The Dead Sea is by many best known for its restorative properties, soothing salt water and historical significance, but these days it is also becoming known for its luxury resorts. Among the most premium of them is the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort.

The Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa is situated between the mountains and the Dead Sea, near ancient, sacred sites such as Mount Nebo and the Jordan River.

Its calming seaside location and premium amenities are making it a favorite among international visitors, many of whom include Americans who appreciate the Marriott brand.

The resort’s staff is known to be among the most hospitable in the country providing a genuine welcoming spirit that will rival some of Amman’s most luxurious and established names. Public areas have been refreshed to international standards and are consistently updated to ensure the latest in comfort and style.

An international buffet provides three meals a day, but the Italian buffet is perhaps the most interesting of the hotel’s dining outlets offering lunch and dinner menus. Champions is the well-known sports bar popular with expatriates and frequent Marriott guests. At dinner time, a steak house, seafood outlet and various other hotel specialty restaurants vie for guests’ attention. The seafood restaurant is generally the most popular, and an outdoor snack bar is available throughout the day.

Check out all their dining outlets here.

Recreation is the primary focus here and encompasses the heated outdoor pools, a private beach, an indoor pool, a whirlpool, sauna, steam room and not least excellent spa services.

The spa blends European and Eastern therapeutic treatments and ceremonies to create an unforgettable experience in supreme luxury and the spa menu offers invigorating treatments using natural elements of the Dead Sea.

The Spa at the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa was designed to incorporate the natural unique elements of the Dead Sea to combat the stresses and drains of modern day life and nurture a healthy balance. The Dead Sea is probably the most exceptional body of water on earth, and its surroundings the most extraordinary.

Amenities include Rasul treatments, a Dead Sea saltwater pool, whirlpools, hydrotherapy, scrub wrap rooms, and a Turkish bath and solarium.

Guests can also try the unique Heat Experiences, make use of their Hammam  scented Sauna and of course the Spa Pool which offers a variety of body jets which in turn provide mineral rich waters at the optimal temperature for the body to rebalance.

The Sunrise and Sunset Terraces are unique to the spa, providing the perfect places to rest, unwind and take in the beautiful surroundings.

Finally, have a look at their Special Packages offered at the spa by clicking here.

A fitness center caters to the muscle-clad guest, and although less-agile guests may encounter problems reaching the waterfront because of the stairways, arrangements are in place to ensure all guests can get there.

In terms of the resort’s accommodation it is a modern look which prevails  with colorful fabrics, plush duvets and linens, and contemporary lighting. Guest rooms come with the expected amenities including minibars, safes, cable TVs, high-speed Internet access (both wired and wireless for a fee), and dual-line phones with voice mail and data ports.

Views of the sea can be enjoyed from nearly every one of the resort’s total of 251 rooms, and many of these offer private terraces too.

Click here for a complete overview of all types and sizes of accommodation offered by this resort.

So how do guests rate this unique place and resort ?

Well 70 out of a total of 86 reviews on TripAdvisor.com rate the resort as Excellent or Very Good and only 8 in total as poor.

Let us check out some of these comments made recently by visitors to The Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa :

A couple from the UK have this to-the-point comment about their stay :

Their location on the Dead Sea is spot-on…Access to the Awesome body of water and it’s precious mud makes the pricey tag on this hotel worth it!!!

NOW..eating we ate at the sports bar..8/10..the Italian terrace 9/10 and yes we stayed away from the steak house couldn’t justify eating a £50 steak!!

A couple from Dublin, Ireland also liked it :

This is a lovely hotel and would highly recommend it for a totally relaxing holiday. The hotel is pretty isolated and am not sure what there is in the local area. Lovely for a few days of total relaxation. The hotel swimming pools run right down to the dead sea with direct access from the hotel to the sea. The spa is also excellent with a full range of facilities. Stayed in Amman city for a few nights before we got to the dead sea but would recommend going straight to this resort and avoiding the city as we did not really like it and really felt our holiday started when we got here..

An expat living in Dubai found the experience good but not five star and argues :

The hotel staff are very efficient and welcoming, and throughout our one week stay we found everyone courteous and helpful. The location and view across the Dead Sea from our room was fantastic. We had booked a suite and was a little disappointed to find it was what would be a standard Marriott room anywhere else, except for the additional king bed, nevertheless it was well maintained and the beds were very comfortable!

The pools were quite busy throughout our stay, but the drinks service around them left a lot to be desired, the staff being kept very busy all day and there didn’t appear to be enough of them to meet the demand. Food cannot be bought at the poolside and there is no opportunity to eat at the poolside either. You have to go to one of the indoor restaurants, which wasn’t what we had in mind. Two of the eateries don’t serve food during the day either, leaving the choice of Champions (fast food), the Italian (more expensive) or the buffet in the main hotel area, which is a bit of an uphill trek if you at one of the lower pools or the “beach”. We would have expected in a 5 star resort to be able to eat where we wanted and without the constraints on the outlets.

Read his full review here and all TripAdvisor reviews of this resort here.

Finally, have a Photo Tour of the resort by clicking here and see the amazing views and indoors.

Have you ever fancied the perfect luxury get-away which combines world-class golf and world-class Spa in Caribbean surroundings ? If the answer is yes have a look at this resort review of the PUNTACANA Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic which also features the much acclaimed Tortuga Bay Private Beach & Vacation Villas.

Located on the Dominican Republic’s eastern coast, PUNTACANA Resort & Club offers the ultimate in luxury, service and adventure.  From the  PUNTACANA Hotel or the exclusive Tortuga Bay, a secluded enclave with impeccable service and decor designed by Oscar de la Renta, travelers will find an array of amenities certain to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes.

Also set within the 26 square miles of lush Caribbean landscape is an elite residential community:  The Estates at PUNTACANA Resort & Club.  Seamlessly incorporated into its paradisical setting, the Estates is comprised of four private neighborhoods, including Tortuga Bay, Hacienda, Arrecife and the most exclusive community, Corales, which is home to Oscar de la Renta, Julio Iglesias, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, among others.

The PUNTACANA Hotel.

Find yourself along three miles of pristine, white beaches and surrounded by exquisite, colourful gardens. The 105-acre PUNTACANA Hotel is the ideal setting for a Dominican escape. Their one, two, and three bedroom accommodations offer flexible options to fit any vacation plans.

As a natural extension of their superior Dominican hospitality, all guests receive the comfort of numerous amenities, including frette linens, coffee maker, cable television, air conditioning, safety deposit boxes, and wireless internet available in the lobby, pool area and even on the beach.

Click here for an overview of the accommodation options at the hotel.

View the gallery from the hotel here.

TORTUGA BAY.

