If you are looking for an authentic desert escape, perfect for adventure or romantic Arabian nights, look no further then the Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Resort and Spa, one of the best luxury hotels in Dubai.

Rising up from the desert sand dunes like a mirage, this fabulous resort offers 113 exquisitely appointed rooms in a rustic Arabic style complete with all of the modern comforts one would expect from a luxury getaway.

Their desert restaurant Al Hadeerah, the mood of old Arabia is captured perfectly through the lively entertainment of belly dancers, henna artists, live bands and falcon displays. Along with mouth-watering Arabic cuisine from live cooking stations, wood fired ovens and pit roasts this is a dining experience like no other.

Activities at the resort are endless, from camel riding, Madinat Souk shopping, desert exploration and beautiful Arabian sunsets; Jumeirah Bab Al Shams is a getaway one will never forget.

The hardest part of traveling is usually picking just one destination that you want to go to. Why not make it easy on yourself and pick them all?

No epic journey is ever complete without a great cocktail to kick start it all. The around the world cocktail will inspire you to seek and discover all that the world has to offer and with Kiwi Collection, we bring you nothing but the best from every corner of the world.

How to Make your Around the World Cocktail:

-    ¼ oz Cognac
-    ¼ oz Crème de Noyaux
-    ¾ oz Dark Rum
-    1 ¼ oz Orange Juice
-    1 oz Sweet and Sour Mix
-    Crushed Ice

In a blender add all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour into a wine goblet and serve!

Some of the best places in the world to get your fabulous Around the World cocktail:

Regent Beijing:
Located just minutes away from the famous Forbidden City, Wangfujing Shopping and Tiananmen Square is the Regent Beijing, one of China’s best luxury hotels. Featuring five restaurants and lounges, a fabulous spa sanctuary, a huge adult pool and an exclusive selection of luxury boutique shops, this hotel is sure to satisfy any discerning traveler.

Tivoli Victoria:
Golf lovers rejoice! The Tivoli Victoria in beautiful Vilamoura, Portugal is home to one of Europe’s best golf courses designed by the ledged Arnold Palmer. This luxury five star resort is perfect for business or leisure with state of the art conference rooms, an exclusive nearby beach club, delicious gourmet cuisine by Chef Pedro Pereira and a touch of Far East at their Spa by Banyan Tree.

Jumeirah Essex House:
Since 1931 the Jumeirah Essex House has been the gem of New York. Situated on Central Park South and minutes away for shopping and Broadway this is the perfect spot to get a fabulous New York experience.

Sivory Punta Cana:
Craving a luxury Caribbean getaway like no other? Look no further than the Sivory Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Creating a harmony with its natural surroundings, this luxury resort takes relaxation to a whole new level and makes sure that your every need will be met. Here you can rediscover the pleasure of food and dine on world class delicacies along with a great glass of wine from there cellar featuring more than 8000 bottles.

Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver:
Set in the heart of the city surrounded by a neighborhood of luxury shops, amazing mountain views and the world famous Stanley Park is the tallest building in the city the Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver in Canada. Offering spacious rooms, amazing cuisine from internationally acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and an indulgent holistic spa sets the scene for a truly unforgettable west coast experience.

Madinat Jumeirah:
Madinat Jumeirah is the famous Arabian Resort of Dubai paying tribute to its heritage and is styled to resemble an ancient Arabian citadel. Comprising of three separate properties with spas, restaurants, shopping and activities, your experience here will truly be like no other and will feel like a whole new world unto itself.

Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago:
Located alongside the Chicago River is the city’s most enviable address, the Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago.  Sophisticatedly decorated with custom designed furnishings, floor to ceiling windows, fully equipped kitchens, and attentive service at your disposal makes this the ideal hotel choice for any traveler.

Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort Phuket:
Get ready to indulge in a private tropical escape in Thailand at the beautiful Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort Phuket. With ocean facing suits and floor to ceiling windows for breathtaking views, private pools and beach-side dining options, this one luxury getaway  that you will never forget.

The Standard, New York:
The Standard, New York is located in Manhattan’s thriving Meat Packing district of New York and is known as one of the city’s most fashionable neighborhoods full of exclusive clubs, hip restaurants and lovely boutiques. Showcasing unparalleled views of Lower Manhattan and the Hudson River this hotel is the place to see and be seen.

Tribe – The Village Market Hotel:
Take a cultural journey though the farthest corners of Africa at Tribe – The Village Market Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Every room at this hotel is a testament of world class comfort with a chic design with an emphasis on detail and luxury.

If you saw the Amazing Race yesterday night, you’re probably asking yourself “what WAS that resort with the insane water slide that runs through shark-infested waters” and maybe, if you’re somewhat more adventurous than Amazing Race Contestant, Mika, “Can I try it?”

Yesterday’s episode of the hit series kept the action hot in Dubai. The seven teams had to navigate a series of challenges that included rowing a rubber dinghy out to a yacht, using a watch to find the combination for a locked briefcase, assembling a hookah and measuring out $500,000 in gold pieces.

