Bicycles are happier in the Czech Republic

If you have the time, you can ride a bike from Prague to Vienna on mostly off-highway trails. The really fit can take a 254-mile trip across the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia, or from Budapest all the way to Krakow, Poland, and beyond. Those who want a shorter trip have plenty of choices too - like a city bicycle tour in Prague or Budapest.

Eastern Europe by bike, minus the crowds

When most people think of a bicycle trip through Europe, they picture bucolic rides through southern France, or perhaps the green fields of Ireland or Wales. These eastern European routes are far less crowded, however, and cost far less. In many cases the trails are better marked as well, so you can easily do them on your own or with an independent group.

This surprisingly well-developed network of trails covers the most scenic parts of these countries. They often go right through vineyards and farms, past towering Czech castles, and across national parks. Inns along the way are affordable (usually $75 or less per double) and are well-equipped for cyclists, with secure bike areas and places to wash your sweaty clothes.

Here are some of the highlights. You can do any of these independently, through a rental and pick-up service, or through an organized tour.

Czech Republic by bike

Biking in the Czech Republic is no secret to nearby Europeans, but it’s seldom a crowded affair on any of the greenways. The flattest part to explore is the Moravia region, in the southern part of the country near Austria.

Bike trails aplenty in the eastern Europe

Here you can find a loop to fit your ability, with wine tastings along the way and grand castles built by the Lichtensteins. Nearly every town has wineries to visit and the National Wine Salon in the village of Valtice, is a real treasure. There you can sample a range of the 100 best wines in the country, judged annually by a panel of experts. Other routes traverse the Cesky Krumlov area or the Prague area, with trails in place that connect all of them for longer trips.

Slovakia by bike

Few cyclist travelers have discovered the Czech Republic’s once-joined neighbor Slovakia. Excellent greenway systems are in place here as well though and you can have them mostly to yourself much of the year. The shortest is a 4-day Danube Trail from Bratislava to Sturovo, with an easy 103 miles along mostly flat trails. Others can take nine days—for the truly dedicated cyclists with well-toned leg muscles!

Hungary by bike

The best-known biking route in Hungary is an approximately 125-mile route around Lake Balaton, the center for many of Hungary’s mineral-rich, quality white wines and a big European Spa destination. Many vacationers choose to just do a round-trip journey of a day or two rather than circumventing the whole lake.

There are less organized routes in the Villany wine region in the south and around the historic town of Eger. Or you can explore the capital on two wheels with a Budapest bike tour.

Poland

The Greenways Program of Poland started establishing trails in 2001 and linking them up with others in the region. The granddaddy of all options is the 10-day, 226-mile “Amber Trail” journey from Krakow to Budapest, which crosses mountains of 3,600 feet (1,100 meters). It retraces the ancient amber transportation route from the Baltic to the Adriatic Sea.

The “Necklace of the North” trail is flatter and longer, covering a 540-mile loop around the lakes and villages of northern Poland. Viator also offers a scenic half-day sightseeing bike tour of Krakow that’s easy and flat.

Biking Resources

Top Bicycle can set up local rentals or full-blown tours with accommodation arranged in any of the greenway regions. Prices start at $30 a day for a well-maintained hybrid bike with all necessary equipment and are $80 to $200 a day for a tour with meals and hotels. Tandem, kids’ bikes, and child pull-along trailers are available. For Hungary tours check with Hooked on Cycling or Velo-Touring. Set up city sightseeing bike tours in Europe with Viator.

For more information on greenway routes see the following websites: Friends of Czech Greenways, The Czech Environmental Partnership and The Amber Trail Greenways.

-Tim Leffel

Planning a trip? Browse more Viator’s tours and things to do in Prague, Budapest, Krakow.

It’d be easy enough to spend a month here and not run out of things to do, but here are five of the top things to do for the time-pressed.

#1 - Cycle down Table Mountain

Those who have visited Cape Town will always describe how stunning Table Mountain is, but no matter how high your expectations are, the “wow” factor of seeing it in person is immense. The mountain – plus its jagged cohorts, Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak – looms over the city, and the rock has seemingly limitless levels of detail. Cloudy days are particularly impressive – the white clouds can pour over the top of the mountain like a waterfall.

Mountain biking on Table Mountain

There are, of course, many ways of exploring Table Mountain. There are hundreds of hiking trails, while the cable car ascent is perennially popular. But for fit and fearless, there’s the opportunity of tackling the mountain on a bike.

I’ll confess that when I booked in for a cycle down Table Mountain, I thought it’d be a leisurely glide along a few winding roads. It is nothing of the sort – this is proper mountain biking and those signing up for it should be expecting some hard work. For a start, the tracks on Table Mountain are quite treacherous. They’re fine for walkers, but on a bike you’re essentially riding the brakes down pretty steep scree slopes. Slow and steady without locking the brakes is the key – it’s very easy to fall off.