For an even more up-market offering the PUNTACANA Resort & Club offers the Tortuga Bay. Its 30 suites, located in 13 spacious luxury villas and designed by Oscar de la Renta, offer an understated, airy elegance characterized by neutral tones, wicker furniture, rich woods and plenty of natural light. Each suite comes equipped with a plasma television and D.V.D. player, a golf cart for convenient navigation of the resort’s grounds, and a butler offering warm, personal service. Guests at Tortuga Bay are given full access to the Puntacana Resort & Club with its many restaurants and bars, shopping mall, spa and ecological reserve.

As a Tortuga Bay guest, the friendly, professional staff will take care of every detail, from the moment you touch down at the Punta Cana International Airport. The VIP Service will whisk you through customs to a private car that has been awaiting your arrival. After a brief ride through the lush and vibrant Dominican scenery, your personal concierge will welcome you, check you in at your villa and provide you with your own golf cart for convenient travel throughout the resort. The Tortuga Bay experience extends well beyond unparalleled service.

Inspired by rich, indigenous culture, villas will envelope you in a true Dominican experience. Elegantly furnished and decorated with authentic materials, Tortuga Bay villas feature spacious interiors and balconies with brilliant views of La Cana Golf Course or the crystal blue Caribbean waters. Oscar de la Renta has infused his Dominican heritage into the design of each villa, creating an artful harmony between simplicity and elegance. All rooms offer the finest Frette linens, separate kitchens for each bedroom and luxurious, well appointed coralline stone bathrooms. There are numerous villas to choose from – featuring one to three luxurious bedrooms.

Throughout the PUNTACANA Resort are eight world class restaurants. With a diverse array of cuisine and ambiance, guests are sure to find something for every palette, mood and occasion. Enjoy the freshest Mediterranean cuisine and seafood in an elegant ambiance, lovely traditional Italian fare with a Southern flavor, grand buffets for breakfast and dinner, and a wide selection of gourmet pizzas. And for a truly special dining experience, visit Bamboo, tucked away at Tortuga Bay. The unique menu blends Caribbean and Asian influences for a variety of innovative fusion dishes in a cozy, graceful setting designed by Oscar de la Renta. For breakfast enjoy the grand cold dish buffet and prepare hot dishes made to order. For lunch, try one of the healthy plates which can be enjoyed in Bamboo or while soaking in the sun beside the pool. And any time of day, a diverse selection of gourmet coffees and international teas will be offered. Tortuga Bay at PUNTACANA Resort & Club also offers a spirited nightlife with an eclectic mix of bars located throughout the resort property as well.

Take full advantage of the strikingly beautiful Caribbean waters surrounding the Dominican paradise; from scuba training and tours to sunken ships, to deep-sea fishing, to the numerous pools and expansive, pristine beaches. They also offer sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and snorkeling classes daily at no extra charge. For the super active or more leisurely guests there are also many other sports to choose from as well. Sweat out a five-set match on one of the clay courts, or take a leisurely tour of the island on bicycle. And end your day with a romantic sunset horseback ride on the beach. There are activities here to literally fill every moment with stunning sights and exciting adventures. And if that is not enough, you may wish to indulge in the premier golf course and the Six Senses Spa and Wellness Center.

Golf magazine declared La Cana Golf Course “number one course in the Caribbean” and its P.B. Dye design offer 14 ocean viewing holes with 4 playing right on the water’s edge, a test and experience that any golfer, pro or amateur cannot afford to miss out on.

The other two course within the resort are : Corales Golf Course and Hacienda Golf Course.

Click here for an overview of the resorts amazing golfing options and offers.

The Six Senses Spa of The PUNTACANA Resort & Club equally is not a treat to miss.

Indoor or outdoor, individual or couple, our customized treatment areas feature luxurious baths and herb gardens that create the perfect Zen ambiance for your complete revitalization. Indulge in a single signature massage or hot stone therapy and you will understand why no one questions Six Sense’s status as the globe’s premier spa and wellness center.

Inspired by the Six Senses Pyramid and their Six Sphere Philosophy, the Spa offers a wide range of holistic therapies and spa packages that will leave guests’ mind and body rejuvenated and invigorated.

Click here to review the Six Senses Spa menu and packages.

So do guests appreciate all this ? How do they rate the hotel and resort with all its luxury and features ?

Reviews are very mixed ranging from very positive to very poor ratings due to bad service, worn down rooms and facilities and not always great F&B.

Here are some examples from both camps :

First a positive review by a couple from Ithaca, NY :

My husband and I have stayed at the Punta Cana Resort and Club 5 times in the last 6 years. We think of it as a little piece of heaven. It has beautiful beaches, a wonderful golf course, and attractive landscaping and architecture. We swim in the Caribbean, in the swimming pools, and in the unique crystal clear fresh water lagoons that are in the resort’s protected tropical reserve forest (with trails for short hikes). The beach is so extensive that you can always find a quiet place if you wish, and you can walk along it for more than a mile, it seems. The layered bands of different shades of light blue and aqua marine in the water extending from the beach are just lovely. We bike, sail, swim, walk, golf, sunbathe, and work out in the gym during the day and dance to Latin music in the lounge in the evenings after dinner. We enjoy the Latin dance classes each afternoon. Other activities, such as horseback riding and tennis are also available.

The staff are very attentive, friendly, and ready to help us with our desire to practice our Spanish with them.

Click here to read full review.

Another couple from NY had mixed feelings about the resort, though mostly positive ones :

This resort has somewhat of a split personality. the grounds are luscious and well kept, expansive and often breath-taking. but some of the original hotel rooms and casitas need updating. we had a two bedroom casita fronting the beach. we were charmed by the open air style of the living areas, and the bedrooms and baths were attractive and very clean. but our mini-fridge was rusted, busted, and fried. there was no attempt to even address the problem, necessitating many trips to other buildings for ice. we loved feeling the sea breezes inside the casita.

All employees were polite, friendly, eager to help. aside from a few key personnel, none had a good enough grasp of English to make communication easy.

Be sure to rent a golf cart! the area to be covered is huge. there are many things to do during the day, but virtually no nightlife. beaches are beautiful and clean, pools great, a wonderful ecological path through a forested are with several swimmable, crystal clear, fresh water lagoons.

The food was good, but very expensive. beer and liquor were also way too high. a trip to a nearby shopping center is a chore, with frustrating confusion between who-when-where to use pesos or dollars.

But we had a great time, enjoying the beachfront location, great weather, delicious breakfast buffet, and friendly people. and the guys loved whizzing around on the golf cart!

