Fill your bags with Emirates

SHOPPERS can fly higher with this year’s Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) thanks to a special offer from Emirates, the world’s largest international airline. Economy class ticket holders can enjoy additional baggage allowance on return flights during the biggest shopping festival of the year, running until 2 February. 

Emirates passengers booked on an Economy class round-trip ticket to #Dubai can shop without limits, and return home with the latest fashion bargains at no extra costs incurred, affirming Dubai #Shopping Festival as the city’s most generous mega sale.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Fly into Abu Dhabi F1 in style

WHY drive when you can fly in style to the Abu Dhabi F1 this weekend? Book your helicopter shuttle transfer between Dubai and Abu Dhabi from the 23rd till 25th November with FLYHIGH Dubai Helicopter Services by Alpha Destination Management. 

The service is available every hour from 8am till 2am. If travellers would like to fly to the heart of YAS Island to beat the traffic jams, then they can opt for the most exclusive and rapid helicopter service in the UAE: less than 30 minutes trip to reach the destination enjoying the stunning aerial views of Dubai.

Prices start at AED 2900 per person per way. Below are the rates per 1 way, inclusive of 5% VAT. All prices include free transfers from YAS Links to Yas Marina Circuit and free beverages at Atlantis The Palm Helipad.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

The World's largest observation wheel

SINCE Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel, first made its appearance off the coast of #Dubai Marina, it has captured the imagination of the city. Making its presence felt, this new landmark-in-the-making has drawn attention to Bluewaters, the island #destination by Meraas that has opened its doors to visitors.

For visitors keen to get up-close to Ain Dubai and marvel at the spectacular engineering feat that forms the destination’s centrepiece, Bluewaters will provide access to awe-inspiring sights at its base. 

At 250 metres, it is taller than the 167-metre High Roller in Las Vegas and the 190-metre New York Wheel planned for Staten Island. Ain Dubai will carry up to 1,400 passengers at a time in its 48 double-glazed capsules, offering unforgettable 360-degree views of Dubai. Each leg of the observation wheel stands at a height of 126 metres and is long enough to fit 15 London buses.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air . . .

ETIHAD Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is introducing Economy Space, a new seating option across its wide-body fleet, to enhance its product offering and to provide more choice to its customers on longer flights. By December 2018, Etihad Airways will have retrofitted its 10 Airbus A380s with Economy Space seats, which feature an increased seat pitch of up to 36 inches. The redesign increases the number of extra legroom seats in Economy from 20 to 80 on this aircraft type.

KOREAN Air celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first scheduled service between Canada and South Korea, by holding events at the Vancouver and Toronto airports on 2 November. Korean Air launched its scheduled service to Canada on November 2, 1988, with the DC-10 passenger jetliner flying the Seoul-Vancouver-Toronto route twice a week. After international exchanges and cooperation between the two nations improved, Korean Air then split the route into Vancouver and Toronto services in December 1995. The two regular services from Incheon to Vancouver and Toronto have contributed to the economic development and movement of people and supplies between Canada and South Korea.   


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Yas Experiences rebrands

YAS Experiences, the trade arm of the leisure and entertainment destination Yas Island Abu Dhabi, today announced it has strategically rebranded to Experience Hub.

The new identity reflects the role Yas Island’s promotional hub will play to facilitate overall tourism packages in Abu Dhabi, as the demand for leisure and entertainment packages in the UAE’s capital continues to grow.

Experience Hub will continue to operate as the one-stop destination partner promoting Yas Island Abu Dhabi – one of the world’s fastest growing leisure and entertainment destinations.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Dubai a global cruise tourism hub

THE cruise industry has long boasted of its value compared to land vacations. And now according to a new report from Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, cruise tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of Dubai’s tourism industry with the city being among the world’s leading winter cruise destinations. 

The global cruise industry continues to grow rapidly with 27 million cruisers expected in 2018. By 2030 more than 40 million people worldwide will travel on cruise ships annually. #Dubai is well-placed to be a global cruise tourism hub. 

According to Cruise Arabia and Africa, the number of cruise passengers in Dubai increased to 625,000 in the 2016/2017 season compared to 320,000 in the 2013/2014 cruise season representing a 95 per cent growth rate. Over the next cruise season 2018/2019, the tourism board of Dubai expects to see 725,000 cruise tourists and 825,000 cruise tourists in the 2019/2020 season.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Travellers bound for Abu Dhabi

THE latest figures from Abu Dhabi show the number of hotel guests staying in the emirate during June rose by six per cent compared to the same month a year ago.  The UK posted a 14.5 per cent increase for the month, and a 12.9 per cent increase for the first six months of 2018.

