Hitting the reset button in Dubai
Still a hidden gem known mostly to Europeans, the coast of Croatia offers natural beauty, and a fun nightlife.
A break means entirely different things at different times to different people. After spending limited time away over the last two years for obvious reasons, except for a couple of ‘home from home’ holidays (which involve doing exactly as you do every other day but in a different house - shopping, washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning for four kids and a dog but with the added bonus of annual leave and a slightly earlier cocktail hour…), my other half and I decided to go beyond the East Neuk for an Arabian adventure and much needed hit of the reset button.
Our choice of retreat is Sofitel Dubai The Palm, a Polynesian style resort, situated on the East Crescent of Palm Jumeirah with views of the Arabian Gulf on one side and the Palm on the other.
The resort was designed to be a place of rediscovery and enchantment, drawing its style from the French Polynesian islands. The main entrance features the tiki symbol on its enormous wooden doors, through which you’ll step inside to an other-worldly interior; earthy tones, American ash, bamboo, green foliage and an array of tranquil water features evoke the lushness of South Seas.
The hotel lobby sits under a natural wood cabana, the tendrils of the Koru, a traditional fern symbolising the embodiment of new life spiral from the top of a living wall vertical garden, creating a unique botanical ‘outdoors indoors’ tropical escape.
An infusion of traditional Polynesian symbols and motifs appear all around; the Koru, Gecko, Tiki, Turtle, Butterfly, and Tiare flower symbolise peace, freedom, energy, connection, life, and new beginnings. Quite frankly, that’s the content I’m here for.
We arrive after midnight and head to our Junior Suite, an expansive 60m living space with an uplifting, exotic blend of natural, luxurious features. The bathroom has a centralised oval stone bath overlooking the living space and a separate rain shower room. Rich purple and blue textiles add a sultry depth to the understated, airy interior, creating the most perfect of welcomes after a long journey.
The 24-hour hotel fitness facility has an early morning allure which my other half’s sub-zero temperature garage gym is somewhat lacking in late February, so it’s an easy morning bed roll into gym gear, quick water bottle grab and on to the treadmill.
My daily post gym reward is wash of endorphins followed by a salt bath, cold pressed vitamin fuelled superfood juice and views of a sunshine-soaked Palm.
Breakfast at the Manava restaurant is as healthy as you want to make it with cereals, seeds, yoghurts, fresh fruit, omelettes or choose from a deliciously impressive international buffet if you’re feeling more indulgent.
A lazy post-breakfast meander along the palm lined brick pathways, past the thatched-roof huts takes us to the golden sands and crystal blue waters of the Arabian Gulf and our tiki cabana for our post-flight flop.
The rest of the day is spent soaking the rays, the warm breeze tickling my free-flowing thoughts into afternoon slumber, punctuated only by the peripheral sounds of gentle splashes from the pool and the distant chilled house beats. I’m a world away…
I wake to a dreamy vibe as dusk descends; the hour or so before sunset is an enthralling time of day in Dubai. The blend of pink and orange hues across the sky, the sweet smell of the shisha and the promise of an Arabian sunset - sundowner time.
We have a choice of 12 restaurants, bars and lounges in the resort; the multi award-winning Porterhouse Steaks & Grills, one of the most popular steakhouses in Dubai is top of the list. An elegantly relaxed restaurant with moody lighting, dark wood accents and buttery leather armchairs; think chic ‘speak-easy’, it’s the perfect pre-prandial venue with a list of vintage cocktails to lose yourself in.
Dinner is a dozen oysters followed by an Australian Black Onyx Angus Tomahawk and side portions of creamy spinach, hand cut chips, wild mushroom fricassee, grilled asparagus and a classic Béarnaise sauce, washed down with a full bodied, smoky Argentinian Malbec. A welcome, end of day diversion from all those good intentions we arrived with.
Another early morning rise on Day 2 presents an ideal opportunity for a long-awaited victory on the tennis court, followed by a swim and continental breakfast which sets us up perfectly for a cruisy morning around The Palm and marina in the hotel’s speedboat, gawping at the mind-blowing impressiveness of skyscraper meets sand meets sea meets speedboat. It’s a world away from a Zoom laden day at the desk; the sparkling stuff memories are made of.
A beachy afternoon follows and a wander to The Palm’s trendiest beach bar, the Laguna Lounge for the signature Smoked Chocolate Negroni in our elevated, pagoda style, Barasti walled cabana to watch the sunset fall over the city.
Dinner is a super casual shuffle from cabana heaven to the hotel’s Desi Junction Brunch, a brand-new night brunch offering a rich and aromatic journey through India’s vibrant street markets, with an array of food stalls and live cooking stations. Choose from a selection of south Indian dishes such as Fish Koliwada and Kerela Fried Chicken, curries, chaat, dahl, rice and deliciously sweet and syrupy deserts. Standout Indian food accompanied by a gentle evening breeze and moonlit views across the Palm; a dreamy end to the day, another memory made.
Our final day has a somewhat less tranquil but thoroughly exhilarating start as we step into our very own ‘pocket yacht’, a Sea Camel mini-speedboat for a fast and furious glide across the Arabian Gulf and Palm, pushing the throttle to the max as we speed past endless luxury villas, resorts, sandy stretches and the palaces. Entering the marina is a great deal more subdued thanks to the speed limit; it feels entirely Bond movie like, drifting slowly and quietly past the towering glass buildings as we watch a group of skydivers wind their way towards the ground.
Breakfast is not for me today thanks to my slightly wobbly sea legs so it’s a trip to the resort’s newly renovated spa for a very long-awaited massage.
One of the biggest spas in Dubai, the newly renovated SPA L’OCCITANE has 28 treatment rooms, hammam facilities, steam room, sauna, plunge pool, infinity pool and female and male relaxation rooms. The ‘Journey to Arabia’ signature treatment with rose fragranced body scrub combines Swedish effleurage, Chinese acupressure and Balinese massage techniques to release stress and tension and the feeling that I’m still riding along on the crest of a wave.
An utterly rejuvenating experience followed by a sun-fest afternoon takes us to cocktail hour and a Sangria Infused Rosé at the Laguna Lounge. With an early morning flight, we’re keen to avoid anything on the heavy side for dinner so we’re off to the resort’s Moana seafood restaurant, an exquisite fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. Choose from a selection of sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls; Peruvian specialties include Street Truck Ceviche, Hokkaido Scallops Tiradito, Salmon Criollo, Grilled Chicken Anticucho and many more. I may spend the rest of my life trying to recreate the tuna ceviche.
Three days away from work, children and dog is just enough time to rest, recalibrate and delve into a whole new world of experiences in Dubai with some very much needed dawn to dusk sunshine, relaxed luxury, out of this world cuisine and just the right balance of thrill and chill.