And finally a not-so-impressed US couple who apart from the high prices did not like the service & attitude of the staff :

My husband and I just returned from a 10 day stay at the Punta Cana Resort and Club. Just like the other reviews which I had not read before we left I agree the beaches are great and if you like breakfast you will have many choices but the overall attitude, staff knowledge, room ambiance are horrible. I would be hard pressed to recommend this place to anyone. I am not sure who this resort caters to? People who only stay a day or two. It definitely caters to flight crew since it is close to the airport. I cannot imagine that they have any repeat customers. We have travelled extensively and this was the most irritating place I have ever been to. Communication on this property is horrible. If you do not speak spanish you will have difficulty in getting your needs met. My husband does and even still we had difficulty. The staff which is imported from other places in the Domincan Republic have no idea about what is around the resort or in it. Perhaps this is the reason for the uncaring attitude. The concierge does not even know what the schedule is for their shuttle to the shopping center which have additional restaurants that the guests can go to (we opted out of the all-inclusive). Once you finally find out the schedule it does not coincide with the openings and closings of the restaurants so you are forced to take a cab at least one way. As with the other reviews, the air conditioning is extremely loud and goes on an off during the night keeping you awake. I slept very little in 10 days. The food is very expensive-New York prices without the service. We were without hot water a full day and no water for a period of time. They charge you for bottled water which you have to drink since it is suggested that the regular tap water is not good to drink. Overall, very inconsistent service and not an inexpensive vacation with an older property that is in dire need of an update. Oh and watch out for the golf carts. When we were there the resort was not at full capacity thank god otherwise we would have been gunned down by the golf carts for sure. There are no speed bumps so these carts can go full speed ahead-watch out!

Read all 146 TripAdvisor reviews here.

Contact details:

PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB
Dominican Republic

For Reservations
Call (809) 959-2262 or email info@puntacana.com

For Real Estate
Call (809) 959-7325 or email realestate@puntacana.com

For Golf
Call (809) 959-4653 or email golf@puntacana.com

Toll free from USA-Canada 888-442-2262

Visit our Access page for transportation options.

The idyllic island of Mauritius with its unspoilt beaches and azure waters offers a unique experience and mixture of European, African and Asian cultures. The Oberoi Mauritius captures the spirit of the island in a resort that combines its abundant natural beauty with refined luxury.

The Oberoi Mauritius is located at Turtle Bay on the North-West coast of Mauritius. It has twenty acres of lush sub-tropical gardens, six hundred metres of oceanfront and is surrounded by a turquoise lagoon; a majestic range of green mountains can be seen on the horizon.

This exclusive property of The Oberoi Group has a very unique architecture which reflects the African and Asian heritage of the Mauritian people. With the help of Bill Bensley, the American landscaper, Mr. Lek Bunnag, a well-known Thai architect, is responsible for the detailed research in finding a real harmony with Nature so that the hotel rooms and premises have all been integrated amidst exotic foliage, trees and flowers.

The hotel Villas, each with its own lush gardens and dining gazebo, most of them overlooking a private swimming pool with, views of the sea make an exclusive and luxurious retreat for those seeking privacy.

This amazing resort is perfectly suited to couples who need to get away and recharge or rekindle some of that spark that brought them together and every room at the Oberoi Mauritius features a romantic four-poster bed and the luxury of a sunken bath in palest marble.

Dining at the resort is also a treat for even the most discerned guests.

The main restaurant at the Oberoi Mauritius features a soaring roof of palm-thatched timbers and panoramic views across the Indian Ocean. Dine inside among the pillars, or outside under the stars on a fabulous menu featuring European, Oriental and Creole dishes, reflecting the multicultural flavors of the island and introducing fresh local fruits, vegetables and spices.

The resort also offers a wide range of water sports and recreation like wind surfing, water skiing, diving and sailing and fishing.

The Spa at The Oberoi Mauritius is located close to the beach and it is fair to say that the Spa is, quite simply, a true sanctuary. Guests come there to find peace, harmony and a new sense of well-being in this perfect environment for treatment and relaxation.

Privacy and luxury are the underlying strengths of The Spa. All the treatment rooms overlook their own private gardens. Treatment suites are also available where two can simultaneously enjoy massages, steam showers, Jacuzzis and private gardens.

State of the art facilities include a beauty parlour, sauna, steam bath, swimming pool, gym and individual spa suites with private plunge pools where guests can luxuriate together or on their own. Traditional Mauritian treatments using natural local oils and fruits feature alongside conventional therapies.

A large number of treatments have been carefully selected to complement The Spa’s holistic ethos. Therapies such as aromatherapy massage, Ayurveda, shiatsu, reflexology, beauty treatments and several body scrubs are available.

One of the highlights is the ‘Coconut husk’ treatment: the body is skin-brushed with coconut shell, then the skin is lightly peeled with fresh coconut milk. This treatment leaves the skin smooth and silky. This is followed by a full body massage with natural coconut oil replete with Vitamin E and ends with an Indian head massage.

The Spa also features a hair salon, a fitness center, steam baths and saunas.

Click here to review the full Spa Menu.

Take a virtual tour of this amazing and beautiful resort and its Spa by clicking here.

So how do guests view this resort and its spa ?

Well generally very good to excellent but a few negative ones as well according to TripAdvisor – here are some extracts :

A honeymoon couple from Surrey, UK had their best holiday ever :

I am now in a depression!! Having returned a week ago from our honeymoon in Mauritius at the Oberoi, we would certainly recommend every aspect.

We booked a villa with a private pool which although was expensive, it was well worth the money. The pool was heated to 30degrees. some days it was so hot, we had to get out to cool down! It was fab in the rain too. When most people were huddled in their rooms, we just dived out in the pool watching the steam rising off the water!

Villa was really well appointed. lovely bed with choice of pillows. Seating area, separate walk in wardrobe complete with clothes brush, scales etc…. (Could do with those now!!) bathroom is beautiful with a sunken bath (down point took hours to fill) double shower, loads of space for toiletries all very spacious. Good flat screen tv, dvd player, nespresso machine, mini bar stocked with expensive items (we stocked up at the supermarket on the first day!)

Food is wonderful. We loved it all. Plenty to choose from and ask if you want anything not on the menu. – in their words “it would be a pleasure to cook it for you” We did cookery lesson – great fun and free lunch! found the waiters really polite and again, nothing was too much trouble. They laid us a dinner on the beach with a free bottle of wine even though it was not included in the package.

Take opportunity to try activities laid on – painting, sculpture, henna art, wine tasting, cooking, star gazing…. all really worth it.

All in all, am saving to go again – just loved it.

Another honeymoon couple from the UK disagrees with the negative reviews the resort has received from some and say :

We had the most wonderful stay at The Oberoi, it was for us the perfect place for our honeymoon.

We feel quite sad about some of the negative reviews about the hotel.

