As the mercury rises, all the prices come tumbling down. Why pay the full amount when you can get the same thing for - in most of these cases – less than half? Summer is upon us and it’s time to book in the right places to get maximum value. Have a relaxing staycation or go away to an exotic island this summer with some of our favourite promotions.
SECOND GOES FREE
This summer stay at Anantara Hotels & Resorts in Abu Dhabi and get your second room or second night free – go with a group or stay longer. (Valid until end of August 2015.)
Kayak around protected mangroves and delve into the mouth-watering authentic Thai food at Pachaylen, all-day dining options at Ingredients or sunset drinks at Impressions. Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara offers luxury accommodation in the summer starting from Dh650++ ($175++) per room or night including breakfast for two.
For a secluded island experience, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara offers mountain biking and archery, scuba diving and wildlife drives, perfect for families and adventure enthusiasts. Dh975++ ($265++) per room or night including breakfast for two.
For blissful beachside relaxation, there is no place more secluded than Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort that comprises 30 luxurious villas offering a private romantic experience from Dh1,850++ ($500++) per villa or night with breakfast for two.
For an exciting wildlife discovery in the heart of the Arabian Wildlife Park, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort is the only place to be. From Dh1,600++ ($435++) per villa or night including breakfast for two.
Escape to the Empty Quarter in the palatial Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. Enriched with heritage and local culture, the resort allows guests to explore the natural beauty of the Liwa Desert, from camel rides in the dunes and early morning walks to fat biking and land sailing. From Dh1,200 ($325) per room or night including breakfast for two.
From now until September 1, guests can enjoy up to 30 per cent off on bookings purchased in advance for stays from June 1 to September 4. IHG Rewards Club members enjoy an additional 5 per cent off as well as their usual membership perks such as free internet, when booking during this period.
LIVE IT UP
Summer in Dubai presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy the best the city has to offer. Take advantage of stay offers at The Address Hotels + Resorts and Vida Hotels and Resorts. Offers valid on stays until end of August.
With Emaar Hospitality Group’s summer campaign ‘Live it Up’, stay three nights at The Address Hotels + Resorts to receive complimentary passes to Dubai Ice Rink, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, SEGA Republic, KidZania and Reel Cinemas. Stay for five nights and also receive passes for At The Top, Burj Khalifa. Vida Hotels & Resorts also offers some of these passes if you take three or five night packages with them.
Or stay three nights at The Address to receive dining credit worth Dh500 ($135) and Vida Downtown Dubai to receive Dh300 ($80).
Stay five nights at The Address to receive spa credit worth Dh1,000 ($275).
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
Al Bustan Centre and Residence offers 640 modern rooms and chic suites perfect for single, family and corporate accommodations, be it long stay or short stay.
“We have created a lot of packages especially to target the GCC market and to attract families as we are the preferred hotel apartment for GCC clientele. Most of the visitors from GCC countries like to stay in furnished hotel apartments equipped with kitchen, dining/living room, as large families prefer this kind of accommodation,” says Moussa El Hayek, chief operating officer.
“The school holidays in the UAE are to start very soon and we anticipate UAE residents from other Emirates to travel to Dubai, therefore we have attractive packages to solicit this business to our residence.”
As part of Al Bustan’s Summer Special Promotion for the local market, a studio suite is available for an attractive price of Dh375 ($105) for one night, Dh650 ($175) for two nights and Dh900 ($245) for three nights for weekdays. Weekend rates start from Dh400 per night.. Prices are inclusive of taxes, breakfast and wi-fi, and valid until July 15 this year.
A special monthly rate is also available until June 15 - Studio Suite rates start from Dh7,000 ($1,900) and one-bedroom start from Dh9,000 ($2,450). Rates are inclusive of wi-fi and applicable taxes.
During Ramadan the property will offer Iftar priced at Dh95 ($25) per person plus taxes while the ‘Dine 5 and Pay for 4’ offer is bound to find favour with small groups of friends, families and corporate.
TAKE THE KIDS TO THE MALDIVES
Located among the unspoiled islands of Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is also the ideal location for a magical and memorable family vacation. Until September 26, guests booking accommodation and breakfast packages will be entitled to a complimentary upgrade of their meal plan to half board. With this offer, guests will be able to enjoy free dinner throughout their stay at Iru Restaurant, where the resort’s obliging chefs will be cooking nightly specialties from around the globe.
Guests can also avail the Kids are King offer, which is available until June 30, where two children, under the age of 12, travel for the price of one, return, from Male to the resort, or the Family Offer, where children under 12 stay, play and eat for free.
