Stagaways

Say farewell to single life with your mates. Here are three hotspots for the ultimate bucks' weekend.

Amsterdam
WHY? The big A is extremely entertaining with lots of cafes, clubs and pubs to wet your gills. It's also a very picturesque, interesting and liberal city.

WHERE TO GO: There are watering holes everywhere. Amsterdam's sex museum provides some good pointers for married life and, of course, you can't miss the novelty of the Red Light District. Want to sample some history? Tour the former Heineken Brewery.

AIR TIME: 7 hours, 20 mins on KLM, Dhs3510 (mid-September fare), www.klm.com

Bangkok
WHY? Bangkok's nightlife is legendary and not all sleaze. Besides nocturnal activities, it's a city packed with great eateries and sights. Don't miss the Thai kickboxing or zooming along the Chao Phraya River on a V8 long-tailed boat.

WHERE TO GO: Warm up at backpacker's enclave Khao San Road, catch a tuk-tuk to Patpong's sin strip then go-go to Sukhumvit Road's Silom area for some more bars, clubs and late-night munchies.

AIR TIME: About 6 hours, 30 mins on Thai, Dhs5680 (mid-September), www.thaiair.com

Moscow
WHY? A red-hot option for all Le Carre fans. Check out the Kremlin, Red Square and the bizarre Garden of Fallen Monuments then spend the night throwing back firewater with the locals.

WHERE TO GO: Most of the year it's freezing, so pub crawls are a no-no. Moscow Life online (www.moscow-life.com) recommends Propaganda and Fabrique as cool alternatives.

The Hungry Duck's apparently a good place to kick-off a night out. Casinos are also popular.

AIR TIME: 5 hours, 10 mins on Emirates, Dhs2660 (mid-September), www.emirates.com

August travel websites

• www.sweetchariot.com
  If you want to sign up for a rugby tour, this is the site for you. Here you can organise trips to New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa... even the Czech Republic.
• www.intrend.com
  Among other trips, this operator conducts week-long chocolate tours through Belgium, sampling the country's finest brown stuff, plus some amber fluid to boot.
• www.intrepidtravel.com
  Site of a highly recommended travel company that conducts 'small group adventures' throughout the world.

Rent a jet
Tired of queuing for your flight? Luxury private jet operator Elite has a new Cessna Citation Jet that can accommodate up to seven passengers and is ideal for regional city hopping. The jet can fly as far afield as Jordan, Egypt or Lebanon.

Visit www.elitejets.aero or call 04-2997644.