It is such a tranquil, beautiful place, the rooms are spacious, clean and modern, the staff were amazing, the food was lovely, the facilities were great and the grounds were large and very well maintained. We never felt crowded.

The service was impeccable and very personal but not obtrusive.

It is a very quiet hotel and that is exactly what we wanted, we were so well looked after by all the staff especially in the restaurant.

Nothing was too much trouble, the chef came out and spoke to us regularly, we had special meals whenever we wanted (with notice of course). The menu rotated every 3/4 days so there was plenty of choice.

We loved the breakfast, the croissants and omelets have left a lasting impression!

The evening meals were always to a high standard and beautifully cooked.

The restaurant and the bar are beautiful buildings, the height of the ceilings are soo impressive. The flowers were lovely and changed regularly.

We loved our stay here and will definitely come back and visit other hotels in the Oberoi family.

We did visit the One and only and found it rather gauche, very busy and not in any way to the standard of the Oberoi.

If you are looking for a peaceful romantic holiday this is the place.

Read all TripAdvisor reviews on The Oberoi Mauritius here.

Finally check out these two videos, one made by a guest and one by Travel Company Kuoni :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSHxillGhRo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TikaHZSX7to

Contact details:

Address : Turtle Bay,
Pointe aux Piments,
Mauritius 
 
Telephone : +230 204 3600 
Facsimile : +230 204 3625

The Titanic Spa is the UK’s first Eco Spa and has been designed within a traditional textile mill creating a brand new concept exclusively offering an unsurpassed Day Spa experience. Favoured for its seclusion on the edge of the Pennines, this intimate Spa has gone beyond the organic philosophy, offering exceptional results-driven Spa treatments and products by Decléor; experts in aromatherapy and phytotherapy and Elemis; creating spa-therapies to work in natural synergy with the skin, body and mind.

The fundamental ethos of their product houses is to provide a lifestyle brand of natural products, utilising aromatherapy and treating each Spa guest individually. The emphasis is on an holistic approach to treatments combined with a range of products to enable our customers to continue to gain therapeutic benefits once back into their normal daily routine.

Titanic Spa offers its guests a number of deluxe serviced apartments, eleven in all, which are within the Titanic Mill. The Serviced Apartments are spacious, have been fully fitted with modern appliances, most have their own balcony and the panoramic windows offer views of the surrounding countryside. The apartments are fully serviced daily and are one or two bed roomed sleeping up to four guests.

So being both a Day Spa as well as offering Spa breaks and packages where guests stay at this eco spa in one of the eleven serviced apartments, The Titanic Spa in Yorkshire is quite a unique offering in the UK.

The Titanic Spa Treatments offer a wide range of options including :

• Alternative Therapy
• Decleor Aroma Mosaic Body Treatments
• Decleor Aroma Mosaic Face Treatments
• Elemis Body Treatments
• Elemis Exotics
• Elemis Facial Treatments
• Essentials
• Hair Studio
• Hamman
• Hydrotherapy
• Men’s Treatments
• Mud Chamber

So how do guests and professional spa reviewers rate this eco spa ?

Here are some extracts from recent reviews of The Titanic Spa.

First up is Goodspaguide, a UK spa review publication, which summarizes their experience thus :

“The UK’s first eco-spa earns full marks for excellent treatments but the split between spa and pool, and the lack of a place to sit and chat affected the spa experience.”

Click here for their full review.

From Tripadvisor.co.uk one gets a very mixed basket of opinions and experiences as the below two guest reviews will document.

First up a lady from Kent who in her own words “loved it” :

This was my first spa break so I have nothing to compare it to. However I thought the whole experience was so relaxing. I went with a friend and apart for getting changed for dinner we lolled around in the robes that were provided the whole time we were there. We had booked the TravelZoo overnight package which included a lovely lunch and dinner and one treatment. I had the Decleor facial – the best one I have ever had. The apartment we stayed in was beautiful – everything you could have needed was there. The Heat Experience with its Ice Room was great and the pool and gym are there if you feel energetic. My friend went for a walk along the canal, bringing back a bottle of wine from a local shop which we had in the evening. On the second day (you can stay till 3pm having booked in at 10 am the previous day) we found ourselves dozing in the relaxation room – it is so tiring doing nothing! We had our books to read and lots of news to catch up on and it was an ideal venue/experience to do both.

The opposite experience is expressed by Claire from Mirfield in her Spa review from Titanic Spa :

I have recently returned from an overnight stay at Titanic Spa and I would not recommend this to anyone who is wanting a Spa Break.

The “Spa” is more like an up to date Gym such as Fitness First etc, certainly not a retreat.

I have visited a few Health Farms and Spas and this is the worst.

It is far too small, has no room to just sit and relax, not enough sofas etc, there is a relaxation room but there isn’t much room in that.

The pool area is bare, not enough loungers around the pool or outside on the terrace. The dining area is small with a small open kitchen in the middle!! You can see them clearing plates etc! The kitchen area is only small so they must have the evening food brought in and warm it up! They prepare the lunch but that is nothing special and there isn’t a good choice, No salads, no fruit or yogurt for desserts, in fact no desserts! No water provided on the table and you have to pay for all your drinks such as tea, water & coffee at lunchtime which you don’t at Champneys & Ragdale Hall.

The apartment you stay in is OK but nothing special and if you don’t like heights it wouldn’t be suitable. Breakfast is left in room which consists of cereal & soft rolls! Very much fend for yourself!! The treatments are very expensive, certainly over priced. I had a facial included in the package which was fine but I wasn’t prepared to spend more on further treatments. I was bored and was glad to come home!!!

Many more guest reviews from The Titanic Spa, UK can be found here.

Contact details:

Low Westwood Lane
Linthwaite
Huddersfield HD7 5UN
United Kingdom

Tel: 0845 410 3333

Email: enquiries@titanicspa.com

Frégate Island is by many regarded as the Seychelles’ most exclusive hideaway, and provides an absolutely idyllic, romantic setting for any holiday or honeymoon. International celebrities love the total privacy they enjoy here.

Only 750 acres in size, the island boasts seven stunning beaches, sixteen exclusive large-sized villas and three acclaimed restaurants and of course an award winning Spa.

Situated 60 miles across the deep blue of the Indian Ocean from the main island of Mahé, Frégate Island Private is the most remote and secluded of the Seychelles granite islands.

Not only does this private island feature the most beautiful beach in the world, according to the New York Times, but the guest will also be charmed by fresh spring water cascading down attractive white-granite rock formations, exotic fruit trees bearing almond, mango, golden apple and breadfruit, banyan trees, a palm-filled jungle, and the purest emerald and turquoise waters surrounding the island.