“Family is one of the pillars of the local Maldivian culture and our staff are honoured to accommodate our younger guests,” says Abdulla Thamheed, group general manager at Sun Siyam Hotels and Resorts. “Watching the smiles on a child’s face when they return from our ‘Exploration and Discovery’ activities, such as the “Koamas” kids club, kids’ club cooking classes, sustainable water-based activities, and other fun activities planned for the little ones, is exceptionally rewarding for our team.”
BEAT THE HEAT IN MALTA
Breath-taking natural sights and beaches, beautiful summer weather and over 7,000 years of history make Malta another interesting place to visit this summer. Some of the most exciting cultural events in Europe are taking place on the island this summer, including the Valletta Film Festival in June and the world-famous Malta Jazz Festival from July 16 to 19.
Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa lies at the heart of the island in beautifully landscaped gardens next to the Presidential Palace making it the ideal starting point for exploring the island. It houses Villa Corinthia and The Rickshaw Restaurant, which are two of the island’s favourite restaurants where guests can delight in mouth-watering delicacies. Located within the grounds of the luxurious Corinthia Palace Hotel lies the Athenaeum Spa, a centre designed for the harmonisation of mind and body, set in the midst of the impeccably kept gardens that conceal a set of distinctively styled pools. Summer rates start from €175 ($195) per night.
ICONIC STAY IN VIENNA
The Hotel Sacher Wien, a privately owned luxury hotel in the very city centre, next to main shopping area and all attractions, is a summer destination of choice. All rooms and suites have been completely renovated with spacious marble bathrooms and modern amenities. The home of the delicious Sacher Torte, the hotel exudes old-world charm and has been located in the inner heart of the Austrian capital since 1876.
Summer offer at the Hotel Sacher Wien: stay four nights for the price of three, with free WLAN and free access to the Sacher Spa. Validity until August 31 on Deluxe Double Room, Top Deluxe Double Room, Junior Suite and Deluxe Junior Suite. Offer available online and on GDS.
TAKE AN ALPINE SPA BREAK
Schloss Elmau is located south of Munich in perhaps the most beautiful valley in the Bavarian Alps. The castle was built in 1916 and in 2005, the hotel was rebuilt with exceptional generosity and attention to detail. The Bath House Spa has more than 32,000 sqft for spa aficionados from 16 years of age, with a Lady Spa, four saunas and salt steam baths, 15 treatment rooms and three pools: an infinity rooftop pool, hot saltwater pool, and cold plunge pool. There is an oriental hammam over 5,400 sqft also exclusively for adults over 16 years, a huge family spa with an indoor pool, five saunas, relaxation rooms and tea lounge and a ‘Nature Spa’ with a pool and a traditional sauna at the Ferchen stream.
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Dnata promotes special packages to Lausanne
The Tourism Authority of Lausanne in Switzerland, has signed an agreement with Dnata to promote special summer getaway packages for families residing in GCC. This agreement will significantly increase the flow of visitors to Lausanne this summer, believes Water Looser, advisor to the authority.
Saudi Arabia sends the maximum number of tourists to Switzerland and Lausanne from the GCC and the Middle East, followed by the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, explains Looser. Lausanne witnessed an overall increase in tourists by 38 per cent in 2014 compared to 2013, as visitors from the GCC rose by 23 per cent.
“Lausanne is a well-known health care city in Switzerland, as it includes a wide range of services in the health and beauty care; there are many fitness programmes in addition to many nutritional programmes,” Looser adds.
“There are many touristic destinations for the entire family, such as vineyards, castles and villages that date back to the Middle Ages, wonderful trips on a traditional boat or a panoramic train, as well as hiking across the giant Alps, and visits to the salt mines or underground lakes.”
Expedia.com’s top ten packages sold to UAE travellers last year included Maldives, Seychelles, Phuket, London, Istanbul, Mauritius, Bali, Rome, Cairo and Paris. Will this year be any different? Time will tell. What we do know, is buying entire packages is most likely to get holidaymakers a much better deal, than trying to book everything separately.
For instance, Expedia director of E-Commerce Eman Barhoumeh, has said, “Package holidays provide a great opportunity to save and travellers can use the funds towards experiences for an even more memorable vacation! For example, we’ve witnessed savings on Expedia.com of more than Dh2,000 ($544) on package holidays to popular destinations like the Maldives, and Dh2,800 ($765) to the Seychelles.”