Travel-4Less

Shopping in Abu Dhabi

A quick guide for partners of Formula 1 fans who are being dragged along to the final race of the F1 season – the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – and want to make the most of their visit to the UAE rather than watch speeding cars and drivers battling for positions in the 2009 F1 title – the running of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a little pointless some argue – the world title already having been claimed by Jenson Buttox when he ambled across the line in Brazil.

From manic local souqs to sprawling modern malls, Abu Dhabi is well-established as a shopper’s paradise — particularly for gold jewellery, perfume and designer clothes, dresses and even lingerie.

Abu Dhabi Airport Shopping

The award-winning Abu Dhabi Duty Free shop at the airport is the obvious place to look for big brand names. Spread over an area of 5000 square metres, the shop sells a huge range of perfumes at duty free prices as well as cosmetics, watches, jewellery, clothes, music, electronic items, toys and books.

For many tourists shopping is the main purpose of their visit, and they’re not afraid to run up an alarmingly large credit card bill in the process. But if you don’t have a bottomless supply of cash, is it also still possible to grab yourself a bargain, or are prices in Abu Dhabi no cheaper than in the UK or Europe?

Bargain shopping

If you’re looking for a bargain, you have to choose where you shop very carefully. The more traditional souqs in the Al Meena area are well worth exploring if you want to see local produce on sale at reasonable prices.

Al Meena is best known for its wide range of carpets and Persian rugs, alongside many other items such as antiques, colourful fabrics, spices, and traditionally-designed jewellery, with lots of small shops packed into the alleyways. If you plan to buy a Persian rug, make sure you do a bit of homework before you shop; there are machine made carpets alongside handmade ones, so you need to know what to look out for.

Traders will expect you to bargain over prices, so wear your haggling hat if you visit the souqs. And when you find yourself flagging, take a pew at one of the coffee shops selling robust Arabic coffee to recharge your batteries.

The Hamed Centre is another lower-budget shopping complex with a wide range of outlets selling cheaper items including Arabic music, jewellery and reasonably-priced casual clothes.

Luxury shopping

If like many visitors to Abu Dhabi you’re less concerned about price and more concerned about luxury and choice, head for the city’s more glamorous shopping malls such as the glitzy Marina Mall and famous Abu Dhabi Mall.

Abu Dhabi Mall

Abu Dhabi Mall is one of the city’s best known complexes, housing more than 220 outlets selling international and local brands of clothes, make-up, perfumes, books, household furnishings, electrical goods, gifts, health foods, and just about any other products you can think of – even luxury christmas hampers.  There are plenty of places to dine, plus a a bowling centre, a cinema complex,  and a kids’ edutainment centre.

Marina Mall

The Marina Mall is another massive complex combining small boutiques, and outlets for international brands and major designer names such as Channel, Gucci, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Versace and Yves Saint-Laurent.

Perfume shopping in Abu Dhabi

You can buy just about any perfume you can think of in Abu Dhabi, usually straight after they have been launched in their country of origin.

For a more unique Arabic fragrance, you could look out for the unique local perfumeries across Abu Dhabi city which will individually blend a distinctive scent for you using aromatic Arabic oils. A word to the wise, however: these fragrances tend to be far more intense than the average shop-bought perfume, so don’t drown yourself in the stuff!

Jewellery shopping

The gleaming gold jewellery shops in and around the Madinat Zayed Gold Market are said to sell 24-carat gold at the cheapest prices in the world.

You can pick up Arab-style gold bracelets and bangles, watches, necklaces or earrings in yellow or white gold, plus pearls and semi precious stones.

You need to hone your bargaining skills to get a good price, and if you visit a couple of times on different days, don’t be surprised if the prices have changed: they fluctuate according to the daily international gold rate.

Getting there try to fly to Dubai Airport

Because of the increased demand for flights to Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and associated events (including the opening of the amazing Yas Hotel) you might choose to fly to nearby Dubai International Airport on one of the many frequent flights to Dubai available from many UK and European Airports – see this previous post about Dubai flights

With such a big focus on shopping in this modern city, it’s hard to resist parting with your cash — but with such a great choice of outlets for a wide range of budgets there is something to suit every pocket in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Shopping Guide is a post from: Europe & Beyond a travel blog

A few weeks back I received an email from a consumer who was booking a one-way flight with Thomas Cook Airlines and wanted to take a surfboard. The information on the airline’s website clearly states that it is £40 for the return trip for carrying this type of sports equipment.

Sporting equipment extra fee’s

When the customer contacted the airline and asked if it would be a £20 fee because they have booked a single journey the airline confirmed that it would still be £40. Thinking that this was a little unfair I contacted Thomas Cook via Twitter to see if they could shed some light on it.

