UAE | Tourism
Festive getaways: A time to travel
Take advantage of the hot deals and fly away to your dream destination this holiday season
- By Anjana Kumar, Staff Reporter, XPRESS
- Published: 00:00 December 15, 2011
- Image Credit: Supplied
- China: The Great Wall
DUBAI: The annual festive holiday season is just days away. No wonder travel agencies in the city have lined up attractive tour packages for residents who are wont to seek out exotic destinations to make the best of the break in the calendar.
According to travel agencies here, the most popular destinations among UAE residents are Maldives, Mauritius, Turkey, Cyprus, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Beirut, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Sri Lanka and Goa.
Hong Kong in particular is becoming a popular New Year’s Eve destination where tourists and residents get together in the Central Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui [the heart and soul of Hong Kong] to ring in the New Year
“Hong Kong in particular is becoming a popular New Year’s Eve destination where tourists and residents get together in the Central Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui [the heart and soul of Hong Kong] to ring in the New Year,” says Rajiv Vats, Manager – Holidays UAE & Oman for Kanoo Travels.
“It’s similar to what you see in New York’s Time Square, a 60-second numerical countdown to the New Year by LED lights with pyrotechnic displays. It’s a big hit with tourists.”
Nathan Adams, Manager, dnata Holidays, says, “A lot of people are getting away on a short vacation due to the school breaks.” The school holidays plus the festive occasion give families a perfect reason to travel, and that’s where travel agencies step in with their hot deals.
So if you and your family are planning to go a holiday but haven’t quite decided on the destination, here’s a look at some of the attractive tour offers to help you decide:
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Istanbul
- Dh4,150 per person on twin-sharing basis
- Package includes:
- -Economy class ticket – Turkish Airlines
- -Standard room accommodation for three nights in a four-star hotel (Blackbird or similar)
- -Buffet breakfast
- -Two-way transfer from Istanbul airport to accommodation and back
- -Half day city tour of Istanbul in SIC
- -All applicable hotel taxes
- Must-see:Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia
- (the Basilica of Hagia Sophia), Topkapi Palace
- Don’t miss: The cruise on the Bosphorus river
Kuala Lumpur
- Dh2,995 per person on twin-sharing basis
- Package includes:
- -Economy class ticket – Malaysian Airlines
- -Standard room accommodation for three nights in a four-star hotel (Corus or similar)
- -Buffet breakfast
- -Two-way transfer from Kuala Lumpur airport to accommodation and back
- -Half-day city tour of Kuala Lumpur
- -All applicable hotel taxes
- Must-see: Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL Tower, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building
- Don’t miss: The view of the city from the Skybridge on the 41st floor which links the two Petronas towers.
Bangkok
- Dh3,560 per person on twin-sharing basis
- Package includes:
- -Economy class ticket – Thai Airways
- -Standard room accommodation for three nights in a four-star hotel (Amari Boulevard or similar)
- -Buffet breakfast
- -Two-way transfer from Bangkok airport to accommodation and back
- -Half-day city tour of Bangkok
- -All applicable hotel taxes
- Must-see: The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), China Town, Siam Ocean World
- Don’t miss: Buying fruit from the floating market
Beijing
- Dh4,160 (including air fare) per person on twin-sharing basis in a four-star hotel (Jinglun Hotel)
- Dh4,430 per person on twin-sharing basis in a five-star hotel (Hilton Doubletree)
- Package includes:
- -Seven nights’ hotel accommodation
- -Daily breakfast at hotel
- -Two-way airport to hotel transfers
- -Two days sit-in-coach tours
- -Two regular Chinese lunches on touring days
- -English speaking tour guide during transfers & tours
- Must-see: The Badaling stretch of the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
- Don’t miss: Tasting the real Chinese noodles in China
Singapore
- Dh4,175 per person on twin-sharing basis
- Package includes:
- -Economy class ticket – Singapore Airlines
- -Standard room accommodation for three nights in a four-star hotel (Orchard or similar)
- -Buffet breakfast
- -Two-way transfer from Singapore airport to accommodation and back
- -Half-day city tour of Singapore
- -All applicable hotel taxes
- Must-see: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Chinatown Heritage Centre, the Singapore Flyer
- Don’t miss: Orchard Road, Singapore’s most famous shopping destination
Bali (Indonesia)
- Dh4,350 per person on
- twin-sharing basis
- Package includes:
- -Economy class ticket – Garuda Indonesia
- -Standard room accommodation for three nights in a four-star hotel (Aston or similar)
- -Buffet breakfast
- -Two-way transfer from Bali airport to accommodation and back
- -Half-day city tour of Bali
- -All applicable hotel taxes
- Must-see: Rice fields, traditional villages, beaches, temples, and the sunset and sunrise at Tanah Lot
- Don’t miss: There are plenty of water and beach-related fun activities but a bicycle ride through the streets of Ubud town is highly recommended
Hong Kong
- Dh5,030 per person on twin-sharing basis in a four-star hotel
- Package includes:
- -Economy class ticket – Cathay Pacific
- -Three night’s hotel accommodation (Intercontinental Grand Standford Hotel)
- -Daily breakfast at hotel
- -Two-way airport to hotel transfers
- -Half-day sit-in-coach tours
- Must-see: City view from Victoria Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui, Chungking Mansions, island view from Star Ferry (commuter ferry service), Ocean Park
- Don’t miss: Sampling the dim sum at the Lin Heung (Fragrant Lotus)
- Tea House
- Packages excludes
- Airport tax
- Visas
- Any items of personal nature viz meals, sightseeing, laundry charges, telephone bills, drinks, etc
- Any compulsory festive and meal supplements
Contact:
All prices for hotels and flights have been procured from Dnata (800 8118), Kanoo Travels (04-334 1444) and Sharaf Travels (04-397 6161). These prices are not final and may vary depending on availability of seats and hotel rooms.
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