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A whole deal better

Special offers make the festive spirit all the more fun

At Burj Al Arab, enjoy a complimentary dinner, spa treatment and bath menu, breakfast and a late checkout for Dh500 more.

At Jumeirah Bab Al Shams, book a suite and enjoy complimentary breakfast and a dinner for two under the stars.

At Jumeirah Beach Hotel, book a Club Executive Room and be upgraded to a one-bedroom Ocean Suite for Dh800 more and enjoy complimentary Club Executive benefits and breakfast.

At Jumeirah Emirates Towers, book an Apex Suite and stay the second night free.

At Madinat Jumeirah, book a Club Executive Room and be upgraded to an Ocean Suite at Mina A' Salam for Dh1,000 more; book a Club Executive Room at Al Qasr and be upgraded to a one-bedroom Arabian Suite for Dh1,500 more; or book a Deluxe Room at Dar Al Masyaf and be upgraded to a one-room Arabian Suite for Dh2,000 more.

At the Jumeirah Living World Trade Centre Residence Dubai, upgrade for free to a two-bedroom Duplex Apartment.

In London, book a suite at Jumeirah Carlton Tower and get £100 (Dh612) off on the best available rate. Alternatively, book a suite at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel and get £50 (Dh306) off on the best available rate.

In New York, book a Junior Suite at Jumeirah Essex House from $379 (Dh1,392), including breakfast.

All the above offers are valid until February 15, next year.

Madinat Jumeirah

Book a Deluxe Room at Mina A' Salam, Al Qasr or Dar Al Masyaf online at www.jumeirah.com and enjoy complimentary breakfast.

Malakiya Villas, Dubai

Enjoy five nights or more at Malakiya Villas and get a four-course dinner for 4-6 people in Pierchic or Pisces and a 60-minute Talise Fingerprint Massage each.

The offer is valid till January 13, 2010, from Dh22,000-Dh27,000 per villa per night.

Spa package 1

Stay three nights in a Club Executive Arabian Room in Mina A' Salam, a Junior Arabian Suite in Al Qasr or an Arabian Summerhouse Arabian Suite in Dar Al Masyaf and enjoy daily breakfast, access to the Club Lounge, an 80-minute fingerprint massage or a 30-minute facial at Talise spa, access to The Quay Health Club and more.

Offer from Dh3,740 per room per night in a Club Executive Arabian Room.

Spa package 2

Stay four nights in a Club Executive Room or any of the suites and enjoy daily breakfast, a three-course dinner for two at Magnolia, access to the Club Lounge and facilities, an 80-minute fingerprint massage or a 30-minute facial at Talise spa, access to The Quay Health Club and more.

The offer is priced from Dh3,670 per room per night in a Club Executive Arabian Room.

Both packages are valid till December 31.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers

The weekend offer includes breakfast, shuttle and access to the beach, a Dh200 gift voucher redeemable at select boutiques in the Boulevard at Jumeirah Emirates Towers during the stay, 30 per cent off on food and drinks in all restaurants, complimentary wireless and broadband internet and an early check-in at noon and a late checkout at 4pm.

Visit www.jumeirah.com for online bookings.

Prices from Dh950 for a Deluxe Room and Dh1,550 for a Club Executive Room. Offer valid till March 31, 2010.

Stay at Jumeirah Emirates Towers in a Deluxe Room this festive season and enjoy great room rates, complimentary buffet breakfast at Mosaico, a gift voucher of Dh200 redeemable at select boutiques in the Boulevard and complimentary access to Shoreside, Dubai's new beach destination.

Offer valid from December 20-31. Prices start from Dh1,070 on single occupancy and Dh1,170 on double occupancy. Visit www.jumeirah.com for online bookings.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Stay at Jumeirah Beach Hotel and enjoy a warm festive atmosphere and special events and menus offered across the hotel. Price from Dh3,200.

Stay at a Club Executive Room for Dh1,550. Offer valid from December 26-January 2, 2010. Bookings require a minimum stay of seven nights and Gala Dinner package.