The uphill stretches can be even tougher. Winds on Table Mountain can be fiercely strong, and if you’re cycling into one of the howlers, it can be murderous on the thighs. Similarly, some stretches of track can be rather sandy – think swimming through treacle and you’re about there.

But cycling down Table Mountain is all about the challenge. It may be hard work – especially for a novice – but the rewards are worth it. The easier stretches are a delight to freewheel down, while the views of the city, the pine forests, the ocean and the mountain rarely drop below awe-inspiring.

#2 - Explore Long Street

Long Street is Cape Town’s party strip, and it is flanked by numerous bars and restaurants. Long Street’s real strength lies in its multicultural feel, however. Amongst the quirky hotels – check out the Airstream caravan park on the roof of the Grand Daddy – and clubs are tastes from all over Africa and beyond. Southern African restaurants sell dishes such as warthog medallions and springbok steaks, whilst it’s also possible to eat in traditional Kurdish and Ethiopian styles.

Clouds rolling in over Cape Town's Table Mountain

The real treats lie in the shops though. What seems like an average-sized store from the outside can often contain a labyrinth of interlinked outleys. They’ll sell everything from Malian dresses to souvenirs and while the displays are very basic, these Tardis-like shops are marvellous to get lost in.

Long Street doesn’t feel like the downtown areas in most South African cities. It’s a genuine fear-free pleasure to saunter along, and the racial and cultural mix is how the architects of the Rainbow Nation would have dreamt it.

#3 - Check out the new World Cup stadium

Cape Town's Green Point stadium, from Signal Hill

At the time of writing, construction of the new Cape Town Stadium at Green Point was facing a desperate race against time to be open for its first test event prior to the 2010 World Cup. The 70,000-seater effort has been specially designed for the World Cup football (soccer) tournament in June 2010, and has a prime position by the waterfront.

It’s difficult to see while the workmen are still working on the area, but the Green Point stadium will be surrounded by parkland.

Obviously, it’s possible to go down to Green Point for a sneak peak at the venue that will host key World Cup matches including the semi-final, but the genuinely spectacular views are to be had from the top of Signal Hill.

The design was deliberately orchestrated so that the stadium would look most spectacular from the sea or looking down from the various Table Mountain look-outs. Signal Hill offers the prime viewing, and Viator’s Cape Town Football World Cup Tour kicks off with a trip up there.

#4 - Dine with the locals

One novel concept available in Cape Town is the chance to be invited into the home of a complete stranger who will cook dinner for you and tell interesting tales about their life and work in the city.

Different hosts are used for each tour, and obviously the enjoyable-ness of the tour depends a lot on your host and dining companions. Some of the people visited are better storytellers and talkers than others, and you may or may not click with your fellow guests, but it’s an awesome opportunity to go where you’d never normally get the chance. Amongst the hosts you may encounter are local poets, entrepreneurs, journalists and musicians.

Having dinner with Cape Town locals

The general idea is to chat over dinner with the first host, then hop back in the bus and head to a second host for a nightcap. An hour or so is spent in each home, and Viator’s People of Cape Town History Tour is a unique way to find out about South African culture and local life.

#5 - Cruise around the coast

Many of the most appealing parts of Cape Town are along the coast. The city’s beaches are regularly cited as being amongst the best in the world – even if the waves can be brutally strong and the water absolutely freezing. Getting in the water is a better idea for would-be surfers than it is for swimmers, let’s put it that way.

Camps Bay is arguably the best known of the beach suburbs. It has a certain see-and-be-seen swagger about it, and has plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants in prime people-watching spots.
Parked right in front of the city is the V&A waterfront. The ferries to Robben Island leave from here, the boats can be watched entering the historic harbour and South Africa’s four Peace Prize Laureates are honoured with statues in Nobel Square.

But the V&A Waterfront is really about the mooching around and the shopping. Lots of quirky small outlets can be found amongst the flagship big name outlets and souvenir stalls.

-David Whitley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Cape Town tours & things to do in Cape Town, including Cape Town day trips.

Actually we’re giving away much more than just 2 free tickets to the Oberammergau Passion Play - we’re giving away a complete package for 2 people that includes: round-trip train tickets from Munich to Oberammergau departing on Monday, June 14; two nights of accommodation at the Guesthouse Ethiko in the nearby village of Ettal (half-board); and two free Category Two tickets for the Passion Play itself.

The total value here is more than US $1,500 / GBP 900 / 1,100 euros!

Scene from the last Passion Play, courtesy Oberammergau Tourismus

Oberammergau Passion Play Contest: How do I enter?

