Elite Traveler Summer 2022

EXPLORE CAYMAN ISLANDS

WHERE TO STAY

ZULAL WELLNESS RETREAT The Middle East’s fi rst full- fl edged wellness resort — also billed as the fi rst property of its kind worldwide to o ff er comprehensive health and well-being escapes designed especially for families — Zulal occupies a remote site on the northernmost tip of the country (while still just 90 minutes from the airport). There’s something otherworldly about this coastal enclave, where the water’s edge ebbs up to a mile away at low tide and scrubby tufts of exposed mangroves break the blue-sky horizon. With its concept developed in collaboration with Thailand’s Chiva Som, this is a new property with a proven pedigree, and one that takes its guests’ progress seriously. Photography is frowned upon, and all arrivals are encouraged to con fi ne phone usage to their rooms (easily done given it’s the only place WiFi is accessible). Bringing alien foods onto the property is problematic too, but that’s no hardship. Surprisingly, meals here are endlessly delicious and occasionally ingenious. Crunchy bread rolls are steamed prior to baking; made with bloat-free coconut sugar and all-natural ingredients, dainty desserts and pastries are surely-this-can’t-be-allowed indulgent; some 120 di ff erent restorative brews can be prepared to order in the tea library. Additionally, there are top-of-the-range fi tness facilities, complimentary classes ranging from beach volleyball to tai chi, and expansive amenities that include an Arctic ice room and a glistening Himalayan salt room. Where guests reside will depend on whether they are with or without family: Accommodations and facilities are divided into two adjoining sites, with the former group occupying a section of the resort known as Discovery and adults-only bookings ensconced in Serenity. From $2,100 per night. Contact Marc Sawaya, director of sales, marc.sawaya@zulal.com, +974 335 692 44, zulal.com

Above Zulal Wellness Retreat occupies a remote site Right The ornate Bridal Suite at Mondrian Doha

MONDRIAN DOHA Dutchman Marcel Wanders’ brilliantly bonkers imagination was permitted free rein when he was tasked with creating a property that would truly put Doha’s luxury hotels on the map. The wonderfully whimsical result is Mondrian Doha, which could well be the most charming hotel in all of the Middle East. Things start playfully immediately, with a forest of cartoonish white trees sprouting from fl oor to ceiling in the lobby. Way up high, a grassy bridge crosses the rooftop pool, which is crowned by a cascade of fl owers — petal patterns etched in luminous stained glass — that tumbles downwards from the building’s domed ceiling. Even the most privileged, seen it-all-before travelers will fi nd further surprises and thoughtful touches around every corner, but this isn’t a property where style trumps substance. Service is top-notch, and the sprawling subterranean spa is sublime (its skilled therapists have a lot to do with that, though the handsome hamman o ff ered alongside its expected steam, sauna and relaxation facilities further sets

things apart). Decadent dining options include Wolfgang Puck’s CUT, arguably the city’s preeminent steakhouse, while Black Orchid nightclub is one of the city’s most spirited venues. There are other inviting bar and restaurant options, though those staying in the hotel’s best suites may fi nd themselves ordering room service. It can be hard to leave such fantastical places. In the Bridal Suite, a bulbous stand-alone tub is set like a storybook cloud in the center of the mammoth bathroom, while a cylindrical golden elevator descends directly from the suite to the grand ballroom below. Further up, the two-story three-bedroom Penthouse Suite is remarkable. In the cinema room, there’s a cherry-red pool table just across from the grand piano; a 12-person dining table stands under tripe-height ceilings; and views stretch from the man-made island The Pearl towards Doha’s city skyline. Bridal Suite from $11,000 per night; Penthouse Suite from $13,700 per night. Contact mondriandoha-res@ mondrianhotels.com, +974 404 557 77, mondrianhotels.com

The outdoor in fi nity pool stretches into the sea at Zulal Wellness Retreat