Luxury Resort Experience in Saudi Arabia

The speaker visited a luxury resort in Saudi Arabia, which is part of the country’s efforts to expand and develop its energy and tourism sectors with multi-billion dollar investments. The resort, which opened in 2024, is a key part of the country’s Vision 2030 program, aiming to develop tourism, renewable energy, and industry.

Getting to the Resort

Getting to the resort was a challenge, with no direct flights available on Mondays. The speaker waited over a day for their flight and almost missed it, but made it to the gate in time. They flew on an older plane to a unique airport that is still under construction, but had a smooth and efficient security check and luggage retrieval. To get to their destination, Chevro, they had three options: sea plane, boat, or private yacht, but the sea plane was not possible due to windy weather, so they took a transfer car, a new Mercedes, to get to the port to take a boat.

Arrival and First Impressions

Upon arrival, the speaker was impressed by the stunning design of the Six Senses Southern Dunes resort, which blends into the landscape. The resort was built using eco-friendly solutions, including Saudi Arabia’s largest off-grid charging network, a solar plant, and a recycling system, making it a unique and sustainable destination. The speaker was warmly welcomed and was impressed by the beautiful villas, which resemble pearls in the ocean.

Dining Experience

The speaker had a delicious lunch at the Lunar restaurant, which has a beautiful white interior and a creative ceiling. They were surprised by the offer of non-alcoholic champagne, which they appreciated given the cultural and religious context of being in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan. They also visited the Ikiro restaurant, which serves Nikai cuisine, a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian food, and enjoyed the desserts, including Japanese green tea ice cream and cheesecake.

Accommodations and Amenities

The speaker was impressed by the custom-made furniture and beautiful design of their villa, featuring curved lines, soft textures, and high-quality materials. They particularly loved the bathroom, which they found breathtaking and worthy of a design award. The villa also had a unique kitchen with a secret door for butler service, and the speaker appreciated the electric buggies available for transportation.

Challenges and Issues

Despite the luxurious surroundings, the speaker encountered several challenges and issues, including slow and inefficient service, a late driver, and a broken communication system that made booking transportation challenging. They also experienced a management problem when other guests entered their room, and had to deal with a delayed golf car pickup.

Conclusion

The speaker had a unique experience at the resort, with amazing scenery and great people, but also encountered strange and unpleasant moments. The total bill for a 3-day stay was $7,200, and the speaker felt that for this amount, they expected better hospitality and finesse, not just kindness and free dinners offered after they shared their concerns. Despite the issues, the speaker sees potential in the place and believes it will grow into a success with time.

Key Takeaways

The resort is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, aiming to develop tourism, renewable energy, and industry.
The resort was built using eco-friendly solutions, making it a unique and sustainable destination.
The speaker encountered several challenges and issues, including slow and inefficient service and management problems.
The total bill for a 3-day stay was $7,200, and the speaker felt that for this amount, they expected better hospitality and finesse.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Vision 2030	A program aiming to develop tourism, renewable energy, and industry in Saudi Arabia by the year 2030.	The resort is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, aiming to develop tourism, renewable energy, and industry.
Eco-friendly solutions	Methods or technologies that reduce environmental harm and promote sustainability.	The resort was built using eco-friendly solutions, including Saudi Arabia’s largest off-grid charging network, a solar plant, and a recycling system.
Sustainable destination	A tourist destination that prioritizes environmental conservation and minimizes its ecological footprint.	The resort is a unique and sustainable destination due to its eco-friendly features.
Off-grid charging network	A system that generates and stores energy independently, without relying on the main power grid.	The resort features Saudi Arabia’s largest off-grid charging network as part of its eco-friendly solutions.
Nikai cuisine	A fusion of Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions.	The Ikiro restaurant serves Nikai cuisine, offering a unique blend of Japanese and Peruvian flavors.
Butler service	A personalized service where a butler attends to a guest’s needs, often through a discreet and convenient system.	The villa had a unique kitchen with a secret door for butler service, providing a luxurious and convenient experience.
Electric buggies	Environmentally friendly vehicles used for transportation within a resort or community.	The resort offered electric buggies for transportation, promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly experience.
Renewable energy	Energy generated from natural resources that can be replenished over time, such as solar or wind power.	The resort incorporates renewable energy sources, including a solar plant, to reduce its environmental impact.
Custom-made furniture	Furniture designed and built specifically for a particular space or client, often reflecting unique tastes or requirements.	The villa featured custom-made furniture, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Non-alcoholic champagne	A beverage that mimics the taste and experience of champagne but does not contain alcohol, often used in cultural or religious contexts where alcohol is not permitted.	The speaker was offered non-alcoholic champagne at the Lunar restaurant, a considerate gesture given the cultural and religious context of being in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan.

Watch The Video

I Stayed at the WORLD’S MOST FUTURISTIC HOTEL (Saudi Arabia)

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What does ‘off-grid’ mean in the context of the Six Senses Southern Dunes resort’s charging network?

A) Connected to the main power grid
B) Using only renewable energy sources and not relying on external power supplies
C) Powered by fossil fuels
D) Requiring manual charging

2. Which word best describes the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian food served at the Ikiro restaurant?

A) Traditional
B) Fast food
C) Nikai cuisine
D) Italian

3. What is ‘Ramadan’ in the context of the speaker’s experience in Saudi Arabia?

A) A national holiday
B) A cultural festival
C) A period of fasting and religious observance
D) A tourist season

4. What does ‘eco-friendly’ mean in the context of the resort’s construction and operations?

A) Harmful to the environment
B) Neutral to the environment
C) Designed and operated to minimize harm to the environment
D) Ignoring environmental concerns

5. What is ‘Vision 2030’ in the context of the resort and Saudi Arabia’s development plans?

A) A short-term investment plan
B) A long-term development program aiming to diversify the economy and develop sectors like tourism and renewable energy
C) A tourism marketing campaign
D) An energy conservation initiative

Answer Key:

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense to Describe Ongoing Actions and Experiences

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or experiences that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. It is formed using the present tense of “have” + “been” + the -ing form of the verb. For example, in the context of the luxury resort experience, the speaker might say, “I have been waiting for over a day for my flight,” to indicate an action that started in the past and continued until the moment of speaking. This tense is particularly useful for describing ongoing experiences or situations that have a connection to the present. In the provided text, the speaker’s experiences at the resort, such as “they have been developing tourism, renewable energy, and industry” as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, illustrate the use of the present perfect continuous to highlight ongoing efforts and developments.

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time the speaker arrived at the resort, they ____________________ for their flight for over a day.

a) have waited
b) had waited
c) have been waiting
d) was waiting

2. The resort ____________________ using eco-friendly solutions, including Saudi Arabia’s largest off-grid charging network.

a) is built
b) has been built
c) was built
d) is being built

3. The speaker ____________________ several challenges and issues during their stay, including slow and inefficient service.

a) encounters
b) has encountered
c) had encountered
d) is encountering

4. By 2024, the resort ____________________ as part of the country’s Vision 2030 program.

a) opens
b) has opened
c) had opened
d) was opening

5. The speaker feels that for the amount they paid, they ____________________ better hospitality and finesse.

a) expect
b) have expected
c) expects
d) had expected

Answer Key:

1. c) have been waiting

2. c) was built

3. b) has encountered

4. b) had opened

5. b) had expected