Romantic escapism at The Palace
ATN checked into one of Dubai's newest properties, The Palace, The Old Town, to experience a 'Romantic Escapism' package.
Summer may be the season for fleeing the Gulf to seek cooler climes or jetting off to exotic locations for romantic honeymoons, but these occasions don't always warrant a long-haul flight.
In fact, GCC residents should look closer to home where there are opportunities aplenty to ‘get away from it all' and indulge in some summer loving.
ATN discovered that The Palace, The Old Town, one of Dubai's newest properties, is a place where your clients can seek refuge and be indulged in true honeymoon style, whether they are newlyweds or not.
"LeSpa at The Palace has a warm and homely atmosphere."
ATN discovered that The Palace, The Old Town, one of Dubai's newest properties, is a place where your clients can seek refuge and be indulged in true honeymoon style, whether they are newlyweds or not.
The hotel - a luxurious, yet homely haven in the middle of Dubai -- is offering a ‘Romantic Escapism' package, designed for couples seeking a weekend of relaxation and indulgence and offering all the components they could wish for - from spa treatments, private dining and champagne breakfasts to in-room chocolate fountains, rose-petal baths and luxurious and private surroundings.
The red carpet treatment
ATN's ‘Romantic Escapism' package started with a limousine pick-up from our villa. A chauffeur-driven S-class Mercedes arrived at our doorstep making us the envy of all our neighbours and we were spared the stress of driving through Dubai's notoriously bad traffic.
Before we knew it we'd been whisked away to The Palace - an Arabian-themed hotel with a very subtle French twist (thanks to the property's French management company Sofitel) - where we were immediately made to feel at home.
Our butler greeted us and escorted us to our Royal Suite where we not only checked-in privately but feasted our eyes on a culinary display that made our mouths water.
After cold towels, champagne and juice, I scanned the room and spotted a tray of chocolates and cakes, a giant chest of fruit and the pièce de résistance - a chocolate fountain surrounded by bite-sized cakes, strawberries and pineapple. This was a first for me and as a certified chocaholic, I was already mightily impressed.
Suite dreams
The Royal Suite is one of 81 suites on offer at The Palace. Measuring 106m², the suite is tastefully decorated in modern Arabian style, again, with a homely feel that resonates throughout the property.
It comprises four main areas - a living room with large flat-screen TV, coffee table and desk and an adjoining cloakroom; a bedroom with king-sized bed, flat-screen TV, DVD player and ladies' vanity unit with a large built-in mirror and hairdryer (very impressive); a large bathroom with separate shower and toilet, free-standing bath, double wash basins and a spacious wardrobe and luggage area; and an outdoor terrace overlooking the majestic Burj Dubai.
At your leisure
For clients wishing to venture outside the comfort of the suite there are plenty of recreation facilities on offer - choose from a dip in the outdoor pool, a walk around the neighbouring souk or a quick session in the gym to work off the calories ingested from the chocolate fountain. We chose the latter to work up an appetite for dinner.
Rose-coloured spectacle
When we returned to the suite we were greeted by mellow music and a trail of petals that led to a hot and bubbly rose-petal bath. Also waiting was a bottle of champagne on ice.
But this was just the prelude to an evening of pure indulgence and relaxation. Post-bath we donned fluffy robes and were treated to a peppermint foot bath ritual while the turn-down service was completed in our bedroom, complete with chocolates, slippers and a toy camel called ‘Momo'.
Private dining
While dressing for dinner two butlers worked their magic on our terrace and created a romantic al fresco dining setting.
Arabic lanterns and candles lit the table and we sipped champagne while we perused the menu.
The awaiting feast comprised an oyster and beluga caviar appetiser, scallops and foie gras, a champagne sorbet/palate cleanser, a veal-and-lobster main course and for desert, a selection of treats, all accompanied by fine wine and followed with tea and coffee.
There was no room for cheese, as much as I would have loved to have eaten even more.
The private dining experience was intimate and romantic and was made complete by the background music provided by the Argentinian band, courtesy of the hotel's Asado restaurant.
But no sooner had we digested this sumptuous feast than it was breakfast time!
Fruit, caviar, breads, pastries, eggs benedicte and bite-sized cakes, all washed down with champagne, juice, coffee and tea made for a satisfying start to the day and prepared us for our final treat - the spa treatment.
Chilling at LeSpa
Just like the hotel, LeSpa at The Palace has a warm and homely atmosphere. The facility spans two levels, with the male spa and a unisex gym on one and the female spa on the other.
