Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter: Wk 51

Good afternoon.

Ah, the dreaded ‘one before Xmas’ edition. Don’t worry, it’s worth your time.

• 🎅 Christmas eats in Dubai

• 🍺 Abu Dhabi to open a brewery

• 🏨 Dubai’s most infamous hotel heads for Sin City

• 💷 please consider an Xmas tip for me 🙏

• 🧨 Christmas & New Year Inspiration

• 🛬 British Airways, Virgin Atlantic launch sales

• 💡 Emirates Skywards Miles: tips for worth knowing

• 🇦🇪 vs 🇧🇳, 🐴 vs 🚗 

And most of all, have yourself a merry little Xmas.

Cheers, Shaun

Do feel free to share this link to anyone you know may be interested in reading or subscribing 👉 Eat Drink Stay Newsletter

Catch up on previous editions of the newsletter here 

If you 💖, 😡 or anything else about this newsletter, why not drop me a line? 👉 [email protected] (or just reply to this email) to send me an 📧 

EAT

Your Christmas Eats Inspo for Dubai

You’ve probably booked your Christmas dining plans well in advance, but if you haven’t here are a few ideas.

Christmas lunches in Dubai

Christmas brunches in Dubai

Or why not let the turkey come to you this year with McGettigan’s Turkey Takeway?

DRINK

UAE’s First (Legal) Brewery to Open

The first brewery ever in the UAE is to open at The Galleria Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Craft by Side Hustle will operate within a micro-pub and brewed drinks will only be available for on-site consumption.

Keep up with their news on their socials here 👉 Craft by Side Hustle

STAY

Dubai’s Most Sinful Hotel to expand to Sin City?

The famous/infamous Dubai hotel FIVE Palm Jumeirah (aka “Babestation meets Belmarsh”) has big plans it seems.

Not content with sinking $320 million into Pacha Group, the Ibiza megabrand, Skift is reporting FIVE are considering expanding to Las Vegas. And Saudi Arabia too.

DUBAI

Can’t Decide for Xmas or New Year? You Can Now

Christmas Eve ideas

5 family-friendly New Year’s Eve Celebrations

10 New Year’s Eve Firework Locations

New Year’s Eve Beach Parties

And as always, there’s always time for Barasti. Put Your Hands Up (for Barasti) with Fedde Le Grand this New Year’s Eve

PLEASE CONSIDER A CHRISTMAS TIP

This would really help me - and perhaps you too!

Whilst I’m grateful to each and every one of you for reading and continuing to be a subscriber, it wouldn’t be Christmas without getting out the begging bowl, would it?

We all have eggnog to pay for, in the hope we can get those relatives to snooze even earlier after Christmas Dinner 🎄

Any tips or donations are gratefully received, and thanks again!

DEALS: FLIGHTS

British Airways “Largest Annual Sale” Now On

British Airways have launched their largest annual sale, for bookings made by 30 Jan 2024.

Return flights are (apparently) available to Dubai from £556. Selected routes have upgrades to Premium Economy/World Traveller Plus from £199.

Comment: sometimes fares can drop from Boxing Day as more deals are loaded, but balance that against the risk of missing out on bookings.

Click here for the sale 👉 British Airways Sale

DEALS: FLIGHTS

Virgin Atlantic Also Launch a Sale

Not to be outdone, Virgin Atlantic have also launched a worldwide flight-only sale.

As is par for the course these days, it’s debatable how much of a ‘sale’ it really is, but do check out as sometimes they can pay off. Especially if you’re booking with a degree of time or for ‘peak events’ like school holidays.

Click here for the sale 👉 Virgin Atlantic Sale

TRAVEL TIP OF THE WEEK

Buying (And Using) Emirates Skywards Miles

Given how expensive Emirates fares are these days - and likely to stay that way for a while I’d guess - it sometimes can be ‘worth it’ to purchase Skywards Miles.

Rather than pay cash rates, consider either upgrades or redemption flights, though be aware (IMO) Emirates isn’t that great of a loyalty program due to fiddly rules and poor ‘points value’.

However, sometimes it can be worth considering and especially if they offer a bonus on buying miles. Emirates just concluded a very short promotion with a 40% bonus, so do ‘do the maths’ before purchasing.

Here’s a great article from Award Wallet with great analysis on the promotion.

Also, a decent guide to using Emirates Skywards Miles

Talking of Emirates, ever wonder what the most-watched TV show is on their IFE (In Flight Entertainment)?

Here’s the answer 🪷

If you’ve missed an earlier issue, or just want to read again, here’s the link to the issues archive 👇

Also, if you know someone who’d love to subscribe to be kept in the loop, they can also sign up on that link.

“THAT’S SO DUBAI”

Sultan of Brunei’s Cars vs Sheikh Mohammed’s Horses?

Here’s an amusing comparison of two royal modes of transport. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his horses, compared to the Sultan of Brunei and his cars.

Are you Team Brunei or Team Dubai?