World Traveller December 2018

INSPIRED BY 

ISSUE 128 | DECEMBER 2018 | COMPLIMENTARY COPY 

Mexico calls 

Dreamy days in Riviera Maya 

Produced in Dubai Production City 

ISTANBUL 

INNSBRUCK 

EDINBURGH 

ABU DHABI

SEASON’S GREETINGS 

SEASON’S GREETINGS 

jaresortshotels.com @jatheresort @jatheresort

JA Jingle 

ALL THE WAY 

Get ready to ho ho ho and spend a 

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Christmas Tree Lighting: 13 th Dec | 6pm – 8pm 

Winter Wonderland: 13 th Dec – 9 th Jan 2019 | 4pm – 10pm 

Christmas Eve Dinner: 24 th Dec | 7pm – 11pm 

Christmas Lunch: 25 th Dec | 12.30pm – 3.30pm 

Sunset Pool Party: 28 th Dec | 7pm – 11pm 

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner: 31 st Dec | 7pm till late 

New Year’s Resolution Brunch: 1 st Jan | 11am – 3.30pm 

Eastern Christmas Dinner: 6 th Jan | 6pm – 11pm 

For bookings or more information please contact us on: 

+971 4 814 5604 | restaurant.reservation@jaresorts.com 

SEASON’S GREETINGS

WELCOME 

NOTE 

THIS 

MONTH’S 

TRAVEL 

COMPANIONS 

As another year draws to a close – how time flies! – the places we've 

visited and the people we've met along the way have shaped us, 

which is what makes travelling such a valuable experience. 

The World Traveller team has ticked a fair few travel goals off 

the list, from a family-friendly holiday in Seminyak to a luxurious 

Managing Director 

Victoria Thatcher 

Editorial Director 

John Thatcher 

General Manager 

David Wade 

Managing Editor 

Faye Bartle 

faye@hotmediapublishing.com 

Content Writer 

Habiba Azab 

Art Director 

Kerri Bennett 

Senior Designer 

Hiral Kapadia 

Senior Advertising Manager 

Mia Cachero 

mia@hotmediapublishing.com 

Production Manager 

Muthu Kumar 

INSPIRED BY 

summer city break in the UK capital and a solo adventure to 

vibrant Thailand. We've enjoyed sharing a selection of our best 

travel stories – and those of our contributors – with you, and we 

hope that we have provided plenty of food for thought when it 

comes to organising your next trip. 

If you're looking to get away for holidays, turn to page 21 

where our travel insider Emily Williams highlights the best 

places to welcome in the New Year. If Edinburgh appeals, be 

sure to read our locals' guide (page 26), in which three insiders 

reveal the must-see sights and experiences. If you prefer to stay 

closer to home, our mini guide to Abu Dhabi (page 58), inspired 

by UAE National Day, highlights everything we love about the 

capital, including a few new discoveries. See you in 2019! 

Happy travels, 

Faye Bartle 

Find us at… 

ONLINE worldtravellermagazine.com 

FACEBOOK @worldtravellermagazine 

INSTAGRAM @dnataworldtraveller 

TWITTER @WT_Magazine 

p22 Toro Toro's 

RICHARD SANDOVAL 

shares his best eats 

p24 Interior designer and 

author LEYLA ULUHANLI 

opens her travel journal 

p26 GARETH DAVIES 

tells us how to explore 

Edinburgh on foot 

Photography credits: 

Getty Images and Phocal Media 

Reproduction in whole or in part 

without written permission from 

HOT Media Publishing is strictly 

prohibited. All prices mentioned 

are correct at time of press 

but may change. HOT Media 

Publishing does not accept 

liability for omissions or errors in 

World Traveller. 

Tel: 00971 4 364 2876 

Fax: 00971 4 369 7494 

COVER IMAGE 

Hotel Esencia 

Win! 

Find out how you can 

win a three-night stay 

at Reethi Faru Resort 

in Maldives, on 

page 79 

p63 MICHELLE KARAM 

of Travel Junkie Diary, 

shares her great escapes 

World Traveller 3

CONTENTS 

December 2018 

19 

Velaa Private Island 

REGULARS 

8 15 21 22 

TRAVEL GOALS 

GLOBETROTTER 

TRENDING DESTINATIONS 

CHEF’S TOP TABLES 

From the Abu Dhabi desert to 

Wild travel experiences, feel- 

dnata Travel’s Emily Williams 

Richard Sandoval transports us 

a frosted lake in Hangzhou and 

good breaks and new adventures 

selects the best places to 

to his favourite restaurants in 

the forests of Karnataka 

on your doorstep 

welcome in the New Year 

Miami, Mexico City and New York 

24 26 80 

A LIFE WELL TRAVELLED 

Interior designer and author Leyla 

Uluhanli shares the trips that 

inspire her, in work and in life 

THE LOCALS’ GUIDE TO EDINBURGH 

Three insiders share the best arts and 

culture spots, foodie delights and mustsee 

sights of this vibrant city 

SUITE DREAMS 

Get into the bohemian vibe of the 

Left Bank at the boutique Hotel 

Montalembert in Paris 


CONTENTS 

40 

Istanbul 

32 

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER 

Ancient temples, mystic caves, weird 

critters: Mexico’s Riviera Maya serves 

up surreal, unforgettable adventures 

FEATURES 

40 

GOLDEN TIMES 

In revisiting Istanbul, Nick Redman 

finds himself reunited 

with his old flame 

48 

SNEAK PEAK 

With futuristic architecture and 

mountains all around, Innsbruck is a 

city break and a ski holiday in one 

WEEKENDS 

58 63 64 73 

A LONG WEEKEND 

IN ABU DHABI 

We shine a light on the UAE 

capital’s enduring appeal 

MY GREAT ESCAPES 

Michelle Karam, founder 

of Travel Junkie Diary, shares 

her best adventures 

STAYCATIONS 

Enjoy a well-deserved 

weekend away at these 

luxurious hotels and resorts 

READER OFFERS 

Take advantage of 

our exclusive deals for 

your next adventure 

6 World Traveller

Inspiration. Expertly crafted. 

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TRAVEL GOALS 

THE EMPTY QUARTER, 

ABU DHABI 

The world's largest sand desert, on the outskirts of the 

emirate, is the place to live out your Arabian dreams. 

Journey to Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, which 

appears like a mirage amid the dunes, but don’t be fooled 

by the stillness of the landscape. This luxurious oasis is 

an adventure-seeker’s playground, offering thrilling fourwheel 

drives across the shifting sands, the chance to fly 

down the dunes on a sandboard, or saddle-up an Arabian 

stallion for a gallop along the winding trails. Sequester 

yourself away in a Royal Pavilion Pool Villa, set in a 

secluded spot, with golden hues as far as the eye can see. 


10 World Traveller 

TAKE ME THERE

TRAVEL GOALS 

WEST LAKE, HANGZHOU 

This serene freshwater lake in Hangzhou is 

mesmerising at any time of year but in the winter, 

when the snow falls, it is transformed into a 

wonderland of icy delights. The magical dusting is 

a novel draw for locals, who eagerly await a seasonal 

deluge of snowflakes, although the lake's classic 

beauty means it can become crowded at the best of 

times. Avoid the throngs by venturing out early in the 

morning. Simply walking or biking around the bank 

is the best way to appreciate its allure, including the 

picturesque gardens dotted with pavilions. No wonder 

the city once captured the heart of Marco Polo. 



TAKE ME THERE

TRAVEL GOALS 

KOLLUR, KARNATAKA 

A vehicle weaves its way along the track that bisects the 

dense forest of this small temple-town situated at the 

foot of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage 

Site. Usually 50 shades of green, this infrared photograph 

(taken by drone) washes the landscape with a purple haze, 

highlighting the array of hues of the foliage. It’s a popular 

spot for hikers. Indeed, there are many trails established 

in the national parks and sanctuaries of Karnataka, where 

groups led by a Forest Department guide are offered an 

education in the area’s rich flora and fauna, with the option 

to stay overnight in the rest houses of the jungle. 


DECEMBER 

Globetrotter 

Be informed, be inspired, be there 

THE MOST 

DELIGHTFUL STAY 

Inspired by the new Mary 

Poppins Returns film, The 

Kensington hotel in London 

is offering parents some 

well-deserved respite with 

its new Imperial Nannies 

package. Check into a top 

suite and you'll be matched 

with a multilingual au pair 

who’ll swoop in to look after 

your children for 12 hours a 

day, complete with a carpet 

bag full of surprises and fun 

excursions included. It’s 

practically perfect in every 

way. Available to book from 

21 Dec 2018 to 31 Mar 2019. 


GLOBETROTTER 

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 

Be a wild one 

Tick these amazing animal experiences 

off your bucket list… 

Anantara Golden 

Triangle Elephant 

Camp & Resort 

THAILAND 

Walking with elephants 

If you’ve always dreamed 

of walking with elephants, 

Anantara Golden Triangle 

Elephant Camp & Resort, 

located on a jungle ridge 

in the Golden Triangle in 

northern Thailand, will deliver 

an encounter to remember. 

Home to a herd of rescued 

elephants, you can take part 

in the Walking with Giants 

experience, which includes 

two hours spent with the 

majestic mammals in their 

natural surroundings with their 

mahouts (keepers) and a vet 

or biologist. Wander with them 

through the jungle and learn 

more about their habitat and 

habits, or simply enjoy their 

peaceful presence. 

INDIA 

Step into The Jungle Book 

Would-be Mowgli’s can trek 

deep into the jungle that 

inspired the original The 

Jungle Book thanks to Taj 

Safaris’ dedicated Wildlife 

Escape. Be among the first 

to venture into the recently 

re-opened jungles of Central 

India: the aforementioned 

Baghvan in Pench National 

Park, Mahua Kothi in 

Bandhavgarh National Park, 

Pashan Garh in Panna National 

Park and Banjaar Tola in Kanha 

Mahua Kothi in 

Bandhavgarh 

National Park. Take an early 

morning four-wheel drive tour 

with a resident naturalist to 

spot the wildlife that inspired 

Rudyard Kipling’s characters, 

including the famous Sher 

Khan – the Royal Bengal Tiger 

– followed by high tea at the 

lodge and evenings spent 

around the campfire listening 

for animal calls. Available at all 

Taj Safari lodges in India. 

STRETCH YOUR PAWS 

If you rarely leave home without your canine companion, a glamorous trip to Monaco 

may just win you over. The tourism board has unveiled bespoke itineraries for pooches 

and their owners, with seven of its nine hotels offering dog-friendly services and 

packages. From Monacair’s direct helicopter transfers from Nice airport (it takes just 

seven-minutes, so is ideal for restless pets) to Hotel de Paris, which welcomes you with 

a plush dog bed, food and toys, and the decadent pet-friendly menu at Le Méridien 

Beach Plaza, your fur baby will be chasing his tail with excitement. 


Wellness Haven at Saray Spa. 

Renew for the journey ahead. 

A relaxing realm of quiet luxury, Saray Spa at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is an authentic wellness Spa, where ancient 

healing techniques and locally sourced natural ingredients are combined to enhance the well-being of each guest. 

The Spa features 17 treatment rooms, inclusive of two private Hammam rooms, one Dead Sea treatment room boasting 

the UAE’s only Dead Sea Floatation Pool found within, and two Private Luxury Spa Suites. 

Experience the wonders of the Middle East through Arabian Body Rituals or Hammam Rituals, or benefit from 

the results-oriented facials. An exclusive retail boutique offers luxurious gifts and spa products for every occasion. 

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai | Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE 

T +971 4 414 6754 | mhrs.dxbjw.spa@marriott.com | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com

GLOBETROTTER 

ESCAPE TO THE 

MOUNTAINS 

Why these destinations are peaking… 

SKIING IN 

AZERBAIJAN 

Now until March is ski 

season in Azerbaijan. 

You’ll find the best 

resorts at Shahdag 

and Gabala but, for 

more challenging 

pistes, try the black 

runs at Tufandag 

Resort. Stay at Qafqaz 

Tufandag Mountain 

Resort Hotel, which 

has a rope-way 

passing by that’ll take 

you straight to the 

mountain ski centre. 

ADVENTURE 

IN HATTA 

Thrill-seekers can get 

their kicks at Meraas' 

new Hatta Wadi Hub, 

where you can test 

your skills at ziplining, 

mountain biking, wall 

climbing and even 

axe throwing, among 

other activities before 

braving the shoots at 

Hatta Drop-in (Asia’s 

first water jump park). 

Stay the night by 

glamping at Hatta 

Damani Lodges. 

STARGAZING 

IN OMAN 

There’s a mega meteor 

shower this month. 

