Travel News

Festive family retreat

The Rocco Forte Collection unveils an array of exciting Christmas and New Year packages

The Rocco Forte Collection has captured Europe's cultural highlights for Christmas and New Year.

The New Year Package at Hotel Astoria starts from 1,265 euros (Dh6,933), including a one-night stay, buffet breakfast and New Year's Eve event in Davidov Restaurant.

The Augustine, in Prague, is offering Christmas and New Year packages starting from 250 euros (Dh1,370), including a two-night stay with breakfast.

Overlooking Lake Geneva, Le Richemond is offering a Christmas Break Package, which starts from 440 euros (Dh2,412), including a tour of the Trees and Lights Festival.

Enjoy a chic Italian-style Christmas, choosing from Hotel de Russie in Rome or Hotel Savoy in Florence. Christmas and New Year packages at Hotel de Russie start from 545 euros (Dh2,988), including a 50-euro (Dh274) credit, per room, per stay that can be used in the spa.

Christmas and New Year packages at Hotel Savoy, in Florence, start from 420 euros (Dh2,303), including a 50-euro (Dh274) credit that can be used in the restaurant.

Hotel de Rome in Berlin is offering tickets to the Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt. Christmas and New Year packages at Hotel de Rome start from 430 euros (Dh2,355), including a two-night stay, breakfast, use of the Spa de Rome with sauna and pool, free entry to 70 museums and exhibitions and a 50-euro (Dh274) credit for food and drink.

The Christmas Wish Package at Charles Hotel in Munich is available between December 23 and December 25, priced from 410 euros (Dh2,243), including a one-night stay, breakfast and four-course menu.

Hotel Amigo in Brussels is offering a package, Christmas Tradition in Style, which includes entry to the Winter Wonderland on the Grand Place, Belgian chocolates and activities for children. The package starts from 217 euros (Dh1,186) including a two-night stay and daily breakfast.

The Red Carpet Party Preparation Package at Brown's Hotel in London, priced from 278 euros (Dh1,521), including a one-night stay is suitable for those looking for a quintessentially British Christmas. The Party Preparation Package starts from 316 euros (Dh1,728).

For a traditional Hogmanay cele-bration head for The Balmoral in Edinburgh. Christmas and New Year packages at The Balmoral start from 235 euros (Dh1,284).

 
Taste a slice of Italy

Sapore will delight with cuisine and beverages

Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort has opened its latest dining outlet, Sapore, an Italian restaurant.
Led by David Miras, chef de cuisine of Le Méridien Al Aqah, Sapore overlooks the Indian Ocean and offers contemporary and classical Italian cuisine, with a range of beverages to complement the dishes.
“Italian food is popular with our guests and is already part of our international cuisine line-up at Views restaurant, so we developed an Italian restaurant to cater to this demand,” said Gian Raffaele Sabbatucci, the director of food and beverage, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.
Sapore, which means “taste” in Italian, offers a range of signature dishes. Miras has created a menu for lunch and dinner, working with the restaurant’s specialist Italian chef, Dario Usai. Most of the products have been sourced from Italy to ensure the cuisine is authentic.
Sapore is open daily for lunch from 12-3pm and for dinner from 7-10.30pm.

Turkey with trimmings

The Hilton Dubai Creek offers celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s take on the festive season

At the Hilton Dubai Creek, where Executive Chef Matt Pickop will incorporate celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s take on the festive season in his menus.

Guests can enjoy a six-course menu .

What: Christmas dinner
When: December 1-30
Price: Dh615 per person

Sample a five-course menu, with a special pairing of beverages.

What: New Year’s Eve dinner
Price: Dh1,200 per person

Guests can enjoy a Christmas brunch, with traditional favourites besides Mediterranean cuisine.

What: Christmas brunch
Price: Dh395 per person

Guests can sample New Year’s Day brunch.
When: January 1, 2010
Price Dh395 per person

Stay in style

Usher in the New Year the Kempinski way

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates has come up with a range of accommodation packages for the festive season.
“We have lined up some great packages to provide our guests with a memorable experience,” said Holger Schroth, the general manager, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.
Sezzam’s Christmas Splendour Package
Guests can start each day with breakfast at K Grill or delight in a brunch and receive a dining voucher worth Dh150, which can be redeemed anytime from Sunday to Thursday. Kids will receive a complimentary photo session with Santa Claus and a Dh100 voucher to spend at Magic Planet. Priced from Dh1,600 per night, the offer is valid from December 11 to December 24.

Delectable Dining Christmas Package
Guests staying for a minimum of two nights at Kempinski Hotel Mall of The Emirates can enjoy two dining extravaganzas at Sezzam, with a Christmas Eve dinner followed by Christmas Day brunch. Prices start from Dh1,700 per night. The offer is valid from December 24 to December 25.

New Year’s Package
Guests can book rooms for a minimum of two nights at rates for single occupancy. Prices start from Dh2,300 per night. They can head for K Grill for the New Year’s Eve party and round off the experience with a seven-course dinner. Guests will also receive complimentary entry into Evory Lounge. The offer is valid from December 30 to January 1, 2010 and is inclusive of service charges and municipality fees.
Visit www.kempinski-dubai.com for details.

Fly low to Khartoum

Dubai’s first low-cost airline, flydubai, recently launched its flight to the Sudanese capital
Dubai’s first low-cost airline, flydubai, recently celebrated its eighth inaugural flight when the airline’s first flight to Sudan touched down at Khartoum International Airport.
FZ631 left Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport at 6.45pm on November 8 and reached Khartoum at 9.50pm local time, where flydubai’s CEO, Gaith Al Gaith was welcomed by a Sudanese delegation to commemorate the first flydubai flight between the two cities.
Al Gaith said: “Sudan has enjoyed increased exposure in recent years because of its important involvement in the global oil industry. Besides, it also has flourishing glass, textile and printing industries. We feel flydubai can play an important role in bringing visitors and potential investors to Khartoum.”
Despite the 1,600-mile distance from Dubai to Khartoum, flydubai is keeping fares low with prices starting from just Dh325 one way, inclusive of all taxes and one piece of hand baggage, weighing up to 10kg, per passenger.
The flydubai model is simple, with customers paying only for the services they want to receive. Passengers have the option to purchase checked-in baggage in advance at just Dh40 for the first piece and Dh100 for the second, weighing up to 32 kg, subject to availability.
flydubai operates from a modernised and enhanced Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport. Visit www.flydubai.com for details.