Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 35/w24

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 24, Edition 35

So here is this week’s digest of the ‘Dubai news worth knowing’, all in 10 minutes or less of your time.

This week, wishing everyone a blessed Eid Al Adha and good fortune for Euro 2024.

A few things worth knowing this week ⤵

⚽ Where to watch Euro 2024

🚆 New Nol Travel Card launched

🏨 Deal Alert: Palazzo Versace

🏨 Jumeirah Passport to Luxury offers

🗞️ Roundup: Emirates Lounge for Minors, Atlantis Royal, 25hours One Central, Five Guys opens at DXB, Eid al Adha offers

Cheers

If you enjoy this newsletter, have any feedback or suggestions or just way to say 👋, feel free to drop me an email by clicking here 

KNOW MORE ABOUT DUBAI

Where to Watch Euro 2024 in Dubai

Euro 2024 is almost upon us, so it’s almost time to get expectations up about whether or not it’s coming home.

So to save you sifting though all those press releases as each Dubai bar punts for punters, here are a few ideas.

Time Out’s “All The Best Places for Euro 2024”

McGettigans don’t only have smashing bars around Dubai, they’re bringing back their ‘fanzone’ at The Agenda, Dubai Media City. Well worth it if you fancy a lively crowd and a big, big screen.

Barasti Beach Bar is offering two hour drinks packages, along with draws and games.

Ernst Biergarten is a decent German-style bar with Euro 2024 offers such as 3 litre Paulaner tower for 250 AED

Fact’s Euro 2024 list includes top venues such as The Black Sheep, The Eloquent Elephant and The Underground.

Don’t forget to check Marriott Cravings and My Emirates Pass, as many venues will still be offering the discount on F&B Spend.

🔗 My Emirates Summer Pass

DUBAI TIPS

New Nol Travel Card Launched, Offers Discounts at Attractions

RTA have announced a new ‘Nol Travel’ card, which as well as on public transport, parking and taxis, will offer discounts at attractions and services.

It costs 200 AED, and is preloaded with a 19 AED Silver credit. It claims to offer discounts ‘worth’ 17,000 AED. Whilst it may be more beneficial to residents (given it’s for a year), tourists can also purchase.

Attractions offering discounts include :-

• Rayna Tours

• Emaar At the Top

• Nakheel The View at Palm Jumeirah

• Sharaf Retail

The Silver status status lasts for five years, but the discounts are renewable at a cost of 150 AED every year.

🔗 Official Press Release: Nol Travel Card (WAM)

🔗 Nol Travel Card (official site)

🔗 RTA launches new Nol Travel card (Dubai Eye)

HOTEL DEALS

Worth Checking Out? Palazzo Versace

Palazzo Versace appear to be showing super low rates via Classic Travel* at the latter end of the year.

Entry level rates around 300 USD, note these are 'Best Available Rate' and through Virtuoso. There are a range of conditions inc GDS Special Rate, Breakfast, Staycation Anywhere so do spend a bit of time comparing may be the best rate condition for you.

🚨Warning though - there may be an element of risk here (perhaps explaining the low rates), given the recent news it was apparently up for auction and then withdrawn, and some of the rates are non-refundable.

🔗 Classic Travel*

*denotes affiliate link. This is a link to a partner site that may pay me a commission - at no further cost to you - and if so, helps to support me & this newsletter. For more info, please see Disclosure and Policies

HOTEL DEALS

Jumeirah Passport to Luxury Deals

One of the things I really like to see is when readers find my info valuable, and even more so, when they use that knowledge to find great deals. That’s now happened twice in the last few weeks. And long may it continue!

As referenced in a previous post on VIP Partner Programs via Virtuoso, Jumeirah hotels seem to be available via Classic Travel* on Passport to Luxury rates at lower prices than direct bookings - and on a better rate condition.

This one was is for Dar al Masyaf (the previous one was for Jumeirah Beach Hotel), see screenshot below :-

Passport to Luxury is Jumeirah’s ‘VIP partner program’ which will offer benefits not available anywhere else, only via select agents. Benefits include:-

• Complimentary one-way transfer in our fleet of luxury vehicles (varies per hotel)

• Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)

• Elegant room upgrades on arrival (subject to availability)

• USD 75 resort credit (per stay)

• Daily breakfast for two

Additionally Passport to Luxury can be combined with other Jumeirah offers, such as Summer Escapes, Jumeirah Flavours etc. to offer added benefits on top of those promotions.

🔗 Classic Travel*

*denotes affiliate link. This is a link to a partner site that may pay me a commission - at no further cost to you - and if so, helps to support me & this newsletter. For more info, please see Disclosure and Policies

Note: Despite the optics, this isn’t a double promotion or push for Classic Travel, it’s just the post popped up on Trip Advisor Forum and sometimes, time is of the essence with these things.

DUBAI NEWS ROUNDUP

I’m not a fan of the article heading (hence why I’ve not referenced it in copy) on this from Fodor’s Travel, but it’s a decent read about Atlantis The Royal.

It just goes to illustrate the concept of ‘received value’ when considering hotel pricing. I’ve mentioned in earlier editions about the all-day drinks serving of premium brands in the Club Lounge there.

25hours One Central

It’s worth checking out hotels that may fly under the radar, such as 25hours One Central. Located just off SZR, it’s a very unique boutique style hotel and is certainly different. It also hosts Ernst Biergarten, a good German-style bar (as mentioned in the Euro 2024 article above).

In addition to being funky and nice hotels, 25hours are part of Ennismore and All Accor, so you can avail of loyalty (or ‘Dis-loyalty’ in the case of Ennismore) programs and benefits such as Best Price Guarantee.

If you’re looking for a cheaper hotel (by Dubai price levels) that’s decently located, take at look at 25hours One Central

🔗 25hours One Central offers a stay less ordinary (Esquire)

Five Guys Opens at Dubai Airport (DXB)

Not just the largest branch in the UAE, the newly-opened branch of Five Guys at Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3 - Concourse B) is open 24-7 and has an exclusive breakfast menu.

🔗 Five Guys opens largest UAE branch (Verdict Food Service)

🔗 Explore Eid Al Adha activities and offers (Dubai Chronicle)

🔗 Top places to visit in Dubai during Eid Al Adha (Khaleej Times)

DUBAI DEALS

Entertainer Promo Code EDSD24 Update

It’s now been confirmed that the promo code EDSD24 will work on all Entertainer products, including Dubai 2024, Abu Dhabi 2024 and GCC 2024.

Initially, it worked for a 10% discount on all products except Dubai 2024, but since Ramadan it’s now been allowed to work on Dubai and also again for GCC 2024.

Click the banner below, or use this link, to go direct to Entertainer to purchase and don’t forget to enter code EDSD24.

If you need any help how to checkout, see this link.

🔗 Entertainer Promo Code EDSD24 for 10% Discount