Frégate is one of only two islands worldwide where the giant tortoise roams wild. They can be sighted all over the island. Children will enjoy the fun of riding on their backs, although at tortoise pace. Other wildlife in the area includes rare birds such as the melodious magpie-robin or shama, which is found nowhere else in the world.

A nearby rock jutting out of the sea is a nesting place for more than 100,000 seabirds, protected by the surrounding coral reef.

The island has only 16 private villas spread out between the palm trees, just a little above the beaches, and offering complete privacy for each guest couple. They were constructed in native style with mahogany wood and African teak in a simple post-and-lintel style. Both the architecture and decor draw on Balinese and Thai influences. Each villa was situated to make it feel like a part of the surrounding landscape, and to ensure maximum privacy and seclusion for the guests. Sliding glass walls and French doors that can be opened to the elements help to further blur the line that separates inside from outside. A private terrace provides vast views of the sea and each villa has a jacuzzi and a small swimming pool. Despite their traditional appearance and supremely laid-back ambiance, the villas come well-equipped with DVD machines and CD players. And, of course, if the fresh sea breezes aren’t quite cool enough for you, there’s always air conditioning.

The culinary experiences on Fregate certainly match the island’s beauty and uniqueness. Fregate Island offers you five-star cuisine and what may be the finest Creole cooking in the Seychelles, together with the best wines in all price categories. Meals are served in the Plantation House or in the main restaurant where great emphasis is placed on personal service. Guests who want private dining experiences can also order breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner on the terrace of their villa or even on one of the two private beaches which typically only allow one couple on them at the time to ensure the ultimate in tropical paradise privacy and experience.

Fregate also offers many activities and day trips for its guests. Diving, fishing, sailing, swimming in the pool, tennis, lazing on one of the nine beaches or on the comfortable cushioned sunbeds, exploring the island in your own electrical buggy, or just enjoying a quiet afternoon in the library of the island’s Plantation House. Guided nature walks can be arranged to encounter Frégate’s spectacular flora and fauna and are highly recommend by guests who have stayed there. Celebrities who regularly visit Fregate Island include famous actress Emma Thompson and Roger Moore.

Frégate Island Private also offers its guests a twenty four hour in-villa dining service and caters for special dining requests such as beach picnics and secluded candlelit dinners.

Last but not least comes the amazing and award-winning Spa of Fregate Island, The Rock Spa.

The Rock Spa is indeed a haven of serenity and tranquility, perched on a cliff-top plateau overlooking the sea and the top of the island’s rain forest. Entered through a granite canyon, flanked by several freshwater pools and cascading waterfalls, the Rock Spa celebrates the island’s unique surroundings and embraces all elements of nature.

The finest holistic treatments from all over the world use ancient techniques from India, Australia and Polynesia with botanical treatments prepared from local ingredients. After your treatment, relax with a glass of cool coconut milk, champagne or tea and enjoy the view from the spa’s sublime vantage point high above the Indian Ocean.

Want to see all this beauty before you book ? Have a look at their own galleries here and don’t forget to also click on the Luxury Villas and Stunning Beaches link to the left.

So how do guests rate this unique place in the middle of the Indian Ocean ?

Below are some guest reviews as well as a professional review from Fregate Island :

Eco Hotels of The World has this review on Fregate Island from an Eco Luxury point of view :

The original eco-hideaway, Frégate Island Private is a private paradise located in the Seychelles, in the midst of the Indian Ocean.  A multi-award-winning luxury retreat, Frégate Island Private has spearheaded the development of eco-tourism in the Seychelles.

Exemplary preservation, protection and nurturing of the unique natural environment of the island, and the utmost in exclusivity for guests, are the central principles at Frégate: This three-km square island offers seven dream beaches and just 16 luxuriously appointed villas, carefully positioned so that privacy is guaranteed and each with its own private infinity-edged pool; the island’s plantations produce fresh seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices to form the basis of the island’s culinary and Rock Spa concepts; and a resident ecologist and zoologist coordinate the ongoing work towards the seamless integration of resort operations into the conservation and protection of this beautiful island’s natural ‘Garden of Eden’ environment.

Frégate Island Private has become a leading example of how to establish a balanced coexistence between man and nature – or nature and man – and is one of the most important sanctuaries for rare endemic and indigenous animals, setting an inspiring example for others to follow with conservation projects that have yielded dramatic results.

A couple from Zurich, Switzerland had these praises for this tropical paradise :

This private island with just 16 villas is a real paradise and nature reservation… If you wish to have a beautiful beach with turquoise water on your own, a fascinating nature with giant turtles and rare birds surrounding you, your own private pool and jacuzzi or are eager to have a tête-à-tête breakfast, private lunch or dinner at your favorite beach or high up in a tree house in a Banyan tree this is the place to be!

You have your own butler who is fully at your disposal.

You never get bored on this island: Different dining experiences, guided nature walks, sunbathing, diving and snorkeling possibilities, boat trips and a SPA which definitively can compete with the best SPAs in Asia (the natural SPA products are all prepared from ingredients grown on island). And you have as much privacy on this island as you wish!

Food is marvelous, you can order something from the menu or have your special wishes… everything is possible and the very friendly staff is here to fulfill all your wishes. (Most vegetables and fruits are grown on the island itself, organically.)

The luxury of holidays on Fregate island is the privacy and space, the unique nature (you can find millipedes, geckos and birds everywhere) and the pampering you get from the very friendly and well trained staff. For us this island stands for tranquil, peaceful holidays in a beautiful, preserved and protected surrounding — ideal for everybody who likes a tropical paradise.

A London, UK couple also liked the beauty of the resort but do raise several issues that they did not appreciate during their stay :

My wife and I stayed at Fregate on the last leg of our 3 week African honeymoon…We were very much looking forward to our stay at Fregate given its reputation….We arrived by private helicopter, were given a tour of the island and were taken to our villa…The villa was tastefully done…Lots of dark wood with an outdoor terrace complete with a full size pool…Inside there was a central area with two wings on the side…In one wing was a bedroom and in the other was living room with a bar…It was honestly the nicest room that I could imagine…Spacious without being too big and tastefully decorated…We were lucky enough to be given the one villa that had direct beach access (via stairs)…We had our own butler who catered to our every need.

We were given a golf cart that we could use to tour the island…Most of the villas and, the beach club and the main building were all in the same area…There is a spa and fitness center within a few minutes drive of the villas…There are beaches all around the island (probably the nicest I have ever seen) and countless nature paths with giant turtles.

