WHAT I TRIED
The Satori Body Sensation at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa, one of the spa's signature treatments that involves two hours of pampering including a steam bath, massage and body wrap.
WHAT I EXPECTED
Well, I expected to be late, because there was no way I was going to find this place in the middle of the desert. My GPS plotter had never heard of it, so I called the resort. The concierge gave me directions and less than an hour later I was there. So it is feasible to pop over for an afternoon massage, although I took the precaution of staying the night in case I was weary after my treatment.
WHAT HAPPENED
After a refreshing ginger tea, my husband and I were ushered into a private steam and sauna suite to prepare for our treatments. The steam room was so steamy I couldn't see anything, so it wouldn't have mattered if there had been other people there. After 20 minutes, a well-built young man named Romeo knocked and asked if we were ready. "Absolutely," I beamed. Then Jira arrived and took me to my room. I quickly recovered from my disappointment as I lay down on the bed, and Jira covered me in white fluffy towels. Then began the "inside and out cleansing" that started with a full body exfoliation.
I always find those massage rooms too cold and the highlight was being wrapped in a cocoon of heated blankets, as well as the hydrating body mask. I must have been totally relaxed because at the end when Jira told me to relax for five minutes before I got up, I fell asleep and woke up half an hour later.
THE VERDICT
My skin felt so smooth afterwards I have vowed to exfoliate on a regular basis. I'm not sure how to replicate the heated blankets and the body mask, though. The spa itself is charming, and the products are my favourite brand: Aromatherapy Associates. It is worth the drive, even if you are not as lucky as me and you get a little lost in the desert.
The Satori Body Sensation at the Satori Spa Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa costs Dh950. To book or for more information, call 04 809 6100
