this resort is primed and ready for summer staycationers.
Following a few sips of fresh lemon and mint juice and an effortless check-in, your concierge will guide you past fine-dining Indian eatery, Masala, and past the sprawling three-tier pool area, which (forgive us for saying) is a bona fide oasis in the sea of enduring sand – you can swim and lounge to your heart’s content while enjoying views of the rolling dunes. The desert-facing Superior Room is located beyond a short series of lefts and rights through the compact yet labyrinthine resort.
The room itself is understated luxury. Illuminated by low lighting, it feels as if it’s been hewn out of the rock itself, particularly due to the stone bathtub, which is nested flawlessly into the curved bathroom wall, and lined with amenities by Bloom & Dorothy Prentice. The vast majority of the cavernous dwelling is devoted to the plush, white King sized bed, which itself warrants a Lawrence of Arabia-worthy trek to reach the other side.
Dine
If you can tear yourself away from your snug enclave for a few hours, make Al Hadheerah your dining destination. Vaunted as offering ‘1001 culinary delights’, the resort’s annexed venue is far more than just a restaurant; it’s an event. By night, the site is transformed into a feast, with rotisserie chickens splayed over hot coals and an enormous brass dome of “ouzi”, an entire lamb that has cooked under the earth over several hours, and is served atop a mound of aromatic rice. The scene is reminiscent of historic Arabia but smacks of a Game of Thrones-esque banquet, complete with percussive beats, strumming bards and live action horseback sword fighting, to render the region’s dynamic history for locals, expats and tourists alike.
Unwind
You don’t have to go far to experience the peace and tranquility of the desert. Hop on board an off-road Jeep experience, travelling in a vintage-style open-top 4x4 from the resort and along a stretch of sandy track. Even long-term Dubai residents will be astonished at the sheer expanse of sand, punctured by flecks of greenery drawing life from the resort’s nearby man-made oasis.
The synthetic brook nourishes the delicate ecosystem, piping out gallons of fresh water for the ‘flamboyance’ of flamingos and herd of deer. Make your own flamboyant return to the resort for a well-earned poolside cocktail and perhaps even spend a few hours firing a few rounds in the nearby archery range, inspired by the feudal scenes the night before.
“The Great Escape” summer package is priced from Dhs490 (US$133) until September 30, 2015. The offer includes extras such as the Jeep drive, camel and horse riding, falconry shows and archery.
Tel: +971 4 809 6498; www.meydanhotels.com/babalshams
Downtown: The Oberoi, Dubai
Stay
Entering The Oberoi is not unlike the adrenaline felt when ascending a roller coaster. A sharp incline builds the anticipation as you are greeted to a valet entrance five stories high, and then on to a lavish marble lobby. With gold leaf ceilings and handcrafted glass chandeliers, it’s filled with glass vases, flowers and smiling staff carrying cold towels and chilled glasses of green juice. The Oberoi might not have a beach, but who needs sand with such a happening location? The gleaming rectangular shaped hotel is just a stone’s throw from Business Bay lake, the epic retail extravaganza that is Dubai Mall, and Sheikh Zayed Road.
Opening less than two years ago as the first Indian owned hotel in the city, The Oberoi blends luxury and professional service. The hotel has a Zen-like energy despite being known for catering to the business traveller, awakening the senses with effortless service and luxurious surrounds. The passion for detail is evident from the moment you check in, from the array of local sweets and freshly squeezed orange juice served in ice-cold champagne flutes on your arrival, to the spacious layout of the 252 luxurious rooms and suites, which are fitted with a king size beds, desks and sofas.
With floor to ceiling windows, most rooms and suites have views over the Dubai skyline, the Burj Khalifa or the Olympic sized outdoor swimming pool. But the bathroom is the icing on the cake; later on after dinner, you can retire to your room, where an enormous freestanding bathtub will be drawn by your butler, bubbling to the brim and sprinkled with red rose petals.
Dine
Dubai does Friday brunch like no other city, and The Oberoi’s Nine7One has evolved into a hot spot for downtown diners. Champagne flows and the Asian fare is fresh, ranging from oysters on the half shell to sushi and noodle soup, along with traditional Indian dishes like butter chicken and saffron rice. Dessert stands out with a molecular gastronomy corner full of epic tastes (and vapours). Try Umai for contemporary Asian and Antana for standout Indian cuisine, both conveniently located on the first few floors.
Unwind
A weekend at The Oberoi is made effortless by kind staff and the availability of amenities. Want to hit the gym? It’s open 24 hours, stocked with cold water bottles and energy-providing snacks. Need a late night massage to unwind? The spa will treat you with care until midnight. Opt for The Oberoi massage, tailored to your preference on scented oils and intensity levels. Even a leisurely swim at dawn is an option, with the pool opening at 6am. After a dip head back down to Nine7One for the endless breakfast spread, open at 6:30am.
Priced at Dhs1250 (US$340), book “The Weekend” package Thursday to Saturday to receive a complimentary upgrade to a Deluxe Suite. Until September 15, 2015.
Tel: +9714 444 1444; www.oberoihotels.com