1. Bali
Bali, known for its forested volcanic mountains, beaches, coral reefs and iconic rice paddies can be explored now with travel company Best Holiday Deals’ four-day trip to the beautiful Indonesian island called the land of a thousand temples. The package includes accommodation at Sun Island Hotel and Spa Legian, a four-star hotel in Bali’s hip district Legian, breakfast, and airport transfers. The package also whisks you off on trips to Tanjung Benoa Beach, a beautiful white sand beach; Tanah lot Temple, a temple famed for its unique offshore setting and sunset backdrops, and Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart strew with bucolic rice paddies and traditional art and craft centres. If you would rather stay in and relax in the hotel, you’ll find plenty of options to unwind at its outdoor pool, rooftop sundeck whirlpool and premium spa services. Dh3,299 per person; book on bestholiday.deals.
2. Kerala, India
Kerala, God’s Own Country, turns into an even greener paradise during the monsoon season (June – September). Flying Squirrel Holidays is offering a six-night stay in the green rain-soaked South Indian state covering iconic destinations like the hilly Munnar with its misty tea plantations; Thekkady, known for its lush forests and wildlife sanctuary; and idyllic Kumarakom, with floating villages perched upon backwaters. The package includes accommodation in five-star properties (two days in each destination), daily breakfast, airport transfers, a boat ride across the backwaters and visits to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Dh2,350 per person; book on flyingsquirrelholidays.com
3. Tbilisi, Georgia
This Eid, travel to Tbilisi for the best of everything – the Georgian capital that straddles both Europe and Asia, is a traveller’s delight with it’s absolutely delicious cuisine, distinctive architecture and scenic beauty. What’s more, it’s only travel and tourism company, Nirvana are offering you a three nights and four days trip to Tbilisi, complete with daily breakfast and a half day Tbilisi city tour with an English-speaking tour guide who will show you around the breathtakingly beautiful monuments Georgia has to offer such as the Kartlis Deda statue, Chronicles of Georgia – giant, Soviet-Era pillars that are also known as The Stonehenge of Tbilisi, and Statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali. Dh605 per person sharing a standard double room and Dh1,105 per person in a standard single room. The offer is valid until October 30; book on ntravel.ae.
4. Russia
FIFA fever has died down but there are so many more reasons to still visit Russia and there is no better time to do it than Eid. Strike two legendary Russian cities with a single tour package from Musafir.com’s Remarkable Russia package. Split into a three-night stay in Moscow and a two-night stay in St. Petersburg, the package takes you on a whirlwind tour of the Russian destinations that have inspired literature, art and revolutions – you’ll be taken on a tour of Moscow’s Red Square, The Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, St. Basil’s Cathedral with its onion-shaped domes and the Bolshoi Theatre, the birthplace of ballet oeuvres. In St. Petersburg, tours of the Peterhof Palace – a series of palaces and gardens touted the Russian Versailles, which is also home to a museum, the Grand Palace, the erstwhile summer residence of the Russian Tsars and acres of manicured parks and fountains, and a cruise of the Neva River await you. The package includes a return economy-class Air Arabia ticket from Sharjah, with daily breakfast, return airport and train transfers from Moscow to St. Petersburg, accommodation and support for your visa application. Departure fixed for August 21 and return on August 26. Dh4,399 per person on twin sharing basis per room; visit musafir.com.
5. Baku, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is called The Land of Fire, but the Eurasian nation has mild summers (with highs of 31 degree Celsius) making it the perfect getaway from the UAE’s fiery summer this Eid. Flydubai has a special travel package to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku that includes direct return flights, return airport-hotel transfers, entry visa, Schengen standard travel insurance and a hotel factory representative for a smooth-sailing holiday and option of accommodation in a four-star hotel or five-star hotel to suit your budget.
While you’re there, make sure you visit Neftchiler Avenue, Baku’s arterial street named in tribute to oil industry workers, a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Along the strip, you can visit interesting buildings like the Carpet Museum, the Comedy Theatre, and while there, watch an enchanting show at the Puppet Theatre. If you fancy a bit of sightseeing, visit the Richard Sorge Monument, constructed to pay homage to the master Soviet spy. From Dh2,699 for three nights in a four-star Baku Boutique hotel and from Dh3,099 for three nights at the five-star Hyatt Regency Baku; visit holiday-factory.com.
6. Singapore
For city slickers who thrive on the energy of metropolises, there’s no better place than Singapore’s Sentosa Island, which is dubbed the ‘State of Fun’ for being home to the Universal Studios Singapore, Tiger Sky Tower – Singapore’s tallest stand-alone observatory tower, and the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays is offering you a five-night and six days trip to Singapore, including daily breakfast, a trip to Universal Studios Singapore with transfer, a zoo visit, a river safari, a trip to the science centre as well as the edutainment attraction Singapore Discovery Centre. Spend an entire day shopping at Orchard Road, the world famous shopping district, all for the price of Dh2,030; alrostamanitravel.ae.
