Who said it’s bad to overindulge?
Published: Nov 10, 2010 22:26 Updated: Nov 20, 2010 18:45
Nonmembers can now get pampered at the Equestrian Club & Spa
Set amid beautifully landscaped gardens on Jeddah’s Corniche, the Park Hyatt Jeddah — Marina, Club and Spa — located within the Al Hamra District at the Equestrian Club of Jeddah, is a hidden paradise waiting to be discovered. A resort complex encompassing 140,000 square meters, it includes two spa facilities (Evania ladies’ spa and Seba Gentlemen’s Sports and Wellness Center), three restaurants and two lounges. The resort offers vast views of the Red Sea and the world-famous 312-meter-high, King Fahd Fountain.
A media event and dinner was held at Evania on Oct. 26 and guests were given a tour around the premises, which were breathtaking to say the least. Evania and Seba lie within 10,000 square meters of sports and leisure activities. Even though both spas have been open since January, they are still unknown to many because you have to be a paying member to use the facilities.
Starting two weeks ago, however, the facilities opened some of their doors to nonmembers so that more people could discover for themselves what luxury and indulgence awaits them inside.
I decided to try it out for myself and see what a day at Evania Spa would be like. So, I spent the early afternoon at the gym and outdoor pool and made bookings for the Aqua Medic Pool, a facial and pedicure later on in the day. It was the perfect way to spend the day!
From the moment you enter Evania’s front doors, you immediately get a sense of tranquility. The candles surrounding a small pool and white drapes are both inviting and relaxing.
The spa is widely spaced out on two floors. The main floor has the locker rooms, Hammam steam room, three hydrotherapy suites, seven treatment rooms, relaxation rooms, a restaurant, juice bar and Aqua Medic Pool, while a floor below hosts the gymnasium, indoor and outdoor pools, and tennis and squash courts.
Seba boasts of similar facilities and includes a gym, Hammam, Aqua Medic Pool, two hydrotherapy suites and six treatment suites, three tennis courts, two squash courts and a table tennis room.
Even though most of the facilities such as the pools, courts and gym are only available to members, the following treatments are now available to nonmembers: Body wraps, scrubs, massages, facials, hydrotherapy treatments and grooming (manicure, pedicure, waxing).
When coming to the spa, you only need to bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes as everything else is provided by the spa including: towels, robes, slippers, lotion, shampoo and other products.
“Evania Spa is the place where you can get everything under one roof,” said Louise Moy, Evania manager.
That is definitely true as ladies can relax, get pampered, exercise, dine and socialize with other ladies there. In fact, there is no other place in the Kingdom where ladies can enjoy themselves so privately in the outdoors, whether it’s at the pool, terraces or private gardens. Even more, Dardahsa Restaurant, which is set to open in January, will be the first ladies’ restaurant in the Kingdom and will offer elegant dining. The spa is even perfect for mothers as they can bring their children with them to enjoy the children’s playground — the Hyatt Camp.
The gym is of a decent size and is equipped with the latest Technogym equipment with integrated TV screens, and overlooks the outdoor pool and spa gardens. There are around 20 cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes and stair masters) and a few toning machines.
The outdoor pool is really something different. According to Moy, it is “one-of-a-kind” in the Kingdom. “Ladies from Riyadh and other cities come and reserve the guest rooms at the Park Hyatt to pamper themselves during weekends and to enjoy the beautiful views of the Red Sea and King Fahd Fountain,” she said.
At the pool, ladies can tan, swim or simply relax on the plush lounge chairs/sun beds and enjoy a glass of refreshing fresh juice from the juice bar or a meal from the restaurant, which also has a BBQ patio.
The spa also comprises the Kingdom’s first Hydrotherapy Center. “What’s unique about our spa is that it actually delivers what a true spa should. The word ‘spa’ is of Latin origin, “Sanitas per Aquas,” which means “healing by water.” That is exactly what we offer here through our hydrotherapy treatments,” explained Moy.