The final challenge, of course was taking a very wet “leap of faith” down a six-story water slide found at the über luxurious Dubai resort: the Atlantis Resort in Dubai. This is where things went wrong for Mika and Canaan.

Mika (who was wearing water wings couldn’t get over her fear of heights in time to take the plunge) and, after Canaan tried everything from coaxing her to physically trying to push her down the slide, she and Canaan were eliminated.

Too bad for Mika, because it looked like a whole lot of fun.

Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, has sunken aquatic chambers, a shark tank and 1539 rooms. Think huge, and over the top, and you’re just beginning to realize the entity that is this luxury Dubai resort!

This resort has no fewer than 17 restaurants, and a gorgeous spa with 27 treatment rooms. Guests will love the aquarium views from their rooms. And, depending on what room you stay in, a night here can cost you anywhere from $299 to $35,119. Wow.

Check out some photos below, or read our article about the Madinat Jumeirah on the Amazing Race:

Atlantis Resort in Dubai Appeared on the Amazing Race

Gorgeous Hall at the Atlantis in Dubai

Spectacular Sitting Room at the Atlantis Resort, Dubai

Aquarium at the Atlantis

Under the Sea View at the Atlantis Resort in Dubai

Atlantis Resort Aquarium in Dubai

Lounge in Luxury at the Atlantis Resort in Dubai

During last night’s episode of the Amazing Race, competitors headed off to Dubai with the final pit stop of this leg being Souk Madinat, an area within the beautiful luxury hotel, Madinat Jumeirah.

The eight remaining teams at this leg of the race departed from Cambodia and headed towards Dubai where their first stop was to ascend the world’s tallest building, Burj Dubai; A great place to visit for anyone visiting the area.

After teams endured challenges such as driving around Dubai’s famous F1 track and building a snowman in the middle of the desert, they were eventually instructed to head to the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, where the last team to arrive would be out of the race.

The Souk Madinat Jumeirah is a colorful and vibrant space created to resemble a busy Arabian market.  With paths leading to open fronted shops and intimate galleries, the Souk is full of waterfront cafes, bars and restaurants, open plazas and is home to a 442 seat Madinat Theater. All of this is a part of the luxurious Madinat Jumeirah Hotel.

Surrounded by water, the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel is comprised of three separate properties: Al Qasr, Mina A’Salam, and Dar Al Masyaf. This resort is one of the most fascinating in the world where all you could ever need is under one location. We recently wrote about the Madinat Jumeirah’s turtle rehabilitation project.

View inside the Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Entrance to the Al Qasr Hotel of the Madinat Jumeirah

View of the Mina A’Salam

View of the creek and summer homes of the Dar Al Masyaf

Lovers of sea creatures great and small should not miss a stay at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah Hotel. In addition to having a gorgeous aquarium t Burj Al Arab, the resort complex has a Turtle Rehabilitation Unit that just returned two endangered Green Turtles and 45 critically endangered Hawksbills to the sea after months of rehabilitation.

The best news, of course, is that guests can view turtles during the last stage of their rehabilitation before they are released at the Mina A’ Salam Hotel. The turtles swim and build up their strength in an enclosure that’s part of the resort’s waterways in preparation for their return to the ocean!

Guests can see the turtles swimming and feeding at this stage of rehabilitation at a multi-level viewing area and learn about them from the resort’s team of experts.

The Madinat Jumeirah is a resort complex comprised of three separate hotels: Al Qasr, Mina A’Salam and Dar Al Masyaf. This luxury Dubai resort is practically an island as it’s surrounded by water with pools and waterways running all throughout the grounds.

The aquarium is located at the Burj Al Arab and consists of three large exhibits. Two of the exhibits are in the hotel’s lobby. The main exhibit is located in Al Mahara Restaurant (which is exclusive to guests who dine there). The turtles aren’t visible here, but guests can enjoy viewing all sorts of other kinds of sea life at this aquarium.

If you want a private aquarium experience, you can book one of the two private dining areas at the restaurant!

Dubai’s only turtle rehabilitation project is a collaboration between The Wildlife Protection Office and the hotel’s very own Aquarium team, with essential veterinary support provided by Al Wasl Veterinary Clinic and laboratory work by the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory.

We recently posted a big photo feature of the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on the blog! Check it out!

Rare Turtles Released in Dubai

Sea Turtle at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Turtle Munching on Lettuce at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai

The Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai pays tribute to Dubai’s heritage in that it resembles an ancient Arabian citadel. It’s the epitome of luxury at 874 rooms and suites. Think of tanning on 2 km of private Arabian beach, taking a relaxing boat ride through the resort’s waterways, and enjoying breathtaking views over an evening cocktail.

Check Availability

As one of the most luxurious hotels in Dubai, it might be a common misconception that the Jumeirah Beach Hotel isn’t for kids! Au Contraire. With a litany of facilities and activities going on, this gorgeous retreat is perfect for family vacations to the United Arab Emirates.