It sounds great but beneath the lovely veneer Fregate had some real issues…First of all it was the island is basically a bird sanctuary…When you landed you were confronted by the smell of bird poop…It followed us throughout our stay…There was no variety in the menu and there was one daily special, otherwise the menu never changed…Furthermore, at this price I would have expected there to be free wines and spirits (and a reserve list if people wanted it)…The cart paths and the villas were inundated with giant millipedes…They were harmless but you had to avoid them on the roads and couldn’t walk in the dark for fear of stepping on one…They even made their way into the bathroom of the villas…I read about this problem in past reviews but it is still a major issue…Many of the beaches required a walk down over 100 steps (and obviously back up)…The water was so rough that you could barely swim in it…I am not exaggerating…The current was so strong that it would knock you over as soon as you got in…There was no leisurely swimming….The island is not protected by coral and I was told it was calm enough to swim only a few months a year…The island has a problem with sand flies…My wife was had 50 bites and couldn’t go outside the last two days…When we asked about the flies we were told that since the island believes in conservation that they didn’t spray for them even though they knew it was a problem…Additionally, they do not have bug spray that is effective against sand flies at the resort…It was a bit negligent to not spray for sand flies and then not give guests the proper spray…For a place that was serious about the environment they did not give the option of splitting transfers to the island.

After we got back home I wrote an email to the management with some suggestions and there was no response…

All and all, Fregate is a naturally beautiful place with the prettiest beaches in the world…The villas are lovely and the service is great but I expected a lot more…It is owned by a German billionaire and he converted it into a resort after buying it…I think the guests are looked at as a way for him to fund the upkeep of the island and his environmental projects.

Finally, have a look at this video from Fregate Island Private :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajvTpFtWCdw

 Contact Details

Frégate Island Private
P.O. Box 330,
Victoria, Mahe,
Seychelles
Telephone: +248-670-100

Email: reservations@fregate.com

Soneva Kiri by Six Senses is located on the remote island of Koh Kood in the east of Thailand, which is known for its pure waterfalls, crystal clear waters and traditional village life. Transfers from Bangkok International Airport to Soneva Kiri Airport will take 60 minutes by the resort’s private plane, and from there it is just 2 kilometers by speed boat to the arrival pier.

Opened with its first phase in late 2008, the resort is set to become one of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts in the world.

 In terms of accommodation, Soneva Kiri offers 42 pool villas along the beach front and on the hillside, including Junior Beach and Cliff Retreats, The Private Beach and Cliff Reserves, and The Eco Villa. The pool villas offer living space of between 400 and 770 square metres, with living areas and air-conditioned bedrooms surrounded by water features. Several villas feature private spa suites. All villas offer personal butler service. A private buggy is also made available with each villa.

The spacious and simple, yet sophisticated accommodations are enhanced by continually embracing innovations resulting in the creation of unique experiences blending luxurious lifestyles with spectacular panoramas of the surroundings. Electric golf carts and bicycles are the mode of transport within the resort, which is skillfully landscaped all the way to its stunning beaches and elegantly lined with palm trees.

When it comes to dining, Soneva Kiri pride themselves not just on the quality of their food and services but on the environment of the dining experience itself. At Soneva Kiri dining can be a romantic, private and unique experience through the many dining options available. From exciting and exclusive treetop dining in a special pod and intimate moonlit dinners on a private beach, to live cooking classes and simple, delicious lunches using the freshest of produce from the resort’s own organic fruit and vegetable gardens – the settings are as memorable as the cuisine. The delicious menus are created and presented by Soneva Kiri’s 3-Michelin-star Catalonian chef.

Soneva Kiri elevates the standards for fine dining in the region, boasting a unique wine list with a selection of over three hundred labels from the most important wine growing regions of the world, continuing to build on the reputation of providing guests with truly unique dining and wining experiences.

Soneva Kiri is relaxed and casual. The all-year-round comfortable tropical temperature requires only light and natural fabrics, so polo shirts, summer dresses and sarongs are ideal. Shoes are not practical on the soft sand or on the paths, so bring sandals or simply enjoy the freedom of going barefoot. Laundry service is offered, but there is no dry cleaning. The Soneva Resorts’ philosophy do not encourage their guests to browse the news of the world but rather to unwind and relax and for a while forget about the outside world, hence their “No News – No Shoes” slogan which many guests have come to appreciate when visiting any of the 5 star Soneva Resorts in Thailand or The Maldives.

A Six Senses Spa is a prime focus within the resort. A team of international and Thai therapists take guests on sensory journeys with Six Senses a la carte and local treatments for balancing the senses. The Spa menu is comprehensive and carefully designed to suit almost every guest’s specific taste and requirements and include Spa Journeys, Hot Stone Therapies and Jet Lag Recovery Treatments, to Indian Head Massages & Foot Recovery Treatments and of course Kiri’s Special Spa Packages and Offers.

Click here to review their entire Spa Menu.

Have a virtual look around this beautiful resort before you book or go there by visiting their online gallery here.

The recent opening of the resort means that currently we have not been able to find any guest reviews but this will follow as soon as they come online.

Instead have a look at the videos to become inspired to travel to Soneva Kiri at Koh Kood :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcdanCBmIH0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp0OV1DMxIk

Contact details:

Soneva Kiri by Six Senses
Koh Kood
TRAT Province
Tel: +66 (0) 3961 9800, Fax: +66 (0) 3961 9808
E-mail: reservations-kiri@sixsenses.com

The much rewarded Soneva Gili Resort is set on the tiny private tropical island of Lankanfushi in the Male’ Atoll, one of 19 atolls that stretch over 800 kilometres through the Indian Ocean, and is one of the 1190 islands which are the Maldives. This amazing spa resort is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from the International Airport at Male’, the capital of the Republic of Maldives.

Soneva Gili offers just 45 sumptuous over-water villas, including 7 Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve reached only by boat. Each villa has not only been designed and built with the utmost attention to detail, but are also environmentally-friendly and reflect the harmony of life by the water’s edge. Each has its own private water garden and sun decks, and the bathrooms have a separate shower accessed along an open-air walkway.

These spacious over-water villas are connected by long jetties threading across crystal clear water, providing spectacular ocean views from every room. In addition to the sparkling waters, this tiny island provides a very intimate atmosphere, fused with the uncompromising standards that have made Soneva Gili so popular with many visitors and resort and spa reviewers alike. The resort prides itself of the fact that here, like at their beautiful sister resort resort Soneva Fushi,  you will be assured of a wonderfully serene and natural experience, described by Soneva as ‘Intelligent Luxury’.

Though a tiny tropical island and admittedly somewhat close to the Male International Airport, the Soneva Gili Resort is all about escaping the cares of the world. For the ultimate in relaxation visit the over-water Six Senses Spa where guests can choose from a wide range of holistic therapies. Experience a sensual massage, whilst gazing through the glass floor at the underwater world, or get back to basics with a traditional Maldivian sand massage.

