TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe Weekend Hotspot – Burj Al Arab Dubai www.burjalarabromance.com
Dubai is home to some of the world’s most outrageously luxurious hotels and The Burj Al Arab is certainly the most opulent and iconic of them all. Located on the UAE coastline it is one of the tallest buildings in the world and is the very embodiment of this metropolis. This seven star hotel designed by British architect Tom Wright is taller than the Eiffel Tower and just 60 meters shorter than the Empire State Building. Lucky enough to be returning for my second visit, it was at airport arrivals that I was quickly reminded what Jumeirah do so well – service & luxury that’s simply unbeatable. The hotel had arranged for their airport service to pick me up. After our friendly driver handed me a sparkling water & cooling towel I sank gracefully into an air-conditioned white Rolls Royce” Phantom” ,my reprieve from the oven like Dubai summer daytime temperature highs outside. As we drive through the city I marvel at the changes to the skyline since my last visit noticing in particular the new Burj Al Khalifa tower & metro line. After my photographic requests are taken care of by my driver we are dropped off by the hotel’s entrance into the arms of what I can only describe as a VIP arrival. Bellboys help you out of the car and into the hotel lobby, where hostesses are at hand to give you a refreshing cold towel with cold rose water to help ease your transition from the world as you knew it to the Burj Al Arab. It was straight to my room on the 12th floor for checkin and a chance to meet my private butler who would cater to my every whim for the next 24 hours. Despite its size, the Burj Al
Arab holds only 28 doublestory floors which accommodate 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 square meters (1,819 sq ft), the largest covers 780 square meters (8,396 sq ft). It is one of the most expensive hotels in the world. The cost of staying in a suite begins at £750 per night; the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at £20,000 per night. In-suite technology includes 93 cable television channels, two in-house television channels, a vast array of DVDs screened on 42” plasma screens with surround sound, a business desk with laptop, scanner, complementary broadband wireless internet connection and private facsimile. An in-suite electronic system makes it possible to perform tasks such as opening the floor to ceiling windows curtains and switching off the lights in the suit with a mere fingertip. Every suite benefits from a range of unique firstclass flourishes, including an extensive selection of full-sized complimentary Hermés amenities and a pillow menu with 17 options no less! There are several restaurants and a lounge at Burj Al Arab, serving everything from authentic Middle Eastern cuisine to Japanese food. On my last visit I experienced “Al Mahara” where sumptuous sea food is served in a wondrous, subterranean setting, so on this occasion we agreed on “Al Muntaha”. It means ‘the ultimate’, and this eating space on top of one of the world’s tallest hotels, is certainly up there as one of the finest dining experiences ever for me. “Al Muntaha” is reached by one of the world’s fastest panoramic elevators where you are transported to one of Burj Al Arab’s most popular restaurants suspended 27 stories above the Arabian Gulf. Cerviche of Tasmanian
Pet’s Corner...
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struction will now manufac- of the hotel and some ture a further of the romantic experiences feur-drive servm 11,775sqm of guests can enjoy there. They ice is available to both First to an Ph th bai wi carpet for the can also get a taste of the and Business Class passenn Burj Al Arab Du latest refurbish- luxury and romance at Burj gers. All of Emirates’ cusRolls Royce. ment plans at Al Arab by watching the tomers can enjoy in-flight the hotel from hotel’s new series of beauti- telephones, SMS and email Salmon in Soy Marina- their manufacturing facility fully atmospheric romantic and children’s activity tion dot the menu, the sea in Portadown. The world’s mini-films. www.burjalara- packs. Highly trained cabin bass, Atlantic Lobster and most luxurious hotel has re- bromance.com Emirates crew from across the globe, Australian lamb shoulder cently launched a new site Airline currently flies to 125 including Irish nationals, are were nothing short of excep- to showcase a new range of destinations in 74 countries on hand to serve gourmet tional. The skyview bar is “Romance” packages, which across six continents oper- chef prepared meals. www. great on pre-and post-dinner have been designed for cou- ating a Dublin to Dubai daily emirates.com drinks and big on live bands - ples looking for the ultimate scheduled service departing both local and international. romantic experience. The at lunchtimes. Passenger flyRobert Walshe is a freeStrong cocktails are on the new website is the perfect ing First Class with Emirates lance contributor / broadmenu at night or you can in- place to go for inspiration can enjoy a very generous caster and Travel Editor dulge with the glamorous for when planning an