Tag Archives: Mums in Dubai
SensAsia Urban Spa | Eve Lom Cleansing Facial | A little taste of Thailand in Dubai
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If you are in Dubai this July and August, and you have been reading our travel features in Phuket, you might want to treat yourself to a little taste of Thailand at one of SOTP’s favourite spa in Dubai, SensAsia Urban Spa.
What we tried: The Eve Lom Ultimate Cleanse
Time: 1 hour
Price: AED540
Therapist: Anna
Thoughts: I haven’t let anyone give me a facial in Dubai in 5 years after a horrific experience at a spa (we won’t name and shame them) that I haven’t been back since. I normally just have some botox at my husband’s clinic but since I am still breast feeding so that isn’t an option right now and my skin has been looking more tired and dull after 4 children. Looking for an alternative I decided to give my trusted spa a try. I think the quality of treatments at SensAsia Urban Spa are great, built on a strong foundation as the owner, Salina Handa, grew up in Thailand, and she has such a lovely and simple philosophy to her brand. The treatment was a lovely cleanse using Eve Lom products and a deep clean with 2 masks applied to the face. Anna was light handed and the treatment was relaxing.
Results: My dull skin after all the hormonal changes from having a baby was brighter and cleaner. It wasn’t a glow as such but my skin definitely looked better – I even got my plastic surgeon husband to judge it and it had his approval! Believe it or not, but I will be back.
Top tip: Ask for Anna – she is a really great and experienced therapist for facials.
Special offers: If a facial is not for you, you can treat yourself to a massage at 40% off the regular prices. A 60-minute Balinese massage normally priced at AED399 is only AED279 until 31 August 2015. These prices only apply to certain signature massages that are booked between 10am and 4pm.
SensAsia Urban Spa has four locations, The Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Golf Club, Souk Al Manzil Downtown Dubai, The Village. For more information about the spa and locations go to www.sensasiaspas.com
Travel | Phuket, Thailand | Indigo Pearl Luxury Resort | Review 2 of 3 | Resort Facilities
Photo credit: Seashellsonthepalm
Facilities
Swimming Pools
There are 3 swimmings pools but if you come with children you essentially have 1 swimming pool. The other 2 adult only pools are beautiful, with infinity features, accepting children 14 years and above and one of them has a unique feature with a bar set in the middle for an afternoon tipple.
Beach Club
Our favourite hideout was the mini but gorgeous beach club set across the road from the beach. Phuket, unfortunately in the last 30 years has seen some of its natural beauty ebb away with the hordes of tourists that come every year, and the lack of continued public programs to keep the beaches clean but we agree that out of all the beaches in Phuket, Indigo Pearl has one of the most child-friendly beaches – it still has a wild and natural beauty to it. Normally hotels resorts in the other countries would keep their beaches clean but unfortunately, very few hotels in Phuket, are able to build on the beach are they are actually privately owned. Sadly, most of them are not cared for but we were lucky to have this quaint and sleepy village just on the parameter of the hotel on the beach with your typical massage parlours and seafood restaurants lining the sides of the hotel – if you dare try, a Thai massage will set you back AED50 at most and a meal on the beach with fresh fish or lobster from that day’s catch will cost AED350 for a family of 7. The beach here is cleaner and more child friendly than other areas like Bang Tao beach (Banyan Tree, Outrigger). The vast stretches of beaches means no other beach goer will get in your way and the waves are small enough for our 4 children to enjoy.
Organic garden
SOTP has also to mention that the resort has their own organic garden winning bonus points with our family but not quite large enough to sustain the size of the resort. However, every little bit counts and they are moving in the right direction. Sadly though, the resort has nothing organic on its menu.
Gym and activities
The resort also has a gym with all the latest technogym equipment with an array of classes like pilates. A private pilates session is AED120 – a bargain compared to Dubai prices so naturally we tried the lesson which was fun. In addition, the resort also has two tennis courts, bikes for rent, and adult-sized micro scooters for rent too.
Watersports
The resort has a dive centre and a well-equipped kite surfing shop. The beach is litters the beach with kite surfers braving the winds and the waves – making the beach look so tranquil and mesmerising.
The Kids Club
A small and intimate facility with two Thai carers inside to mind the children, the place has enough to keep children occupied in the 20 minute monsoons that occur ever 3 to 4 hours during the rainy season. The children could watch TV, play on the internet or take origami lessons to create little dogs and swans. The facility was very clean and tidy but our children sadly declined to participate because they preferred to be with us.
Spa & Food Review 3/3- Read more…
Hotel and accommodation Review 1/3 – Read more…
Indigo Pearl is a luxury resort located 10 minutes away from Phuket International Airport. For more information go to www.indigo-pearl.com
Travel | Phuket, Thailand | Indigo Pearl Luxury Resort |Review 1 of 3 | Hotel & Accommodation
Photo credit: Seashellsonthepalm
Travel
It’s easy with Emirates going direct to resort towns like Phuket and Bali. We are now spoilt for choice with flights from Dubai. This summer we head to Phuket to try Indigo Pearl Luxury Resort, which is an easy 6.5 hours from Dubai via Emirates Airlines. There are easy day flights landing in Phuket at 8pm, which is just perfect for the children to go to bed after a quick room service.
The hotel can arrange transfers from the Phuket International Airport to the hotel – a mini van if need be, and we were surprised that the journey is only 10 minutes. We were concerned with hotel being so close to the airport that we would hear the planes but it was very quiet and peaceful.
Weather
We travelled during rainy season but in Phuket this is not really a problem. The dry season runs from December to March but we had sunny days during out stay here. Our kids loved the rain – a novelty for Dubai kids.
Hotel
The hotel is privately owned by the Na-Ranong family who accumulated their wealth and success on their ancestors’ investment in tin mine known as ‘black gold’ back in 1932, which in turn created a flourishing Phuket economy, but today there are only three tin mining sites still active in Phuket. The current owner and Managing Director, Wichit Na-Ranong, used the hotel to attribute memories to his family’s history in the tin mine industry as part of the inspiration to create hotel’s unique designs.
The industrial chic boutique resort set within a jungle landscape was designed by the American architect designer Bill Bensley. The Lobby with its open air unique design is welcoming with its metallic blue tones overlooking the open air Tin Mine breakfast room with cutlery designed to represent wrenches that can be bought as a memory of your stay.
Bensley creates each suite to remind us of the family’s history in the tin mining industry with metallic features at every turn and large compounds of concrete and breeze blocks. In contrast to all the metal, are soft and extremely comfortable beds, and there is little or no reminder that you are in Thailand. The hotel was last renovated in 2006 but the upper tier rooms are still well kept, and the gorgeous pool villas were only built in 2012.
SOTP experienced two room categories…
#1 night in the D-Buk suite. This is their lower & affordable category of suites and during off-peak you might only pay AED900 ++ night. We advise you to take rooms which are not on the ground floor, and if you are travelling with young children note that the lower tiers do not have interconnecting rooms.
#4 nights in the Pearl Shell Suite – there are 7 of these stunning rooms, and they can be arranged in a 2 or 3 bedroom formation. They must be booked in advanced because even in low season they are mostly sold out.
SOTP Recommends: Take the top three luxury tiers: The Pearl Shell Suite, Private Pool Villas or Coqoon Spa Suite. We also recommend booking with the Lightfoot Travel Team in Dubai who have great relations with this hotel for seamless travel.
Indigo Pearl Facilities for families Review 2/3 – Read more…
Indigo Pearl Food & Beverage for families Review 3/3 – Read more…