Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008 - (Page 53)

Since ancient times, spa-seekers have flocked to the lowest point on earth (1,400 feet below sea level) to take to the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. Sandwiched by Jordan' s mountains to the east and the hills of Jerusalem to the west, the Dead Sea is the mystical centerpiece of a dramatic, awe-inspiring landscape. Legend has it that the Queen of Sheba, King Solomon, King Herod and Cleopatra appreciated the healing powers of the biggest natural spa on earth. Nearly nine times as salty as the world' s oceans and saturated with minerals, the Dead Sea' s unusually warm waters are so buoyant that it' s impossible to sink in them. Soaking in the Dead Sea is purifying for the skin and provides treatment for a number of ailments, including eczema, arthritis, rheumatism and dermatitis. Cleopatra is said to have set up factories on these shores to mine for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. To this day, the Dead Sea attracts quite the affluent crowd to its excellent regional spas, the largest in the Middle East. On a recent trip to Jordan, Luxury Travel Advisor checked out the Dead Sea' s destination spa resorts. Just 35 miles from Amman, these resorts are a favorite getaway for Jordanians from the capital in the summer months, so the hotels are often fully booked during that time. The balmy climate, oxygen-rich air and ultra-violet-filtered sunshine mean a pleasant stay at the Dead Sea year-round, though the sum- mertime tends to get hot. High season runs from the middle of March until the end of May, and from September through November, so it' s best to reserve at least two months in advance for these dates. Book the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea (www.moeven pick-deadsea.com) for a sublime spa experience. Insiders tell us that the resort is a favorite for celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Uma Thurman, and that the guest list has included countless world leaders. The Mövenpick hosted the World Economic Forum on the Middle East in 2007, the first sister event outside Davos. In a conversation with Luxury Travel Advisor, General Manager Bruno Huber (bruno.huber@moevenpick. JORDAN VALLEY DEAD SEA MARRIOTT (left) provides yoga sessions for mental and physical rejuvina- tion. The hotel has three free-form swimming pools, including an indoor facility, set amidst serenity and elegance (below). http://www.silversea.com/PrinceAlbertII

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008

Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Park City Riviera Maya Italian Castles Rotorua China Villa Retreats The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt Rancho Bernardo Port Ghalib Dead Sea Spas Silversea The Professor The Pulse Jetset Report Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008

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