Talise Spa at Burj Al Arab is exclusive, to say the least. Having booked an appointment, your credentials will be checked not once (before getting over the bridge to the offshore hotel), not twice (at the downstairs reception, complete with a private lift to spa level) but three times (upon arriving at Talise’s 18th-floor reception).
Â
You might think this lengthy process a trivial one, until, that is, you realise the throngs of visitors who flock to this, one of the world’s most popular hotels, have ceased to exist. Once past your second checkpoint, there’s not a gawking vacationer to be found, and what was once a momentary bother has in fact allowed you to enjoy the Burj Al Arab in glorious solitude. A welcome retreat from the world, even before you walk in the spa.
Perched high above the Arabian Gulf (a fact you’ll appreciate ascending 150-metres in the private lift), Talise Spa is housed over two levels. Men and women receive separate spa areas, with an indoor infinity pool and Jacuzzi, both with a generous view of the Gulf below.
A particular treat is the sauna and steam room, framed with panoramic views overlooking the World Islands and Burj Khalifa, which can only be enjoyed thanks to rare fog proof glass. The second level includes a squash court, a fitness centre with aerobic facilities and resistance training.
The signature treatment is the ‘Burj Al Arab Arabic Journey’ and 85-minute deep relaxation massage The ‘Romantic Moonlight Swim’ is a couples-only treatment, that includes a relaxing massage followed by a secluded swim in the private infinity pool, before enjoying bubbly and roses.