Two good to be true

Gear up for Abu Dhabi’s gala Christmas and New Year bash

Pearls & Caviar

Celebrate Christmas in Pearls & Caviar, Shangri_La Hotel, with chef Stephanie Rowe. Be spoilt for choice with the Christmas set menu or select your favourite Mediterranean dishes from the extensive a la carte menu. Prices from Dh400 onwards per person. Enjoy New Year's Eve with a refreshment reception and a live oyster bar, followed by a six-course set menu. After dinner, there will be a display of pyrotechnics over the waters of Abu Dhabi as the New Year is ushered in. Rates start from Dh1,500 per person. You can also enjoy DJ Valentin Huedo's music at Pearls Bar, every week Monday to Thursday.

Pearls & Caviar is open daily from 6pm-3am.

Bord  EAU

Celebrate Christmas Eve in the elegant setting of the Bord Eau with a six-course set dinner menu from Dh450 per person.

Reserve your seat on Christmas Day at the Chef's Table and let chef Jean serve you Christmas lunch. Prices from Dh600 for a six-course menu.

You can also enjoy a fine Christmas set dinner menu with products flown in from France. Rates from Dh450 per person.

Savour New Year's Eve with the six-course set menu with refreshments and a fireworks countdown by the pool, priced at Dh1,500 net per person.

Bord Eau is open daily for dinner from 7-11.30pm.

Sofra Bld, Shang Palace and Hoi An

Enjoy Christmas with the Global Buffet dinner at Sofra bld, which will include Christmas specialities and delicacies from the Chinese restaurant Shang Palace and the award-winning Vietnamese restaurant Hoi An. Rates from Dh310 per person, inclusive of unlimited selected beverages.

On Christmas Day, indulge in the Global Buffet lunch with family and friends, priced from Dh310 per person, inclusive of unlimited selected beverages. Later in the day, enjoy the Global Buffet dinner in Sofra bld, again with specialities from Shang Palace and Hoi An. This is priced from Dh310 per person, including house beverages.

Continue festive celebrations on Boxing Day with the Global Buffet lunch, with Christmas specialities and unlimited selected beverages. This is priced from Dh310 per person. Usher in the New Year on December 31 with a pre-dinner celebration in the Lobby Lounge and the Global Buffet dinner in Sofra bld, Shang Palace and Hoi An.

Also enjoy a post-dinner party by the pool and a display of fireworks during the countdown to midnight. The rate is Dh1,300, inclusive of unlimited selected beverages.

Continue the celebration with the Global Buffet lunch in Sofra bld, from Dh310, inclusive of selected beverages.

Sofra bld is open daily from 6am-11pm.

Shang Palace is open daily for lunch from noon-3pm and for dinner from 7.30-11.30pm.

Hoi An is open daily from 7-11.30pm.

Gift Hampers from CHI, The SPA

The Four Hands Healing Massage involves synchronised movements, pressure and speed on corresponding spots for a harmonised rhythm.

Enjoy a 50 per cent discount on the Chi Harmonising Facial with a booking of the Four Hands Healing Massage. This offer is valid until January 31, 2010 .

Four Hands Healing Massage with Hot Stones is priced at Dh1,050.

Four Hands Healing Massage without Hot Stones is priced at Dh900.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi with cuisines from around the world.

If you have a reservation at any of the hotel's restaurants for New Year's Eve, you will also be invited to the hotel's poolside party.

Dance by the pool to the tunes of the live DJ and enjoy the dazzle of fireworks at the stroke of midnight.

Jingle all the way

Al Murooj Rotana Dubai has lined up deals to sgn off the year and ring in the new in style

CHRISTMAS EVE: December 24

Pergolas: Relish the Christmas Eve the Italian way with executive chef Joachim Textor. The ambience is reminiscent of Italian Christmas traditions and Santa brings gifts and surprises for children.

The rate is Dh220 net per person, including selected standard beverages.

Double Decker: This pub offers Santarina's Winter Bash, with live music by Foolish Behavior and the chance to see Santarina popping up for a surprise.

CHRISTMAS DAY: December 25

Pergolas: Savour the Family Brunch buffet at Dh245 net per person, including selected standard beverages.

Children will have a corner all to themselves, with Christmas carols being sung, a photo session and surprise gifts from Santa.

Double Decker: Enjoy the BBQ Brunch for Dh179 net per person, including unlimited selected beverages until 4pm. DJ Neil will play his contemporary remixes 5pm onwards.

BOXING DAY: December 26

Double Decker: Enjoy a lavish buffet at "DD's Boxing Day Brunch" for Dh159 net per person. The pub has live cooking stations and buffets offering traditional treats such as roast lamb or mince pie, with unlimited selected beverages until 4pm.