Click here to view their entire spa menu which includes treatments such as wellness activities, Spa journeys, facials, Hand & Foot Care and of course the famed Six Senses Signature Treatments.

You can also indulge in their Special Packages during your stay – click here to review the options.

The Gili Resort also offers great culinary experiences and journeys. Begin a romantic evening with a sunset cruise on a traditional dhoni. Head back to your villa and enjoy an evening under the stars, as you sit out on your private deck sharing a gourmet dinner for two, accompanied by a choice of fine wines from the island’s wine cellar.  Or wine and dine at one of Gili’s restaurants of which their Underground Gourmet Cellar is the most spectacular and unique.

Click here to review all wining & dining options at Soneva Gili.

The resort have claimed many top rewards since opening a few years back including several Conde Nast Traveller Awards in 2007, 08 and 2009.

So how did recent visitors like this resort ?

Here are some guest reviews to consider :

A couple from London, UK had these praising words from their visit to Gili :

We stayed for 10 days and it was the best vacation we had so far (see my other reviews). This is 5 stars PLUS. Incredible expensive (especially when the food is not included and the wine list too long) but worth every penny and more! The only complain I had was our client relationship director, who was arrogant and answered every simple request with “let me see if that can be done”. But all the other staff was so amazing, we figured we just had a bad luck (and so did he as we tipped absolutely everybody but him). But it still bugs me, especially after we requested something complimentary but extra from the pool boy who replied “Of course, you pay a lot of money here, i will do anything for you”. Hmm, the pool boy got it, but not the manager!

RESORT: very private and intimate, well maintained, top luxury. reached by a boat from the airport and a nice trip to do. Villas with a very private feel, well placed withing the island.

FOOD: out of the world. amazing selection of food and wines all day long. the breakfast was particularly great, staff offering to make fresh smoothies from any fruit you selected. Wide range of holistic potions to take as well. I haven’t even this well at any other resort. Various cosines to taste. Special tables and romantic gestures for honeymooners.

VILLAS: enormous, top luxury. Several rooms: A/C bedroom, large open air sitting room with game boards and steps to the private desk with sun chairs. Enormous changing room/shower room, bathroom with a glass floor peep hole. fantastic.

ACTIVITIES: plenty to do there. Diving sites were fantastic. The reef around the lagoon provided so much marine life, no need to go anywhere else. We did do a fishing trip (loved it as they cooked us the fish for us), snorkeling trip and snorkeling with the mantas. It’s a very relaxing resort but i didn’t manage to read a page:-)

SPA: very big and luxury. We had several treatments and enjoyed ourselves very much.

A Paris, France couple also liked Gili :

Spent 11 nights in celebration of my wife’s birthday. We LOVED everything about the place and were depressed to leave. Food, service, accommodation, etc., all excellent. Particularly liked that they have their own time-zone, one hour ahead of Male…Gave the impression of an extra hour of sunshine!!

Note: They are building a new restaurant which looks like it will be lovely.

Whilst all TripAdvisor.com reviews are positive to extremely positive on the Gili Resort, this review from Conde Nast Traveller also has some negatives to report mainly related to the exorbitant prices of the resort :

Soneva Gili has had more press attention and won more awards since opening in May 2002 than any of its competitors. This is possibly due to expectations raised by Soneva Fushi, Gili’s undeniably attractive sister resort. I thought Gili disappointing, bearing in mind the prices charged. Other guests concurred. One couple moved out of their top-of-the-range ‘Crusoe Residence’ – there are seven of these free-standing, stilted bungalows accessed via boat, not walkway – because the tide was so low they were only just able to get to their room. The all-wood, thatched bungalows are vast and smartly decorated, although their rustic, stilted look smacks a bit of the Kevin Costner movie Waterworld.

Gili is near Malé (15 minutes by speedboat). It attracts Japanese honeymooners who are passionate about over-water rooms, the design formula for all Gili’s 44 bungalows, and this seems to be the only reason the owners chose this location since the island, known locally as Lankanfushi, is too small to build on land. In fact, much of the island is reclaimed. There are three jetties (jetty three, which you can swim off, is the best).

Read the rest of the CNTraveller review here to get the full picture.

Pre-visit this truly beautiful resort by browsing their photo gallery here or watch a video from the resort in the below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y0VAiqWvGk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UYoU9Aa5iY

Contact details:

Tel: +960 664 0304, Fax: +960 664 0305

E-mail: reservations-gili@sixsenses.com

Set on the idyllic and otherwise uninhabited island of Kunfunadhoo in the Baa Atoll, The Soneva Fushi Resort & Spa was the first Robinson Crusoe style hideaway in the Maldives. Created by Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the owners of the parent company Six Senses, whose vision was ‘intelligent luxury’, it has been designed to have minimal impact on the environment and is very much a luxury eco resort type of concept. The island’s natural beauty has certainly been retained.

From above, Soneva Fushi is hidden among the trees; thatched rooms are set apart, even bathrooms have a garden. Natural indigenous materials are used throughout, giving a simple, rustic-chic look (the stereo, TV, DVD player and other accessories are disguised behind coconut wood and water hyacinth). Add to the equation thoughtful personal touches and a dreamy spa for total rejuvenation, and this is eco-friendly luxury at its most memorable.

Now owned by Six Senses, it has collected almost every award going (Conde Nast Readers Award 2008, Tatler Top Spa 2007) – and it’s not hard to see why.

This special island is designed to blend in with the environment. The construction of the resort itself, has been carried out with a minimal intervention to the island’s lush vegetation so that the guest feels the untouched beauty of this beautiful and larger-than-average Maldivian island.

In terms of accommodation Soneva Fushi offers just 65 accommodations, which capture the very essence of a luxurious castaway fantasy. The Jungle Reserve and the two Retreats offer the premier accommodation. Each villa opens to its very own stretch of white sand beach just a few steps away, whilst many of the villas also include Private Sea Water Swimming Pools. Each bathroom extends to a private garden, whilst utmost care is given to the environment.

Their much adhered to No News No Shoes ‘policy” very much underlines the extremely laid back and calm atmosphere of this tropic resort and guests are, despite the availability of PCs with Internet connection, very much encouraged to not bother with the happenings of the world.

Their Six Senses Spa is a must for spa lovers and offers a refreshing menu of holistic and traditional treatments conducted by highly skilled therapists using all-natural products.

The Soneva Fushi Spa offers a truly wide range of treatments including but not limited to Facial Therapy, Bath Rituals, Ayurvedic Treatments, Hand & Foot Therapies, In-Villa Treatments and not least their range of Soneva Fushi Signature Treatments.

Click here to view their entire Spa Menu and here for their Special Spa Packages currently available.

Not heard enough yet – click here for an online gallery of the resort and its spa.