About the palace
Full title: The Palace, The Old Town, Dubai.
Location: The Old Town Island, Downtown Burj Dubai, offering views of the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, which is surrounded by the Burj Dubai Lake. It is also next door to Souk Al Bahar and the soon-to-open Dubai Mall.
Managed by: Sofitel Luxury Hotels.
Number of rooms: 242 including 81 suites, all with balconies overlooking the lake or The Old Town Island.
Customer service: each floor is equiped with a 24-hour guests relations station while a personal butler service is assigned to every room.
Dining: Thiptara (Thai fine-dining); Asado (Argentinian country farmhouse); and Ewaan (all-day dining - Middle Eastern and Mediterranean).
Leisure: LeSpa - separate male and female spas over two floors with features including monsoon showers, steam rooms, a Vichy shower and oriental bath house with hammam slab; a gym with personal trainers available; and an outdoor swimming pool. A hairdressing salon and barber shop will open soon.
Meetings: The Royale is the hotel's main conference room, which can be divided into two separate meeting spaces, with a pre-function area and private entrance; and two smaller meeting rooms - ‘Palatine' and ‘Regal'.
For more details: Tel: +971 4 428 7888 or visit www.sofitel.com
Full title: The Palace, The Old Town, Dubai.
Location: The Old Town Island, Downtown Burj Dubai, offering views of the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, which is surrounded by the Burj Dubai Lake. It is also next door to Souk Al Bahar and the soon-to-open Dubai Mall.
Managed by: Sofitel Luxury Hotels.
Number of rooms: 242 including 81 suites, all with balconies overlooking the lake or The Old Town Island.
Customer service: each floor is equiped with a 24-hour guests relations station while a personal butler service is assigned to every room.
Dining: Thiptara (Thai fine-dining); Asado (Argentinian country farmhouse); and Ewaan (all-day dining - Middle Eastern and Mediterranean).
Leisure: LeSpa - separate male and female spas over two floors with features including monsoon showers, steam rooms, a Vichy shower and oriental bath house with hammam slab; a gym with personal trainers available; and an outdoor swimming pool. A hairdressing salon and barber shop will open soon.
Meetings: The Royale is the hotel's main conference room, which can be divided into two separate meeting spaces, with a pre-function area and private entrance; and two smaller meeting rooms - ‘Palatine' and ‘Regal'.
For more details: Tel: +971 4 428 7888 or visit www.sofitel.com
Before my treatment I was encouraged to spend 30 minutes in the bath house area where I cleansed in the steam room, refreshed in the monsoon shower and then relaxed on the warm hammam slab. I was then collected from the bath house and taken to the treatment room by my therapist.
I had opted for one of the LeSpa signature massages -‘Euphorising massage with cool and warm shells'. This was similar to a hot stone massage but the sensation was less intense and more gentle and ultimately offered a soothing experience that included both a body and facial massage.
After one-hour of pure relaxation, I changed into a big fluffy robe and took some time out in the ‘recovery' lounge where I sipped ginger tea and read books.
Meanwhile, my husband experienced a ‘Mineral massage' designed to relieve muscular tensions.
Hungry for more
The ‘Romantic Escapism' package encompasses all of the above and ends with a chauffeur-driven journey back to the guests' home or the airport. However, we were lucky enough to stay on for the new Saturday brunch at the hotel's Argentinian restaurant, Asado.
This restaurant is highly recommended for both Dubai residents and anyone visiting the emirate and the Saturday brunch gives diners the opportunity to sample a wide variety of South American specialties and beverages.
Stand-outs for us were the quality of the meat, particularly the beef, which was cooked to perfection by the Peruvian chef.
Not only that but there were five different types of salt - from volcanic salt to sea salt from Wales - from which to choose, not to mention five very unusual mustard varieties.
The romantic escapism package
Price: AED 4000 (US $1089) per person
Includes:
Limousine pick-up
Welcome footbath ritual
One-night stay in a luxury suite
Dinner on the private terrace
Band on the private terrace during dinner
Champagne breakfast LeSpa rejuvenation package
Added extras:
For clients seeking extra indulgence over a weekend period suggest brunch - on Friday at Ewaan and Saturday at Asadao.
Friday brunch at the Ewaan all-day dining restaurant is priced at AED 390 ($106) per person and includes food and free-flowing champagne, tea, coffee and soft drinks. Saturday brunch at Argentinian restaurant Asado is priced at AED 360 ($98) per person and includes food, wine, beer and soft beverages.