To view the shooting 

stars, head to Alila 

Jabal Akhdar in the 

Al Hajar Mountains, 

where astronomer 

Mike Dalley is 

hosting stargazing 

masterclasses leading 

up to and during the 

peak of the big event. 

The best days to see 

it are 14 and 15 Dec at 

around 2am. 

NEW OF NOTE 

Bluewaters Dubai 

What’s it all about? The site of the 

world’s largest observation wheel, 

Ain Dubai, this oasis off the coast of 

Dubai Marina has opened the drawbridge 

to visitors. 

What’s the vibe? For a small island, 

it has an edgy urban buzz, with 

residences, hotels, and plenty of shops 

and restaurants to keep you busy, all 

connected by pedestrian-friendly areas. 

How do I get there? By car, boat or foot. 

There’s a direct road line to Sheikh Zayed 

Road, pedestrian access from The Beach 

opposite JBR, and an RTA-operated water 

taxi service. 

How shall I explore? Head to shopping 

and dining hub The Wharf to check out 

the eclectic mix of cafés, restaurants and 

bistros. Next, stroll along Central Avenue, 

which borders the landside of The Wharf, 

before heading to North Walk and Wharf 

Avenue, which edge the waterfront, 

circling Ain Dubai Plaza beneath the 

observation wheel. 

Can I stay there? For sure. The island’s 

trio of non-gaming resorts – Caesars 

Palace Bluewaters Dubai, The Residences 

at Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai 

(serviced apartments) and Caesars Resort 

Bluewaters Dubai – offer a luxurious 

experience. Dine at Gordon Ramsay's 

Hell’s Kitchen, be pampered at Qua Spa, 

and chill at private beach club Cove Beach. 

A MALDIVIAN MILESTONE 

Velaa Private Island is celebrating its 

fifth anniversary this month, with a 

wow line-up of activities and events, 

including sports tournaments and a 

party taking place on 20 December, 

featuring Czech violincellist Tereza 

Kovalova and a gourmet food journey 

courtesy of Chef Gaushan de Silva. 

Happy Anniversary! 


GLOBETROTTER 

US$18.7 

BILLION 

THE AMOUNT 

THAT’S EXPECTED 

TO BE SPENT ON 

WELLNESS TRIPS 

BY THOSE IN MENA 

IN 2022, AN 11.8% 

GROWTH 

ON 2017* 

Kneipp path hydrotherapy treatment area, 

Clinique La Prairie 

A RESORT ON 

OUR RADAR 

Family-friendly staycation 

favourite, JA Jebel Ali 

Golf Resort, has been 

renamed as JA The 

Resort, Jebel Ali Beach, 

Dubai. Home to three 

properties – JA Beach 

Hotel, JA Palm Tree Court 

and JA Lake View Hotel 

(opening in September 

2019) – there’s plenty 

to keep you occupied, 

including an 800-metre 

private beach, four 

landscaped swimming 

pools, over 16 restaurants 

and bars, and the David 

Leadbetter Golf Academy 

where you can learn this 

coaching master’s simple 

philosophy for teaching 

the golf swing. 

Feel-good trips 

Replenish your end-of-year energy reserves with a restorative 

break away at these leading wellbeing destinations… 

FOR A WINTER BOOST: 

Team mind-clearing scenery 

with a holistic approach 

to wellbeing at Clinique 

La Prairie Switzerland. Its 

Winter Boost Program, 

available until March 2019, 

helps combat the winter 

blues with five nights of 

expert pampering, including 

daily winter infusions and 

deep tissue massages. 

FOR THE SLEEP-DEPRIVED: 

Not catching enough zzz’s? 

The new Bedtime Rituals & 

Sleeping Therapy stay package 

at Mandarin Oriental, Milan can 

help you get a good night’s 

rest. Unwind with the inroom 

Oriental Sleeping Ritual 

massage and, with a spritz 

of your sleep-inducing pillow 

spray, settle in for a stretch of 

undisturbed shut-eye. 

FOR FAMILIES: The spa 

town of Druskininkai in 

Lithuania, known for its 

mineral waters, curative 

mud and squeaky clean 

air, takes a family-friendly 

approach to wellbeing, 

with yoga for kids, lots of 

nature-based experiences 

and child-friendly facilities, 

such as the steam bath at 

Druskininkai Aquapark. 

Featuring handy to-do and packing lists, curated 

itineraries, space for travel notes and full colour 

world maps to doodle on, the cross-grain lambskin 

Smythson Off the Beaten Track Travel Journal is a 

great stocking filler for adventurers. smythson.com 

*Source: GWI’s Global Wellness Tourism Economy report 


TRENDING 

DESTINATIONS 

Party hats on: dnata Travel’s resident 

globetrotter Emily Williams knows 

the best places to welcome in 2019 

Travelling to Scotland’s historic capital 

has never been easier with the launch of 

direct flights from Dubai to Edinburgh 

with Emirates. In winter, when the nights 

are longer, the city bursts into life with 

festive market stalls and a torch-lit 

procession that kicks off its famous 

Hogmanay celebrations for New Year’s 

Eve, culminating in a vivid finale that 

illuminates Edinburgh Castle. Turn to 

page 26 to read our locals’ guide. 

The weather is perfect in Hong 

Kong in December, the last month of 

its traditional high season, making it 

a great time to go hiking in the hills 

and valleys. Its dramatic city skyline 

attracts visitors to see its spectacular 

countdown to the New Year, which 

concludes with a dazzling pyrotechnic 

dragon dancing across the sky. 

New York City transforms into a 

magical winter wonderland at this time 

of year. Take a walk through Central Park 

where the frozen lake becomes an ice 

rink – you can even go sledging there. 

More than one million people gather at 

Times Square for its atmospheric New 

Year’s Eve celebrations. A boat ride 

on New York Harbour is an alternative 

experience, offering the best view of the 

firework display at the Statue of Liberty. 

It’s summer in Sydney and therefore 

a great time to enjoy the beach life 

with the locals. To fully appreciate the 

scenery, try the coastal walk from the 

beaches of Bondi to Coogee. Due to 

its location, Sydney is one of the first 

major world cities where the clock 

strikes midnight to mark the New Year 

and the firework display at the iconic 

Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney 

Opera House is sure to impress. 


FOOD 

CHEF’S TOP TABLES 

Chef, restaurateur and TV personality Richard Sandoval heads restaurants across the 

globe, including Dubai's Pan-Latin favourite Toro Toro 

On my 

wish list… 

Gaggan, in Bangkok. Chef 

Anand Gaggan is known for 

his experiential progressive 

Indian tasting menu and for 

offering his guests a warm 

Thai welcome. It was recently 

voted 'Asia's Best 

Restaurant'. 

KYU 

Miami 

I really like this place, an upscale 

Asian-American eatery employing 

sustainable cooking techniques in 

the heart of eclectic Wynwood in 

Miami. The chef, Michael Lewis, 

is well travelled and he uses those 

experiences to influence his woodgrilled 

cuisine. Here, he applies the 

Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi 

– the art of finding perfection in 

something imperfect. 

FAVOURITE DISH: Tuna tataki 

with fermented chili and citrus. 

MÁXIMO BISTROT 

Mexico City 

Chef Eduardo García’s Máximo 

Bistrot, which he runs alongside 

his wife, showcases local 

ingredients from farms around 

Mexico City, including the famed 

floating gardens of Xochimilco. 

Their devotion to all things local 

extends to the furniture, while the 

menu (the likes of crab soup with 

creole corn) changes daily based on 

what's in season and available. 

FAVOURITE DISH: Deep-water 

prawn with chicatana. 

ELEVEN 

MADISON PARK 

New York 

In a city where dining trends 

change frequently, Eleven 

Madison Park is always among 

the top tables – it's the current 

holder of the 'Best Restaurant in 

North America' title. It serves an 

8-10 course, modern European 

seasonal tasting menu that draws 

inspiration from New York to add 

a touch of the inventive. 

FAVOURITE DISH: Smoked 

sturgeon cheesecake with caviar. 

COME DINE WITH ME... 

Toro Toro, a play on the Spanish word for bull, sets the stage for an artful blend of Pan- 

Latin flavours and features amazing cuts of beef cooked in our churrasco grill. I invite you 

to sample my unique spin on South and Central American ingredients and flavours, as 

you taste your way through an array of savoury small plates. 


CREATE 

SPECIAL 

MOMENTS 

WITH US. 

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T. 971.4.319.4000 | DUBAIMARRIOTTHARBOURHOTEL.COM 

Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites 

@marriottharbour

PERSONALITY 

A LIFE WELL TRAVELLED 

LEYLA 

ULUHANLI 

The interior designer and author 

lays open her travel journal 

I consider myself very lucky to have 

grown up in the ancient city of Baku. 

Some of my earliest memories are 

of the grand architecture of the old 

palaces and sacred mosques. I also had 

the chance to experience the exquisite 

décor of some of the best private 

homes in the city. In many ways, the 

city continues to speak to me now and 

is largely reflected in my work. 

I constantly draw inspiration 

from the amazing spirit, people and 

architecture of Moscow, where I live. 

I love working on interiors projects 

there, especially in the older parts of 

the city, filled with historic buildings 

so deeply intertwined with the lives of 

artists, poets and actors. 

I spent eight years capturing the 

mosque photography for my book, 

visiting a selection of world-renowned 

mosques and discovering their 

intricate patterns and ornaments. 

Córdoba in Spain impacted me the 

most – its Grand Mosque is an exquisite 

and rare gem of Moorish architecture. 

The materials and patterns used for 

the decoration are out of this world, 

and the place presents an amazing 

example of a harmonious union 

between East and West. 

I’m a citizen of the world, so I don’t 

have a favourite destination, but I love 

the sea and the ocean. These places 

bring me calm and bliss, allowing me 

to recharge and get ready for my next 

work marathon. 

A place that’s still on my wish 

list is Polynesia. It’s somewhat of a 

childhood dream to visit an exotic 

place so far away; something you have 

only seen or read about in books. Plus, 

it seems like a great vacation spot. 

Leyla’s book, Mosques: Splendors of 

Islam, published by Rizzoli New York, 

is out now 

Photo © Cristina Mittermeier 


LOCALS’ GUIDE 

THE LOCALS' GUIDE TO 

Edinburgh 

Revel in the history, culture and creative energy 

that gives Scotland’s capital its vibrant character 



STEP TO IT 

Gareth Davies runs 

Edinburgh Expert 

Walking tours, 

taking visitors 

under the skin 

of the city 

edinburghexpert.com 

Historic Victoria Street. Photograph 

© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam 

Visitors are often surprised to learn that 

Edinburgh’s New Town is more than 250 

years old. They are even more intrigued 

when I tell them that the Old Town was 

largely rebuilt in the 19th century, so much 

of it is more recent than the New Town. 

But that’s Edinburgh. It's a city of contrasts 

that’s very different throughout the year, so 

there’s always an element of the unexpected. 

The site was first settled around 3500 

years ago and much of the city’s layout harks 

back to earlier times with narrow lanes, 

cobbled backstreets and bridges that can 

be a challenge to navigate – something the 

guidebooks don’t prepare you for. Although 

I've walked some of the streets hundreds of 

times, I still notice new features, and can 

find new stories to tell. 

The areas I most enjoy showing off are 

around the New Town. Many visitors never 

look beyond the Royal Mile and Old Town, 

so this feels like a whole other side of the 

city that people don't expect – it has its own 

character and style, a host of history and 

culture and some fantastic Georgian-era 

architecture. It’s something of a hidden 

gem, hiding in plain sight. 

My favourite stop-offs? The Scottish 

Parliament building, due to its weirdly 

wonderful sense of style, as well as 

Advocate's Close, one of the narrow lanes 

off the Royal Mile, for its spectacular views, 

mixture of ancient and modern buildings, 

and stories of the historical figures who 

have lived there. There's so much to see and 

talk about on that single alleyway. 

If you have more time, head north of the 

New Town to Stockbridge to check out its 

independent shops, cafés and restaurants, 

before making your way along the Water of 

Leith to the historic Dean Village to view 

its picturesque 17th-century buildings. 

South of the Royal Mile is George Square 

and Bristo Square, home to some of the 

historic buildings of Edinburgh University, 

including the iconic Old College quad 

designed by Edinburgh's greatest architects, 

Robert Adam and William Playfair. 


Scottish National Portrait Gallery interior views 

© Keith Hunter & National Galleries of Scotland 

Literary fans can 

sip a brew at The Elephant 

House tea and coffee shop 

in the historic quarter, 

which authors including J.K. 