So how do guests and visitors of Soneva Fushi rate this resort ?

Here are some guest reviews to consider :

A couple from Chicago, US had these praises for Fushi :

ps. make sure you buy a meal package as this allows you to eat at any restaurant with no surcharges.

A couple from London had these experiences to share with us :

My husband and I stayed at Soneva Fushi for 10 nights as part of our honeymoon in Dec 2008…..After a very long flight to Male we were greeted at the airport by a representative of the resort. We were taken to their comfortable lounge where we were given a lovely tropical drink and some food.

We then took a 25 minute sea plane to a raft in the middle of the beautiful Indian ocean and we were picked up by a boat to be taken to the island. We met our personal butler Majid on the boat and we were given more refreshments and told about the island. When we finally arrived at the Island we were given a tour and shown to our villa which was an upgrade as we were on honeymoon…

The villa was beautiful…very spacious bedroom and dressing room and the bathroom had a beautiful waterfall and an outdoor rain shower. The villa opened up straight onto the beach and we had a beautiful view of the ocean.

All the staff were incredibly friendly and our butler went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable. My husband told one of the waiter’s that I am a vegetarian and I was pleasantly surprised that every night when we went to dinner this was remembered by whoever served us.

As part of our honeymoon package we were also treated to a free 1 hour massage each which was absolute bliss and a free dinner at the Fresh in the Garden restaurant with a free glass of champagne and a cocktail. The chef had designed a special 3 course dinner for us…After dinner we went up to the observatory where we were able to gaze at the stars under a beautiful clear night.

Overall this was an amazing experience and the most romantic and perfect honeymoon. My husband and I have never been so relaxed before and we were sad to leave what I can only describe as paradise.

We would both thoroughly recommend this resort and we hope to go back again one day.

More reviews here.  And if that is not enough to make you want to book right away then check out the below videos.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1PeyAWMxlE

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S10yp6Vd-o

 

Contact details:

Soneva Fushi by Six Senses
Kunfunadhoo Island, Baa Atoll, Republic of Maldives
Tel: +960 660 0304, Fax: +960 660 0374
E-mail: reservations-fushi@sixsenses.com

Sir Bani Yas Island is a showcase for nature-based tourism and animal welfare in Arabia. A wildlife reserve, the Island is home to thousands of animals and birds, many of them endangered.

As the star of the newly opened and much hyped Sir Bani Yas island, a former private retreat for the UAE’s founder Sheik Zayed, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara has a lot to live up to. The island is natural, not one of the man made ones they’re so fond of in the UAE. Billed as an eco-destination, it offers diving, game drives through an Arabian wildlife park and other outdoorsy activities. and not least a fantastic Spa.

 The resort, just two hours from Abu Dhabi and three from Dubai, is full-on luxe.

With 64 luxuriously appointed rooms, suites, spacious one-bedroom villas and truly luxurious two-bedroom Royal Villas, Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa invites you to live out your own Arabian nights in a destination that is anything but ordinary.

The Island provides ample opportunities to explore the natural rugged beauty and is a haven for adventure seekers.

Explore the walking trails of the island’s thriving wildlife reserve. In addition, the Island has a lot of nature driven activities, including game drives, kayaking, snorkeling, trekking, hiking, archery and guided game walks.

Click here for an overview of Island excursions and resort facilities.

When it comes to the Spa at The Anantara Desert Island Resort & Spa, this offering is very much in line with the Anantara Spa philosophy which includes pure and natural elements that have been chosen for their curative benefits and energetic powers. Their usage of  exquisite new fragrances in oils and elixirs will sate all the guest’s five senses and ancient healing and modern therapies work in harmony to renew, restore and revive the guests.

Encounter rituals and healing ways based on the therapeutic energies of semi-precious stones. Amber is renowned for its energising qualities; Emerald is the colour of love and perfect for couples to experience together. Aqua Marine helps reduce stress and brings about a deeper level of relaxation.

Special facials for men and in-your-own-room treatments and massages are just a few of their specialities which also includes Body Treatments and “Spa Journeys” – click here for an overview of Massages and here for their Body Treatments.

The Resorts also offers a range of Special Packages – check them out.

On what guests have to say, well the reviews are very mixed but mostly positive. A couple from Athens, Greece were overall not too impressed with the resort and its staff but found that the Spa experience made up for most of the bad experiences :

All this being said – the spa was absolutely amazing. The setting is beautiful, the staff was extremely friendly and attentive, and the thai massages that both my husband and I had were incredible. The attention to detail (down to the rose petals in the bowl of water underneath the massage table so that when you are face down you are looking at that pretty sight and not the floor) was impressive, and they even have the capability to have treatments outside with a view of the beach and water while still having privacy (our treatments were at night and it was windy so we were inside but could hear the waves which added a lot to the experience).

More mixed guest reviews here.

Make a virtual visit to the Island by browsing through their gallery here or better still view a video from the resort :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=b472zDf0wG4

 Contact details for Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa:

Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Ruwais
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Tel:   +971(0)28015400  

Fax: +971(2)28015404

dirs@anantara.com

Hidden Valley Eco Spa Lodges & Day Spa.

Situated just 30 minutes from Perth is Hidden Valley Eco Spa Lodges and Day Spa. In their own words the spa describes itself:

The tranquil bush surrounds of Hidden Valley Eco Spa Lodges and Day Spa create a unique and indulgent setting for that perfect getaway.

Perfect for weekend escapes or for day spa treatments, Hidden Valley can tailor the perfect package to suit your requirements. Ideal for honeymoons, romantic mid week escapes or simply spoiling yourself with some quality time alone, the choices are endless.

Check out their luxurious accommodation and the wide variety of treatments offered

Here are a few reviews of people who have stayed at the spa:

This little place surprised me with having everything I wanted for a little relaxation. Very tasteful studio all mod cons and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Its very calming, quiet and I was not disappointed in anything to do with the studio itself. We had champagne in the spa on the outside deck looking into the forest and then dinner which was prepared and left in the fridge for us. Dinner was a bit of a let down but our standard for food is quite high and they did indeed try. Breakfast was also provided in the fridge which we cooked up in the morning and ate on deck, it was wonderful. The woman on reception seemed a bit rushed on check-out which kind of defeated the purpose of being in a relaxing environment but I would go back again. Overall great.

And another review:

Perfect for a romantic getaway. These self-contained lodges are located in typical Australian bushland. Totally private, you feel as though you are the only guests.

The amazing thing about these places is the HUGE private spa in the balcony of your lodge. They are fantastic to relax in with a glass of bubbly.

Interior of the lodges are well fitted and modern. I highly recommend this accommodation for couples visiting WA.

Click here to see other reviews from TripAdvisor

Finally check out the spa’s own video