7. Thailand
Your summer will tell the tales of two Thai cities with this Thailand tour offer from Groupon. The three-night package covers the capital city of Bangkok and the seaside destination of Pattaya with accommodation, breakfast, return flights from Dubai, airport transfers, tours and a local representative. Your itinerary will be as colourful as the destinations themselves – experience Pattaya’s nightlife with the Alcazar Musical entertainment show, taste its natural scenic beauty with speedboat tours of Coral Island and a trip to the tropical gardens of Nong Nooch Village. In Bangkok, you’ll be treated to sights and scenes off a thronging city on a city tour, which will also include trips to the Golden Buddha Temple and the quintessentially Thai floating markets. Dh2,450 per person on double-sharing occupancy. Valid from August 22-26; visit groupon.ae.
8. Yerevan, Armenia
You can put your Eid weekend to even greater use by exploring an offbeat destination that’s slowly making its presence known as a holiday spot – Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The landlocked nation that’s bounded by Turkey, Iran, Georgia and Azerbaijan on all sides has had a rich culture laced with history, foreign influences, stunningly beautiful monasteries and architectural masterpieces and art from the Middle Age – it’s one of the world’s oldest city and boasts a history of over a thousand years. Holiday Me has an offer that lets you stay at Yerevan for four nights – it includes accommodation at City Centre by Picnic, a four-star hotel, a return economy class air ticket on flydubai, meet and assist at Zvartnots International Airport, complimentary meals, and a half-day city tour of Yerevan. The half-day tour of Yerevan lasts four hours and allows you visit the Opera House, Republic Square, the city’s central town square, and Vernissage Market, an open air market that abounds in jewellery, souvenirs and art. Dh1,966 per person; book on holidayme.com.
9. Thessaloniki, Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece’s cultural capital, is a treasure-trove of beautiful beaches, Unesco World Heritage archaeological Sites and amphitheatres such as the National Theatre of Northern Greece and the annual Thessaloniki Film Festival that happens every November; at night its streets come alive, making it one of the world’s most well-known party cities. SNTTA has a five-night and six days package to Greece that includes accommodation at a four-star hotel, daily breakfast, a city tour with an English-speaking tour guide and airport transfers. The full-day tour will take you to attractions such as the White Tower, a cylindrical six story Byzantian-era building that has now become the symbol of the city; from the top, you can see Mount Olympus loom in the distance. The tour also meanders by the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda – 4th century monuments from Thessaloniki’s prime as a Roman headquarter, with ample time for shopping at the commercial Egnatia Street thrown in. Dh4,415; book on sntta.com.
10. Montenegro
Can’t choose between the rugged beauty of the mountains or pristine beaches, then Montenegro is for you. The tiny Balkan nation on the Adriatic Sea is a scenic blend of mountains, old-world charm and a glorious coast. Holidayme.com offers a four-night accommodation package at Hotel Magnolia in the coastal town of Tivat with daily breakfast, airport transfers, boat tours around olive groves and wilderness of Lustica Peninsula and the UNESCO World Heritage site, Boka Bay, as well as a guided tour of Kotor Old Town, an old Mediterranean town known for its fortifications and submerged river canyon. The package also includes a tour of Lake Skadar, Southern Europe’s largest lake that’s sat on the border between Montenegro and Albania and is crowded with lily pads. Departure on August 20 and return on August 24 for Dh4,352; visit holidayme.com.
11. Dubai
All the exoticism of Hawaii but without a long-haul flight is what Lapita Hotel at Dubai Parks & Resorts has planned with the Eid package. The Polynesian-themed resort’s Eid offer includes an overnight stay in a Deluxe King Room (two persons) or Deluxe Twin Room (two adults and two kids), Polynesian-themed amenities, ‘Limbo Fun’ dance class and hula hoop classes, complimentary beverages, and a 30-minute Lomi Lomi massage. From Dh1,200; call 04 810 9999.
12. Salalah
Far away to be international, but close enough to discover over a quick weekend is what we love the most about a weekend jaunt in Oman. The Ministry of Tourism in Oman has teamed forces with Holiday Factory and come up with a cut-price holiday deal for a whirlwind tour of rain-kissed Salalah that is enveloped by the monsoons in August. Lush green vistas and the scent of petrichor casts an other-worldly charm.
For a whiff of history Land of Frankincense museum charts Salalah’s fragrant heritage of frankincense trade that dates back to medieval times. From just Dh1,699, the three-night package includes direct flights to Salalah from Sharjah with Air Arabia, hotel stay with daily breakfast, return airport-hotel transfers, and travel insurance. Visit holidayfactory.com.