In total 339,592 visitors were guests of Abu Dhabi’s 162 hotels and hotel apartments during June, an increase of more than 19,000 over the previous year.

For the first six months of 2018, the figures show #AbuDhabi upping the total number of hotel guests to the emirate by five per cent on the year, with 2,413,230 guests in total arriving.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Desert daredevils

A Dubai based company has established itself as the go-to desert safari tour operator in the city. Desert Safari Rides provides enchanting tour packages to UAE locals and tourists, who are looking to enjoy a trip through the marvelous #Dubai desert.

The company’s tour packages include morning, evening, and overnight safaris, which last anywhere between four to 16 hours, with the latter duration referring to the overnight package. Desert Safari Rides’ experienced drivers pick up safari participants from their hotels, and take them on a thrilling ride through the desert, in one of the company’s SUVs.

During the safari, participants who wish to can enjoy a rhythmic camel ride, surf boarding or adrenaline-rushing quad biking, in the scenic Dubai desert backdrop.



Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Celebrate Ramadan in Dubai

THIS Ramadan, First Central Hotel Suites will take you on a culinary journey to experience the finest Middle Eastern delicacies with a variety of continental flavours. Diners will be treated to a sumptuous Iftar buffet with a wide selection of traditional and international specialties along with an irresistible assortment of authentic Arabic beverages and desserts.

Wael El Behi, General Manager of First Central Hotel Suites, said, “Ramadan is a distinctive festivity where friends and family gather to share the blessings of the holy month. .”

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

On the runway . . .

THE Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai was declared winner of the coveted Middle East’s Leading Airport Hotel award for the 7th time at the World Travel Awards 2018. The spectacular gala ceremony took place alongside the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference held in Ras Al Khaimah recently.

The Millennium Airport Hotel #Dubai is a contemporary lifestyle #destination for those who desire to be at the centre of Dubai’s pulsating business and cultural scene. The award-winning hotel is conveniently located near the Dubai International Airport just five minutes’ drive away from Terminal 1 & 3, city’s major central business, historical districts, tourist spots, shopping centres and entertainment hub.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Arabian Nights

CRYSTAL Esprit, the award-winning boutique yacht of Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, will embark on a captivating new season of voyages through the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman and the Holy Land in October through December of 2019. The seven- to 11-day sailings will cruise the Arabian Peninsula, with immersive exploration of the ancient wonders and physics-defying modern marvels in the region. 

Overnights in Dubai and Abu Dhabi showcase the thriving riches of modern UAE culture, while a double overnight in Aqaba, Jordan, allows for visits to the legendary Rose City of Petra and Wadi Rum. New on the Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises roster of destinations are Doha, Qatar, where the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art and dramatic Sheikh Faisal Museum display the country’s fascinating heritage, and the excitement over the 2022 World Cup is already beginning to build; and Sokhna, Egypt, which offers Crystal guests a gateway to the remarkable pyramids of Giza, just 60 miles away from Cairo, and the soon-to-be-opened archaeological Grand Egyptian Museum.

 Crystal Esprit embarks on her new Arabian Nights Collection on October 20, 2019, with all-inclusive luxuries tailored to accommodate just 62 guests. 

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Up in the air . . .

FLYNAS, the Saudi national carrier and leading low cost airline in the Middle East was honored, for the fourth year in a row, with the prestigious World Travel Award for “Middle East’s Leading Low Cost Airline 2018,” during the ceremony that was held on the 19th of April, 2018 at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Considered as the Oscars of the travel and tourism sector, World Travel Awards reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

More in Dubai . . .

DUBAI is a place of incredible contrasts. Humble homes and dirt roads are juxtaposed with out of this world luxurious resorts and plush ocean view pads. But #Dubai has always been a place of extremes. A place where more is more. A whole lot more.

Luxury homes here all share certain things: abundant space, stunning design, and, of course, privacy. That’s certainly the case with the XXII Carat ultra-luxury villas that are just about to welcome their first ever occupants. Located right at the end of the Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent, this is where things get rather fancy. For today's new generation of well -heeled travelers, the bar for luxe hideaways has reached dizzying heights.

