As we drove over the bridge onto Jumeirah Bay Island, we felt as though we were leaving the concrete jungle of Dubai behind. This feeling was amplified the moment we stepped onto the Bulgari Hotel & Resort’s beach.
Before that, we were elegantly greeted at the door of the undeniably chic hotel by the valet staff who took the vehicle off our hands – it would later be returned with sterilized plastic around the steering wheel, on the driver’s seat and gear stick, which they removed before handing us the keys. And upon entering, they took our temperatures and directed us downstairs to the lower level where the Yacht and Beach Club are located.
POOL CABANA
We could not decide whether it was the lack of buildings in view – apart from a few private homes being built out in the distance – the generous space between beds, or the private cabana, either way the tranquillity that surrounds Bulgari’s beach was instantly felt. We changed in the cabana, which housed a sleek shower, washroom and changing room, along with a stocked, oversized fridge, dressing gowns, and all the usual amenities of a luxurious hotel room before we decided to sit out the front, on the comfortable sofa beds to sip iced coffee and nibble on the complimentary fruit platter while looking out to Arabian ocean – also still with minimal waves that morning, echoing the calmness in the air.
It wasn’t long before we spotted two sun beds with our names on them. They were floating a short-swim distance away, and floating on a deck along with an umbrella to warn away the strong rays. Here we also found clean, fresh towels in a box. Which were replaced after any visit, as were the abundance of towels on any sun bed in the bay. It was the ideal spot to relax and unwind, which evidently is why we spent most of the day there.
SWIMMING POOL AND BEACH
The staff where all clad in face masks, and were on hand for our every need. They also came around often to offer us real-fruit ice lollies, smoothie shots and mochi ice cream. A few hours and a couple of beers later, we decided to ponder the menu for lunch. An Italian feast was at our disposal – pizza, pasta, insalatas and the like. We opted for two rocket salads with halloumi, pomegranate and za’tar. They arrived with an overflowing breadbasket and fresh bottles of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was the perfect light bite, washed down with beer and refreshing mocktails.
We then decided to spend a few ours in the neighbouring pool – ice cold, the optimal temperature during the mid-day heat. At one side, it’s shallow enough to lay down and still have your head and shoulders above the water. Here, we sipped on fresh coconut waters. It was also easy to social distance as we had the pool to ourselves.
SWIMMING POOL
The afternoon was spent sunbathing on the beds in front of the cabana, and slowly the sun began to set over the horizon. The sky turned from blue, to pink with hues of orange before turning dark, and only then did we contemplate leaving. We did not want to cross the bridge back to Dubai, and let the daycation end.
For more information, call: +971 4 7775555 or visit bulgarihotels.com. Find the BVLGARI Resort and Hotel at Jumeira Bay Island, Jumeira 2, Dubai, UAE
Photos: Supplied
