It’s only a two-and-a-quarter hour flight from Beirut to Bahrain, but by the end of it my nerves were frazzled. Not because the flight was in any way turbulent, but because the check-in staff, in their infinite wisdom, had seen fit to give me a seat surrounded by members of the Lebanese under-12 football team, off to play a tournament in Qatar. And boy, were they excited. I should be grateful really, as by the time I stumbled off the plane I was definitely ready to experience the ultimate in relaxation and pampering, courtesy of luxury hotel and resort company Banyan Tree’s first venture into the Middle East – Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort, Al Areen.
Located in Bahrain’s Al Areen development and overlooking its wildlife sanctuary, the resort is about a 45-minute drive from the airport. As we sped out of Manama, past the King Fahd Causeway linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, the bright lights of the city faded away and the desert reclaimed its supremacy. Drawing up to the magnificent and imposing entrance, I got my first glimpse of what is a reoccurring theme throughout the resort, the marriage of Far East and Middle Eastern, traditional and contemporary, architecture and design.
Matching the colour of the surrounding desert, but offering an experience that is anything but harsh within, the Banyan Tree in Al Areen is decorated in warm brown, red and sand tones throughout; the high walls of the villas filter out noise from other guests, and provide privacy for you and your family or friends. Carefully landscaped gardens create a sense of serenity and space often associated with Zen gardens in the Far East. The resort’s water features, on the other had, incur the impression that you are staying in an opulent palace in an oasis far, far away from the cares of modern day life.
There are two types of private villa at the Banyan Tree: the 900 USD Desert Pool Villa for couples, where I stayed, and the larger 1,325 USD Royal Pool Villa, suitable for families and groups of friends. Approaching the door to my villa, I was struck by one thing. It was huge. Consisting of a series of rooms surrounding a courtyard with a private 40 square metre pool and a Jacuzzi right outside the bedroom, it was all I could do not to ask the porter for a floor-plan to prevent me from getting lost. The villa is as sumptuously decorated inside as out. Arabesque furnishings are covered with fabrics from the Far East, chandeliers hang from the ceiling and soothing music plays from the discreetly installed Bose sound systems.
As befits a resort which has a series of infinity water pools cascading down its centre, each bathroom also has its own infinity tub, big enough for two, and the perfect place to lie back and contemplate life. Should you favour a more invigorating experience, there are both outdoor and indoor showers, with the indoor one also doubling as a steam room. But it was the Jacuzzi that I hopped into first, relaxing under the desert stars and in the bubbles probably for longer than was good for me.
Banyan Tree claims one of the Middle East’s most extensive spa facilities and that was where I was headed the following afternoon, having spent a very lazy morning lounging in the courtyard beside my pool. Even in February, it was a real suntrap, and only the sound of running water and the drapes moving in the breeze was to be heard. Once a year, guests might have a slightly different accompaniment to their siestas, however. Banyan Tree is a mere five minute drive from the Bahrain International Circuit, where the world’s top racing drivers take part in the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. The resort has a variety of packages available for those interested in attending the Grand Prix, and can also arrange for the more adventurous in your party to take part in the Hummer Driving School experience at the Bahrain International Circuit (see also Bespoke, Vol. 1, issue 6).
But back to the spa which consists of 12 treatment rooms; four Royal Pavilions and eight De Lux suites, all available for couples as well as individual guests. Offering a variety of massages, facials and body scrubs, the therapists are all trained in Banyan Tree academies in Phuket, Thailand and throughout the Far East. I elected to receive a 90-minute full body Balinese massage treatment – with medium to heavy pressure. Treatments begin with a foot bath, and a delicious ginger and honey tea infusion, brewed for two hours by the therapists. The massage itself was relaxing yet invigorating, the firm kneading pressure removing all traces of tension in my back and shoulders in particular. To complete the treatment, lemongrass tea is offered and you are left to relax in a comfortable lounge area, gazing out onto a spacious courtyard for as long as you wish.
However, I was keen to explore. Next to the spa I found the Banyan Tree Spa Hydrothermal Garden, which combines heat, water and air to rejuvenate even the most tired of bodies. Eight hydrothermal cabins include an ice igloo and an herbal ceramic sauna, and aromatherapy showers and a Vitality pool complete the experience. In addition, guests can enjoy the Garden Hammam, with a design-inspired by ancient royal Middle Eastern gardens. The Banyan Tree offers a series of packages for its spa, ranging from four to 11 days – after which you should feel completely transformed, if nothing else.
Of course, there is no point in having top-end treatments if there is no top-end food to enjoy, and the Banyan Tree boasts four restaurants serving Thai, seafood and other cuisine. I particularly enjoyed Saffron, the Thai restaurant situated on an island at the foot of the resort. A restaurant where hot really means hot (although for the more delicate palette, there is a large selection of mild but equally delicious food), the soups were deliciously spicy, and the soft crab was light yet filling.
As I returned to my villa that evening, replete, relaxed and refreshed, I sat for a few minutes, gazing up at the night sky, and felt that should the airline, on my return, seat me next to the Lebanese under-12 football, basketball and swimming teams, I would be so relaxed and chilled out I wouldn’t mind one bit. Of course, this didn’t happen. My flight was cancelled instead.
Contact
Banyan Tree Spa and Resort, Al Areen
Al Areen, Bahrain
Tel +973 17 84 5000
HYPERLINK "http://www.banyantree.com" www.banyantree.com