We want you to answer one simple question in 10 words or less: “Why should Viator give YOU two free tickets to the Oberammergau Passion Play?” Simply leave a reply for this post below with your answer - and remember, we are only accepting replies that are 10 words or less!

That’s right, answer the question “Why should Viator give YOU two free tickets to the Oberammergau Passion Play?” in 10 words or less, and you care eligible to win our contest (see terms & conditions below).

Entries must be submitted by March 19, 2010. Winners will be announced on March 25, 2010. You can enter our contest as many times as you like, but remember, your reply must be 10 words or less or it will not be considered.

Oberammergau Passion Play: What you need to know

If you haven’t already read our blog post about the Oberammergau Passion Play, well go on, go read it. It has lots of information about the Passion Play and its history.

If you’re not willing to take your chances on the contest, you can also book tickets for the Oberammergau Passion Play directly on the Viator website. (While you’re at it, check out Viator’s Munich tours & things to do on your way to / from Oberammergau.)

Please keep in mind that the prize we’re offering is a package for 2 people, strictly departing from Munich on Monday, June 14. You receive two free round-trip train tickets, free accommodation for 2 people at the Guesthouse Ethiko in nearby Ettal (half-board), and two Category Two tickets to the Passion Play.

Winners can pick-up their tickets at the station in Munich, or we can arrange to have the tickets mailed to you in advance.

Good luck!

-Viator Travel Team

Terms & Conditions: Our staff will pick the entry that we think best answers the question above, in 10 words or less. We are providing a package for two (2) people that includes: round-trip train transport from Munich to Oberammergau, 2 nights at the Guesthouse Ethiko in Ettal, and 2 Category Two tickets to the Passion Play. Airfare, taxes, and any other expenses not specifically listed above are not included.

Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be sold or redeemed for any cash value.

St Peter's Square and Basilica

Holy Week in Rome. There are very few examples of Pageantry with a capital ‘P’ grander than Holy Week in Rome.

The Pope himself delivers several masses between Palm Sunday and Easter, and tens of thousands of pilgrims and fellow travelers are on hand to celebrate with him.

The following will give you an idea of what’s going on and when for Easter Week in 2010; most services take place in St Peter’s Square or inside the Basilica (consider a walking tour in Rome to get your bearings, or one of Viator’s Vatican tours if you arrive early enough to avoid the crowds).

You can certainly expect crowds in Rome and the Vatican during Easter Week. But for Catholics and religious-minded travelers (frankly, for anybody and everyone who appreciates ritual and pomp) , the experience of Easter Week is unforgettable.

Palm Sunday (March 28)
Palm Sunday, a sort of prequel, starts off Holy Week with the Pope’s blessing of the palms in St Peter’s Square (9:30am). At the end of the mass, the Pope usually sends a special message - the ‘Angelus’ - to the youth of the world.

Holy Thursday (April 1)
The Pope honors his predecessor, John Paul II, on Holy Monday with a mass at 6pm. Then, after a few days’ break during which you will notice a steadily increasing population density in and around the Vatican, the Easter celebration begins in earnest on Holy Thursday (also called ‘Maundy Thursday’). The Pope performs a rare morning mass at 9:30am, known as the ‘Mass of the Chrism’, in St Peter’s Basilica (’chrism’ is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, which, once blessed, is used in some of the sacraments). In the evening, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper commemorates Christ’s bathing of the feet of the Apostles.

Good Friday (April 2)
On Good Friday, instead of a mass, choirs sing St John’s version of Christ’s crucifixion. Later that night, the Pope traces the Via Crucis, or Stations of the Cross, from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill. This torch-lit procession is one of the grandest, most solemn things you can witness in Rome.

Saturday
Saturday night is traditionally the time of the Easter Vigil, when the Pope celebrates a late mass in St Peter’s Basilica. This is also traditionally when converts are accepted into the Catholic Church.

Easter Sunday (April 4)
On Easter Sunday, the Pope says mass in St Peter’s Square starting at 10:15am. Despite the crowds - typically this is the most attended event of Holy Week - you should be able to spot the Holy Father, high above the square on a balcony of the church. At noon, he delivers the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message - ‘to the city and the world - in which the Pope grants forgiveness to those present and to Catholics world wide.

Visiting Rome During Holy Week

Pope Benedict XVI

Although these events are generally free, some require tickets (a must if you want a seat, or in some cases if you want to get in at all). Honestly, it is not easy to get tickets - we’re saying this simply to set your expectations.

For Catholics, this is usually arranged through your bishop. You might also try the American Seminary in Rome. For non-Catholics, it’s a bit dicier, but you might try the American Seminary.

The official Vatican liturgical calendar for Holy Week can be found here.

The Vatican museums (and those throughout Rome) are generally open during Holy Week, with the exceptions of Easter Sunday and the following Monday.

