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IF there’s anything I like to do, it’s to zone out and enjoy some ‘me time’. After a busy week, I looked forward to winding down and seeing what Rimal Spa at Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain had to offer.
The welcome was warm. The entrance of Rimal, a name which means ‘sand’ in Arabic, features a modern mosaic design with dark chocolate and shimmering golden tiles on the walls.
The interior looked opulent and almost edible with a free-flowing water theme that highlighted various jewels of the sea.
I was given a tour of the facility. Rimal has 12 treatment rooms including single treatment suites, one double female suite and two traditional Turkish hammam suites with their own steam rooms and heated wet tables.
The spa is conveniently located next to Mövenpick’s upscale gym as well featuring an easy access side-door. It also boasts separate wings for men and women as well as a ‘luxury VIP royal couple treatment’ suite and relaxation room filled with soft blankets and lounge chairs.
The hostess escorted me to the lounge, which was magnificently decorated with a sparkling crystal chandelier curtain and modern white chairs that looked striking but felt as soft as a marshmallow.
After viewing the facilities, I didn’t just want to be here for the hour-and-a-half that my service was supposed to take. I thought that maybe I should just pack my bags and move in, because the spa itself was the real-life version of my interior décor Pinterest page.
While I snuggled up into the plush chair, the hostess brought me a hot towel and a refreshing glass of one of Rimal’s signature ice teas featuring rose hips, berries and hibiscus. I sipped on the sweet nectar while I filled out the spa consultation form.
As a girl who likes my options, my favourite part of the form was the choice between ‘classical’ and ‘spa’ music. It is evident that a spa really wants to cater to the client when they will go so far as to invigorate all of the senses, including how it sounds. I went with the ‘spa’ music, which proved to be the perfect choice for me, with its serene and dream-inducing appeal.
For my treatment, I tried the Voya Ocean Essence Body Wrap, a cool and refreshing experience with ‘halal-certified’ kelp. Voya products include wild hand-harvested seaweed from Ireland and are used for slimming, toning and detoxifying purposes. Voya, which comes from the word ‘voyage’ is all-natural and offers the world’s first range of certified organic seaweed-based products.
The massage room was candlelit and inviting. I changed and made myself comfortable on the massage bed and the masseuse started the first of a three-part process. She took some hot towels and scrubbed my feet, which made my tired toes feel recharged and ready to tap.
She then proceeded to give me a seaweed scrub, which exfoliated my skin. At first, the gelatinous material was cool to the touch, but had a good grainy feeling that brushed off all of my dead skin cells. A hot shower helped wash the gritty substance off and my skin was fresher than a glass of cold lemonade on a hot summer day.
What I particularly appreciated about this spa is how clean it was. With all the people that go through a spa daily, you can imagine how easily it can get messy. However, Rimal did a fantastic job of keeping the place immaculate. I don’t think I would find any dust even if I looked with a microscope.
The second part of the treatment involved the actual seaweed wrap. A plastic sheet was laid down on the massage bed and a dark, mud-like seaweed paste was applied to my skin. I was then carefully packaged into the plastic and wrapped with a towel. The massage bed was heated, which felt soothing against the air in the room, which was a bit chillier. It reminded me of curling up in bed on a cold, winter’s day.
The perfect combination of temperatures was accompanied by my ambient spa music and the most incredible scalp massage I have ever received. The combination of all the elements had me in a dream-like trance and made the experience all the more enjoyable.
After another hot shower, the masseuse applied a seaweed moisturiser that made my skin feel soft and supple before I headed out to the lounge area once again. I topped off my successful and dreamy seaweed therapy with a Tchaba green tea blend called ‘Moroccan Nights’ and some almonds, dates and dried apricot.
VERDICT: With its super-clean feeling, modern appeal, attention to detail and excellent service, I give the rich experience at Rimal two thumbs up and recommend it to anyone who wants to feel like royalty for the day.
Rimal Spa is open daily from 10am-9pm. For more information, call 17460051.
