KDHamptons NEW VIDEO Travel Diary: My Last Stop in the Middle East~ Dubai!

SHARE

 

[kdhVimeo]59157476[/kdhVimeo]

 

 

 

 

 

Hi KDHamptons Readers! Salaam-Alaikum from Dubai [peace be unto you]!

 

I am back from my annual visit to see my sister Kim in the Middle East, who lives in Abu Dhabi with my adorable godson, Brady, and her handsome husband Steve. Could it be any colder in the Hamptons? Yikes! With news of a blizzard rolling in this weekend I am keeping warm as I look at these photos from our trip to Dubai.

 

 

 

 

Whenever I visit Kim, we plan a little mini-vacation destination within my trip where we pick a glam hotel and spa to spend some sister time before I head home. This year, we decided on the magestic Al Qasr Hotel at Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai [above photo], and also checked in for some sultan style pampering [play video at top] at the Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Island.  The spa experience in Middle East is incomparable, from Snow Rooms to elaborate marble Hammam treatments, if you are a spa addict like we are then this is the place to be!

 

Here are a few of the highlights of my KDHamptons Dubai Travel Diary:

 

Love the lush plantings, flowers, and palm trees. I found this fun dress at one of the shops in the souk.

 

 

 

It's fun traveling around the resort by Abra...

 

 

Al Qasr means ‘The Palace’  and is the centre-piece of Madinat Jumeirah and is designed to reflect a Sheikh’s summer residence. Approached via a tree-lined avenue, adorned with beautifully sculpted Arabian horses, Al Qasr is simply breathtaking – a tribute to historic architectural styles and a re-creation of old Arabia, styled to resemble an ancient citadel. During the day, we made mud castles on the beach, I toured around the property taking photos, Brady got a henna tattoo [below], and we snacked on some chocolate cake!

 

 

The promenade at the entrance to Al Qasr looks more like a custom car show, peppered with Porsches, Ferraris, Bentleys and more..

 

 

Wouldn't this fountain look so pretty at a Hamptons pool house?

 

 

Brady gets some ink!

 

 

One for me, one for Brady, one for Kim, and repeat....

 

 

Making sandcastles against the pastel sunset over the Gulf.

 

 

We loved the traditional Arabian style design in our gorgeous villa.

 

 

My nephew Brady joined us for a fancy Italian dinner at Segreta.

 

 

Hitting the souk for some great necklaces!

 

 

We headed over to the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah to Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, a magnificent tribute to the ancient palaces of the Ottoman Empire. Within this spectacular palace, behind immense and ornately carved doors lies Dubai’s best-kept secret~ Talise Ottoman Spa, an authentic and spectacular Turkish spa and hammam!

 

 

You definitely feel like you may have become part of an ancient harem as you soak up this spa!

 

 

Kim takes a jacuzzi before our hammam treatment.

 

 

Throughout the centuries, the hammam was not only a place for bathing; it was a cultural tradition revered as a focal point for relaxing~ I can see why~ I didn’t want to leave! The Talise spa combines the ancient healing philosophies of the Ottomans with modern-day spa technology [like the Snow Room below!] and luxe interiors like crafted marble, massive mosaics and murals.

 

 

The mosaic tiled pool with star studded skies above.

 

 

We could only last in the Snow Room for about 30 seconds!

 

 

Lastly, an outdoor massage in the Thai Pavillion pagodas put me to sleep.

 

 

For our last dinner we jumped in the abra to sail over to Pierchic [below], located at the end of a pier that juts out over the sea, and offers the best views of the incredible Burj Al Arab [which Tom Cruise scaled in Mission Impossible].  The yellowfin tuna and fresh oysters were amazing!

 

 

We had dinner at gorgeous Pierchic restaurant...so stunning! No wonder Tom Cruise filmed here for the last Mission Impossible flick.

 

 

Lucky little sister: Kim surprised me with a gift before dinner. A perfect black clutch I have been coveting from Chanel! Perfect for our Pierchic dinner.

 

 

My favorite purchase on the trip was this Anna Della Russo emerald greed crocodile choker, and I love the colorful print dress Kim found at a local Indian store.

 

 

Loved our sea-to-table meal at Pier Chic.

 

 

Picture perfect view from our dinner table of the Burj Al Arab hotel.

 

 

Leaving my best friend behind in the Middle East to head home to the Hamptons is always hard, but the memories we make each year play over in my mind like a movie I love to watch again and again…. Love you sister & thanks for an incredible trip!!   xxo Kelli