once-in-a- baggage allowance of 50kg, for River Media newspaafternoon tea. The lavishly lifetime romantic escape to In Business Class, its 40kg per titles across the island decorated “Assawan” spa Dubai. and in Economy, a healthy of Ireland. www.robertwat Burj Al Arab is located on It features stunning photos 30 kg. The airline’s Chauf- alshe.com the 18th floor with spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf. There are separate male and female areas, eight spa treatment rooms, a sauna, a The first hotel of The Ritz-Carlton in cated on the seventh floor, and will offer steam bath, a plunge pool, a Austria opened this week with 202 stylish an exclusive atmosphere with private Jacuzzi and a solarium. guest rooms and suites, one restaurant, check-in, five food presentations per day If you’re feeling flush, try a lobby lounge, a hotel bar and a rooftop as well as access to a bar for every guest a full- or half-day treatment terrace. The five star hotel is located in who stays in a room or suite within the with facial, body polish and four historic palaces which date back to Club category. Classic Austrian cuisine massage. The island of Irethe 19th century and are culturally pro- will be offered in Dstrikt restaurant, with lands connection with the tected. a main focus on local products and the Burj Al Arab & Jumeirah Located in the heart of the city on famous wine list will feature excellent Austrian Hotels is also significant Ring Boulevard, the hotel is only minutes wines. The Spa with six treatment rooms, with the group’s executive away from major sights such as Hofburg two of them equipped for couples, will chairman Gerald Lawless and the Imperial Apartments, St.Stephen’s offer exclusive treatments for face and an honours graduate of the Cathedral, the Viennese State Opera, Al- body. Furthermore the hotel features a Shannon College of Hotel bertina Museum, and upscale shopping total of 900m2 of conference space includManagement. Meanwhile districts such as Graben and Kohlmarkt. ing the Crystal Ballroom, two boardrooms Ulster Carpets who manuThe rooms and suites offer individual and three meeting rooms. factured and supplied character and a spectacular view over the For best opening rates visit www.ritzAxminster Carpet to the Burj city or into a serene courtyard. carlton.com/vienna Aer Lingus fly to VenAl Arab during its initial conThe Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge will be lo- ice daily ex Dublin. www.aerlingus.com
Home and Away Extra
with Kathleen Murray
The end of the summer It’s that time of year again and things are winding down. Soon it will be the end of the summer. Thoughts will be turning to other things like school, night classes, winter clothes and more. It is not the time to be getting a new pup. From now on the evenings will be shorter, colder and maybe windy or wet. This is not good toilet training weather for pups. People don’t enjoy standing outside waiting in the cold. If you are an experienced dog person then you know the amount of time, energy and hard work that goes into setting a young
pup up for life as a family pet. If you are prepared for all of that and are totally committed to the outdoor work that it will require then you can handle raising a pup in the cold weather. If you are getting a pup for the first time or are getting a pup after the death of an old dog then you will not know or will have forgotten how much work there is in brining up a new pup, that’s why the spring and summer are the months to get a pup... for everyone’s sake. A pup needs to go out to the toilet about every half hour to an hour when it first comes home to set it up for the clean
Living
dog that you want it to be when it is older. If it is lashing down with rain or hailstones then this is not fun for either of you, as a young pup will need you to stay with it until it has done something. Young pups are very scared of the world. They need to be clearly guided and protected. That’s what their mother would be doing for them if they were still with her. If you go back into the house before the pup has gone to the toilet then the pup will want to go back in too as it will be scared without you. It will go to the toilet in the house then. Closing a door and leaving it
outside by itself will make the pup insecure and can cause further problems in different areas. A leaf falling for a tree can be scary for a pup. Plastic bags blowing in the wind can scare a pup. After a few weeks the pup will be confident enough to go out by itself but in the beginning you will need to be with it come rain, hail or shine. Pups need to be brought out to be socialised.
It’s important for them to meet other dogs and people when they are young so that they don’t develop problems with shyness or aggression. Winter time makes all of this very difficult and many people give their dogs up after they have “let them go” for this important phase in their lives.
Please don’t take a pup in the dark cold weather and then not be out there with it when it needs you to be. You are responsible for how it turns out. A dog is only as good as the handler. Ring me now to book your place in a five week workshop or training class for the autumn and winter.