OHLALA’s Lindsey Steenkamp heads downtown to sample one of the new luxury spots, The Spa, in the newly renovated Msheireb Downtown Doha, at Park Hyatt Doha.
Things have finally started sprouting and coming alive after months of inactivity and restrictions due to Covid. My schedule is filling up and, between work and getting my figure summer-ready, I desperately needed a good massage. The timing could not have been more perfect when I was invited to try The Spa at Park Hyatt Doha. I have heard many positive things about the property and how quickly the area is blossoming, so was eager to check it out. As I arrive for some much-needed tension relief, I am pleasantly surprised that the Design District ‘Crystallisation’ installation is right outside the hotel entrance. I luckily have a few minutes to spare to indulge in a few selfies, since this is the newest and most on-trend Instagram snap of late.
Afterwards, three friendly faces meet and greet me, and I fill in my easy-to-complete form on an Ipad. This is how they assess additional details to inform ‘Which journey will suit me today.’ The options include stress, energy, sleep and detox.
I find this nice and specific, and I select ‘energy’. The concept of The Spa is envisioned as a sanctuary, a soothing cocoon tucked away like a hidden gem in the heart of the city. There is transitional lighting within all the spaces, from the foyer to the relaxation areas with diminishing natural light, and finally to the total controlled darkness of the treatment rooms. Creative lighting accentuates the modern yet traditional interior design style.
At The Spa, it’s easy to detach from reality with each treatment room having its own en-suite dressing room and shower, ensuring total privacy. A more detailed consultation with Christina, my therapist from Montenegro, commences with a foot scrub and soak. She explains that this treatment targets mostly the back and legs and asks if I would like her to focus on any specific areas, to which my response is always neck, shoulders and feet.
All products used at The Spa are from the French brand Kosmé Paris and are made from vegan and organic ingredients. The brand is totally committed to making preservative-, silicone- and paraben-free products whilst ensuring both sourcing and production is carried out sustainably.
I have never been asked to choose my own flavour of massage oil before and I appreciate this personal touch. Between the musky and vanilla flavoured Sun Garden and the Oud fragrance, I decide to be more daring and go with the Oud.
My treatment commences once I am settled on the comfortably heated massage bed. The deeply restorative 60-minute signature package is designed to destress, calm, purify and uplift. I soon discover why Christina is a sought-after masseuse.
Her hands work in waves along with my muscles in the rhythm of the calming yet energising music, reaching deeply into every muscle strand with her strong fingers. My mind and body are transported onto an ocean of relief and relaxation, my senses are unlocked through a unique blend of the scents, music and massage constructed to create a sense of balance amidst the busy city environment outside.
As the treatment finishes, she leaves me to slowly come back to reality at my own pace. Christina invites me for an uplifting green tea which is served with dates and biscuits in the relaxation room. With elegant white furniture and a cool, stone infinity Jacuzzi bubbling away in the relaxation room, I am tempted to stay forever! I feel energised, pampered, relaxed and ready to float away on a mystic cloud. Ideal for ladies’ birthdays, bridal showers, honeymooners and couples, The Spa also offers an exclusive couples’ therapy room that is perfect for a ‘Spa Staycation’.
The spa is on two levels and hosts men on one and women on the other. With a state-of-the-art swimming pool and fitness centre, all your wellness needs are catered for. The Spa at Park Hyatt Doha offers the guest an opportunity to experience the bliss that would otherwise be absent from their daily pursuit of life.
For reservations and more information, please call 4009 4300.
@parkhyattdoha
