For a unique blend of cleansing and relaxation, Fernanda Langhammer visited Saray Spa for an immersive experience.
Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel is quite an imposing building with two high towers covered in glass, a highlight on Doha’s landscape. The hotel is home to an array of dining spots, but the reason for my visit was a pampering session at Saray Spa. Located on the seventh floor, the spa has nine treatment rooms, relaxation areas, a steam room and a sauna. But I was there for something extra special: the Turkish Bath.
The reception is ample, with dark tiles on the floor and an array of retail products in a nicely lit ambience. I was welcomed with a hibiscus juice and a warm towel. After I filled out a form about preferences and health conditions, I was introduced to Murni, my therapist, who led me to the changing room. I loved the dark corridor with spots of light placed on the floor, which gave a tranquil atmosphere. Lamps in lantern designs hanging from the ceiling added a nice touch to the minimalist décor and a sense of warmth.
In the changing room, I slipped out of my day clothes and was hugged by a fluffy robe. The therapy involves a 30-minute massage and 45 minutes of Turkish Bath. Murni asked if I wanted the massage done in the Hammam or in the treatment room, and I went for the second option. We entered the space, and a very comfy bed was in the middle. The few days before this therapy were very stressful for me (as with every end of the month, to get my magazines out in the world), and my upper back was killing me, so I asked my therapist to concentrate on that region. Her touch was perfect, firm yet careful not to overdo it; even though my knots were in real need of proper deep tissue, she treated them gently, working in motions that loosened them but didn’t make me cry. It was a fantastic massage, and I really needed it. Murni promised I would relax even more after the next step of this indulgent session.
I have tried Moroccan Hammam in various different spas (and each place has its own twist), but it was my first time having a Turkish Bath – I was really looking forward to it.
We entered the room reserved for Hammams. As expected, it was a space covered in tiles with a large, marble bed in the centre. The ritual occurs in a room that feels like a humid steam chamber. What I like most is that at Saray Spa, the vapour is pleasant and constant and doesn’t give the suffocating effect I usually get when the steam is on (I am a bit claustrophobic, so I genuinely appreciated this detail). But the best feeling, and I am not sure I will describe it as it deserves, was lying down on the marble bed. It was warm and felt like a giant warm embrace. The day was particularly cold, so this balmy feeling spreading through my entire body was absolutely amazing. To my joy, it was going to get even better.
Murni started by washing my body with warm water. The towel on top of the bed retained the water that kept its temperature due to the marble being heated – I must say, what a comfortable feeling! The next step was the application of black soap made with natural ingredients; it was spread in circular motions all over my body, followed by another round of water to clear the soap. She then wore a special glove and scrubbed my skin to remove dead cells and reveal clearer complexion. This part can be a bit rough in some areas, but she kept ensuring the pressure was okay. She then washed it all out and started with the best treatment step, which differentiates this therapy from the Moroccan Bath: she applied huge mountains of bubbly foam all over my body. She had a special piece of cloth that looked like a pillow cover that she would fill with foam and squeeze out on top of me. If the warm bed was a hug, this was like being enveloped in a lovely, scented cloud. It was a feather-like feeling that she repeated seven times – foam, wash, foam, wash and so on – such a different and enjoyable sensation. She then gave me a deep hair wash.
I felt that Murni not only performed a full-body cleanse but removed all my tension and stress. The heaviness in my shoulders, stiffness in my muscles and general negativity were washed away with the water. I felt renewed. I guess Hammams have this effect, but the Turkish Bath at Saray Spa takes you to another level of relaxation. I sipped my peppermint tea post-treatment with an invaluable feeling of restfulness.
For more information or to make a booking, please call Saray Spa at
Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel on 4419 6090.
@sarayspa.doha
@marriottmarquisdoha