Walking into the spa of the brand new Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah is a wholly sensory experience. With the azure coastline of the emirate peeking through the gossamer drapes of some treatment rooms, the spa’s interior designer has managed to bring the outside inside.
Ergonomically curved walls glimmer in sand-coloured raw silk, while the soft furnishings are highlighted with accents of aqua and sea green. Even the thick oak doors bear enormous, golden conch-shell handles.
As you sit in the warmly lit reception area and flick through the list of treatments available, you’ll be served handmade chocolates and fresh juice. One thing that will immediately strike you is the serenity of the space: you’ll be able to hear a pin drop, probably because the facilities are exclusively for hotel guests and not day visitors.
I opted for a 90-minute hot stone massage using Voya Organic Beauty products, having been a fan of the brand since it launched in the UAE in recent years. What a treat to see the sustainable seaweed range, produced on the Atlantic shores of Sligo in Ireland, on the menu.
With shoulders tense from hunching over a laptop all day, the deep-tissue treatment effectively banished my many knots. And as promised, the warm seaweed left my skin hydrated and baby soft.
What made the treatment all the sweeter was having it done in the VIP or couples room. With its private plunge pool, steam room, sofas and twin beds, it’s the ultimate way for honeymooners or those seeking extra privacy to experience the spa’s facilities.
As an hour and a half flew by, I almost fell asleep on the heated treatment bed and the masseuse roused me with a cup of camomile tea and baked Arabian sweets.
All too soon it was time to shuffle back to my Deco-inspired, sea-facing hotel room, via a private guest lift and wrapped up in a luxuriously oversized Boca Terry bathrobe.
If you have the time, take my advice and order one of the Waldorf’s Master experiences before you turn in for the night. Surely the ultimate end to a spa day, a Bath Master will draw you a custom-made bath of mood-enhancing essential oils and infusions.
I’d also recommend summoning the hotel’s Fragrance Master, who will create a slumber-inducing ambience in your room at turndown time. Through the use of aromatherapy products and signature scents of rose, mint and jasmine, pampered pillow talk and deep sleep is guaranteed.
• The hot stone massage costs Dh800 excluding taxes. For reservations at the Waldorf Astoria, call 07 203 5555 or visit www.waldorfastoria3.hilton.com
[ rduane@thenational.ae ]