Perfect for children between two and 12 years old, the complimentary Sinbad’s Kids Club has a wide range of fun activity both indoors and outdoors that kids can join in. The purpose built Sinbad’s Kids Club and the adjoining Kids Pool are supervised by our fully trained play attendants to ensure fun and safety go hand in hand. When you are planning a romantic dinner or a relaxing spa treatment, book our dedicated babysitters, who will take care of your loved ones.

Another exciting activity for the whole family is the complimentary Wild Wadi Water Park, located adjacent to Jumeirah Beach Hotel and accessible through a private entrance within the resort. With a wide choice of rides, lazy rivers, surfing and breakers bay, there is a lot to see! Take the whole family or find new friends – in Wild Wadi there is always something to discover.
(more…)

Best enjoyed if you are on a relaxing spa or sightseeing vacation, the Monarch Dubai is one of the best hotels in the United Arab Emirates. In fact, its exclusive Monarch Suite was recently recognized as the Middle East’s leading hotel suite. Be sure to book your stay in this room to make your vacation to Dubai extra special.

For the past 16 years the World Travel Awards have been recognizing the world’s leading airlines, hotel operators, hotel developers, tourism boards, travel media, destination marketing campaigns, MICE businesses and several other companies that make a difference in the quality of travel and tourism.

This year’s poll was the highest in World Travel Awards’ 16-year history, with over 170,000 industry professionals casting their votes for what they consider to be the very best travel and tourism products in the Middle East.

“A lot of hard work and dedication had gone into getting The Monarch Dubai to this stage, where it is being recognized by its industry peers as a leader in its field,” said The Monarch Dubai General Manager, Henning Fries.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed with what we have achieved in the past two years, being recognized for the second consecutive year as the Middle East’s Leading Hotel Suite. This is a huge honour and testament to all of our associates.”
(more…)

Part of the luxury travel experience are the special perks afforded to the discerning traveler that make the destination that much more enjoyable. We think that we’ve amassed some pretty unique luxury properties in the Kiwi Collection, ones that provide that something extra…thats why we individually choose and inspect each property we add to the Collection…ensuring that our word is golden in the eyes of you, our clients.

One of the things that gets my mojo going is having a cool bevvie on a fabulous rooftop, or simply enjoying the sunset. So here’s a list (in no particular order) of Seven Sensational Rooftop views. Agree? Disagree? Have other recommendations? Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

1. Cavalieri Hilton, Rome, Italy
For the best birds-eye view of the Dome of St Peter’s and what seems like the whole of this beautiful city, dine at the Michelin two-star La Pergola on the ninth floor rooftop of the Cavalieri Hilton, near the Vatican (you get the same views too from the two 200 sq m duplex suites on the corners of the eighth and ninth floor – and they have private entrances to La Pergola. Hotel General Manager is Marcus-Milan Arandelovic.

2. Banyan Tree Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
The Banyan Tree’s 62nd floor Vertigo restaurant is not for the faint-hearted, but where else can you dine so high, out of doors, while checking the city’s rooftops? If you are fit enough, by the way, enter the annual September vertical marathon, 1,073 steps from ground to the top of the building. General Manager is Bernold Schroeder.

3. Athenaeum InterContinental, Athens, Greece
The eighth floor Club Continental terrace of the Athenaeum InterContinental allows you to enjoy complimentary cocktails as you watch the sun set over the Acropolis. Later, enjoy floodlit views of this center of ancient Greece from the hotel’s rooftop Premier restaurant. General Manager of this art-filled hotel is Panos Panayotopoulos.

4. Hotel Gansevoort, New York, NY, USA
The 13-floor Gansevoort, in the Meat Packing District, has a popular rooftop. There is a 45-foot long outdoor heated pool with underwater light and music show, and the bar gives 360-degree views over lower Manhattan and, west across the Hudson River, to New Jersey (you are also a three floors higher than the members-only Soho House so you can watch the rooftop antics there). General Manager is Elon Kenchington.

5. Burj al Arab, Dubai, UAE
Unless you are THE Woods (who hit a golfball there), or Agassi or Federer (who had a mock tennis game over a specially-constructed net), the only way you can get out on the cantilevered 28th floor helicopter landing pad of the Burj al Arab is to arrange helicopter transfer in from the airport. And yes, it is worth it, if only for the view! General Manager is Luc Delafosse.

6. Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Los Cabos, Mexico
Take one of the two-floor casitas – say 208 – at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, and head upstairs to watch the stars over the Sea of Cortez as you enjoy the jacuzzi on your private terrace. The resort’s spa offers, in addition, a Sea and Stars massage. General Manager is Luis Fernandes.

7. The Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Arrange to fly in by helicopter and you land on the roof of The Peninsula’s 28th floor tower – the view on the way is magnificent, and as you land you look over Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island. If you do not, of course, fancy a chopper, come in from the airport by a hotel Rolls, take a high-floor Harbour-facing suite and dine up at Felix restaurant and the view of the Island is the same. General Manager is Ian Coughlan.