After a restful long weekend, we're all now back to work. But, naturally, my mind has quickly and firmly been planning my next getaway.
Although I didn't travel abroad over the Eid Al Fitr break, I hope to be away for Eid Al Adha in June, with a two-week holiday around the long weekend.
I am meticulous with my holiday breakdown, with each of my annual leave days accounted for at the beginning of the year when I plot my breaks. So the bonus of getting two or three days back over a national holiday is welcome – and could well mean I get to squeeze in another mini-break later.
I recently read about changing travel trends, particularly in the US. Although we often have very different annual leave allowances here in the UAE, we can relate to the change in approach to travel.
In the States, the after-effects of Covid-19 are still being felt. With half a decade of normalised remote working under many belts, the new reality for many people means packing the laptop and continuing to work while on holiday. According to the Deloitte survey released at the end of last year, those travelling with a laptop will go away for an average of eight days, compared to four days for those who want to switch off.
I can't decide if this is people making the very most of their holiday, or a sad reflection of our inability to unplug while away. I can't pretend to be the best at going dark when I travel, and have been known to dip in and out of emails. Maybe this year will be the year I leave my laptop at home and trust that I have fully dotted my Is and crossed my Ts before my trip.
I keep coming back to our guide to 25 new hotels opening this year, monitoring the progress of the exciting projects and checking in on which ones I could soon check into. This week, the Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives opened. A handy hotel, 35 minutes by boat from Velana International Airport in Male, it might be a contender for my bonus break.
As could the Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, another major opening this week. Anyone watching The White Lotus will be familiar with just how much of a go-to destination Thailand is for 2025, and the new Aman property is adding to the hype. The country’s first urban Aman hotel opened in the capital, Bangkok, yesterday, bringing Aman’s signature luxury, exquisite design and dedicated service to the city.
In Nai Lert Park’s tropical gardens and designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, this towering all-suite hotel has 52 suites, a 1,500-square-metre Aman Spa and Wellness centre and exceptional dining, including omakase and teppanyaki restaurants. The hotel opened days after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, so to support those affected by the disaster on March 28, it is donating a portion of the proceeds from every stay in April to charities assisting those in need.
Until next week, travel well.
Farah Andrews
The National Travel desk
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The 386-room superyacht-shaped hotel has no shortage of facilities, with 11 restaurants, four swimming pools (including one for VIPs and one adults-only), an 82-berth marina, a three-storey spa and uninterrupted Burj Al Arab views. Find out what I thought of my recent stay here.
Mumbai's hidden gems
Tourist paths in Mumbai are very well trodden, with plenty of popular landmarks, from the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre to the award-winning Masque restaurant. But this week, we've diverted off the beaten track to explore some of the bustling city's hidden gems.
From the mysterious maze at Sion Hillock Fort, to the roll-on, roll-off cargo ships that carry passengers and their vehicles to Alibaug, dubbed the Miami of Mumbai. Read Panna Munyal's full round-up of Mumbai hidden gems here.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mauritius' Slave Heritage Trail
This week, Neeta Lal has recounted her powerful and emotional journey along the Slave Heritage Trail in Mauritius, learning more about the dark colonial history of the East African island, and visiting sites that commemorate and generate greater awareness of its role in the slave trade.
TRAVEL NEWS THIS WEEK
Top travel tip
If you're travelling around a few destinations in one trip, try to keep a couple of nights open. It might feel like a risk, but getting tips on the ground will usually lead to a hotel stay that is much more affordable and an off-radar favourite, if you've been tipped off by locals.
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