A shaded outdoor deck ostensibly doubles the space of your guest quarters, though even in the winter, it gets hot out there. ![]() The 22 Airstreams come with two twin beds or a queen, shower and separate bathroom, dining area, and a few thoughtful amenities (I enjoyed the novel The Alchemist left at my bedside). Its sister property, Caravan by Habitas, followed in 2022 as a more moderately priced alternative. Habitas AlUla opened in November 2021 and on its one-year anniversary, it was completely sold out. “We are brothers and sisters now,” they told me. The host placed a bracelet on my wrist as I transitioned from being a guest to part of the family. I was encouraged to take a deep breath, find my center, and be present. The AlUla property borrows from Saudi tradition, burning incense as one would for guests arriving at a wedding here, it represents the closing of one door and opening of another. On arrival, no matter the hour, a welcome ceremony takes place. Social and cultural exchange are a big part of the Habitas experience. Guest rooms are fashioned out of bamboo, canvas, and responsibly sourced hardwood, with nary a plastic container in sight. Known for its sustainable design practices and low-impact construction, Habitas uses organic materials that blend into their surroundings. They were fellow guests at Habitas AlUla, a desert retreat composed of 96 villas prefabricated in Mexico by the Tulum-based Habitas hospitality group to lighten the construction footprint, then shipped to the Ashar Valley. On a trip to AlUla in November 2022, I overheard travelers from Guadalajara, Dubai, Germany, and even Florida discuss what brought them to the oasis (in no particular order: a honeymoon, an anniversary, a Desert X art showcase, and a John Legend concert at Maraya concert hall). I got to check out three hotels firsthand, including the aforementioned Airstream village, that offer distinctly different ways to be immersed in nature in Saudi Arabia. This mix of past and present, East and West, is what many international travelers first encounter on a trip to Saudi Arabia.Īs one of most well-developed entry points into Saudi tourism, which only started issuing leisure-travel visas in 2019, AlUla serves as an on-ramp to the long-cloistered kingdom. Dozens of them, amid pizza and ice cream trucks and gathering tents inspired by Bedouin camps. But set within the shadows of the sandstone are somewhat incongruous, extra shiny. The dramatic desert valley could double for the red rocks of Utah and Arizona or Jordan’s seemingly extraterrestrial Wadi Rum. Especially when it comes to the handling of a situation when something does not go according to plan.From a bird’s-eye view, AlUla-an oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia and a centuries-old stop along an ancient incense route-looks like a sea of rust-red sand, cliffs, and canyons, with a ribbon of palm groves running through it. It's very rare for me to find nothing to fault. It was perfection to just stay and enjoy all the available amenities. ![]() Clean, and super modern! Did not even leave the resort throughout our trip. The gym is superbly well equipped, with the latest TechnoGym equipment. Excellent service throughout the guest experience - from arrival, to ordering buggy's for transfers, in-room dining, restaurant service and food quality etc. ![]() There was a slight hiccup related to my airport collection upon arrival, and the team far exceeded what was necessary to compensate for the error! Handled with complete aplomb throughout the guest experience. This is my second Banyan Tree experience, and it was sublime.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |