If pre-trip planning and making reservations in advance is not your forte, check out these 3 pampering and relaxation things to do in Dubai. My friends and I visited Dubai during the winter holiday as we took a breather from our busy work lives. We were able to book these places just days in advance with the help of our hotel concierge. Kicking back and having ample girl time was a priority, and these places did not disappoint!
These Are My Top 3 Relaxing Places in Dubai:
1. Nasimi Beach at Atlantis The Palm
Simply being on Palm Jumeirah gives off the aura of being in Dubai. During the day, brave some heavy traffic on the drive to Atlantis at end of Palm Jumeirah. To enter the hotel, security guards check that you have official business at the hotel – hotel guest, restaurant reservation, etc. To enter Nasimi Beach, there is a separate parking lot and driveway and no prior reservations are necessary for entry.
Reservations can be made on the Nasimi Beach website. The day we went on a Saturday in December, we simply showed up for lunch without a reservation – chair rentals are first come first serve. Enjoy lunch beachside instead of the restaurant dining area to pay into the minimum spend required when renting beach chairs. The minimum spend amounts as of 2013: Beach Recliner 200AED, Sun Bed 700AED, Private Cabana 900AED. Sit back and be immersed in whatever the resident DJ happens to be spinning. After sunset, Nasimi Beach becomes a nightclub so plan your outfits accordingly! We stayed long enough to soak up the sun and relax with cocktails in hand.
One slightly peculiar thing I noticed about the “lake” was that it was filled with stagnant water. The lake didn’t look like it had a direct opening to the Persian Gulf and so the water sat motionless like a sheet of glass. If you’re used to crashing waves at the beach, you may find this beach to be a bit artificial.
Planning tip: Taxis were difficult to come by as we left Nasimi. Many taxis were Lexus vehicles (private taxis and more expensive). Gate minders and security guards can help you flag down regular taxis.
Suggested time to spend: 5 hours
2. Oriental Hammam at the One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel
The Oriental Hammam definitely makes the list of most relaxing places in Dubai. A reservation is recommended, but we only made ours a day in advance. We knew that we wanted a different spa experience from what we could get in North America and set our sights on an Oriental hammam. Similar to a Turkish steam bath, bathers enter a room of hot steamy air before being bathed by an attendant. Cleanliness and bathing is also an important aspect of Islamic culture, as we had noticed the foot baths located within the Grand Mosque.
Our taxi pulled up to the beautiful grounds of the One&Only. The spa is located on the lower level of a separate building from the main hotel. Upon entering the hammam, you will notice striking archways, domes, mosaic lamps, marble and royal blue tiles that harken back to the architecture of traditional Turkish hammams.
We were each assigned a locker space within the women’s change room and instructed to remove everything (except our underwear), leave all belongings inside the locker and to wear the provided robe known as a pestemal. Women and men have different hammam times so both genders never bath enmasse! Either we were uneducated about what a hammam fully involved or the spa failed to give us the full introduction, because we were not prepared for what followed next!
A hammam is a bathing experience where women can relax, socialize and feel invigorated … and socialize we did! If partial nudity is not your cup of tea, then hammam-ing is not for you. My two girlfriends and I got to know one another on a whole new level! Once in the heart of the hammam, our robes came off and we had, what we coined, “a group shower”.
The 80 minute Royal Hammam treatment package includes a full cleansing from a masseuse-attendant, which really means bowls of water are splashed all over you while you just stand there half naked. Imagine a bowl of water hitting your face – just lovely! This initial cleansing ritual takes place in a tiled alcove with other patrons also being splashed beside to you.
Next, you’re ushered into a steam room along with other patrons. Feel free to chat and socialize while acclimatizing to the heat. Back in the hammam, you lie down on a heated marble slab as you receive a body scrub, body wrap with ghassoul (mineral clay), a honey facial and massage. Again, all of these services are performed while you’re lying head-to-toe to other patrons upon the communal marble slab.
Following this rejuvenating hammam journey, kick back with a cup of Moroccan tea and dates in a relaxation room.
Planning tip: 80 minute Royal Hammam treatment package – 425AED
Suggested time to spend: 3.5 Hours
3. Afternoon Tea at the One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel
To round off your day at the most relaxing places in Dubai, unwind for afternoon tea at the Royal Mirage Hotel. We were able to make a reservations for the same day. Afternoon tea is offered in a few different areas of the hotel, but I would highly recommend the balcony at the Samovar Lounge at Arabian Court with views overlooking the hotel grounds. For 99AED per person, enjoy a selection of teas (I had vanilla rooibos tea) and a 3-tired platter of scones, finger sandwiches and desserts.
Suggested time to spend: 2 Hours
Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments below or by sharing it using the social media links!
Safe Travels!
xx Deb
Share your comments!