Rowling and Ian Rankin 

have used as a 

writing den 

ON THE 

FRINGE 

Shona McCarthy, 

chief executive 

of the Edinburgh 

Festival Fringe 

Society, talks art 

and culture 

1The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 

which takes place every August, 

brings together acts and audiences 

from all over the world to create an 

international melting pot of arts and 

culture, from theatre and comedy to 

circus, opera, children's shows and 

spoken word performances. There’s 

nothing quite like wandering through 

the city when the Fringe is on and 

soaking up the electric atmosphere. 

2The impact of the festival is 

felt keenly through the year, 

with many Fringe artists and 

companies adding to a thriving local 

creative scene that has transformed 

the city into a bucket-list 

destination for anyone who 

is passionate about the arts. 

There are events all year 

round, from the Edinburgh 

International Science 

Festival in April through to 

Hogmanay, which rounds 

off the annual cultural 

offering at the turn of the 

New Year – it's always a hive of activity. 

3 

There are lots of amazing 

galleries featuring all kinds of 

art and exhibitions, both past 

and present. Some favourites include 

the Scottish National Portrait Gallery 

and the Scottish National Gallery. The 

former tells the story of Scotland and 

its people with portraits of historical 

figures such as Mary Queen of Scots 

and Robert Burns, while the National 

Gallery has an outstanding fine art 

collection, including masterpieces 

by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet and 

Van Gogh, among many others. 

The Elephant House 

Photo © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam 

4The National Museum of 

Scotland is another must-see, 

with fascinating permanent 

exhibits from nature, science, art, 

design, fashion and more. Here, you 

can find out more about the history 

of the area, from pre-history to the 

present day, in the Scottish galleries. 

5 

People often talk about there 

being a sense of an artistic 

community in the city, one that is 

not bound by geography or nationality, 

but can give a real sense of belonging 

in a different way. What better reason 

to visit Edinburgh this winter? 

WORDS BY OLIVIA CUTHBERT 



TRADITIONAL 

TASTES 

Matthew Korecki, 

owner of popular 

family-run 

restaurant New 

Chapter, unravels 

the foodie scene 

Local flavour 

There’s a huge number of independent 

restaurants in Edinburgh. People 

here tend to seek out hidden gems 

– the tucked-away places that serve 

incredible food with personalised 

service – rather than going for what they 

already know with chain restaurants. 

New and noteworthy 

The restaurant scene is growing rapidly, 

with new venues opening every week, so 

the quality of the produce, dishes and 

service is constantly on the rise. There 

has also been an uplift in the number 

of dining destinations serving fantastic 

global cuisine, be it Swedish, Hungarian, 

Nepalese, Filipino or Caribbean food. 

Scottish classics 

Our elegant sister restaurant Otro, 

in the West End, is very popular with 

those who want to taste Scottish 

ingredients. The Kilted Lobster in 

Stockbridge is perfect if you’re in the 

mood for seafood, and if you needed 

convincing, all profits go towards the 

Cooking Up A Storm project to fight food 

poverty. For fine dining, I recommend 

Restaurant Martin Wishart on The 

Shore for a Michelin-star experience. 

Quirky cuisine 

The Full Moon Dinners at the Secret 

Herb Garden on Old Pentland Road are a 

magical experience where diners eat in a 

beautiful greenhouse by the light of the 

moon. Six By Nico on Hanover Street is a 

great option too, with themed six-course 

tasting menus that change every six 

weeks, serving wonderfully creative food. 

Market fare 

For coffee and cake, The Stockbridge 

Market is always a treat. For street food, 

head to The Pitt in Leith, which has great 

vibes and innovative street food vendors 

serving amazing bites every weekend. 

Secret Herb 

Garden's Full 

Moon Dinners 


WORLD TRAVELLER X ANANTARA EASTERN MANGROVES 

Life on the edge 

For an urban escape in a lush lagoon setting, 

Anantara Eastern Mangroves leads the way 

Situated on the outskirts of 

central Abu Dhabi, along a scenic 

stretch of protected mangroves, 

this coveted hotel is ideal for those 

who want to team outdoor pursuits 

with a spot of city sightseeing. 

It’s just a 10-minute drive from 

downtown, yet Anantara Eastern 

Mangroves feels a world away from the 

hustle and bustle of the city, with its 

waterfront location lending a tranquil vibe. 

Make the most of the views by booking 

a suite with a view of the lagoons so you 

can soak up the surrounds from your 

private balcony. Plump for an Anantara 

Mangroves Pool Suite, which can 

accommodate up to two adults and one 

child, and you'll wake up to lush lagoon 

views. Make the most of the winter sun 

by unwinding on your private terrace 

before taking a dip in your plunge pool. 

If you’ve got energy to burn, take 

a kayak out to explore the mangrove 

reserve. Guided tours are available to 

ensure you don't miss a thing – herons, 

foxes and turtles can usually be spotted. 

Stand-up paddleboarding is also on 

offer, and there’s a promenade bordering 

the waterway (the city’s old corniche) 

that’s ideal for jogging and cycling. 

A FIVE-STAR SPA 

Dedicated spa-goers are sure to be 

impressed by the traditional treatments 

on offer at Anantara Spa, which is 

especially well-known for its signature 

hammam rituals. Inspired by the ancient 

Turkish bathing tradition, the journey 

begins on the warm stone, with time to 

bask in the heat, followed by a body buff 

with a traditional kese mitt to prep the 

skin for receiving the hydrating suds. 

After rinsing, you’ll receive a 

circulation-pepping scrub followed by 

a purifying clay mask. Even your hair 

and scalp are given the royal cleansing 


Pachaylen 

Anantara Spa 

A room with a mangrove view 

treatment, with a pressure point face and 

head massage to lull you into a deep sense 

of relaxation. An olive foam massage and 

coffee body polish followed by a cooling 

rinse complete this blissful 60-minute 

pamper session. However, we highly 

recommend that you upgrade with a full 

body massage using argan infused oil for 

an additional full hour of relaxation. 

ALL IN GOOD TASTE 

Another draw card is the hotel’s dining 

credentials. Its popular Thai restaurant, 

Pachaylen, invites you to taste authentic 

cuisine in a refined setting. A traditional 

kim player sets the tone as contemporarystyled 

delights, such as aromatic curries 

and spicy salads, are brought to your 

table. If you’re unsure what to choose, 

simply go with the enduring favourites 

of tom yam soup and pad Thai noodles. 

For sunset views, head to Impressions 

on the rooftop, which serves signature 

drinks from 7pm to 2am daily. And if 

you’re keen to boost your cooking skills, 

you can take part in a Spice Spoons 

Middle Eastern and Thai cooking class, 

which will take you to Al Mina Fish 

Market and the vegetable market across 

the road to shop for fresh ingredients. 

Back at the resort, a top chef will guide 

you with step-by-step instructions 

for preparing delicious dishes, giving 

you a new skill to take back home. 

To find out more, call +971 2 656 1000 

or visit anantara.com 



MEXICO 

Take me to to the river 

Ancient temples, mystic caves, weird 

critters (in the water and on the menu: 

Mexico’s Riviera Maya serves up surreal 

unforgettable adventures – mere footsteps 

from the Caribbean’s most dreamily 

relaxing beaches, says Ed Grenby 

this is where they were beheaded, 

their lifeblood cascading down the 

steps of the pyramid in front of you.’ 

I’ve been to the Caribbean a few 

‘And 

times – hell, I’m the kind of loser 

who even goes off on those half-day historic tours of 

dockyards and distilleries and other such thrillers – but 

I’ve never heard those words from a tour guide before. 

That, I suppose, is because I’ve never been to 

Mexico’s Riviera Maya before, contenting myself 

instead with circuits of Barbados, Antigua and 

Jamaica (‘... and this is where the barrels would 

be stored before bottling and labelling ...’). 

This year, though, looking for something a little more 

exciting – a little less ‘barrel warehouse’, you might say 

– I strayed one swipe further down the ‘Caribbean’ page 

of the tour operator’s website, and ended up here, 

on the eastern edge of Mexico, where the sacrificial 

altars of the ancients and the otherworldly natural 

wonders of the Yucatan are bordered with beaches 

that are every bit as good as Barbados’s and are 

washed by the self-same calm Caribbean Sea. 

And, truth be told, I didn’t leave those beaches for 

the first four days of my fortnight. Well, why would I? 

Cloud-soft sand shelved at a perfect 10-degree angle into 

waters as warm as a mother’s welcome; and, even with 

my shades on, the sea’s blue and the sand’s white and the 

fringing forest’s green were literally, squintingly dazzling. 

Frigate birds soared and searing-yellow kiskadees 

chirped, their high, ringing song as exuberant as the 

frigates’ flight. Sea turtles, too, showed their appreciation 

of the place, their nests bulging in the sand; and behind 

the beach, around my hotel’s two elegantly understated 

aquamarine swimming pools, iguanas lazed on the 

paths, lordly and unmoving, as if to say, ‘My kind 


MEXICO 

has been around since the dinosaurs, 

hombre. You can make way for me.’ 

I wanted my adventure to have a big 

dollop of ‘easy’, and Hotel Esencia delivered 

on both. It’s a sprinkling of cool, white, 

slightly hacienda-style houses and lawns 

carved from the jungle, but the luxury 

and quiet good taste have a raffish edge. 

So there is discreet abstract art and posh 

coffee-table books, but also driftwood 

bannisters and hammocks slung beneath 

the thatched, open-walled palapa huts, 

while elegant lamps hang seductively 

from trees beside wild coconuts. 

The location is Xpu-Ha (amazingly, just 

an hour’s drive down the coast from noisy 

Cancuń); the ‘X’, I eventually work out, is 

pronounced ‘sh’, like the shhhushing of 

the wavelets. It’s so hypnotically perfect 

that even the daily deposit of algae on the 

sand seems appealing once I learn that it’s 

actually sargasso (sounds so much more 

romantic than ‘seaweed’, no?). But when, 

accidentally up early one morning, I see 

the sargasso being carefully, cossetingly 

hand-cleared from the beach by hotel 

staff, I know I’m going to have to look a 

little further afield if I want any of the 

‘edge’ I’d abandoned Barbados for. 

A quick coach trip to Cobá, however, 

and I’ve got edge by the bucketful (it’s 

here the lifeblood did its cascading thing). 

An important Mayan city from the 1st 

century AD to the 15th, it’s now a cluster of 

stone ruins looming enigmatically from 

the middle of a million miles of jungle. 

The biggest is the pyramid of devotion 

to honey (Why did he get such kudos? 

Because the stuff was an important 

ingredient in Mayan cement, apparently. 

Though once you’ve tasted the local honey, 

rich and intense, no explanation for its 

status is needed. In fact, it’s a wonder 

they ever built anything above one storey 

without licking it into ruin.) Incredibly, 

you’re allowed to climb the pyramid, and 

the experience is unforgettable – not so 

much for the views (an infinite ocean of 

green treetops) as for the hairs-on-theback-of-your-neck 

tingle of knowing that 

others once looked down exultantly from 

the same spot, but for them it wasn’t 

the pride of summiting the 120 steps, 

but the eye-bulging, ecstatic madness 

of the decapitator or willing decapitee. 

Even weirder than the weirdness, 

though, is the fact that (given the 

weirdness) it’s so pleasant here. The site 

is too big to navigate on foot, so people 

hire bikes or get chauffeured around on 

passenger trikes by their guides, and 

the atmosphere is more weekend cycle 

in the park than lingering echo of ritual 

murder. A five-minute pedal down a 

shady path is Cobá’s poc-ta-poc court, 

where matches of the Mayans’ get-theball-through-the-hoop-using-only-yourhips 

game could go on for days before 

reaching their climax with, obviously, 

the sacrifice of the winning coach. And 

instead of horror, all I can think of is 

whether England's coach Gareth Southgate 

would be prepared to go all the way and 

get his trademark waistcoat bloody. 

So the adventure comes pretty easy 

round these parts, but the easy can be 

adventurous, too. Even international 

luxury hotel brands have a dash of 

local fizz in their DNA here, and the 

Rosewood, where I’m staying next, is 

essentially a vast mangrove lagoon that 

just happens to have a few (also fairly 

vast) rooms scattered around it. 