Customer confusion with wording

While the support was excellent (speedy!) the response back was the same, that it was a set fee, regardless of it being a one way flight. I think the website is not very clear and needs changing to remove the word ‘return’ with ‘set fee’ as I think this could cause some confusion.

I am interested to hear if you have been affected by sporting equipment extra fee’s with airlines.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Blog.

Airline sports equipment fees confusion

A few weeks back I received an email from a consumer who was booking a one-way flight with Thomas Cook Airlines and wanted to take a surfboard. The information on the airline’s website clearly states that it is £40 for the return trip for carrying this type of sports equipment.

Sporting equipment extra fee’s

When the customer contacted the airline and asked if it would be a £20 fee because they have booked a single journey the airline confirmed that it would still be £40. Thinking that this was a little unfair I contacted Thomas Cook via Twitter to see if they could shed some light on it.

Customer confusion with wording

While the support was excellent (speedy!) the response back was the same, that it was a set fee, regardless of it being a one way flight. I think the website is not very clear and needs changing to remove the word ‘return’ with ‘set fee’ as I think this could cause some confusion.

I am interested to hear if you have been affected by sporting equipment extra fee’s with airlines.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Blog.

Airline sports equipment fees confusion

Christmas shopping at Europe’s Christmas Markets

Every year, new Christmas Markets spring up across Europe, expanding the age-old ‘Christkindlmarkt’ tradition that emerged in the Middle Ages in Germany and Austria.

If you’re saving your money to spend on presents, there are plenty of Christmas markets to be found close to home in the UK, including well-established markets in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow and Bath — but if you fancy splashing out on a festive holiday you could combine a city break with a spot of shopping at some of Europe’s best Christmas Markets.

You can expect to find lots of hand made gifts, such as locally-produced arts and crafts, and many of them make unusual Christmas presents. Although the stalls vary from one market to another, and particularly from country to country, at many of them you’ll find handmade greetings cards, candles, scarves, pottery, wooden children’s toys, framed photography, and original paintings.

Street entertainment, decorations and live music add another dimension to many markets, as do food stalls selling delicious festive snacks and warming mulled wine – a crucial ingredient at outdoor markets in colder destinations such as Poland.

With hundreds of markets to choose from in many countries across Europe, it’s hard to know which to visit. Here we’ve selected three that offer a bit of everything.

Tips for visiting Christmas Markets

As attractive as all of this may sound, some Christmas Markets get horribly overcrowded and you have to battle to see any of the stalls or get a bite to eat, leaving you feeling less than festive.

While markets that have been established for many years can be incredibly popular, they are also often better organised because they know how many visitors to expect and how to cater for them. Try to find some user-generated reviews of the markets you’re considering visiting before you book your trip.

If possible, avoid going to any markets at the weekend when they are at their busiest, and try to make at least one visit during the evening when the market is lit-up and looks its most festive.

Another tip is to make sure you visit virtually empty-handed, or at least not armed with stacks of bags after a morning’s shopping elsewhere – otherwise you’ll feel harassed within minutes. Carry as little as possible and you’ll be able to enjoy some seasonal food and buy a few bits and bobs without feeling like a pack horse.

Top Christmas Markets in Europe

France and Germany

Nuremberg Christmas Market

In Germany, Nuremberg’s internationally-renowned Christkindlesmarkt is one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, dating back more than 400 years, and it keeps alive many of the original traditions. It is immensely popular, attracting around two million people each year to the city’s Old Town, which is festooned with lights and decorations. For a real taste of Christmas, sniff out the food stalls selling sugar-coated toasted almonds, traditional Christmas gingerbreads, and stollen – all great additions to christmas hampers and stocking fillers. And if you’re travelling with children, explore the attached Kinderweihnacht (Children’s Christmas Market) which features old steam-powered Merry-Go-Rounds and festive activities aimed at a younger crowd.

For variety, head to the Alsace region of France, which has a heavy German influence and a strong Christmas market tradition. If you have your own transport, you could visit several local Christmas Markets during your trip as there’s one in nearly every town.  You might even choose to leave your cars in England when they collect a rental vehicle from the many van hire companies that are associated with the Channel Tunnel to make the most of the shopping opportunities.

Lille Christmas Market

Also in France, Lille’s Christmas Market is very popular amongst British tourists thanks to the Eurostar link. Located in Place Rihour in the city centre, this is quite a big market, attracting some 900,000 visitors each year. Centred around a reproduction snow-covered village, the market features craft stalls, a big wheel, an ice skating rink, street theatre, visits by Father Christmas, and groups singing Christmas carols.

See http://www.noel-a-lille.com/ for more information.

Prague Christmas Market

In the Czech Republic, Prague’s Christmas Market in Wenceslas Square has established itself as one of the best outside of Germany. The market area is surrounded by beautiful buildings and the stalls sell some unusual handicrafts including Czech puppets and other toys, and lots of jewellery and candles and other gift ideas. The city is home to several other smaller Christmas Markets, too, if you fancy exploring.