NEW YEAR'S EVE: December 31

Pergolas: The day will feature a Gala Dinner Buffet with live cooking stations, a glitzy New York ambience, live entertainment, music by an international DJ, performances and fireworks. The rate is Dh525 net per person, inclusive of unlimited selected beverages.

Latino House: Welcome 2010 the Latino way, with an evening of South American delicacies and a four-course set menu and tango music — for Dh495 net per person, including a welcome drink, or Dh950 net per couple, with a bottle of refreshment.

Waterside: The seafood restaurant located in the heart of Al Murooj complex offers a special four-course set menu, which combines the traditional with the modern and is priced at Dh495 net per person, including a welcome drink.

Zaika: A Bollywood theme with a festive buffet for Dh395 net per person, including a welcome drink and unlimited selected standard beverages.

Double Decker: Welcome the New Year with "2010 Pre-resolution's NYE Party", a year-end fiesta with surprise entertainment, resident DJ Neil spinning all-time favourites, refreshments and a grand raffle.

NEW YEAR'S DAY: January 1, 2010

Pergolas: Enjoy the relaxed New Year's Day Brunch Buffet International at Dh179, including soft drinks and juices, or at Dh199, including unlimited selected standard beverages.

Double Decker: Follow up the night of festivities with the Double Decker Brunch for Dh159, inclusive of selected beverages, from noon-4pm.

All prices mentioned above are inclusive of 10 per cent municipality fees and 10 per cent service charge.

New route to tourism

The Big Bus Company adds Abu Dhabi to its list of cities

The Big Bus Company, which has operated open-top sightseeing bus tours in London since 1991 and Dubai since 2002, announced the launch of its newest destination — Abu Dhabi.

Famous for its open-top double-decker buses, The Big Bus Sightseeing Tour is a great introduction to Abu Dhabi. The 24-hour ticket will give tourists access to all the 11 stops of the routes.

The tours take visitors to all the major landmarks — from the Shaikh Zayed Mosque to the souqs and from the Emirates Palace Hotel to the Heritage Village — while an audio commentary in a choice of eight languages provides insights into the history and culture of the city. Languages available are Arabic, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin and Russian.

Chris Crompton, the general manager of Big Bus Tours LLC, said: "Initially, we will operate just one route but we will expand as the city does."

Tours will depart daily between 9am and 5pm, seven days a week, from Marina Mall.

Tickets are available online at www.bigbustours.com, from your hotel and at Marina Mall.

Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

AFYA

Spice up your Christmas Eve with a festive menu, including unlimited house beverages, priced from Dh225 per person.

On Christmas Day, indulge yourself in a Christmas brunch, including unlimited house beverages, priced from Dh225 per person.

Enjoy the buffet Christmas dinner with three choices of main courses, from Dh225 per person.

Celebrate New Year's Eve with a Barbecue Beach Party on the private beach of Traders Hotel, with DJ Fadi from Radio One playing tunes from 5pm. This is priced at Dh500 per person.

Alternatively, enjoy a set menu with a bottle of refreshment. You can also join the party on the beach after dinner.

The package is priced from Dh300 for dinner or from Dh500 for dinner and beach party.

Celebrate New Year's Day with a whole-night party and an early-morning breakfast with a spread of international and continental buffet delights before heading back to bed.

Afya is open daily from 6am-10.30pm.

Beach Barbecue Party

Enjoy a chilled-out atmosphere and unlimited barbecue food every Friday from 5pm with DJ Fadi, for Dh120 per person.

Alternatively, enjoy a full day's access to the beach facilities and the beach party and barbecue for Dh250 per person.

Children below 5 are admitted free and those between 6 and 12 get a 50 per cent discount.

Gifts for Christmas

A festive market to pick up presents for your loved ones

The Jumeirah Madinat Christmas Souq Festive Market, which promises to offer a variety of festive apparel and gifts, will run in the amphitheatre from 4-9pm on weekdays and 4-11pm on weekends until December 24. There will be a large range on offer.

Among the 12 retailing labels available at the market is Ordning&Reda, which has produced a collection of gifts ranging from beautifully crafted cards to picturesque bags and accessories to suit every Christmas stocking. The range includes products such as diaries, albums, notebooks, bags and accessories — all of them in pure, clean Swedish designs in a variety of materials.