Ideas on spending the rest of your time in the Eternal City can be found in our complete list of things to see and do in Rome.

-Bruce Melendy

If you need a place to stay, check out Hotels in Italy on Planetware.com.

What is a Szekszárdi Kadarka supposed to taste like? Or a Borpalota Szürkebarát? What kind of a grape is a kéknyelű?

Hungarian Wines: Highs and Lows

Historic wine label courtesy of Törley

It was in Hungary, at the Hungarian House of Wine (now closed) in the cellar of a small building a few cobblestone-blocks away from Fisherman’s Bastion — the landmark that everyone just calls Buda Castle in Budapest. A few signs offered clues about the various regions and a helpful cellar master swooped in to offer a life raft.

He explained the origins of the intense red “Bull’s Blood,” wine, the degrees of sweetness in the famed Tokaji Aszú dessert wine, and how the Villány-Siklós area in the south has a climate much like that of southern France.

There I heard the first of many tellings of “The Hungarian Wine Story.”

The condensed version of the saga is this. The country started fermenting grapes during the Roman Empire. Törley sparkling wine was once second only to Champagne’s. Tokaji gained the world’s first appellation control, before Port or Bordeaux. That elixir passed the lips of Europe’s kings, queens, and Popes; it graced the wine glasses of Beethoven, Schubert, and native son Franz Liszt.

Then came two World Wars and the territorial march of the communists. (Among those Hungarians who speak English well, the full phrase is usually “damned communists.”) Family vineyards became collective farms. The state-owned wineries prized volume above all else.

Eventually the Soviets forced everyone into making low-grade jug wine that would get the empire’s comrades good and drunk. Hungarian wine went from being the toast of kings to the domain of winos passed out on street corners.

The Rebirth of Hungarian Wine

Eventually the Iron Curtain fell and the winemakers went into overdrive trying to recapture the magic. As good as the wine gets though, there’s still a reputation to overcome. Instead of a chip on their shoulders, the Hungarian wine marketers have a ghostly hammer and sickle on their shoulders, haunting them as they struggle for respect.

“People have been sitting in this spot for over a thousand years, drinking wine from grapes grown on this land,” said acclaimed winemaker István Jásdi, as we sat on his terrace near Lake Balaton. “In just two generations you can lose it all.”

My notes from the Wine Club in Budapest are a jumble of alien accents and words with lots of consonants, with an occasional Pinot Noir or Chardonnay tasting note standing out like a familiar Hollywood blockbuster in a sea of foreign indie flicks.

In Eger, Monarchia Winery’s Pók Tamás gives his export brands names like “Zen” (a light and fruity white) and “Rhapsody in Red” (a complex ruby red cuvee of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and local grape Kekfrankos.) “The Hungarian names carry too much of a stigma,” his brand manager said as we sipped with Tamás in the cellar.

We were making wine before the French were!

“We were making wine before the French were!” shouted Szeremley spokesman Gábor Kardos as he launched into The Hungarian Wine Story with great gusto. “Now we have to prove we know what we’re doing all over again.” I noticed that bottle after bottle was covered with international award stickers though, so that coveted respect is starting.

When I visited the Figula winery up the hill from Lake Balaton, only established in 1993, one of the sons of the founder poured a series of fantastic white wines that were almost chewy in their depth of flavors and minerals, hitting every taste bud around the mouth. “This one needs another two or three years,” he sighed after sipping their late harvest Pinot Gris. A good problem to have—and a rare one in a global white wine market where screw caps are now common.

Custom Sparkling Wine in Budapest

Historic wine label courtesy of Törley

Back in Budapest, I shuffled one block to Budavári Fortuna Restaurant, in a space that was once part of a labyrinth of caves during various wars, serving as a weapons depot and military hospital.

The cave under this restaurant is now dedicated to creating sparkling wine in the traditional Champagne Method. The owner let me pop out the sediment ice around the neck of one bottle and pop in my own cork with the antique hand press.

“When you return to Budapest,” he said, “this bottle will be waiting for you here in the cellar, for a fine dinner with your wife.” My bottle is number 555, a lucky draw.

Perhaps the Hungarians’ own luck will bring a nice conclusion to their story. Recognition is growing among those looking for the next new trend and visitors to Hungary are coming back with raves about wines they can’t pronounce.

If you go

The three Hungarian wine regions best suited for visitors feature very different taste profiles. The Lake Balaton resort area is the best for mixing outdoor activities with your wine tasting and it specializes in mineral-rich whites.

Eger is home to the rough and tumble “bull’s blood” variety but has one lively outdoor area filled with cellars pouring a wide variety of styles, accompanied by roving musicians.

The Villány-Siklós region is rural and picturesque, with rolling hills covered with vines and reasonably-priced inns that come with a bottle and a corkscrew.