In mine, the cheapest category, as well 

as the (count ’em!) indoor bathroom, 

outdoor bathroom, walled garden, roof 

terrace, sun deck and plunge pool, there’s 

a lovely little wooden boat dock on stilts 

above the lagoon, where you can see 

nothing but jungle and convince yourself 

you’re an intrepid explorer. Indeed, if 

you sit still there for 30 seconds, you’ve 

got a pretty decent chance of spotting 

cormorants, iguanas, raccoons, turtles 

and, if you’re really lucky, baby crocodiles 

(they’re ‘taken somewhere safe’ when 


Opening pages: a 

colourful trajinera floats 

down a canal. This 

page, clockwise from 

top left: enjoying an ice 

This page: The view from the 

cream; Toltec temple 

historic area of Candelaria 

ruins in Tula; Rosewood 

Mayakoba Riviera Maya 

Opposite: Contemporary art 

in Iglesia de Santa Clara 

MEXICO 

‘Caves lead off it in all directions, with sweet little bats roosting on 

the roofs, and even sweeter little turtles pottering in their waters’ 


ROME 


MEXICO 

Left: Ik Kil sinkhole 

This page: Indo-Pacific 

sailfishes hunt sardines 

in Yucatán 

‘Frigate birds soared and searing-yellow kiskadees chirped, 

their high, ringing song as exuberant as the frigates’ flight’ 

they grow bigger than a metre, says a 

hotel-staffer mysteriously, and I can’t 

help suspect that’s ‘safe’ as in ‘safe from 

not being made into a handbag’). 

I don’t even have to leave this heaven 

for my next adventure. Pretty much 

every mouthful I’ve consumed on this 

trip has been exciting (zinging ceviche... 

flavour-burst fish tacos... I could go on. 

And did), but nothing prepared me for the 

Rosewood’s breakfast huevos rancheros 

with its side of toasted grasshoppers. 

‘They’re just like corn,’ the waiter 

reassures me. Which might be true if corn 

had little faces and legs and antennae. But 

I fear that not eating them would make 

me a species traitor in the unceasing 

war that wages here between mosquito 

and man. Even after finishing off the 

bowlful (they’re crispy-crunchy and 

kind of moreish), I’ve probably nibbled 

a lot less insect than the insects have 

nibbled of me over the past few days. 

The only thing more ubiquitous than 

mozzies is cenotes, the water-filled caverns 

and sinkholes that pockmark this part 

of Mexico. They range from bath-size to 

2km-wide; some sitting at the side of the 

road for anyone to dive into, others built 

up into sprawling theme parks. But what 

they all have in common is alluringly 

cool, enticingly clear, bewitchingly blue 

and irresistibly swimmable water. 

My favourites are Ik Kil (big, busy, but 

outrageously Insta-genic, with vines 

that hang down into the water from the 

jungle above); the complex clustered 

together as Rió Secreto (don wetsuits, 

hard hats and miners’ lanterns, for 

a guided walk/wade/swim/scramble 

through an underground river system); 

and Gran Cenote. Here, beautiful kids 

from the nearby towns laze and flirt on 

the hammocks and greenswards, and 

steps descend into a sinkhole. Caves 

lead off it in all directions, with sweet 

little bats roosting (upside down, of 

course) on the roofs, and even sweeter 

little turtles pottering in their waters. 

It’s a lovely and intriguing swim, but 

hire a snorkel for a few pesos and you 

can have your mind thoroughly blown. 

Like an iceberg, it transpires that what 

you can see of the caverns above water is 

a mere fraction. Beneath the surface is 

an uncanny underworld, an otherworld, 

a netherworld, where the stalactites you 

saw drooping from the roof are now 

stalagmites rising from the floor, or 

columns holding up the roof (or is it the 

floor?). Through some trick of the eerily 

suffusing blue light, or the crystallineclear 

water, or the refractions of sound 


‘In this corner of the Caribbean, 

life-changing experiences can 

be got cheap as well as easy’ 

and sightlines, you feel you’ve travelled 

upside-down through the looking glass to 

the sort of inverted augmented alternate 

reality that Hollywood spends billions 

of FX dollars to create – but for just $5. 

In this corner of the Caribbean, lifechanging 

experiences can be got cheap 

as well as easy, it seems. Moving on to 

my next hotel, the more mid-market Tui 

Sensatori, I alternate my days between 

watching from my beach lounger as 

pelicans patrol the airspace in perfect 

three-bird formations, like pimped-up 

fighter planes; and taking the kind of 

coach tours that could give coach tours 

a good name. On one to Tulum, I find 

there are, in fact, three overlapping 

Tulums: the ruined Mayan city (less 

dramatic than Cobá, but sited on the 

most delectable little beach – sightseeing 

really couldn’t be any more effortless); 

the tourist strip (a boho hamlet of 

boutique hotels, beach clubs, juice bars 

and yoga joints; and, just offshore, the 

turtles’ Tulum. It’s an ancient underwater 

place of congregation for these beautiful 

beasts, and for the equally elegant manta 

rays that accompany them, but easily 

discoverable thanks to the unearthly 

noises that arise from it. (Could they 

form some strange sub-aquatic ‘song’? 

Nope, it’s the sound of a dozen excited 

turtle fans trying to say ‘So agelessly 

graceful!’ to each other, but it comes out 

through their snorkels as ‘Urrrggghhh!’) 

Meanwhile, just a few kilometres up 

the coast lurks the adventure for which 

I’ve been steeling myself all fortnight, the 

ultimate won’t-find-this-in-the-Windies 

escapade. Whale sharks are among 

the world’s largest predators, as big as 

buses but still distinctly, unnervingly 

shark-shaped (because they are, in fact, 

sharks). I’ve always desperately wanted 

to/not wanted to swim with them, and 

here, in the open ocean out beyond Isla 

Mujeres (that’s ‘Isle of the Dead’) you can. 

So in the Margarita-hued light of dawn, 

as the returning fishermen are enjoying 

a 6am brew on the docks, we take their 

places in the boats and head out. And an 

hour later we’ve found our leviathan; the 

snorkels and flippers go on, and we go in. 

Whoever started calling them ‘gentle 

giants’ had obviously never floated in the 

water in front of one (and certainly wasn’t 

a zooplankton, several million of which 

they devour every day). With that Jaws 

dorsal fin, that machete-sharp tail, that 

constant swaying, swaggering, menacing 

movement through the water, they’re 

unmistakably sharks. And it doesn’t 

matter how many times your guide tells 

you they can’t swallow anything bigger 

than their golf-ball-sized throats: when 

these 10-metre monsters swim towards 

you, their great mouths wide open, a 

word bubbles unbidden to the surface 

of your mind, and the word is Jonah. 

Then they swim, unfussed, right 

past you, and suddenly they’re the 

peaceful, placid, curious creatures 

you’ve heard about. Fear dissolves and 

all that’s left is wide-eyed, humbled 

wonder – and an afternoon on the beach 

with a brew and a burrito, gazing out 

across a couple of thousand kilometres 

of warm water towards Barbados, 

feeling rather pleased with yourself. 

Inspired to travel? To book a trip, call 

+971 4 316 6666 or visit dnatatravel.com 

Credit: The Sunday Times Travel Magazine/ News Syndication 


MEXICO 

This page: 

Beach Suite at 

Hotel Esencia 



ISTANBUL 

GOLDEN 

In revisiting Istanbul, Nick Redman is reunited with his old flame 

TIMES 

Left: The Grand Bazaar 

This page: silhouette of 

the Blue Mosque 


ISTANBUL 

Right: interior of the 

Blue Mosque 

‘Like a photograph emerging in a darkroom tray, the 

spiritual gloom developed into magnificence’ 

Beyond the windows it looked 

like a light show put on just 

for us, as we waited to be 

seated at Mürver, a busy 

new rooftop restaurant in 

Istanbul. Illuminated white and sodiumorange 

across the dark mouth of the Golden 

Horn, the skyline monuments sparkled: 

Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue 

Mosque, its six minarets spearing the night 

sky. We got a corner table at the back. This 

place was dinner-reservation gold, be it 

your first night ever in the old Ottoman 

capital, or your first night back, as it was 

for my other half and me late last spring. 

The soft funk sounds, flash-fire open 

kitchen and de rigueur filament bulbs 

made Mürver feel sweepingly self-assured. 

Marinated sea-bass starters arrived, a 

tangy delight; then courgette fritters, 

kicky with chilli. The maîtresse d’, upon 

my asking about moving to a window 

table when the crowd thinned, said, ‘It 

won’t,’ with a satisfied smile, as if nothing 

had changed since the city’s big-money, 

pre-crunch, pre-coup millennial times. 

I had to smile, too. So it was still 

irresistanbul! Istanbul, the city I’ve 

adored for three decades or more, living 

and working there first, as a sybaritic 

twentysomething. I’d love to say nothing 

had changed, but that would be to ignore 

the endless posters of President Erdogăn we 

saw lining the freeway from the airport, as 

he geared up for another power-enhancing 

election. For Turks, a lot has changed. 

And for tourists? Here again after 

more than two years, we needn’t have 

worried: the same effusive welcome that 

is practically the Turks’ moral duty; the 

same great-value food; the same kamikaze 

taxi drivers, sadly, too, with their allergy to 

safety belts. We were glad we had chosen 

to stay in Sultanahmet, where Byzantium 

and Constantinople rose and fell, and 

where Christianity yielded to Islam, 600 

or so years ago. I found reassurance in its 

historic continuity: it looked as stunning 

as it always had, just untroubled now by 

tourists and touts. At dusk, the two of us 

strolled the sleepy streets, past leafy trees 

and gaily painted clapboard facades, more 

Tyrolean than Turkish. It was as if we’d hit 

on an undiscovered Euro weekend hotspot. 

The Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet 

was a tranquil essay in polished-wood 

floors, geometric kilims and corridors of 

Ottoman tiles, patterned with tulip petals 

and circular bursts of colour, like firework 

finales. The lobby had the perfume of 

lilies, a safe embrace. From our balcony 

I looked down at the garden, where 

jasmine plaited itself in thick columns up 

the turmeric-coloured enfolding walls, 

looking like cypress in the low light. 

Inhaling the iron smell of geraniums, I 

was back, oddly, in a flash: to June 2001, 

a heady evening here with friends, the 

summer before the Twin Towers fell. 

The world has mended and come apart 

since. It always will. In Istanbul, tourists 

were trickling back, said a hotel waiter, 

pouring drinks by an oil lamp’s flicker. 

‘This is an old city,’ he told us, as we 

devoured yoghurt-smothered Iskender 

kebab on puffy flatbread, zingy on the 

tongue with tomato sauce and hot chilli 

flakes. ‘Over thousands of years it has 

had so many punches. We have been 

sad, but people are returning again.’ 

Istanbul felt no scarier than Paris, I 

thought, as we stepped out to mingle with 

those people next day. In the balmy air 

we wandered among horse chestnuts in 

bloom before the Blue Mosque, fountains 

playing, the muezzin’s call wailing to its 

crescendo. Loudly chattering Turkish 

schoolkids milled about smoke-laced 

carts selling blackened corn-on-the-cob. 

The queue was reassuringly healthy 

for the Hagia Sophia, its buttresses and 

ballooning domes squeezing out the sky. 

It seemed more magnificent than I’d ever 

known it, almost not of this planet, as if it 

had crash-landed from outer space millions 

of years ago and, over the ages, grown rusty 

and dusty, as civilisations rose around it. 

Such was the awe it was built to instil: first 

as a church in the 6th century, and again, 

after almost a millennium, when saved 

from failing Byzantine dilapidation in 1453 

by the conquering Ottomans, who restored 

it as a mosque. Inside, like a photograph 

emerging in a darkroom tray, the spiritual 

gloom developed into magnificence, 

daylight angling in with stage-beam 

precision from windows on high. 

We performed the ‘Say, “cheese”’ 

honours for three Romanians in the 

grounds of Topkapı Palace, which rang 

with the chip-chip of masons repairing 

the low stone walls. The inscrutable 

residence for generations of sultans was 

a paradise garden of blood-red rose beds 

and carpets of pansies, monastic cedars 

throwing shadows across the lawns. It 

filled the senses like distilled nostalgia. 

Chambers shone with centuries 

of splendour, from mother-of-pearl 

grandfather clocks (one a gift from Queen 

Victoria to Abdul Hamid II) to a 300-yearold 

ceremonial suit of armour, dripping 

with chains like something from Michael 

Jackson’s tour wardrobe circa 1993. But on 

this cloudless day, Topkapı was for outside 

indulgence. As waiters at Konyalı restaurant 




This page, clockwise 

from top left: Turkish 

cheese pide; ample 

spices on sale in the 

city's Spice Bazaar; 

a traditional Turkish 

kebab; boza being 

poured into a glass

ISTANBUL 

‘Ooh, that Bosphorus view, and the blue Golden 

Horn flowing to meet it, scored with the white 

trails of ferries moving at the speed of swans’ 

Credit: Sunday Times Travel Magazine / News Licensing 

removed the cloches on our kebab lunch 

plates, we lazed sultan-style on the terrace, 

catching rays, letting our senses lead us. 

