June 2nd, 2009 by Terry Youens

JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT & SPA

Two exceptional resorts on the golden shores of the Arabian Gulf:

The renowned Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, comprising both the Jebel Ali Hotel and the luxurious Palm Tree Court & Spa, has long been a special Dubai favourite with British visitors.   Enclosed within an extensive private estate of 128 acres of landscaped tropical gardens, the resort is fronted by an 800m sandy beach overlooking the Arabian Gulf and Palm Tree Court & Spa, 40 minutes transfer from either Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport.  It combines stylish accommodation with the benefits of extensive dining options, an exclusive spa, and many sports facilities, including a 9-hole golf course, horse-riding, water sports and kite surfing site nearby, making it an ideal venue for those seeking an active or pampered stay.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Golfer on Resort Course

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Golfer on Resort Course

Jebel Ali Hotel:

The award-winning Jebel Ali Hotel provides 260 rooms including Superior Suites on five floors with views of either the resort golf course or the Arabian Gulf.  Vibrant and inviting interior design plus all the facilities you would expect from a leading four-star hotel can be found at the popular hotel.  Stay at one of the Executive Suites, where you are sure to feel at home or, for the more understated luxury, perhaps opt for one of the Superior Executive Suites beautifully decorated in light wood furniture and trimmings.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Horse Riding

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Horse Riding

Palm Tree Court & Spa:

At the exclusive all-suite Palm Tree Court & Spa, guests enjoy spacious sea-facing or seafront Junior Suites or check into one of the deluxe Royal Jasmine Suites for real VIP treatment.  Royal Jasmine guests revel in luxuries such as airport transfers, butler service on request, a private breakfast venue and the Royal Jasmine Lounge, which serves afternoon tea and cocktails.  Complimentary fax and Internet facilities are amongst other Royal Jasmine member privileges.  The surrounding tropical gardens, pools and waterfalls in this exclusive area of the resort are breathtaking and if you wish to mix business with leisure, modern meeting and conference amenities are readily available.

Extensive dining options:

Whether you prefer a casual alfresco breakfast, a light lunch on the beach, an intimate dinner for two in an elegant restaurant or a cocktail with live music, the resort’s bars and restaurants offer something for every taste, at any time of the day.

Situated at the Palm Tree Court & Spa, Signatures is a stylish and intimate fine dining restaurant offering an array of exquisite dishes prepared with French flair, complemented by a selection of over 60 wines from France and around the world.  Located on the main level of the Palm Tree Court & Spa, offering magnificent views of the lush gardens and sandy beach, the exotic White Orchid Restaurant invites you to savour the flavours of the Far East.  A fusion menu combining Chinese, Japanese and Thai specialities along with a traditional Teppanyaki table ensure a wonderful dining experience.

Overlooking the Palm Tree Court & Spa’s swimming pool, La Fontana Restaurant serves a generous breakfast buffet, Mediterranean cuisine, international dishes and a variety of themed dinner buffets, either indoors or on the large outdoor terrace.  Set on the lower-ground level of the Jebel Ali Hotel, La Traviata Restaurant can be reached by taking the winding staircase down from the Lobby Lounge or via one of the four elevators.  La Traviata Restaurant, the perfect place for an intimate dinner setting and regional Italian cuisine ranging from Neapolitan to Piedmontese.

Palm Tree Court & Spa

Open 24-hours, the Ibn Majed Restaurant is the preferred choice to go on an international culinary journey with different themed dinner menus, generous breakfast buffets and night menus accompanied by breathtaking views onto the tropical gardens and beach.  Take this opportunity to explore cuisine from the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Middle East and China.  Shooters Restaurant is a Western-style American steakhouse famous for the finest flame-grilled steaks.  A circular floor-to-ceiling glass wall allows unimpeded views of the clay shooting ranges below and the outdoor terrace.

The Sports Café is the perfect meeting place before or after a workout or a round of golf.  This casual restaurant in wood and vanilla hues serves a combination of fun fusion cuisine and traditional pub fare either indoors or on the outdoor terrace overlooking the private marina.

Intimate bars, terraces & entertainment:

White Orchid Lounge features maritime décor in warm colours. This chic bar, located at the Palm Tree Court & Spa, is renowned for its vibrant cocktails and excellent live entertainment.  The Anchor is set within the Palm Tree Court & Spa.  Dine alfresco surrounded by palm trees and enjoy superb views of the beach, the Arabian Gulf and golden sunsets.  Freshly made sandwiches, delicious salads and other light fare can be savoured.  Captain’s Bar is the ideal stop after sun-lounging in the resort gardens.  Enjoy light lunches and snacks during the day or relax to the sound of waves at sunset.  Plantation Bar & Terrace has solid wood furnishings and semi-private seating areas with open views of the garden and beach, making it a favourite spot for before and after dinner drinks.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa The Anchor

The Spa at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa:

Beautiful, luxurious and set within stunning surroundings overlooking the beach and Arabian Gulf, The Spa at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa promises to take you on an extraordinary journey of unsurpassed holistic wellbeing.  A member of ‘Leading Spas’, The Spa truly defines itself as a first-class wellness facility incorporating exhilarating contrasts from around the world.

Experienced spa professionals who use the premium spa product range of Elemis, have created a menu with more than 40 innovative face and body treatments designed to rejuvenate body, mind and spirit.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Wet Spa Facilities

Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Wet Spa Facilities

The Spa features ten treatment rooms, a specialised Hammam scrub room, spacious changing facilities, a ladies majlis, relaxation lounge, spa boutique and an extensive wet area with a Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and invigorating showers.  Each guest booking spa treatments receives  complimentary access to the wet spa facilities.

After your treatment you can relax in the ladies majlis, or relaxation lounge, where complimentary herbal teas, fruit juices and fresh fruit will be served.  Spa in Dubai will take on a new meaning of luxury and tranquillity after a visit to The Spa at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa.

May 29th, 2009 by Terry Youens

THE RITZ-CARLTON DUBAI

The Ritz-Carlton tradition is unique – and unchallenged:

Among Dubai’s most distinguished and relatively small, low-rise luxury resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Dubai is a delightful haven of elegance and taste.  Here, privileged guests can enjoy personalised service in a superb setting of 350 square metres of landscaped beach, gardens and pools in the heart of new Dubai Marina beside the Arabian Gulf.  The hotel’s excellent facilities include dining in one of the four speciality restaurants, an award-winning spa blending mystical Far Eastern with European beauty rituals, Ritz Kids Club, tennis, squash and three swimming pools.

The Ritz Carlton Dubai Exterior

The Ritz Carlton Dubai Exterior

Immaculate in design, luxurious in detail, uniting Arab elegance and Western sophistication:

Exalt in a private playground perched upon an exclusive beachfront island situated in the heart of new Dubai Marina.  The Ritz-Carlton Dubai hotel enjoys an exclusive address, and is a true intimate retreat.  The Ritz-Carlton Dubai is a Mediterranean style resort providing renowned Arabian hospitality in an exclusive setting.  The hotel’s Deluxe Rooms and Club Level rooms and suites each offer a personal haven of privacy and tranquillity.  They boast a superb marble bathroom, and feature a private balcony or terrace (with Club Level accommodation enjoying views over the Arabian Gulf), air-conditioning, television, safe and fully-stocked refreshment cabinet.  For those who really want to be pampered to perfection, the impressive Club Level accommodation provides an enhanced variation on the Ritz-Carlton luxury theme and comes with special VIP guest privileges, including a dedicated concierge, exclusive Club Lounge and complimentary food and beverage presentations throughout the day – and into the early hours!

Presenting cuisine that will inspire even the most discerning palates:

Savour the selection of the many fine dining options available at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai.  Each meal presents a visual feast to accompany the exquisite flavours and tastes.  Prepare your senses for an authentic culinary experience like no other.

The Ritz Carlton Dubai La Baie

The Ritz Carlton Dubai La Baie

Splendido features authentic Italian cooking for contemporary palates.  Enjoy fresh breads, pasta and deli items in a New York style décor with an eclectic mix of wood, copper and marble.  Splendido features a large outdoor patio with expansive sea views provides the perfect setting anytime of the day.  The resort’s signature restaurant, La Baie, offers an elegant, warm and relaxed ambience that enchants and attracts guests.  Meals at La Baie are defined by their extraordinary flavours and artful presentations.  La Baie offers a gastronomic experience like no other as seafood that bursts with freshness and flavour features in appetisers and entrées.  In a city now famed for its restaurants, the menu at La Baie is something quite different with an inspirational tasting journey into the ocean depths.  Incandescent with flavour, each mouthful is exquisitely beautiful.  The spectacular outdoor terrace has incredible views of the turquoise waters of the Gulf.

Nowhere else on earth compares to Arabia under the stars – enjoy the soft sea breeze and gently lapping waves on the shore each night in Amaseena, the tented Bedouin Village.  Amaseena features private tents, nightly menu of traditional regional specialities, belly dancing and haunting melodies of old.  The Gulf Pavilion is a casual outdoor restaurant next to the poolside shaded by large umbrellas and date palms, serving grilled seafood and light meals based on the cuisine of Asia and the Pacific Rim.

The Ritz Carlton Dubai Amaseena

The Ritz Carlton Dubai Amaseena

The Lobby Lounge, with its cathedral-like wooden ceiling and paladin windows, is the architectural showpiece of The Ritz-Carlton Dubai.  Fresh bakery items and a wide selection of morning coffees precede the popular tradition of Afternoon Tea.  The terrace features breathtaking views of the Gulf and the surrounding gardens.  Retire to the intimate, stylish and comfortable Library Bar.  The rich carpets and tapestries create a dignified, sophisticated atmosphere.  Both the library and the adjacent Cigar Room epitomise the gracious spirit of The Ritz-Carlton.

Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai:

Escape to a sanctuary where mystical Eastern therapies and treatments blend seamlessly with European wellness and beauty rituals.  Amenities include eight treatment rooms, dry sauna, whirlpool and eucalyptus steam rooms plus two new ladies-only treatment rooms for complete privacy.

The Ritz Carlton Dubai Spa Pool

The Ritz Carlton Dubai Spa Pool