The best way to sample a wide variety of Hungarian wines and get a sense of what you like is to join a wine tasting lunch froim Budapest, or an evening wine tasting. Viator also offers a day trip to Lake Balaton.

-Tim Leffel

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Budapest tours & things to do in Budapest, including Budapest day trips and food and wine tours.

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi rightfully has a reputation as one of the best game reserves in Africa, and is particularly renowned for its efforts in conserving the white rhino. But the rest of the ‘Big Five’ are there, too.

On my game drive, we’d barely got through the gates when we came across a bull elephant. Unfortunately, it had no intention of moving, and our guide started sensing that Dumbo was becoming agitated. A quick reverse back up the hill was in order – these male elephants can be very dangerous.

Elephant at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve

We watched him slowly trudge away from a safe distance and then continued. It was pretty hot, so a lot of creatures were undercover, but we did see warthogs, buffalo, zebras, rhinos and giraffes before sightings dried up.

After lunch, it was a different story. We were treated to rhinos wallowing in mud, giraffes up incredibly close, wildebeest sauntering around and seemingly hundreds of impalas. The highlight came towards the end, though. At the other side of a watering hole from our vehicle sat four lions, just waiting for something to come their way and have a drink.

When Hluhluwe’s wildlife isn’t impressing, its hilly bush scenery is. It makes for an awesome day out – just don’t get out of the vehicle when those not-so-friendly creatures are around. Viator’s Hluhluwe game reserve tour spends most of the day in the reserve and includes lunch.

The Sani Pass

The Sani Pass is one of the roads that links South Africa with the landlocked nation of Lesotho - but don’t expect to pootle along it in your average rental car. This is one of the world’s highest, toughest and most awe-inspiring roads. And most of the action takes place in no man’s land.

The 53km jaunt from Underberg in the Drakensberg foothills to Sani Top in Lesotho involves climbing from an elevation of 1,540m above sea level to 2,873m. The vast percentage of this is done in the last 8km stretch between the South African and Lesotho border posts. The road is horrendously rough, and should only be attempted by skilled 4WD drivers. It painstakingly zig-zags its way up the mountains past waterfalls, antelopes, baboons and giant rock formations.

The zig-zag road at Sani Pass

The views are staggering (although it’s advisable to not look down too often), and the slow climb is a thrill ride that can’t be replicated in a theme park. The final stretch is the most exciting/ terrifying bit; it’s a series of tight hairpins with little room for error, but looking down the escarpment to see the route unfolding below gives you a phenomenal sense of achievement.

Lesotho and Sani Top

Of course, when you finally reach Sani Top, you’ve got a whole new country to explore. Lesotho is Southern Africa’s mountain kingdom, and for fans of useless trivia, it’s the only country in the world that is entirely above 1,000m in height. As soon as your passport is stamped, you’ll notice the difference in landscape. It’s a barren, steppe-like scene, with thin air and a jagged frame. On the horizon, blanket clad shepherds ride horses across the scrubby pastures, while a few basic round huts pass for villages.

Viator’s Kingdom of Lesotho tour goes into one of those huts, where the guide gives an impressively detailed history of Lesotho and the BaSotho people. A villager hands out some seriously tasty traditionally baked bread and some less tasty traditional beer.

Shepherd in Lesotho

From there, it’s a short drive to the Sani Top Chalets, which proudly boasts of being Africa’s highest pub. At an elevation of 2,874m, any contenders to the throne have got some serious climbing to do. Inside the pub are heartening tales of dramatic rescue attempts and Maluti, Lesotho’s national beer.

Outside is a terrace, from where you can peer right back down the Sani Pass before you head down it on the way back down to Durban. It’s only a brief visit to Lesotho, but the real fun is in getting there.

Shakaland

Durban is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, and the heartlands of the Zulu people are nearby. There are plenty of Zulu-related tourist attractions but a fun way of getting an overview on Zulu culture is to head to Shakaland.

This ‘traditional’ village was created for a popular TV programme called Shaka Zulu, and when the show came to the end of its run, the set was transformed into a hotel and cultural village. Proceedings kick off with a twelve minute video that shows how King Shaka united the Zulu people – seemingly via a series of elaborate dances rather than brutal violence and subjugation – and then it’s on to the village.

Here, the ‘villagers’ give demonstrations of grinding maize, making traditional beer and preparing food amongst other things. But it’s the dancing and drumming show that is most spectacular. The dancers really go for it, staring the audience in the eye as they launch into the Zulu War Dance, and by the end it’s a free-for-all multi-dancer melée.

How much you enjoy Shakaland will depend entirely on how much you like this sort of thing. Take the history lessons with a large pinch of salt, ignore the fact that the traditional Zulu villagers will revert back to jeans and mobile phones post-performance and take things in the spirit intended… then it’s all jolly good fun. Lunch is included in Viator’s full day Shakaland trip.