For details of hundreds of other Christmas Markets, visit http://christmasmarkets.com

Christmas Markets in Europe is a post from: Europe & Beyond a travel blog

Visit Dubai

Looking for an alternative to Abu Dhabi – then consider visiting Dubai.

Jenson Button  finally scraped enough points at the Brazil Grand Prix to take the 2009 F1 world title. As a consequence you would expect the final race of the season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – to be crossed off the race calender.  However the expectation of the inaugral race has meant that tickets for the race are sold out well in advance and hotels are fully booked.

For those wishing to experience the glamour and excitement of the United Arab Emirates there is an alternative – Dubai

Flights to Dubai

Direct fights to Dubai have dropped in price since the development of Abu Dhabi International Airport which is set to become the main hub in the Middle East replacing  Dubai Airport which pales in comparison.

Dubai – Hectic City

This hot, fast-paced, congested metropolis has a more cosmopolitan feel to it than Abu Dhabi.

To explore one of the last pockets of ‘Old Dubai’, head for the Bastakiya District, which houses many reconstructed traditional buildings plus art galleries and cafés.

At Dubai Museum you can experience the sights and sounds of a reconstructed traditional souq.

Dubai Shopping

If you haven’t had your fill of shopping in Abu Dhabi, there’s an even greater choice in neighbouring Dubai, which is only about 90 minutes away by road.

And if you’re after a shopping fix, there are countless malls to choose from, but for something unique try Ibn Battuta Mall, where you can learn about the explorer after which it is named while you shop.

Other Things to See in Dubai

You could go skiing or snowboarding at the snow centre in the Mall of the Emirates (MOE). Other city attractions include Dubai Zoo; Jumeira Beach; and tours of the Jumeirah Mosque.

Images of Dubai

This site has some splendid photographs of Dubai – although we suspect some are make believe – and some illuminating comments from visitors

Dubai Flights – Visit Cosmopolitan Dubai is a post from: Europe & Beyond a travel blog

Holidays in Tunisia

The popular resort of Skanes is a suburb of the port town of Monastir on the Tunisian Mediterranean. Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa but has everything from golden beaches stretching for 875 miles to the Sahara desert to fertile lands. It is one of the most liberal of the Islamic Arab-Berber nations where rights for women were established which are unmatched by any other Arab country.

There are six National Parks, and one of these is one of the two in the world which is a UNESCO-protected Biosphere Reserve. The diverse economy includes agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and now quite a large amount of tourism, which increases its fortunes.

The reference to “The Life of Brian” refers to the Monty Python movie which featured Skanes’ ancient 8th-century rebuilt fort. This fort was also used in a TV series about Jesus of Nazareth and in the movies “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The English Patient”. It houses The Museum of Islamic Arts with ancient Islamic artifacts and manuscripts, exquisite textiles, glassware, miniatures, and pottery.

The historic city of Skanes retains its ancient designation as Tunisia’s holiest place, which was also used by Julius Caesar as a stronghold. It is surrounded by a wall and battlements with small towers.

Luxury Hotels

There is a stretch of luxurious hotels along the coast in Skanes with magnificent architecture, beautifully manicured gardens, and located on their own well-maintained sandy beaches. The weather is warm all year round; and various water sports are available such as fishing, diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, and paragliding.

Much of the dining, dancing, and live entertainment is in the hotel restaurants, but if you want to have the adventure of eating locally, you can try the specialty dishes served with unleavened bread at a very reasonable price. Fish plays a major part in the traditional Tunisian diet along with its national dish of couscous which is a delicious combination of semolina, vegetables, spices, and meat or fish. Since Tunisia only gained independence from France in 1956, that is reflected in French cuisine along with the Arab spicy delicacies.

Tunisia Tourist Attractions

For tourist attractions there is the Bourguiba Mausoleum of the first president of Tunisia with a spectacular twin-towered gilded gold dome, the modern architecture Bourguiba Mosque, or a camel safari through the countryside to explore a desert oasis with hot pools, old Roman ruins, and ending with a Beduoin feast and belly dancers. You might choose a cruise in a sailing ship, a boat excursion, watching dolphins that swim alongside, or a choice of the Flamingo or Palm Links 18-hole golf courses. These attractions make Tunisia a first class destination for family holidays.

This is a tourist mecca with many souvenir shops as well as vendors selling their wares by parading through the streets.

In nearby Sousse, Tunisia’s third largest city, is one of Tunisia’s largest casinos and a bustling market area where jewelry, leather goods, carpets, antiques, and perfume are especially featured for purchase. Sousse has a busy fishing harbor, and if you get there early in the morning, you can see the catch from the night before being unloaded from small boats. The Kasbah Museum has a collection of third and fourth century mosaics. As in much of Tunisia, there are hundreds of years of history that can be explored since Sousee was one of the great coastal cities of the Phoenicians.