Ooh, that Bosphorus view, and the blue 

Golden Horn flowing to meet it, scored 

with the white trails of ferries moving 

at the speed of swans. Way north, in the 

direction of the Black Sea, traffic caught 

sunlight, tiny silver beads traversing 

the Bosphorus Bridge, the unlikely front 

line of the failed 2016 coup. Behind it 

all rose the LA-style skyline of new-rich 

Istanbul – steely and blue-glassy, aspiring 

optimistically to heydays ahead. 

We took a night taxi, seeking the 

delectations of the modern city in Bomonti, 

inland from the Bosphorus shores. The 

city unspooled: a futuristic galaxy. Brutal 

apartment blocks filled canyons, glittering 

as they rolled off into the hills. We sped 

above it all, across high flyovers like 

fat spaghetti tangles, spotted with red 

taillights, and could only gawp admiringly 

at Istanbul’s sheer indefatigable grandeur. 

‘You made it,’ called Hatice, looming to 

greet us as we stepped into Kilimanjaro. 

She’d already texted a snap of herself 

with her Italian beau, taken at the table 

moments before – possibly in case we 

didn’t recognise our friend, two years 

after she’d left London to resettle here. 

The pair had invited us so as to big-up 

Bomonti, their home turf, a kilometre or 

so north of Taksim Square. It was named 

after two Swiss brothers who brewed hops 

here around the dawn of the 20th century, 

when Istanbul was Constantinople. Their 

factory, once closed and broken-windowed, 

has been resurrected for the unfailingly 

effervescent millennials of Istanbul, and 

Kilimanjaro is one of several hedonistic 

joints filling its bare-brick warehouse 

spaces and sprawling courtyards. 

With lots of straw-sucking, couplesyflirting 

going on, Kilimanjaro could have 

been in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District 

or Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin. Its centrepiece 

was a huge ‘aviary’ basket structure that 

followed the looping Grand-Prix curves of 

the bar below, full of spotlit bottles, perched 

like songbirds among dangling potted 

plants. Such a surprise stunner in a reborn 

corner! All the while, ’70s funk of the James 

Brown school came courtesy of a speccily 

serious DJ, as plates of crispy-skin chicken 

thighs circulated with waiters’ pirouettes, 

threatening drinkers’ Armani garb. 

We talked until late, about this and that; 

about how, if ever a city deserves good 

times, it is Istanbul, with inclusivity in its 

marrow. I recalled the borscht of snowy 

nights, in 1987, at Rejans, a nocturnal nook 

in a dodgy Beyoğlu backstreet originally 

opened by anti-Bolshevik exiles, musicians 

sawing away in its minstrel’s gallery, late. 

I lamented its long-ago folding. 

'It’s been relaunched', said Hatice. 

'Next time you come, we’ll go.' 

Next morning dawned more dispiritingly, 

cacophonous with irascible gulls, and 

hangover-grey due to a grim downpour 

off the foggy Bosphorus. A comfort-food 

kind of day. Benoit was waiting, as he’d 

promised, with brollies outside the Spice 

Bazaar, beyond the moored ferries of 

Eminönü, gateway to Old Istanbul. The 

Belgian expat lays on culinary walks to 

help visitors discover the part of the city I’d 

overlooked in the past, always questing after 

the new. This area was a commercial whirl 

in late Roman imperial times – and with 

Benoit, we uncovered a traditional Istanbul 

as vibrant as I’d recalled it years ago. 

We breakfasted first, on seeded simit 

bread rings, with the rain coursing about 

the drainpipes of an atmospheric han — a 


This page: Opposite: the view from Sail boats Four 

Seasons Hotel docked Sultanahmet in Sausalito(in 

the foreground) This page: The coastal 

route linking San Francisco 

to Big Sur 


ISTANBUL 

storeyed, arcaded Ottoman storage depot, 

of which few remain. It was a workers’ cafe, 

family-run for generations, by emigrants 

from Erzincan, a town way east, near the 

border with Armenia. A daub of molasses 

tingled the tastebuds, black, sticky and 

prune-like, brought from the Black Sea, 

where it is a centuries-old method of 

preserving apples in winter. Coffee sacks 

piled in a nearby alley told of wider, older 

trade links, stamped with destinations 

from ‘Yemen’ to ‘Etiyopya’, ‘Sumatra’ to 

‘Hindistan’. Moving deeper, we brushed 

past spice dens dustily pungent with 

oregano and coriander, wild orchid roots 

dangling like sacrificial skeins of teeth. 

We ate lamb’s neck soup in a corner 

place, scrunched on low stools like picnic 

gnomes, then cheesy pizza-style pide 

at Mavi Haliç Pidecisi, where the cookproprietor 

let us dispatch our own off 

a large wooden paddle into the oven’s 

roar. We had lamb kebabs still sizzling 

from their bed of red charcoal at Osmanlı 

Kebapçısı, a classic concern as queued-for 

as a trendy New York food truck. At Altan 

Sekerleme sweet shop (founded 1865) 

we sucked sugared almonds in Smartie 

colours, offered freely for the tasting from 

stoppered jars. It was very Turkish: these 

sensory rituals, the sweetness of strangers. 

Another curiosity was Sevda Gazozcusu, 

its walls lined with shelves of retro 

Turkish fizzy drinks: a collector’s new 

trend, would you believe, said Benoit. 

Darkness was descending over the 

city. We ended up sipping boza, Turkey’s 

“In traditional the rainy-day warmer, we drove 

made of 

fermented millet, sugary and creamy 

past 

– slightly 

vast 

custardy. 

stretches 

At this elegant 

of 

establishment, seascape. Vefa Bozacısı, At night, 

served by 

white-clad waiters, we could have been 

we 

in Florence 

sat five 

or Madrid 

storeys 

amid the stained 

up 

mirrors among and worn floor thousandyear-old 

tiles. Spooning it 

trees” 

up, I fell through the time tunnel, through 

decades, to my first winter, January 

1986, when I would order it on ferries 

crossing the bitter, sleety Bosphorus 

after work. I got a familiar warm feeling 

inside: Istanbul, and the pleasurable 

glow of going back to find a city as sweet 

and seductive as ever I’d known it. 





INNSBRUCK 

You don’t have to slope off into the wild to get 

your downhill fix. With Hapsburg heritage, futuristic 

architecture and mountains all around, Innsbruck is 

an atmospheric Austrian city break and ski holiday in 

one, says Sean Newsom 


Opening pages, from left: 

heading downhill in the 

mountains; the city centre 

of Innsbruck, as seen from 

the Town Hall's roof terrace 

These pages: 

Hungerburgbahn railway 

station 

So there I was, walking the 

streets of Innsbruck in my 

ski boots, feeling ridiculous. 

Everyone else was dressed 

for shopping, or for morning 

lectures at the city’s university. I was in 

lemon-yellow boots, silver helmet and 

bilious-green jacket, shouldering a bright 

red pair of skis. Normally, when I’m heading 

for the slopes, that’s perfectly acceptable. 

But on this particular Austrian morning I 

was a lump of hard, shiny plastic bobbing 

in a sober sea of overcoats. It felt as if I’d 

just fallen out of a giant box of Lego. 

Then I arrived at Zaha Hadid’s 

Hungerburgbahn railway station, and 

everything changed. It’s slap-bang in 

the middle of town, only 250m from the 

Rococo splendour of the Hofburg palace, 

the Hapsburg dynasty’s home-fromhome 

whenever they visited Innsbruck. 

But in just 30 minutes its sleek, chic 

funicular railway, followed by a couple of 

cable cars, had whisked me to an altitude 

of 2,256m. When I stepped out of the top 

station, it was into a raw white wilderness. 

On my left was a knuckle of rock, 

punching its way to the summit of the 

Hafelekarspitze at 2,334m. On my right... 

well, I couldn’t see what was on my right, 

because a tearing wind had whipped the 

snow into a thick cloud. Thank heavens 

I’d booked a guide, Sebastian, because 

the only way I was going to find the piste 

was if I followed him footstep by footstep. 

Provided, of course, the wind would let me. 

There was one gust I’ll never forget. 

It seemed to be testing me, like a finger 

waggling a loose tooth, checking if it 

was ready to be torn free. My whole body 

shuddered in its grip. My mind, too. Just 

down there, half an hour ago, I’d been 

standing outside Manna Delikatessencafe 

on the Maria-Theresien-Strasse, wondering 

if there was time for a slice of Apfelstrudel 

mit Vanillesauce before the ride up the 

mountain. Now I was hunkered down in a 

snowdrift, trying not to be blown off an Alp. 

Of course, any day of skiing mixes the 

wild and the refined, as you flit between 

the comfort of your hotel or chalet and 

sub-zero mountain slopes. But nowhere 

is the contrast sharper than in Innsbruck. 

This is a city, not a ski resort, and it isn’t 

near the Alps, it’s in the middle of them – 

crammed onto the last sizeable patch of flat 

ground before the road to Italy heaves itself 

over the Brenner Pass. Look down almost 

any street, and see a proud procession of 

exquisite Baroque, Renaissance or Gothic 

buildings – with the view finishing in a 

wall of snow and rock. It’s a place where the 

most civilised of human endeavours and 

the most rugged of nature’s wildernesses 

are constantly jostling for precedence. 

That means that, unlike a typical ski 

trip, where time spent away from the snow 

seems ‘wasted’, here it feels as if you’re 

getting a terrific city break thrown in for 

free. On the way to rent some boots and 

skis, my walk took me underneath an 18thcentury 

triumphal arch that left my jaw well 

and truly dropped – in a way that nothing 

in, say, Meŕibel ever had. The arch is a 

sober monument, given it commemorates 

a wedding, not a war: between the future 

Austrian emperor, Leopold, and Maria 

Luisa of Spain, in 1764. But served up with 

a backdrop of Alps, it’s both incongruous 

and magnificent – like Innsbruck itself. 

On another break from the slopes 

the next day, I ran my hands over the 

cool orange marble of the columns at 

the Hofkirche, a church whose modest 

exterior hides an extraordinarily exuberant 

mausoleum, designed in the early 16th 


INNSBRUCK 

‘Zaha Hadid’s Hungerburgbahn railway station is slapbang 

in the middle of town, only 250m from the Rococo 

splendour of the Hofburg palace’ 


INNSBRUCK 

‘It’s so quaintly perfect, it feels like you’ve 

wandered onto a postcard’ 

century as the final resting place of the 

Emperor Maximilian I. Then, at the 

Ferdinandeum – Innsbruck’s unmissable 

museum of history and art – I rediscovered 

the work of local hero Albin Egger- 

Lienz. The most underrated of Austrian 

artists, his anguished paintings explore 

the hard, plain lives of mountain folk, 

in an earthy palette of ochres. Hanging 

alongside work by Egon Schiele and Oskar 

Kokoschka, they are an eye-popping 

introduction to early-20th-century angst. 

There was even time for Kaffee und 

Kuchen, courtesy of Café Sacher. Here, 

in a branch of the famous Viennese 

coffee shop, they celebrate the afternoon 

ritual of coffee and cake with a slice of 

Sachertorte, a sandwich of chocolate 

sponge and apricot jam, encased in 

thick, shiny chocolate icing. The first 

time I tried it, years ago in the Austrian 

capital, it seemed much more dry and 

formal – like the army officers who used 

to eat it, I imagined. But that was before I 

learned to smother it in whipped cream. 

Admittedly, Innsbruck is no match for 

Vienna when it comes to Austrian culture. 

But that’s not the point. There are no 

mountains in Vienna. And it’s the mix of 

the two that creates one of winter’s most 

compelling short breaks. Stay in one of the 

city-centre hotels, less than 15 minutes’ 

drive from the airport, and you’ll have 

plugged yourself into the same network of 

connections the locals use. Like tentacles, 

the lifts, roads and railway lines reach up 

into every mountain, and together they 

serve up every snowy pastime imaginable. 

So, for example, you could spend a 

morning wading through the wedding-cake 

interiors of the Hofburg palace – then ride 

bus line J up to the village of Igls. As well as 

a small ski area, it’s home to Innsbruck’s 

Olympic bobsleigh track, and if you’re 

feeling reckless you can hitch a ride on one 

of its four-man sleds (olympiaworld.at). 

Acceleration is instantaneous, the top speed 

115kph. It feels like you’ve been strapped to 

a bullet and fired out of the barrel of gun. 