The Battlefields

A rather bloodier interpretation of Zulu history can be found in the Natal Battlefields. Key points from the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars can be found in fairly close proximity. Amongst the most famous spots are Isandlwana, where the British army suffered its worst ever defeat at the hands of a native force. The Zulus – with only with spears and shields – totally overran the heavily armed British.

Rorke’s Drift – where 139 British soldiers managed to hold off four to five thousand Zulus – has also become the stuff of legend.

A third key spot is Spioenkop, where British forces were defeated by the Boers during a nine day battle. Winston Churchill was there as a reporter and Mohandas Gandhi as a stretcher bearer. The Battlefields are excellent places to head to for those who want to know more about South Africa’s history, as well as hear tales of courage and derring-do.

-David Whitley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Durban tours & things to do in Durban, as well as tours and things to do from Viator’s other South Africa destinations: Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Lifting the veil

Saudi Arabia rarely tops the list of those ‘must see’ places unless you are Muslim and wanting to undertake pilgrimage to one of the two holy mosques of Mecca and Medina. Currently no non-Gulf Cooporation Council (GCC) passport holder can even enter the Kingdom without a sponsor, and even then if you are female this task may not be enough to be granted access.

The insription on the office of the Mutawa

In stark contrast, however, the Kingdom was one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations of 2007 and is set to continue this growth with the creation of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiques. This tourism however is almost wholely made up of pilgrims. Alongside this visas are slowly becoming more available to specialised tour operators for those wanting to glimpse the desert Kingdom.

To many, especially those from the USA, the almost ‘closed door’ politics of the Saudi tourism board isn’t much to get bothered about as the Kingdom still holds a negative image thanks to its most infamous son (that would be Osama bin Laden) coupled with allegations of human-rights abuses and the ongoing repression of women (by denying them the right to drive or vote).

The Saudis’ charitable side

There is, however, a whole other side the to kingdom. For example if you Google ‘Saudi’ and ‘Charity’ in the same search you will be inundated with articles depicting a one sided, biased opinion. Spend a little time, dig a little deeper and skip the first 50 web pages you will find out that the kingdom and its citizens are some of the most generous and charitable people in the world.

Saudi Arabia is, per capita, the largest donor of foreign aid on the planet and has over 500 charitable organisations. Many have benefited from this generosity, from America to Africa, but few know from whence this financial compassion has come. If a poll were taken in post-Katrina New Orleans, asking who was the biggest financial donor to aid their plight, you can be assured that the last country on their lips would be their true knight in shining armour, Saudi Arabia.

Alongside this benevolent side there is a great deal to see and do in The Land of the Two Holy Mosques, should you be fortunate enough to be allowed entry.

Things to see & do in Saudi Arabia

“My Kingdom will survive only insofar as it remains a country difficult to access.” That’s a quote from King Abdul Aziz bin Saud. So it’s hardly surprising that Saudi Arabia still remains ‘off the beaten’ track for many foreigners.

The Kingdom tower in central Riyadh

However the current King, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques (as he likes to be called), is seen by many as a reformer (for some too radical and for others not radical enough). Slowly but surely he is opening up the Kingdom to the world and if given the chance to visit it would not just be Lawrence of Arabia who would recommend it.

As the largest country in the Gulf, there is much to see and do. Bordering Yemen, the southwestern highlands of Asir with its temperate climate and lush forrests is seen to be one of the most lenient of the regions. Hejaz, the proud landlord of the two holiest of sites in Islam, Mecca and Media, lies in the western region.

It is here on the coast of the Red Sea that the nations second city of Jeddah is to be found, which rivals the capital Riyadh for trade and commerce in a middle eastern version of Madrid vs Barcelona. Most conservative of all is the region of Nejed, the centre of which lies the capital Riyadh with a skyline dominated by the world famous Kingdom Tower.

Next to this lies the Eastern Province dominated by the ominously named Empty Quarter which, as the name suggests, is quite desolate being home to the largest mass of sand on earth. This province is also the centre of Saudis’ wealth, oil. Finally there is the aptly named Northern region bordering Iraq and Jordan, with the Saudi version of Petra, Madain Saleh a city carved out of the rock face of a cliff (which is on UNESCO’s things to include on the World Heritage list).

Entering Rehab, ahem, Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is a dry country, not only in terms of its searing summer time heat (Riyadh can reach a painful 55°C / 131°F in the shade), but also with relation to alcohol. Unlike other GCC countries where alcohol is permitted in varying degrees, Saudi has a total no alcohol policy. Although like anything, where there is a will there is a way and in certain expat compounds you can always find someone to teach you how to make bourbon or ‘2 week wine’.

