Health Spa Holiday In Dubai At Atlantis The Palm
If you’ve ever fancied taking your cellulite fighting abroad, and perhaps making it into a full luxury spa getaway, there can be few places on Earth that rival the sheer opulence of Atlantis The Palm.
Constructed on the man-made Palm peninsula, the Atlantis contains 1539 rooms and is based on the famous Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, which it arguably already overshadows. The seven-star resort features a 160,000 square meter water adventure park (sure to keep the kids happy whilst you’re relaxing!) and more than 24 dolphins (which can be swam with as part of the ‘dolphin experience’ package).
The spa itself is something to behold.
It contains 27 beauty treatment rooms and a vast shopping area retailing health, beauty and wellness items. It’s also busy, especially when the hotel itself is bustling, “Once we are at 70 per cent occupancy, the spa is fully booked; today we have a waiting list which is wonderful,” smiles Neil Hewerdine, Vice President of Spa Services.
The spa menu is exhaustive and offers an array of treatments – including a full range of anti-ageing, rejuvenating, detoxifying, purifying and radiating therapies.
The spa is split over two levels and the upper one holds the male grooming area, the highlight of which is the traditional shave with a cut throat razor, performed by an expert barber. Men are said to particularly enjoy this treatment because of it’s historical novelty and connection with the gentleman of former times. It’s also more than just a shave, with a scalp and shoulder massage.
A specialist zone is the manicure and pedicure treatment station by Bastien Gonzalez, which is considered unique as it does not use any water, due to the fact that water is considered dehydrating for the skin when applied externally.
For those with the money, the Atlantis spa also offers the even greater the opulence of The Royal Spa Suite, where water falls from high ceiling jets into an oval pedestal tub and couples can enjoy the luxury of an exclusive private area as they are treated to a three-hour spa treatment.
Another treatment that caught our attention as a great cellulite-reducing treatment was the ‘marine body polish’, where sea algae and ‘gentle buffing grains are blended with extracts of lemon verbena and blood orange to soften the skin.’ The ingredients here, along with the method of application, would definitely help in a determined anticellulite campaign.
Lose inches in one session!
However for the true cellulite beating treatment, the spa also offers Ioniethermie, where specialised machinery is used to clean and help in the detoxification of the body.
This 90-minute anti-cellulite, detoxifying and firming treatment works by helping break down the body’s fat cells and forcing the muscles to contract. It costs approximately £85 and firms and sculpts the body for a much leaner appearance. This treatment can be combined with a 60-minute personal training session in the gym to further improve the effectiveness.
“The results are immediate. There is a feeling of firmness and tautness on the skin, which is much smoother. You are measured in six different places before and after, in the midriff, navel, and the thigh region, and you can lose up to five to six inches in one session,” explained Hewerdine. He quickly adds: “But it’s not in the same region; it is a combination of inches lost in different areas… around the stomach you could lose half an inch because of the firming and toning of the muscles.”
Apart from the usual anti-cellulite treatments, the spa offers some highly intriguing exotic offerings. Take as an example the Atlantis sunset ritual (140 minutes) that will wrap you in “calming herbs, rare flower essences, and the rejuvenating power of the ocean” just as the sun begins to set. It begins with a “toning, detoxifying avocado and aloe vera body exfoliation”, followed by a “purifying mineral-rich Mediterranean seaweed wrap to stimulate lymphatic circulation and eliminate toxins.” This is then followed by a full body massage with lavender and rosewood oils; and finally rounded off with a “fragrant, rejuvenating jasmine facial therapy…allowing you to emerge relaxed, toned and rejuvenated.”
As we know, stress is a massive contributor to cellulite, so this treatment sounds like it could be just the ticket.
Teenage spa
Another area that the spa specialises in is teenage spa treatments. This area isn’t likely to be busy with anti-cellulite treamtnet seekers, but in case you have a teenager or two in your party, it can provide them with a fabulous and beneficial experience. Hewerdine fills in, “We are seeing the trend in the last one year and this will catch up in the next 2-3 years,” adding that treatments for teenagers should be done carefully, paying due regard to their undeveloped bodies. There shouldn’t be any manipulation of the bones “as they are still growing; many spa products are too aggressive on the skin of teenagers,” he adds.
At the Atlantis spa however, there are treatments specially designed for youngsters and occasions where teen facials and scrub massages can be had with parents. So often the father and son can come to the spa together and it becomes a great bonding exercise.