Or you could catch a train from the 

Hauptbahnhof to Seefeld, and a rather 

more sedate version of the Alps. I went 

the next morning, hoping to soothe my 

still-frazzled nerves – and deliver you to 

an absurdly pretty village of wooden eaves 

and spa hotels, where cross-country skiing 

trails weave through the forest. Don’t 

commit to a whole day, though. Skiing 

on the flat is exhausting. Plan instead to 

spend the afternoon mucking about on 

the outdoor curling rinks, where they 

play an easy, uncomplicated version of 

the Olympic sport, beneath a tiny-onion 

domed church. It’s so quaintly perfect, it 

feels like you’ve wandered onto a postcard. 

Meanwhile, the skiers in your group will 

be arguing about which of Innsbruck’s nine 

local ski areas to try. For most, the essential 

stop is the Stubai Glacier, which is where 

I took my hire car on the third day. It’s a 

good hour from the city centre – but on a 

sunny day it’s worth every wiggle of road, 

because there are few better pockets of easy, 

intermediate-friendly skiing in the Alps. It’s 

not just the fact that the pistes are so wide, 

steady and gentle that makes it a blast; it’s 

the quality of the snow. Up there, the lift 

system tops out at an eye-watering 3,170m, 

and the season runs from mid-September 

until June. It’s the perfect place to warm up 

your ski legs and rebuild your confidence. 

By the end of the day, I was skiing so fast 

I thought my hair would catch fire. 

But that was nothing compared with my 


INNSBRUCK 

This page: The view from the 

historic area of Candelaria 

Opposite: Contemporary art 

in Iglesia de Santa Clara 

This page, clockwise 

from top left: a 

tempting slice of 

Sachertorte; festive 

time in Innsbruck 

city centre; lording 

over Nordkette, the 

mountain at the heart 

of Innsbruck; 

Hofburg palace 


This page: 

cable cars high over 

Stubai Glacier 


INNSBRUCK 

Credit: The Sunday Times Travel Magazine / News Licensing 

experience beneath the Hafelekarspitze 

the next morning. That walk along 

the ridge I mentioned earlier was just 

the overture. Sebastian, my guide and 

guardian angel, somehow got me through 

it, and together we wobbled on for five 

minutes until the path dropped down to 

a gap between the crags – and I caught 

my first sight of the view south. 

Holy Mother of Mountain Scenery: I’d 

never seen anything like it. It wasn’t so 

much the distance that made it special. 

It was the sense of depth. Sealing the 

horizon, 30km away, was the central 

spine of the Alps – the one that forms 

the border with Italy and snakes all the 

way to Mont Blanc. Immediately beneath 

my boots, plunging down toward the 

city limits, was the steepest slope I’ve 

ever attempted – and there, in a deep 

gutter of green, spread the streets of 

Innsbruck, glinting in the sunshine. 

‘Is this the only way down?’ I asked. 

I’d heard that this area, the Nordkette, 

was steep, but after my ego-boosting 

day on the Stubai Glacier, I thought I 

needed a challenge. Now I wasn’t so 

sure. What if I fell? By the look of it, I 

wouldn’t stop rolling until I was back 

in the Maria-Theresien-Strasse, lying 

outside Manna Delikatessencafe. 

‘There is another route,’ said 

Sebastian. ‘But it’s steeper.’ 

Then I realised something. I wasn’t 

scared anymore. Those powerful gusts 

of wind had been shocking at first, but a 

couple of days of art galleries and Gothic 

architecture had sharpened my appetite 

for adrenaline. And knowing what 

(largely edible) delights were awaiting 

me back down in town, I steeled myself. 

‘Ready?’ asked Sebastian, after I’d clicked 

into my skis. I nodded, and we were off. 

An hour later, I was back on the streets 

of Innsbruck once again a lone skier in 

a sea of busy city folk. But this time, I 

didn’t feel ridiculous, I felt victorious. 

There was snow on my boots and a smile 

as wide as the Nordkette plastered across 

my face. I could have hugged every one 

of them. Instead, I went to Manna’s 

and ordered some apple strudel. 




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Weekends 

Staycations and short-haul escapes 

NATURAL ATTRACTION 

Lush forest, sandy beaches and natural mangroves – it’s 

Ajman but not as you know it. Indeed, this tiny emirate is a 

draw card for nature fans, with the coastal destination of Al 

Zorah home to a rich ecosystem. Its protected wetlands are 

dominated by mangroves – ideal for kayaking – that support 

an impressive variety of species of birds and fish, including 

the native pink flamingo. The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah 

(pictured) is a luxurious base from which to explore. Simply 

ask the concierge about the ways to take a closer look at the 

area’s verdant bounty. 


MINI BREAK 

Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort 

YOUR GUIDE TO: ABU DHABI 

As the UAE celebrates its 47th National Day, we shine a light on the capital’s enduring appeal 

Anchored by its island city, Abu Dhabi is 

a curious blend of contrasts that draws 

visitors from around the globe. From 

its historic heartland out to the golden dunes 

of the Empty Quarter, culture and heritage 

reign supreme, with iconic landmarks such as 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu 

Dhabi on the must-see list for many. However, 

it’s also a place for adventure seekers to get 

their thrills and spills, with exciting theme 

parks and plenty of outdoor adventures to 

enjoy. Even if you've visited many times before, 

there's a wave of newness to entice you back, 

from the newly-renovated Qasr Al Hosn to the 

billion dollar Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. 

Let our top picks inspire you to rediscover all 

the best bits… 

Jumeirah at Saadiyat 

Island Resort 

CONTRIBUTOR CLAIRE MALCOLM 


ABU DHABI 

GET OUTDOORS 

Yas Links 

Golfing greats 

The emirate is home to some great greens (and 

browns). For some of the best scenery, however, we 

suggest you play a round at Yas Links, the city’s only 

links course that benefits from a stunning coastal 

setting. Just don't let the gorgeous views distract you 

from your game. yaslinks.com 

Desert ranger 

A desert safari is a must, and Arabian Adventures 

is the pick of a number of locally-based companies 

to offer this and other fun desert experiences. It's 

the rare visitor who turns down an opportunity to 

embark on their Desert Rose Dinner Safari, which 

will take you on a thrilling four-wheel drive across 

the dunes to a traditional Bedouin style camp where 

a delicious dinner awaits. Plus, you'll have the chance 

to ride a camel and test your sandboarding skills. 

arabian-adventures.com 

# 

travelgoals 

Culture, in 

musical form, 

is the modus 

operandi of the 

hugely popular 

annual Abu Dhabi 

Classics concert 

series that runs 

from September 

to April. Featuring 

world-class artists 

and orchestras, 

concerts take 

place in the 

opulent setting 

of the Emirates 

Palace auditorium, 

on Saadiyat 

Island, and at Bin 

Hamoodah Fort in 

Al Ain 

CULTURE CLUB 

A mosque stop 

When a whistle-stop visit is the reality, Sheikh Zayed 

Grand Mosque is a must-see. A place of worship for 

up to 40,000, the exquisite structure features 82 

domes and 1,000 pure white columns adorned with 

floral designs inlaid with semi-precious stones. A 

guided tour is imperative for insightful snippets 

about its architecture and design features, including 

the world’s largest handmade carpet. szgmc.gov.ae 

History lesson 

Swap large-scale sights for an altogether quainter 

experience at the open-air Abu Dhabi Heritage 

Village. Built to resemble a desert oasis community, 

take a gentle wander around the traditional barasti 

(dried palm frond) huts housing various exhibits, 

see local artisans in action and get a potted history 

of the emirate. 

Storytime at the fort 

The former home of the emirate’s ruling family, and 

originally a coral stone watchtower marking the 

city’s first settlement, Al Hosn recently underwent a 

multi-million-dollar renovation to transform it into 

a cultural destination comprising the historic Qasr 

Al Hosn Fort, the Cultural Foundation, the National 

Consultative Council building, and the House of 

Artisans. The museum traces the city’s development 

from a fishing and pearling settlement to the 

modern metropolis it is today. alhosn.ae 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 

Animal magic 

On, below and above the smooth surface of the desert 

sands lies a teeming mass of wildlife. The impressive 

Al Ain Zoo, which celebrated its 50 th anniversary in 

2018, is all about education and conservation. Visit its 

sprawling facility and you’ll easily spend a good few 

hours observing more than 4,000 animals. Its highly 

regarded breeding programme includes a growing 

Arabian sand cat community and the endangered 

dama gazelle. alainzoo.ae 


MINI BREAK 

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi 

SAY YAS TO FUN 

Park life 

Entertainment hub Yas Island is the place to go for 

some fast fun, with a cluster of theme parks and 

hi-octane attractions for thrill seekers of all ages. 

New on the scene is Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, 

which boasts six immersive lands including 

DC’s Metropolis and Gotham City, as well as 

Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch 

and Warner Bros. Plaza. There's a 29-strong 

roster of rides, plus interactive familyfriendly 

attractions and live entertainment 

populated by fan-favourite characters such 

as Scooby-Doo, Wonder Woman and Tom 

and Jerry. wbworldabudhabi.com 

Pedal to the metal 

This entertainment nirvana is also home to the 

5.55-kilometre Hermann Tilke-designed Yas Marina 

Circuit, which hosts the annual Formula 1 Etihad 

Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November. But don’t 

fret that you’ve just missed the main event, as the 

circuit hosts a full programme of year-round on-track 

activities, headlined by in-demand driving experiences 

behind the wheel of an Aston Martin GT4 or singleseater 

Formula 3000. yasmarinacircuit.com 

# 

travelgoals 

For boho chic 

vibes and Far 

Eastern cuisine, 

head to the newlyopened 

Buddha- 

Bar Beach at The 

St. Regis Saadiyat 

Island Resort, Abu 

Dhabi. Direct from 

Paris, this day-tonight 

destination 

is the ‘in’ place to 

unwind and when 

it comes to the 

food, the ceviche 

is a clear winner 

Pack your bucket and 

spade and head to the 

city’s newest beachfront 

community A’l Bahar, 

situated along the corniche, 

which is packed with shops, 

entertainment, and reasons 

to get active – the inflatable 

AquaFun waterpark is our 

top pick for families 

Louvre Abu Dhabi 

ART ICONS 

Inside the Louvre 

Named in Time magazine’s list of the greatest places 

of 2018, Louvre Abu Dhabi is a cultural showstopper. 

Having recently celebrated its one-year anniversary 

this art icon, located within the Saadiyat Island 

Cultural District, recently unveiled 11 new acquisitions 

in its permanent galleries and is hosting an exhibition 

of archaeological masterpieces and important 

Islamic art from Saudi Arabia and the UAE until 16 

February 2019. Its exceptional collection of artworks, 

artefacts and on-loan pieces is all wrapped up inside 

an architectural work of art – Jean Nouvel’s futuristic 

floating silver dome. louvreabudhabi.ae 

Creative flair 

Manarat Al Saadiyat, a multi-gallery and performance 

space that hosts the annual Abu Dhabi Art show, is 

another gem the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. 

Check out the new Photography Studio, which hosts 

community-driven photography exhibitions alongside 

a year-round calendar of activities and programmes. 

There’s also a Drop In Studio for people of all ages to 

create their own artworks, with sessions lasting 

for up to two hours. manaratalsaadiyat.ae 

Solo artist 

A growing cadre of independent galleries 

are also expanding the scene, including 

new kid on the block Warehouse 421, tucked 

away in the port area, which is an advocate 

for emerging talent within the local creative 

community. It hosts a cool line-up of exhibitions, 

including Hundred Best Arabic Posters 100/100, which 

is running until 20 January 2019. warehouse421.ae 

Life is a roller coaster 

Speed demons of all ages are also bound to have 

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on their bucket list. Home to 

the world’s fastest rollercoaster – the Formula Rossa, 

which hits 240km/h in under five seconds – as well 

as the 1.5-kilometre-long Flying Aces rollercoaster, 

featuring the world’s largest inverted loop and steepest 

incline. But it also has a host of (ahem) gentler rides to 

try. ferrariworldabudhabi.com 


ABU DHABI 

SET TO SHOP 

Gallery goals 

Abu Dhabi’s plush malls are a shopper’s delight. If 

designer labels are your kryptonite then The Galleria, 

Al Maryah Island, is sure to rob you of your selfcontrol. 

We say give in and go try on some of the 

wearable riches from the many luxury fashion, watch 

and jewellery brands housed here, including Van Cleef 

& Arpels, Richard Mille and Mulberry. thegalleria.ae 

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi 

Fashionable finds 

The concept boutique scene is also hotting up with a 

small but tempting collection of independent retailers 

selling quirky, cool and collectible items. Fashionled 

Minbart in the Al Raha Beach community stocks 

pieces from up-and-coming local, regional and 

international designers, while Bits & Pieces in the Al 

Mushrif district is a repository of unique colourful 

homeware, décor and kitchen trappings. 