Just don’t ever let the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, or less formally the Mutawa, who patrol the streets with loudspeakers and GMC cars, catch you. In fact, whilst on the subject of the Mutawa don’t let them catch you doing anything other than breathing and if you are male hide all jewelry or you will be accused of acting like a woman.

Another culture shock is the segregation of men and women - and foreigners are by no means exempt. A woman may never be in the company of a man unless part of their close family circle or in a business environment. If you visit one of the many coffee shops that replace bars as the place to socialise, they are always split into two separate venues, one for men and one for families and women. Be sure never to go into the wrong one or else, again, you will face the wrath of the Matawa.

To get around this many young Saudi men invite their sisters along with them when they go to the local Starbucks as a ‘ticket’ into the family section in order to be able to look at girls. It is only here that woman can relax a little and litterally let their hair down, but their black abayas must stay cloaking them.

A different world

There are many things about Saudi Arabia that are constant reminders that you are in a different world. Visitors to the Kingdom are ofter regaled with tales of beheadings, amputations and beatings for violations of the law, practices which can be seen at chop chop square in Riyadh should that tickle your sadistic fancy, but in truth these punishments are usually reserved for bigger criminals. If you respect the law, which are the laws of islam, and show respect to the culture and people, you will find Saudis are in general extremely welcoming and friendly.

Despite all the restrictions, Saudi Arabia has a great many attractions to make it worth a visit should the opportunity arise. The deserts are perfect places for excursions either for a bit of Dune Bashing on quad bikes or 4×4’s or just for an evening stroll and picnic with many other Saudi familys. Around Jeddah on the Red Sea you can find some of the worlds best spots for scuba diving and numerous dive operators are available for tourists. You can go trecking in the highlands of Asir province where the mountains reach a towering 3000m and is home to various forms of wildlife such as baboons and wildcats. In stark contrast explore the expanse of the Empty Quarter where virtually no life exists above molecular level.

Dune bashing

Due to the history of Saudi Arabia and its melee of cultural influences, the food on offer is a wonderful mix of Egyptian, Indian, Lebanese, Yemmeni and Bedouin. With this in mind and the fact that eating is one of the few pleasures permitted in the Kingdom it is no surprise that eating is taken very seriously to which obesity statistics can testify.

Rent quads from local Bedouins for some dune bashing

But it it not just Middle Eastern food, one may be surpised to learn that on every corner of the big cities you can find McDonalds, Wendys, Hardees, Pizza Hut and every other fast food chain to come out of the States. In fact driving down King Fahad road in Riyadh, if you turn a blind eye to the all the men in white thobes and women in black abayas, taking in all the fast food shops, European clothes retailers, American cars one could be in any world city.

All in all for those who don’t fall into the club 18-30 category the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a wonderful tourist destination should you be priviledged enough to be allowed entry.

It is also inevitable that as the world becomes ever smaller The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud will continue to modernise and open the doors ever further. As soon as it does I recommend you visit.

-Chris Courth

If you’ve got a thing about flowers, colour, beauty, history, and/or sweet smelling air, Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands, not far from Amsterdam, is the place for you. It’s gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that no-one has ever taken a bad photograph there. Well, not of the flowers anyway.

The tulips at Keukenhof Gardens

Keukenhof is the world’s largest flower garden, over 70 acres (around 32 hectares) of parkland filled with more than 7 million bulbs - tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, narcissi, gladioli. But mainly it’s the tulips - of course, since this is the Netherlands. Located near Haarlem, just outside Amsterdam, it’s easy to get to by train and bus or car, even bicycle – this is the Netherlands. There’s even a bus that goes there direct from Schipol Airport. And once you get there, you can’t get lost in the gardens because there is one big landmark to guide your way - yep, it’s a windmill; after all, this is the Netherlands. Tulips, tick. Bicycles, tick. Windmills, tick. I haven’t got to clogs yet, but I will…

Keukenhof Garden Tours: Plan Ahead

The most important thing to remember about Keukenhof Gardens is that it’s only open in spring, when the bulbs are flowering. That’s about 8 weeks of the year. In 2010 they are open from 18 March to 16 May. The rest of the year, the bulbs sleep - not a bad gig. But during those 8 weeks, the flowers really deliver: over 800,000 people visited the gardens last spring.

Keukenhof Gardens: So pretty it almost hurts

The flower gardens at Keukenhof were established in 1949, the idea of Mr W J H Lambooy, the then mayor of the nearby town of Lisse. He and a few other local identities thought that an annual open-air flower exhibition would be a good thing - largely for the local growers of bulbs to be able to exhibit and sell their wares.

They decided on the Keukenhof Estate, using the former herb and vegetable garden area of the 15th-century Countess of Holland, Jacoba van Beieren. Hence the name of the place: Keukenhof literally means ‘kitchen garden’.

