When it comes to recharging after a long week, a weekend getaway can work wonders. But is it worth Dh250,000? A hotel in Sharjah seems to think so.
Bait Sharjah has launched a two-night escape package that costs the same as a 1.5 kilogram bar of gold.
Priced at $68,000 (Dh249,730), couples booking the pricey escape can expect a luxury yacht transfer from Dubai, a picnic on a private island, personalised engraved jewellery and, perhaps somewhat predictably, plenty of gold.
The royal getaway begins via a private yacht transfer sailing from Dubai along the Arabian Gulf to Bait Sharjah. Guests will check in to Bait Al Midfa Heritage House where the suite will be fully personalised with their favourite flowers, hand-embroidered slippers and monogrammed bathrobes.
“One might argue that it’s rather economical at $850 per person per couple per year if you amortise the cost of the weekend as memories over the next four decades,” said Patrick Moukarzel, general manager at Bait Sharjah.
The Al Bait Tray for Two dining concept is next on the agenda, offering one of the world’s most expensive desserts. The recipe for the dish is a closely guarded secret, but it’s wholly organic and comes adorned with edible gold pieces.
Downtime comes courtesy of the hotel spa where guests can select a treatment from a range of therapies, including body polishes, massages and beauty rituals. There's the option to have the organic treatment outside or in one of the hotel's five spa treatment rooms.
The first day comes to an end via a romantic movie experience under the stars at an outdoor cinema in the privacy of the Heritage Courtyard, complete with gold-dusted popcorn.
Guests will then bed-down on a mattress that costs about Dh80,000 and is designed to increase sleep quality so much that those lying on it get the equivalent of an extra two additional hours of sleep per night.
The next morning, breakfast is served on a yacht surrounded by the waters of the Arabian Gulf. This is followed by an Arabic calligraphy class complete with gold ink before a hearty lunch at Al Bait Sharjah under the shadow of a 100-year-old wind-tower.
Guests will then be taken to a local tailor in Sharjah to be fitted for a custom-designed abaya and kandura, designed by a renowned Arab fashion designer. Once complete, the garments will be shipped to the guests' home address.
A dinner picnic on a private island complete with a musician and dedicated butler wraps up the day.
Before checking out, guests can take part in a spiritual awakening ceremony that combines yoga and music at a private pool in the resort. A private breakfast in Heritage House concludes this Dh5,200-per-minute weekend experience.