To the souk 

The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri is a contemporary take on 

the Arabian bazaar, with a touch of European influence 

thrown in for good measure. The waterside setting 

includes abras to ferry you along the man-made canal, 

a plethora of water-facing dining options, plus shops 

and pop-up stalls selling everything from jewellery 

and accessories to perfumes. Follow your nose to 

Amouage to stock up on oud-based fragrances, pick up 

a cashmere pashmina or three at Toshkhana, or treat 

yourself to some handcrafted jewellery at Exquisite 

Antiques Gallery. soukqaryatalberi.com 

The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri 

# 

travelgoals 

If you’re keen 

to try authentic 

Emirati cuisine, we 

rate Al Fanar at 

The Ritz-Carlton 

Abu Dhabi Grand 

Canal’s Venetian 

Village. Bring your 

appetite and feast 

on dishes including 

fish biryani and 

a hearty chicken 

thereed (where a 

flavourful stew is 

ladelled on top of 

thin Arabic bread) 

WHERE TO STAY 

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi 

Located at the heart of the city, along the corniche, The 

St. Regis Abu Dhabi is famous for its Superior Sea View 

rooms. Take a load off at Nation Riviera Beach Club, 

which boasts its own private stretch of sand, and be 

sure to squeeze in some pampering at Remède Spa. 

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers 

Overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the city’s 

cosmopolitan corniche, the 69-storey Jumeirah at 

Etihad Towers has views to write home about. The 

suites here rank among the finest in the city: even 

their bathrooms afford widescreen views of Abu Dhabi. 

There are multiple dining outlets to enjoy, a pristine 

private beach and the award-winning Talise Spa. 

Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort 

Just a short stroll away from the sweeping protected 

beachfront, this contemporary resort is brimming 

with natural attractions, with mangroves, dolphins 

and turtles on the doorstep. Catch a sunrise yoga 

session, take a dip in one of three infinity swimming 

pools and observe Hawksbill turtles on the sand during 

the nesting season. Plus, it’s a stone’s throw from the 

emirate’s leading cultural attractions. 


WORLD TRAVELLER X DCT ABU DHABI 

Roads of Arabia © Department of Culture 

& Tourism – Abu Dhabi 

Cross the 

cultural 

bridge 

Don’t miss this critically acclaimed 

exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi, 

which delves into the rich history 

of the Arabian Peninsula 

Art and culture fans have yet another 

reason to visit the UAE capital over 

the coming months, thanks to Louvre 

Abu Dhabi’s Roads of Arabia: Archaeological 

Treasures of Saudi Arabia exhibition, which 

explores the fascinating story of the Arabian 

Peninsula through archaeological and cultural 

artefacts from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

and the UAE. 

One of the most renowned Saudi exhibitions 

internationally, it was originally conceived 

through a cooperation between the Saudi 

Commission for Tourism and National 

Heritage and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, 

where it was first presented in 2010. Now 

back in the region following a 14-stop tour of 

Europe, the US and Asia and, the exhibition has 

been enriched by a selection of rare pieces from 

the emirates. 

It explores five chapters in the history of 

the Arabian Peninsula, from early prehistoric 

settlements to the social and economic 

developments between the 14th and 16th 

centuries that set the stage for the modernday 

region. Visitors can view important 

archaeological pieces from the UAE, including 

a pearl found in Umm Al Quwain dating from 

5500-5300 BCE (loaned by Umm Al Quwain 

Museum), which are displayed alongside 

significant artefacts from KSA, including a 

door of the Kaaba dating to 1355 (loaned by the 

National Museum in Riyadh), among many 

others. Bolster your knowledge through a 

series of film screenings curated by Emirati 

artist Hind Mezaina (taking place each 

Saturday from 5 to 26 January), as well as 

talks and poetry performances designed to 

provide a richer insight. 

The exhibition is taking place until 

16 February 2019. Entry is free upon 

purchasing a ticket to the museum. 

To find out more, call +971 600 56 55 66 

or visit louvreabudhabi.ae 


1 2 

TRAVEL NOTES 

My Great Escapes 

6 

Travel writer and photographer 

Michelle Karam, founder of Travel 

Junkie Diary, shares her best adventures 

traveljunkiediary.com, 

@traveljunkiediary 

3 

5 

1. Maldives moments. One of the most beautiful Maldivian 

island resorts I’ve visited is Joali on Muravandhoo Island in 

the Raa Atoll, 45 minutes by seaplane from Male. It embraces 

creativity, with a fantastic collection of art and sculptural 

pieces to discover. 2. Ocean views in Madeira. I spent a 

week in Madeira with my family exploring the mountains, the 

ocean, the cuisine and the wonderful history that the region 

has to offer. This picture was taken at Belmond Reid's Palace, 

which is perched atop a cliff and has a view to take your breath 

away. 3. Finding the magic in Finland. You can fall in love 

with a place because of how it makes you feel, and Finland is 

where I found nature in the most magical way: sleeping in an 

aurora cabin under the stars and waking up to the sound of 

snow falling onto the rooftop. 4. Desert dreams. The UAE 

desert comes alive at sunrise and is one of the most beautiful 

places to photograph. I strongly advise you wake up early 

to experience the majesty of the dunes. 5. Family time in 

Lisbon. Lisbon is one of my favourite European cities. I spent 

two weeks there with my family, staying at Avani Avenida 

Liberdade. My daughter and I were going to spend the day 

beside the pool but it started raining without warning. As we 

began to laugh, my husband took this picture. 6. Home to 

Lebanon. A misunderstood country filled with nature, lakes, 

beaches, history, mountains and great food, Lebanon will 

always be my home. Seeing the Faqra Roman ruins is a must, 

as learning about the area’s rich history and culture is all part 

of the journey. 

4 


WORLD TRAVELLER X AL MAHA, A LUXURY COLLECTION DESERT RESORT & SPA, DUBAI 

STAYCATION 

Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai 

Adopt the Bedouin way of life at this luxury resort in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve 

THE SUITES 

You can get a real feel for the local culture 

inside these suites, which pay homage to 

the desert surroundings and are styled 

with Arabian artefacts and antiques. 

Each one features an infinity style 

private pool that overlooks the golden 

dunes. Grab the binoculars from your 

room, head out onto the deck and wait 

for wildlife, such as gazelle and Arabian 

oryx, to wander into view. 

DINING & SPA 

Al Diwaan invites you dine alfresco on 

the veranda for a breathtaking view 

of the reserve. Sample indigenous 

delicacies before heading upstairs to 

Hajar Terrace Bar for drinks. Indulgence 

of the pampering kind calls at Timeless 

Spa, which specialises in Middle Eastern 

and South East Asian aromatherapy 

traditions. Still the mind with a session 

in the therapy bath. 

THE ACTIVITIES 

Archery, nature walks, desert drives, 

wildlife safaris, falconry, horse riding 

and camel trekking are just some of the 

thrilling ways to explore. Set off with a 

field guide who can offer an insight into 

the conservation projects in place as 

you search for telltale footprints. Sand 

gazelle, the Arabian red fox and Arabian 

oryx are among the four-legged friends 

who roam the area. 

To find out more, call +971 4 832 9900 or visit marriott.com 


EXCEPTIONAL, INDIGENOUS, EXPERIENCE. 

Experience the alluring, golden desert landscape, the captivating silence of nature, the free-roaming 

wildlife in the reserve, all enjoyed from your private suite and pool. Indulge in a luxurious desert adventure 

with camel treks, horseback riding, falconry, archery, dune drives and more. 

HOTELS THAT DEFINE THE DESTINATION 

FOR RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CALL 971 4 832 9900 

OR VISIT THELUXURYCOLLECTION.COM/ALMAHA

WORLD TRAVELLER X BAB AL SHAMS DESERT RESORT & SPA 

STAYCATION 

Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa 

Fabled charm meets top-tier luxury at this desert dream getaway 

THE ROOMS 

Encapsulating the heart and soul of 

Arabia, swing open the doors of your 

room or suite to reveal an enchanting 

desert backdrop. Go wild by booking the 

Terrace Room, which offers a panoramic 

view of the expansive Palm Grove and 

towards the golden dunes where wildlife 

such as gazelle, geckos, cornucopias and 

the endangered Arabian oryx wander free 

in their natural habitat. 

THE FOOD 

Foodies can embrace the holiday spirit 

thanks to the 10-day festive fiesta (from 

20-30 December) at four of the main 

restaurants. Highlights include the 

festive brunch at Al Forsan, with its huge 

buffet and fun kids' area; the festive tree 

lighting on 7 Dec, complete with carols 

and traditional bites; and the spectacular 

New Year's Gala Dinner at Al Hadheerah, 

complete with firework display. 


The weather is perfect at this time of 

year – ideal for ticking all those active 

pursuits off your wish list. Improve your 

stroke in the infinity pool, embark on a 

thrilling dune drive, or explore the local 

landscape on a fat bike. Horse and camel 

riding is also available – go at sunset for 

the best views. At the end of an actionpacked 

day, wind down in an outdoor 

cabana with a pampering spa treatment. 

To find out more, call +971 4 809 6100 or visit babalshams.com 


YOUR ULTIMATE DESERT ESCAPE. 

Nestled among the dunes, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa is the world’s favourite 

choice for dream desert getaways. 

This oasis of tranquility combines rustic charm with top-tier hospitality and luxury 

to bring to life an authentic desert experience. 

Book directly with the hotel or through the hotel website 

and save on existing offers and special discounts 

BAB AL SHAMS DESERT RESORT & SPA 

Dubai,United Arab Emirates 

T:+971 4 809 6194, bas.reservations@meydanhotels.com 

babalshams.com 

/babalshamshotel /babalshamshotel /babalshamshotel

WORLD TRAVELLER X LE MÉRIDIEN AL AQAH BEACH RESORT 

STAYCATION 

Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort 

Ramp up the fun factor on an all all-inclusive break at this family-friendly resort in Fujairah 

THE ROOMS 

Nestled between the ocean and the 

mountains, this popular beach resort 

is a draw card for fun seekers. Wake 

up to the sounds of waves lapping the 

shore and the marvellous sight of the Al 

Hajar mountain range, the highest in 

the Arabian Peninsula. The Penthouse 

Bedroom Suite has more than enough 

space for larger broods, accommodating 

up to nine people in style. 

THE FOOD 

Home to eight dining venues, your 

taste buds are in for an adventure, too. 

You can sink your teeth into delicious 

grills at the newly-refurbished Gonu as 

the fresh ocean breeze washes over you. 

Alternatively, head to Views Restaurant 

for a delicious east-meets-west fusion 

buffet and live music or, for a taste of the 

exotic, simply reserve your table at the 

elegant Indian restaurant Swaad. 


For some adrenaline-pumping fun, get 

warmed up for the resort’s own obstacle 

course, the Al Aqah Challenge. Featuring 

the first-of-its-kind rope course tower 

on the East Coast, you can take part in 

five activities under the watchful eye of 

the expert instructors. From zooming 

through the air on the zip lines to scaling 

the climbing wall, it’s sure to bring out 

your competitive side. 

To find out more, call +971 9 244 9000 or visit marriott.com 


WORLD TRAVELLER X JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS DUBAI 

STAYCATION 

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai 

Celebrate the festive season at the world's tallest five-star hotel 

THE ROOMS 

Having transformed itself into a festive 

wonderland, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is 

a fitting place to spend the holidays, with 

ample space to welcome guests. Its 1,608 

guestrooms and suites have luxurious 

finishings – think marble bathrooms with 

oversized tubs – with views of the glittering 

skyline or Dubai Water Canal. Families can 

book a suite and spread out in two separate 

living and sleeping areas. 

THE FOOD 

There are 15 award-winning restaurants 

and bars at the property, each serving 

up a festive treat. Marvel at life-sized 

gingerbread house at the entrance of La 

Farine Café & Bakery, before having a cosy 

afternoon tea. Join the Festive Wanderlust 

brunch on 25 Dec, which promises a merry 

time with 11 live stations, or ring in 2019 

with a six-course menu at Prime68, as 

fireworks illuminate the night's sky. 


The hotel is close to many of Dubai's top 

attractions, but there are lots of perks 

that'll tempt you to linger at the property. 

Take a dip in the sparkling outdoor 

swimming pool or, for a spot of pampering, 

head to the opulent Saray Spa, which has 17 

treatment rooms and the UAE's only Dead 

Sea floatation pool. Try The Saray Golden 

Hammam, which includes a decadent skin 

massage using 24-karat gold. 

To find out more, call +971 4 414 3000 or visit jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com 


Festive Celebrations 

at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. 