Tunisia – The Life of Brian to the Life of Luxury is a post from: Europe & Beyond a travel blog

Sightseeing excursions from Abu Dhabi city

Abu Dhabi is known not only for its luxurious hotels – see the newly opend Yas Hotel, retail therapy and city sights, but also for its desert and mountain landscapes, interesting oasis cities and its wide range of unusual adventure activities. You can pick up car rental in Abu Dhabi to go off sightseeing independently, or join a tour group for organised excursions from the city.

Go sand skiing in the Liwa Oasis

The lush Liwa Oasis is too far from Abu Dhabi city to visit on a day trip as the journey takes about five hours, so you’d need an overnight stay if you plan to go sand skiing whilst visiting Abu. It’s well worth the effort, though, with camel markets, date palm plantations, freshwater pools, rugged landscapes and mountain peaks.

Sand Skiing Video

It’s also a great base from which to take desert excursions. Boasting the biggest sand dunes in the world, the Liwa Oasis is a sand skier’s dream. You can join an organised tour and they’ll provide some tuition and your sand board, so you can enjoy an exhilarating ride down the red-tinted dunes.

Embark on a desert safari adventure

Abu Dhabi is a great base from which to enjoy desert adventure activities. Most desert tours pack in a variety of activities such as camel riding; sand surfing or skiing; a trip to a camel farm; 4×4 dune buggying; and ‘wadi bashing’ — a bone-shaking romp along dry, twisting riverbeds in a four wheel drive. If you’re lucky you may glimpse animals such as gazelle (a type of goat), or local tribes, during your excursion, and the day’s activities are usually followed by supper under the stars.

Your hotel can usually arrange such trips for you, or you can book through one of the city’s travel agencies. The best time to go is between April and October, avoiding the intense heat of the summer months.

Relax on a Corniche Cruise

For a very local excursion, you can sail along the Abu Dhabi Corniche in a locally-designed dhow (boat), which you will spot anchored along the breakwater.

This gives you a chance to see the skyline from the water, with cruises to suit everyone’s pocket, ranging from brief trips on fairly basic vessels to cruises lasting several hours on luxury liners with a seafood supper included.

Experience Al Ain, an authentic Arab oasis city

Rising out of Abu Dhabi’s desert sands is the oasis city of Al Ain, a settlement which dates back to the 4th millennium BC and is home to Jebel Hafeet, the UAE’s highest mountain. It takes about 90 minutes to get there from Abu Dhabi city, and it is the closest you’ll find to an authentic Arab city in this region. It’s a pleasant destination in the mild winter months, when it’s not too hot to explore ancient archaeological sites, but it’s also a great escape from coastal humidity during the summer.

Al Ain has plenty of attractions to keep you busy, including historic forts, Al Ain Museum, and the palace museum of Sheikh Zayed. One of its most fascinating sights, however, is the busy camel market on the outskirts of town, teeming with a variety of camels from Sudan, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi, all vying for buyers’ attention.

Abu Dhabi Excursions – Sand Skiing & Desert Safari is a post from: Europe & Beyond a travel blog

Cheap Flights Impact Climate Change

I’m fascinated by the fact that progressive papers such as the Guardian and Independent  continue to promote cheap flights and foreign holidays, and that when asked about this they weasel around the issue of the impact on climate change, citing the need for revenue. One assumes that there are industries they do refuse to promote, or industries they will only promote in particular ways, but the tourist industry gets carte blanche.

Longhaul and frequent cheap flights to Europe

In the history of humanity it is only since the 1960’s that we have developed the expectation of the ‘right’ to be able to fly to Sydney, Los Angeles, Bangkok etc on holiday once a year on a fraction of our salaries, and the further ‘right’ to be able to book cheap flights and hop over to Prague, Barcelona and Rimini every 3 or 4 months.

It seems to me that this is an absurd expectation, when these ‘rights’ affect fundamentally other peoples’ rights to life. Try explaining to somebody in the Maldives whose house is being flooded regularly because of rising seas that you have the right to these trips! Let’s not pretend that we don’t now know the effects of what we do!

It’s the toxic combination of the lack of viable alternatives presented to us with the promotion of cheap flights and foreign holidays as a basic right rather than privilege that’s to blame. Of the two ingredients, I’m inclined to believe that promoting the idea of the cheap flight for foreign holidays as absolutely basic to our way of life that’s the more worrying.

Cheap Flights – The True Cost of Cheap Flights is a post from: Europe & Beyond – A Travel Blog – Holiday Ideas – Europe and Beyond!