Enter your search keyword or phrase and press enter.

August 24, 2022

Sofitel Dubai The Palm

Discover the warm French-Polynesian welcome of Sofitel Dubai The Palm, a luxury 5-star beach resort situated on the East Crescent of the world-famous Palm Jumeirah, offering a relaxing escape inspired by the rich culture of the South Pacific.

I have visited several Sofitel properties around the world and always left with incredible memories and the desire to return, it’s safe to say I was thrilled to be visiting a Sofitel location I had not previously experienced.

Upon walking into the grand and impressive lobby, one of the very first things that caught my attention was the beautiful scent. A scent can make hotel guests feel welcome with a familiar and warm feeling. In order to achieve this, Sofitel brought in renowned perfumer Lucien Ferrero to create a perfume that is truly unique to Sofitel properties around the world. Essence de Sofitel is a distinctive, intoxicating fragrance. It powerfully blends notes of refreshing bergamot and earthy sandalwood, crisp lemon leaf, and the sweet floral charm of white rose, jasmine, and lily of the valley, to create one of the most beautiful scents I have ever experienced. (I loved it so much I purchased the room spray from the Sofitel Boutique).

Perfectly situated amongst lush greenery on the beautiful shores of the Arabian Gulf, Sofitel Dubai The Palm offers a tropical and relaxing sanctuary, only a short distance away from the busy and bustling metropolis of Dubai. The resort has it’s very own private 500-metre stretch of soft white sandy beach, overlooking the incredible views of the beautiful villas of the East Crescent. With over 100,000 square metres, Sofitel The Palm Dubai’s distinct French luxury authentically embraces rich elements of Polynesian culture. With an abundance of stunning architecture, the resort reflects a timeless spirit and tropical charm.

Sofitel’s unique design is the work of Mahnaz Liaghat, one of Dubai’s top interior designers. Having spoken with the Sofitel team, Liaghat looked closely at what is important in Polynesian culture and found that it’s simply about going back to basics and living honestly and so bringing in; water, stone, nature and flowers – the essentials of life. For instance, the green wall created within the hotel lobby emphasizes the natural side of life. Throughout the entire hotel and spa, you can touch the carved stone walls, feel the dark wooden features, and you can breathe in the bespoke tropical scent, which makes you feel as if you’re in the midst of pure nature.

The symbols displayed around the resort have very true and deep meanings. For example, the adorable geckos. In Polynesian culture, geckos are very important as they symbolise everlasting happiness. When people build houses, they place geckos at the foot of the building for good luck. There are also numerous Tiki symbols. A Tiki comes in many forms, offering protection from evil spirits and its traits can take the form of what each guest wants the Tiki to express. It is therefore only fitting that the main entrance to the hotel features the Tiki symbol on the massive wooden doors.

Subtle design, natural raw materials, and attention to detail combine perfectly in each room and suite. Its 361 unique rooms and suites and 182 residences have been designed to provide a relaxed environment that focuses on the beauty and simplicity of nature. For this reason, furniture and fixtures have been carved from natural dark woods, largely stained American ash, raw stone, and pale onyx. Indirect lighting in all living spaces and with the sunlight dappling through hundreds of leaves, guests feel as though they’re really in a Polynesian village. Each bathroom has been created with open-air in mind, with natural stone underfoot and rain-shower fittings overhead. Centralised stone baths overlook the huge open living spaces, while touches of blue and purple soft furnishings complete the understated luxury allowing you to relax in a stone bath. The in-room experience creates a feeling of calm and relaxation as well as luxury.

The resort boasts a multitude of food and beverage outlets, namely Studio du Chef, offering a modern take on traditional French cuisine; Porterhouse, the property’s signature steak restaurant; Manava, the all-day dining restaurant; Moana, where delectable seafood is prepared with fresh local ingredients, while Maui Beach Bar and Restaurant allows guests to relax while enjoying the aromas and treats from the BBQ.

What was your favourite dining experience we hear you say? For us, it was their brand-new addition to the resort, Laguna Beach Lounge. Laguna Beach Lounge is where locals and hotel guests alike gather on Palm Jumeirah to eat and drink, party and play, in a laid-back Mediterranean ambiance. Laguna Beach Lounge takes you to the Cyclades, where pergola rooftops, whitewashed stairs and ragged stone walls transport you to the narrow alleys of Mykonos. At this exquisite beach bar, you are just steps from the water’s edge making it easy to take a quick dip before your meal. During the daytime, sit back in the lounge enjoying an early or late lunch as the soft romantic drapes rustle in the breeze, perfectly in sync with the gently lapping waves. After the sun sets, Laguna Beach Lounge transforms into the trendiest night-time bar. The DJ, perched in a booth resembling a turret, turns up the music every night of the week and you can dance the night away on the beautiful sandy beach whilst keeping the drinks flowing and finally decide on the shisha flavour that tickles your fancy. For an even more exclusive experience, speak to the concierge team about reserving one of their VIP cabanas which offer more privacy. Our personal recommendation, try The Laguna Sushi Platter which is made up of tuna, salmon, hamachi, nigiri, maki rolls and mouth-watering snapper ceviche. And to wash it down, the Rawson’s Retreat white wine from South Australia is *chefs kiss*.

As our final sunset crept in and after finishing our sundowners, we headed over to the impressive spa dressed in our robes and slippers.

Spread across 2,500 square meters and home to 28 treatment rooms, the SO Spa with L’Occitane offers guests the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation. From facials to body wraps, each treatment includes time-honoured remedies of Provence, taking you on a holistic voyage of the senses, creating that deep-seated sense of wellbeing. As we headed off into our divided spa areas (the relaxation and pool areas are divided by gender), it was time to truly switch off and melt into an uber comfortable massage bed. After apologising profusely to the therapist for falling asleep, she replied ‘The best compliment for a therapist too for their client to fall asleep. It means they are truly relaxed and immersed in the treatment’. My massage – 10/10.

A couple of additional points to make:

Another standout is that the property has not one, not two, not three but six swimming pools! The main one, surrounded by palm trees and mock boulders, takes pride in the place between the hotel and the beach. Elsewhere, there is an activity pool for games, a slide pool for children, and a tranquil adults-only pool with a built-in waterfall.

Another brownie point is that the resort location is A-star! For those looking to explore, the hotel is next-door-but-one to the Atlantis, which is perfect for a day out to the Aquaventure water park. The monorail going in and out of The Atlantis can take you quickly to the bottom of the palm if you would like to see more views of Jumeriah and The Dubai Mall and Fountains are a mere 30 minutes away.

My overall view of Sofitel in Dubai is that it is a relaxed resort, where you can indulge in delicious culinary delights, enjoy the spa, take time out by one of the many pools and soak up some vitamin D, but equally use the location to experience more of The Palm.

A: Sofitel Dubai The Palm – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
T: +971 4 455 6677
W: Sofitel Dubai The Palm

Social media

Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

Written by Amber Lauren for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International

Instagram / #Luxurialife