With its plethora of spas and beauty clinics, Dubai might just be the perfect place to get stressed, if only for the fun of relaxing again. The other day I was feeling suitably stressed (with the combination of rain, George Bush's visit and lack of sun - can you blame me?) so I took myself down to the Chi Spa in the Shangri-La on Sheikh Zayed Road. If there is ever a decision I'll live to regret, I can guarantee you, it wont be that one.

From the moment I stepped out of the taxi (at the moment the entrance is at the back of the hotel for some unexplained reason), I was treated like the princess I have always believed myself to be deep down inside. As I was escorted to the lift, I was kindly informed which floor the spa was located on, and whizzed up, already feeling the tension beginning to drain away.

Once I arrived, the welcome was nothing if not enthusiastic- I filled out my forms (no broken elbows, skin conditions or manic obsessions about people not touching any part of my body, check, check, check) with mounting enthusiasm for the treatment, as it was explained to me detail by tantalizing detail.

Alas, in my eagerness to get facialed-up, I had arrived at the spa over half an hour early- a blessed mistake it turns out as I was led to the changing rooms, changed into one of the voluminous fluffy robes and then was seated in an area containing three (THREE!) plunge pools, a steam room and a sauna. One word: bliss.

Surprisingly enough, I frittered my time away quite pleasantly plunging and steaming and heating to my heart's content. I was actually reticent to leave my newly found haven when the time for my treatment rolled around. Almost, but not quite.

This is a facial, but not as you know it. Before she even touched my face, my therapist explained that she was going to give me a back rub and massage, before getting down to the business of sorting out my face.

The back massage was, needless to say, completely gorgeous. She rubbed and rolled until I pretty much purred like a cat before being flipped over for some facial action. The treatment claims to - wait for it - exfoliate, smooth, increase blood circulation, refresh and awaken the mind, improve skin tone, lift, reduce fine lines and pigmentation, moisturize, rejuvenate, clarify, reduce puffiness, prevent breakouts (not indefinitely), deep cleanse, increase elasticity and maintain pH balance- got all that? Any skepticism I had gradually drained away as my face was inspected, analysed and lathered in potions and creams until, 90 minutes later, she announced that we were done.

A sneaky peek in the mirror left me reeling- where were the bags under the eyes (someone once quite rudely told me I reminded them of hooch from the old classic Turner and... )? Where were the wrinkles I've been trying to ignore in the defense that they could not possibly exist on my youthful 22 year old face? The dry patches? I could go on, but it might be quicker to just get to the point. They were gone. Instead, I was left with a face smoother than that of a newborn babe's and just as soft. Line and bag free to boot.

So what did I do to celebrate this vitalisation? Went out to the nearest bar to gain appreciation for my newly restored beauty of course...

What we tried
Chi Vitality Treatment, Chi Spa, Shangri-La Dubai Dhs450