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Nestled amidst the concrete metropolis of Manama's Diplomatic Area lies an oasis of rejuvenation and relaxation.
The Diplomat spa at the Diplomat Radisson SAS hotel is commemorating its first anniversary this month and has come a long way since its inception.
The facility has much to celebrate: apart from offering traditional Thai treatments from the exclusive Sivalai Spa in Thailand, the Diplomat spa is now launching treatments by Phytomer, an undisputed leader in marine based beauty therapy.
"We will be the exclusive distributor of Phytomer products in Bahrain and will offer a whole range of beauty treatments and various specialised massages with the French brand.
"We felt there was a demand for more than the traditional far eastern therapies which is why we are launching Phytomer products and expanding our spa menu to include additional services like manicure and pedicure," said manager Sue Chua.
The venue will introduce its new spa menu at its anniversary celebrations this month which will feature signature treatments from around the world.
So with the intention of having a taste of the luxurious French brand whose products are based on rich marine products, I stepped into my dimly lit treatment room. A bubbling aroma bath of milk, honey and oil was my first snapshot of pampering for the day. Strong jets of water massaged every inch of my body and after 30 minutes I felt energised but completely relaxed.
As I lay on the massage table for my next dose of indulgence my therapist, Paula, sprayed sea mist mixed with lavender oil on my face and applied relaxing serum to relaxation points throughout my body.
Then she pressed warm pouches of sea salt and sweet lavender to various pressure points starting from my legs going up to my arms, back and neck. This left me lulled into a lethargy that was both pleasurable and calming.
Paula then worked her magic by massaging my entire body with a relaxation serum mixed with a moisturising cream. The 75 minutes of Sea Holistic Massage with Bolus was a real treat of luxury at its best and I stepped out of my relaxation sanctum totally rejuvenated.
But the Diplomat Spa is not just a beauty and relaxation retreat, it also prides itself as being a facility which is in sync with the island's community. It forged a merger with Bahrain Specialist Hospital and held three open days at its facility in its first year.
The spa successfully celebrated World Nurse Day and World Heart Day by sponsoring nurses from various hospitals to use the facilities and gave a free fitness assessment analysis.
It also plans to celebrate Woman's Day this month by tailoring a spa and fitness package aimed at women.