The Aqua Medic Pool is a heated pool set at 36 degrees — same temperature as our blood — that relaxes, soothes aches and pains and increases circulation. The pool contains several jets in the water that massage different areas of the body. The spa claims it is perfect for those with arthritis and rheumatism.
During your 30-minute booking at the Aqua Medic Pool, you are encouraged to go around and try the different water jet stations as there are ones for the back, feet, neck, shoulders as well as a underwater bed for the whole body. I personally found the water pressure in some stations to be too strong, particularly for the back and neck. Additionally, the underwater bed, which you have to keep holding yourself so as not to float away from, wasn’t as relaxing as I had hoped.
The three hydrotherapy suites offer the following treatments: The Hydrobath, Evania Vichy and Spa Jet. The Hydrobath treatment is a private hot tub with massage jets, which can be customized according to your needs by adding oils for extra pampering or seaweed for detoxification. The Evania Vichy is a mineral body scrub followed by warm rain shower — the combination of scrub and water offer relaxing benefits. The Spa Jet room is a combination of aroma, hydro and vibration therapy.
The treatment rooms are dim and cozy. Soothing healing therapy music plays to ensure that you are as relaxed and stress-free as possible. It was now time for my Ageless Antioxidant facial.
This facial is great for anyone really, but especially those who have tired and dull skin due to our polluted environment. It consists of a cleanse, scrub, steam, extract, masque, two types of massage and a vitamin C booster ampoule to combat premature aging while helping with hyper pigmentation. It also includes a hand, arm and scalp massage. The facial is highly recommended as I was left with a brighter, more rejuvenated face and a relaxed state of mind — so relaxed that I wanted to fall asleep.
Kerstin Florian is the European spa line used in Evania Spa for face and body treatments — a range, which has diverse active ingredients such as Moor Mud from Hungary, detoxifying Algae from Brittany in Northern France and Sevruga Caviar from Russia. CND products are used for the luxurious spa manicure and pedicures.
Unlike other beauty salons and spas, the Park Hyatt Jeddah Spa is extremely keen on hygiene. For instance, in the manicure and pedicure room, they use disposable files, and an orange stick — which is made from wood rather than metal — so that it doesn’t damage the nail. More importantly, everything is properly sterilized in the autoclave, and you can make sure of it as the tools are opened from a sealed bag in front of you.
Evania Spa manicure and pedicures are unlike anything you’re experienced before — they truly are a luxurious experience. Lasting just over an hour each, (60 minutes for a manicure and 75 for a pedicure), your hands and feet will indulge in a royal treatment.
Apart from the usual routine of filing, cuticle work, exfoliation, buff and polish, they exfoliate your legs with natural sea scrubs containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). Then, they apply a cooling mask and cover your legs with hot towels. The mask soothes muscle aches and gets rid of water retention, while the hot towel soothes the skin. When combined, you get a hot and cooling sensation at the same time, and the result is fully refreshed legs. You also get a massage as they moisturize your legs with lotion. It really is a splendid experience. Then, once you’re done with your treatments, you can unwind in the relaxation room.
Being a member definitely has its perks. Based on an annual fee, it gives access to all the Club facilities, including complimentary fitness assessment, one personal training session, 20 percent discount on Spa services excluding packages and merchandising. Even more, members can bring their friends to enjoy the day with them at the price of SR250 per guest per day.
Moreover, it is now more convenient than ever to become a member since singles and couples can join rather than just families. Single membership is for SR25,000 and couple membership is SR35,000 per year. For families, it is SR28,500 (which includes a one-time joining fee of SR75,000) for a family of eight.
Whether you decide to become a member or not, one thing is for sure: you will be treated like royalty at the spa. The staff are very friendly and wait on you for anything you need, which will leave you feeling too spoiled to face real life again.
To book a treatment or for more information, call Evania at (02) 263-9792 and Seba at (02) 263-9791