Price: AED 4000 (US $1089) per person
Includes:
Limousine pick-up
Welcome footbath ritual
One-night stay in a luxury suite
Dinner on the private terrace
Band on the private terrace during dinner
Champagne breakfast LeSpa rejuvenation package
Added extras:
For clients seeking extra indulgence over a weekend period suggest brunch - on Friday at Ewaan and Saturday at Asadao.
Friday brunch at the Ewaan all-day dining restaurant is priced at AED 390 ($106) per person and includes food and free-flowing champagne, tea, coffee and soft drinks. Saturday brunch at Argentinian restaurant Asado is priced at AED 360 ($98) per person and includes food, wine, beer and soft beverages.
And it's not just the food that is authentic - so too is the décor and design of the outlet, the centerpiece of which is a goat on a slow-roast spit.
The Argentinian farmhouse vibe is juxtaposed with views of modern Downtown Dubai - just glance out of the window and the Burj Dubai stands in all its glory.
It was truly a pleasure to eat there and we returned the following weekend to dine with our friends.
Also worth a big mention is the Friday brunch at Ewaan, which has a Mediterranean focus with an impressive seafood and sushi display, although an all-day breakfast with eggs and the works is worth trying too. You can wash this down with free-flowing champagne or soft drinks galore.
The highlight for me, however, was the cheese selection -and this is where the French influence of Sofitel comes to the fore. I counted at least 12 different cheese varieties and I sampled all of them, from creamy Camembert to crumbly feta.
For agents selling the 'Romantic Escapism' package, it's definitely worth throwing in the Friday and Saturday brunch to create a weekend of pure unadulterated indulgence.
Editor's verdict
What makes The Palace special is its atmosphere. It is luxurious without being over-the-top and although it has 242 rooms, it feels like a boutique hotel.
Much like another of my favourite Dubai hotels, the Park Hyatt Dubai, it is a low-rise property, which automatically creates a residential atmosphere while there is plenty of natural light.
The interior design is again, luxurious, but homely and residential and embodies Arabic design without reverting to heavy fabrics and too much dark wood.
Facilities at The Palace tick most of my boxes - a spa, gym, a good variety of F&B outlets and a souk adjoining the property.
The staff are attentive and have obviously been well-trained. In this respect it is not surprising that the property's general manager was a former employee of The Ritz-Carlton Company LLC.
Employees are polite, friendly, helpful and look like they actually enjoy their jobs - this is a rarity in Dubai.
The Romantic Escapism package itself has been well thought out and contains all the ingredients to live up to its name - a large suite with private balcony, a butler service, private dining, champagne, caviar, chocolate fountains and pampering treatments such as massages, baths and foot rituals.
Although the property is located in central Dubai, this package makes you feel like you could be anywhere you want to be.
You can opt for total privacy or make the most of facilities the hotel and its surrounds has to offer.
I would say this package is a must-sell to honeymooners or those celebrating special occasions - anniversaries and birthdays etc. Failing that, Dubai residents seeking a 'getaway from it all' experience should also be targeted, not to mention couples living in the region that fancy an indulgent weekend break in Dubai.
What makes The Palace special is its atmosphere. It is luxurious without being over-the-top and although it has 242 rooms, it feels like a boutique hotel.
Much like another of my favourite Dubai hotels, the Park Hyatt Dubai, it is a low-rise property, which automatically creates a residential atmosphere while there is plenty of natural light.
The interior design is again, luxurious, but homely and residential and embodies Arabic design without reverting to heavy fabrics and too much dark wood.
Facilities at The Palace tick most of my boxes - a spa, gym, a good variety of F&B outlets and a souk adjoining the property.
The staff are attentive and have obviously been well-trained. In this respect it is not surprising that the property's general manager was a former employee of The Ritz-Carlton Company LLC.
Employees are polite, friendly, helpful and look like they actually enjoy their jobs - this is a rarity in Dubai.
The Romantic Escapism package itself has been well thought out and contains all the ingredients to live up to its name - a large suite with private balcony, a butler service, private dining, champagne, caviar, chocolate fountains and pampering treatments such as massages, baths and foot rituals.
Although the property is located in central Dubai, this package makes you feel like you could be anywhere you want to be.
You can opt for total privacy or make the most of facilities the hotel and its surrounds has to offer.
I would say this package is a must-sell to honeymooners or those celebrating special occasions - anniversaries and birthdays etc. Failing that, Dubai residents seeking a 'getaway from it all' experience should also be targeted, not to mention couples living in the region that fancy an indulgent weekend break in Dubai.