All the villas are furnished with high end finishing materials and equipment imported from France and Italy such as La Cornue, Baldi, La Cuisine Française, Devon&Devon, Schuco and Miele, to name just a few. Built using only the finest materials, XXII Carat is where all the determinants of uber luxury can be found.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

State of the art arrivals at Dubai International

THE inauguration of the new experience at arrivals at Dubai International Airport coincided with UAE’s Month of Innovation. The roll out of the latest generation of Automated Border Control SmartGates has gone live this month as part of a transformation program which aims at offering passengers a state-of-the art Border Control experience as well as enhancing the immigration security process.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) from #Dubai awarded the challenge to Emaratech and partner Vision-Box. This ground-breaking project includes the development, delivery and maintenance of a new generation of multimodal biometric passenger flow solution comprising 122 #SmartGates, deployed across all three Dubai International Airport terminals.

The SmartGates are able to expedite passenger clearance at Dubai Airports’ borders, offering a speedy self-service transaction by way of multi-biometric verification, sustained by passport, Emirates ID and SmartGate cards authentication.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

3rd Best Hotel for families in the UAE

THE Coral Beach Resort Sharjah won the 3rd place among the top 10 hotels for families in UAE by TripAdvisor. The award falls under the “Traveler’s Choice Awards” carried by the leading travel and tourism platform for the year 2018.

The Coral Beach Resort Sharjah recently underwent a complete refurbishment of rooms and facilities that has given it a brand new appeal. The deluxe resort is located on one of the emirate’s principal sand beaches and features a range of leisure activities for all ages, including the Rimal Club, state-of-the-art fitness center, children’s pool, indoor playroom and complimentary Kid’s Club as well as tennis (By Clark Francis Tennis Academy), badminton, volleyball and two outdoor swimming pools.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Welcome to Abu Dhabi

THE opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island and the hosting of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix contributed to a dramatic surge in hotel guests staying in the emirate during November. 

The month saw a 16 percent rise in guests staying in the emirate’s 162 hotels and hotel apartments compared to the same period in 2016, according to figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism. 

With 4.3 million hotel guests staying in accommodation across #AbuDhabi city, Al Ain Region and Al Dhafra Region in the first 11 months of the year, the emirate has witnessed 9 percent year-on-year growth and is on target to reach a record 4.9 million guests by the end of December.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Safe in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI has been named the safest city in the world by Numbeo, a website that curates and collates data to develop the world’s largest user-contributed database about cities and countries worldwide.

With the lowest crime index of just 13.54 in the past six months, and the highest safety index of 86.46, #AbuDhabi was well ahead of second place city, Basel, Switzerland in the scores for overall safety. Respondents to the index stated that Abu Dhabi has very low crime levels and scored the capital at 94 per cent for a general feeling of safety in the city.

Last month, Abu Dhabi was named the second-best city in the world to live, work and do business in, overtaking both London and Paris in the most recent Ipsos City Index.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Dubai launches new website to boost golf tourism

#DUBAI has unveiled a new website to enhance awareness of the world-leading, premium #golf destination that convenes - for the first time in one place - everything visitors and tour operators need to know about experiencing golf in the city.

Launched at the Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in Danang, Vietnam, golfindubai.com provides information on the first-class courses designed by legends including Ernie Els, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Greg Norman, as well as details on leisure and practice facilities and wider hospitality offers.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Dubai's 3 Day Super Sale

GET ready for a rewarding shopping experience in #Dubai at the 3-day Super Sale, a new citywide #retail initiative, which kicks off on 18 May with over 1,000 outlets offering a diverse range of items from local, regional and global brands, at significantly low prices.

This not-to-be-missed retail promotion running across Dubai offers an extensive range of choices for shoppers preparing for their summer holidays, followed by the Eid holiday period, and is part of efforts to further enhance Dubai’s position as a year-round shopping destination.

The 3-day Super Sale is also part of Dubai’s annual Retail Calendar that features major retail-based festivals, new season launches, mega sales and clearance events, exclusive retail experiences and attractions aimed at further enhancing the retail sector, a main contributor towards Dubai’s economy. 

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Dubai commits to the future growth of golf

DUBAI'S commitment to golf has been underlined through the establishment of a new entity Falcon Golf which will serve to optimise the benefits the sport brings to the emirate.

Falcon Golf will  enhance Dubai’s golf efforts – including driving greater golf tourism, using the sport as a platform to tell Dubai’s story in overseas markets, promoting grass roots participation and managing the successful hosting of tournaments.

Falcon Golf will manage Dubai's involvement with the Race to #Dubai, a season-long competition on the European Tour which celebrates both the diversity and shared passion for golf in 26 countries across the globe. The world’s best golfers accumulate #RacetoDubai ranking points as they compete across four continents, earning a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in November 2017, when the European Tour’s Number One player will be crowned. This season’s Race to Dubai is well under way, showcasing a new ‘look’ that incorporates Dubai’s official brand logo.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK