Tag Archives: Travel and Leisure Magazine

Tasteful desert resort and spa

Bab 736638 Tasteful desert resort and spaWow…am already back in the U.S. The last few days of my Dubai trip was a whirlwind, but I don’t want to neglect mentioning the other spas I saw and what I learned about the spa industry as a result of my visit.

Jumeriah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa is what I envision when I think “Arabian Nights”. Tasteful and stunning. This property is a 45-minute drive from Dubai straight out into the desert. Someone suggested that my sister, who was with me, take a brightly colored cloth with her on our trip. She was puzzled and asked, “Why?” The answer from the smart-alecky guy was “So you will remember what color looks like.” OK, very funny. As it turns out, we loved the pale desert setting and the understated décor of Bab Al Shams. The long stretch of desert dunes was a welcome contrast to the glitz and brash color combinations found in many of the Dubai hotel and resort settings.

**
If you wish to be put on a list that automatically sends my blog posts to your email, just let dulcy.gregory@spafinder.com know and she will add you to that list. Thanks so much!

Roosevelt Baths and Spa Boost “Sanus Per Aquam”

little spa theater 714489 Roosevelt Baths and Spa Boost Sanus Per AquamDriving back to the city from the NYSPA meeting at The Sagamore, we were accompanied by Ingo Schweder (Corporate Spa Director, Mandarin Oriental ) and his delightful fiancé. We stopped at the Roosevelt baths in Saratoga Springs right next to the Gideon Putnam resort, which were remodeled into a beautiful spa just a few years ago. We were impressed with how the spa management maintained the original feel of “taking the waters” in this area, yet were still able to incorporate the services and products of a truly outstanding spa. I guess we aren’t alone; over the weekend the spa, which has 42 treatment rooms, was totally sold out!

And just in case we were wondering whether all the water in those baths is really mineral rich, each of us was treated to a glass of natural mineral water directly from the spring. Ugh, be forewarned – you’ll want to think “tiny sip.” But it did drive home the point that bathing in these waters is different than sitting in tapwater at home. Therapeutic benefits? Well, it certainly seems like a possibility.

**
If you wish to be put on a list that automatically sends my blog posts to your email, just let dulcy.gregory@spafinder.com know and she will add you to that list. Thanks so much!