Berlin and Brussels go budget
Budget travellers to Berlin can now check into Marriott's new affordable-but-trendy Moxy hotel, at the city's Ostbahnhof. While eight Moxy properties are currently open, in locations including the United States, Milan and elsewhere in Germany, many more are due to open next year. Double rooms at the Berlin property cost from €71 (Dh290) per night including taxes (www.marriott.com; www.moxy-hotels.marriott.com).
In Brussels, the easyJet group has opened the easyHotel Brussels City Centre, with twin rooms from €44 (Dh179) per night including taxes and Wi-Fi (www.easyhotel.com). The company has several other hotels in Europe, and one in Dubai.
New activities with Arabian Adventures
The Dubai-based tour company Arabian Adventures has launched three new experiences for tourists and UAE residents. The first is an off-road night drive through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where nocturnal wildlife such as scorpions can be observed with a spotlight and night-vision binoculars (from Dh260 per person).
Also at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a half-day, morning camel trek, which costs from Dh300 per person and includes a picnic breakfast at a lake. The third option is a guided, self-drive 4x4 trip in the desert of Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The trips last between two and 12 hours and cost from Dh1,600 per person (www.arabian-adventures.com).
Another Baa Atoll resort for Maldives
The recent spate of hotel openings in the Unesco World Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll in the northern Maldives continues this month with the opening of Milaidhoo Island Maldives. The island, which is only 300 metres by 180 metres, is a 30-minute seaplane ride from the capital Male. It hosts 30 over-water villas and 20 luxurious-but-rustic beach villas with large freshwater swimming pools, three restaurants and a spa. There's a 25 per cent off early-bird offer, so one night in a pool villa with half-board, plus seaplane transfers, costs from US$2,506 (Dh9,204) per night including taxes (www.milaidhoo.com).
Camp out at luxury Oman hotel
Al Bustan Palace in Muscat has introduced a new camping experience on its beach. In conjunction with luxury German camping company Canvas Club, the hotel, a Ritz-Carlton property, is hoping to appeal to travellers "seeking off-the-beaten-path experiences". The fully equipped tents cost more than a room at the hotel – 100 Omani rials (Dh954) more than standard room categories – and must be requested at least 48 hours in advance. Beachfront dinner or breakfast costs extra (www.ritzcarlton.com).
rbehan@thenational.ae