Elevate your festivities to new heights at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, 

your ultimate dining destination. Make this festive season extra special 

for you and your loved ones with impeccable dishes, fun entertainment 

and memorable experiences. 

FESTIVE MARKET AND EXCITING MENUS 

MERRY FAMILY CELEBRATIONS 

AFTERNOON TEA IN A LIFE-SIZE GINGERBREAD HOUSE 

AWARD-WINNING TURKEY TAKEAWAY 

EPIC NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES 

Indulge in award-winning cuisine this Festive Season, one dish at a time. 

For more information, call +971 4 414 3000 

or visit jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com 

JW Marriott® Marquis® Hotel Dubai 

Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE | T + 971 4 414 3000 | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com 

jwmarriottmarquisdubai | jwdubaimarquis | jwmarriottmarquisdubai | #jwmmfestive

NEW YEAR, 

NEW DEALS! 

Welcoming in a new year is the perfect 

time for a new experience. Book a 

trip to one of our top destinations 

like New York City, Edinburgh, 

Hong Kong or Sydney. 

Book at dnatatravel.com 

call 800 DNATA (36282) or 

speak to us in-store 

Download our app 

| Follow us on

INSPIRED BY 

Reader offers 

Great deals to get you packing 

THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING 

Whether you're hoping to see some 

winter snow, or want to spend the 

festive break on a tropical island like 

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort 

(page 75), we've got a deal for you… 


THE 

FANTASTIC 

FOUR 

1 

2 

4 

3 

1 

GEORGIA 

WINTER SKI GETAWAY 

4 nights starting from 

USD480 per person 

Includes: A 2-night stay in Tbilisi 

and 2 nights in Gudauri ski resort; 

4-star accommodation with daily 

breakfast; return airport transfers 

including a transfer from Tbilisi 

to Gudauri ski resort; city tours of 

Tbilisi and Mtksheta (the old capital 

of Georgia); and a day tour to the 

Ananuri-Kazbegi mountains. 

Valid from: Now until 

31 March 2019. 

2 

FRANCE 

CLUB MED ALL-INCLUSIVE 

SKI HOLIDAY 


USD1,085 per person 

Includes: 4 nights at the 

4-star Club Med Grand Massif 

Samoens Morillon in a club 

room; daily breakfast, lunch, 

dinner and drinks; ski passes 

and ski lessons; entertainment; 

complimentary access to kids' 

club for ages 4-17. 


31 March 2019. 

3 

ICELAND 

WINTER ADVENTURES 



Includes: Small group tour 

in comfortable tourist class 

accommodation with daily 

breakfast; 2 lunches and 2 

dinners; exploration of Iceland's 

glaciers and waterfalls; excursion 

in search of the dazzling displays 

of the Northern Lights; natural 

hot springs bathing; Golden 

Circle sightseeing; Lava caving; 

exploration of Reykjavik; and 

transportation throughout. 


31 March 2019. 

4 

FINLAND 

ULTIMATE ARTIC ADVENTURE 



Includes: 6 nights in first class hotels; 

1 night in Glass Igloo; daily breakfast 

and 4 lunches; daily activities 

including King Crab Safari; Reindeer 

Farm with sledge drive; Snowshoes 

safari; visit to Artic Snow Hotel and 

dinner; Husky Farm visit with sledge 

drive; Rovaniemi and Santa Claus 

Village; Sampo Icebreaker cruise and 

ice swimming; Kemi Snow Castle 

visit; return airport transfers and 

transportation throughout. 

Valid from: 6 January to 

24 March 2019. 


DNATA TRAVEL OFFERS 

THAILAND 

ANANTARA PHUKET LAYAN 

RESORT & SPA 



Includes: Stay 3 nights in a Sala 

Pool Villa with breakfast daily 

and return airport transfers. 

Offer: 20% discount on room rate. 


31 January 2019. 

AROUND 

THE 

WORLD 

Universal Studios Singapore 

UNITED KINGDOM 

MAYKENBEL LUXURY 

SERVICED APARTMENTS, 

LONDON 



Includes: Stay 3 nights in a 

Studio Apartment at 130 Queen's 

Gate and return airport transfers. 


31 March 2019. 

Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa 

GERMANY 

FAIRMONT HOTEL VIER 

JAHRESZEITEN, HAMBURG 



Includes: Stay 3 nights in a Deluxe 

Room Courtyard with breakfast 

daily and return airport transfers. 



31 March 2019. 

Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris 

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort 

Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg 

FRANCE 

LE ROYAL MONCEAU, 

RAFFLES PARIS 




Studio Room with breakfast daily 




31 December 2018. 

CZECH REPUBLIC 

INTERCONTINENTAL 

PRAGUE HOTEL 




Classic Room with breakfast daily 


Offer: 15% discount on room 

rate and complimentary 

upgrade to Deluxe Room. 

Valid from: Now until 31 March 2019. 

MALDIVES 

OUTRIGGER KONOTTA 

MALDIVES RESORT 




Beach Villa with private pool, 

breakfast and dinner daily and 

return seaplane transfers. 

Offer: 35% discount on room 

rate, complimentary upgrade to 

half board and 20% discount on 

seaplane transfers. 


28 April 2019. 

SINGAPORE 

FAMILY FUN AT UNIVERSAL 

STUDIOS TM , SENTOSA 



Includes: A 3-night stay at 

Orchard Hotel Singapore with 

breakfast daily; 1-day pass to 

Universal Studios Sentosa, 

including unlimited access to 

cutting-edge rides including 

Transformers The Ride, roller 

coasters and many more; and 

return transfers to Sentosa. 

Offer: 20% discount on the 

room rate. 


28 April 2019. 

TURKEY 

RITZ-CARLTON ISTANBUL 



Includes: Stay 3 nights in a Deluxe 

City View Room with breakfast 

daily and return airport transfers. 



31 January 2019. 


DNATA TRAVEL OFFERS 

WEEKEND 

ESCAPES 

Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City 

Jumeirah At Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi 

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai 

UAE 

JUMEIRAH AT SAADIYAT ISLAND 

ABU DHABI 

1 night starting from USD341 

per person 

Special offer: Special rate. 

Includes: Stay in an Ocean Deluxe Room 

with breakfast and dinner and return 

airport transfers. 

Valid from: Now until 24 December 2018. 

ANANTARA EASTERN MANGROVES 

HOTEL & SPA 

1 night starting from USD194 per person 

Special offer: 15% discount on room rate. 

Includes: Stay in a Deluxe Balcony Room 

with breakfast and dinner and return 


Valid from: Now until 31 October 2019. 

(Book 7 days prior to arrival.) 

RADISSON BLU YAS ISLAND 

ABU DHABI 

2 nights starting from USD127 

per person 

Special offer: Special rate. 

Includes: Stay in a Standard Room 

with breakfast. 

Valid from: Now until 24 Decemeber 2018. 

GRAND HYATT ABU DHABI HOTEL 

& RESIDENCES EMIRATES PEARL 


per person 

Special offer: 20% discount on room rate 

and upgrade to next room category. 

Includes: Stay in a Standard Room with 

breakfast and return airport transfers. 

Valid from: Now until 30 September 2019. 

(Book by 31 December 2018). 

NIKKI BEACH RESORT & SPA DUBAI 


per person 


Includes: Stay in a Covet Room with 


Valid from: Now until 24 December 2018. 

HILTON DUBAI AL HABTOOR CITY 


per person 


Includes: Stay in a Guest Room with 


Valid from: Now until 30 April 2019. 

(Book by 25 December 2018). 

OMAN 

THE CHEDI MUSCAT 

4 nights starting from USD1,122 

per person 

Special offer: 15% discount, a 

complimentary upgrade to next room 

category, 10% discount at the spa and a 

10% discount on food and beverage. 

Includes: Stay in a Serai Room with daily 


Valid from: Now until 31 January 2019. 

BAHRAIN 

SOFITEL BAHRAIN ZALLAQ 

THALASSA SEA AND SPA 

3 nights starting from USD321 

per person 

Special offer: Stay 2 nights and receive 

an additional night free. 

Includes: Stay in a Superior Room 

with breakfast and daily and return 


Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences 

Emirates Pearl 

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq 

Thalassa Sea And Spa 

How to book 

By calling dnata on 

+971 4 316 6666 

By stepping into a dnata outlet 

or by visiting dnatatravel.com 

On the website you can also sign up to the dnata newsletter and 

receive more offers direct to your inbox. T&Cs apply. 


THE PERFECT 

SKI HOLIDAY 

All-Inclusive by Club Med 

7 NIGHTS, 

ALL-INCLUSIVE 

+ FLIGHTS FROM 

AED8,899pp* 

All-Inclusive package includes: 

Premium Rooms Gourmet Cuisine Beverages Expert Childcare Over 60 sports Ski Lift Pass Ski Lessons 

...and so much more! 

Experience originality at Club Med Saint Moritz Roi Soleil nestled at the foot 

of the Swiss Alps – the birthplace of Alpine Skiing, an ideal choice for 

an All-Inclusive, hassle free skiing holiday. 

Find out more at www.dnatatravel.com 

To book call 800 DNATA (36282) or 

speak to us in-store 

Download our app 

| Follow us on 

*Terms & conditions applied. Price is per person based on two people staying seven nights at the 4* Club Med 

Saint Moritz Soleil Hotel on a all-inclusive basis, with return economy flights. Traveling between 01/12/2018 

to 31/03/2019. Subject to availability.

DIGITAL 

Reethi Faru Resort 

Win a Maldives holiday! 

In need of a tropical island escape? 

We’re giving away a three-night 

stay at Reethi Faru Resort. Just 

a 45-minute seaplane ride away 

from Male International Airport, 

the lucky recipient will stay in 

a Jacuzzi Beach Villa on a halfboard 

basis, with a complimentary 

massage for two people and a 

diving activity thrown in. To enter, 

visit worldtravellermagazine.com 

Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara 

Happy 

GET CLICK 

Twiddling your thumbs 

between issues? Simply visit 

worldtravellermagazine.com 

for even more travel inspo, and 

carry on the conversation 

on our social channels 

Follow us on Instagram 

@dnataworldtraveller 

to double tap our dreamy 

destination shots and tag us 

in your images for a chance to 

feature on our wall. 

MINI BREAK 

Our handy guides to easy-toreach 

destinations perfect for 

a long weekend away 

Used up all your annual 

leave? There’s still time to 

squeeze in one last trip of the 

year. For inspiration, head 

straight to our weekends 

section for ideas on where to 

spend a your free days, as well 

as top hotels on home turf. 

Palazzo Versace 

Dubai 

Find us on Facebook 

@worldtravellermagazine 

and stay up to date with travel 

stories as we post them. 

Tweet with us 

@WT_Magazine 

– make the most of your 

280-character allowance 

by sharing your best travel 

moments with us. 

TRAVEL 

INSPIRATION AT 

YOUR FINGERTIPS 

An aerial view of Emirates 

Palace, by Seawings 

STAYCATIONS 

Hot hotels on your doorstep 

that’ll put you in a holiday 

state of mind 

Available on your desktop, 

tablet and smartphone 


Suite dreams 

Our monthly finish with a flourish, delving into a 

suite that has a character and style all of its own 

Signature Suite 

Hotel Montalembert, Paris 

Though renowned for its extravagant palace hotels, it's the boutique 

properties of Paris where guests really get to savour the vibe of the city. 

Styled to feel as though you're staying in your own apartment, albeit 

one housed at the top of a beautiful Haussmann-style building which 

dates to 1926, the Signature Suite at the wonderfully welcoming Hotel 

Montalembert is dressed in the finery you'd expect of Paris: heavy oak 

flooring, marble in the bathroom, silk curtains and Hermès’ detail. 

The walls are also adorned with paintings by French artist Jean-Pierre 

Bourquin, yet it's the framed real-life shot of Eiffel Tower that you 

won't be able to take your eyes off. Hotel Montalembert is a member of the 

Preferred Hotels & Resorts L.V.X. Collection. 


Abu Dhabi boasts a treasure trove of culture, just waiting to be discovered. 

From its rich historic traditions to its vibrant, dynamic arts scene. 

From a wealth of spectacular sites which offer a window into the past, to 

a calendar of world-class events with contemporary vigour, tradition and 

heritage. 

Now, all of Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage is in one place for you. 

Abu Dhabi Culture is an easy-to-use platform offering the full breadth and 

depth of Abu Dhabi’s cultural information, right at your fingertips. 

Explore every historic topic, keep up-to-date with every calendar event, 

browse our latest photography and videography libraries, or go exploring 

via the walk-throughs and interactive maps.

World Traveller December 2018

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