Home & Away with Robert Walshe
www.robertwalshe.com
Holiday Hotspot – Kempinski Mall of the Emirates Dubai
Shopping in Dubai is big business, with the sweltering heat of the desert; many take advantage of the air conditioned and elaborately designed malls to indulge in a spot of retail therapy. The city offers leading designer brands, available tax-free as well as the traditional Arabian souks of the Deira and Bur Dubai districts. The currency is the Dirham, but credit cards are accepted throughout malls and shops. Dubai’s souks are also open all year round and the gold souk is by far the big tourist attraction and a real find
whether you’re in the market or just interested in window shopping. The huge choice of jewels and spectacular designs on offer has a real wow factor. The textile souks stalls are filled from ceiling to floor with traditional fabrics in a dizzying array of materials and colours, genuine pashminas and handmade fineries. If traditional handmade textiles are your thing, here’s the place to find them. When shopping in the souks it’s also common practice to barter on the price. As a guide you should aim to start at about half of the asking price and work your way up from there. Dubai Shopping Festival takes place every winter with an array
n Etihad Dublin to Abu Dhabi Double Daily service.
of discounts, competitions, prizes, fireworks and entertainment. The festival offers amazing shopping discounts, attracting holiday makers from around the globe keen on grabbing a bargain. Traditionally, the festival runs from mid-January to the end of February and it kicks off with a huge opening night that features light shows and fireworks across the Dubai Creek, which are then continued throughout the entire festival. Other events range from in-mall fashion shows, musicians, street performers, jugglers and other entertainers. Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates is an impressive property that is part of this mega shopping & entertainment complex, which includes Ski Dubai, the world’s first indoor skiing attraction. This resort features an 85-meter-high indoor mountain with 5 slopes of varying steepness and difficulty, including a 400-metre-long run, the world’s first indoor black run, and various features (boxes, rails, and kickers) that are changed on a regular basis. Adjoining the slopes is a 3,000-square-metre Snow
For our best deals call 0044 28 9038 1111 or visit www.mooneyhotelgroup.com Park play area comprising sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slide, climbing towers, giant snowballs and an ice cave. Including its 15 ski chalets, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates Dubai has 395 luxury rooms and suites. The décor is smartly modern, with amenities such as plasma TVs and marble bathrooms complemented by breathtaking views of the city n Kempinski Mal skyline. Après ski, l of the Emira tes Dubai. be sure to soothe tired muscles with an the MidAyurvedic treatment at the dle East. www.kempinski. hotel’s spa. You’ll need your com Etihad Airways is to inlegs back though for a tour of crease its services between the vast Mall of the Emirates, Dublin and Abu Dhabi this which houses nearly 500 month doubling the number stores. The Fashion Dome of flights daily. First and Busialone houses 80 designer ness class passengers may brands including:Bottega avail of the Etihad Chauffer Veneta’s second largest bou- service from Abu Dhabi airtique in the world after the port to Dubai while economy brand’s store in Tokyo; Y-3’s passengers will use the comfirst stand-alone store; Diane plimentary Etihad Express Von Furstenberg’s first coach service. www.etihad. stand-alone store; Christian com For travellers from Louboutin’s first store in Northern Ireland or Ulster the UAE; and Prada’s first counties the Hilton Dublin and largest flagship store in airport offers a perfect stop
off point before you catch your Etihad flight the following day. This homely Hilton offers short & long term parking, a complimentary shuttle to the airport, good sized rooms and a friendly service at Burnell Bar & Grill. www.hilton.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com