These days the park includes 7 inspiration gardens (ideas for you to try in you own, somewhat smaller, plot at home!); bronze sculptures by Dutch artists scattered around the place; changing exhibitions of flowers; and tents or kiosks from local bulb growers where you can order your favourites, which will then be delivered around September when the bulbs are in their deepest hibernation, gathering strength for next year. Every year about three billion (that’s 3,000,000,000!!) tulip bulbs are produced in Holland.

Tulips for Beginners

One of the most amazing things about tulips is the variety and colour. Every year Dutch growers breed new strains of the flower. Which brings me to more history and the most amazing thing I discovered in my investigations of Keukenhof: tulips are not Dutch at all! Well, they are now, about 500th generation (if every year is a generation for bulb?). But they do not grow wild in the Netherlands and never have.

In fact, the natural habitat of the tulip is the rocky, dry mountainous regions near the border of China and Russia. The kind of flat, below sea-level, damp earth of the Netherlands is their least favourite environment, although I’m sure by now they have adapted. And the Dutch are very good at draining soil, let’s face it. So how did tulips get to the Netherlands?

And why did they become such a national symbol? A botanist called Carolus Clusius who worked in Vienna, met with the Austrian Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, A. G. Busbequius. Busbeq gave him some tulip bulbs, a flower he had first seen in the gardens of Constantinople (now Istanbul). In fact, they are thought to be called tulips after the Persian word for turban (toliban, which when changed into Latin became tulipa) because there was a visual similarity between the hat and the flower. Clusius then took a job at the University of Leiden in Holland and planted his tulip bulbs.

From there, tulips became the new black. Tulipmania followed, with speculation in tulips reaching such dizzy heights (and losing so many Dutch their fortunes, houses and piece of mind) that the government stepped in during 1637 to stop the tulipwindhandel (literally ‘tulip wind trade’). I’m envisaging it as a vegetarian form of the pork bellies mayhem that occurs on Wall Street these days. Anyway, now the tulip is no less desired, or valuable, but it is more even-tempered in its trade. It is also now firmly a Dutch symbol and foundation of their economy, it’s roots in the east largely faded into history.

Keukenhof: Don't come if you don't like tulips

Tulips + Ukulele = Tiny Tim

But not only have tulips been so important to one country, they were crucial in the life of one short man with a high voice: Tiny Tim. His 1968 hit song, ‘Tiptoe through the Tulips’, made him a worldwide star. ,It was not an original but a cover of the song written in 1929 by Nick Lucas (the song had four other incarnations on the pop charts through the 20th century).

I think Tiny Tim was the only one to add ukulele, though, and that made him a standout! Married live on The Tonight Show surrounded by 10,000 tulips, naming his daughter Tulip, and finally being buried in a coffin full of tulips, no-one could say Tiny Tim was not grateful for the leg-up tulips gave him in life. (A useless but fascinating fact: Tiny Tim’s televised wedding to Miss Vicky in 1969 attracted 84% of the American TV audience, coming second only to the moon landing in ratings during the 1960s.

I bet producers these days wish they could match that. Perhaps if Britney surrounded herself with tulips and… but back to Keukenhof.) So, this humble flower has an incredible history. It has made people rich and lost them their houses, it has been a basis of its adopted country’s economy, it has brought joy and been cut from its bulb to be given with love, it has inspired song and television history.

Keukenhof Garden Tours: Remember, it’s March to May Only

Keukenhof Gardens is truly beautiful. The sheer scale immerses you in colour and fragrance. But I think my favourite thing about it is that it’s only open for 8 weeks each year. There’s no theme-park style manipulation of nature here. No hothouses tricking the bulbs into thinking it’s spring all year around. The flowers bloom from March to May, so that’s when you can go and see them. Perfect. One final word of advice: Keukenhof Gardens is a big place. You’ll be doing a lot of walking. You probably shouldn’t wear clogs. (And you thought I’d forgotten…)

-Philippa Burne

Book a Keukenhof Garden Tour over on the Viator site, or read more than 70 reviews of the Keukenhof Garden tours. Also check out Viator’s complete list of things to do in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Still with us? Good, then browse photos of the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in bloom on the Viator Flickr site.

Win a free Family Pass to Disney World Resort Orlando

Let’s be honest - if you have kids, there is nothing more magical than a vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. With four theme parks, two water parks, and world-class dining and entertainment, it is not an exaggeration to say there is something for everyone.

Best of all, you can go for free!

Viator is giving away a free Walt Disney World Resort family pass (valid for 2 adults and 2 children), which includes admission to all four Disney theme parks in Orlando and the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, plus park-hopper privileges for 4 full days!

But wait, there’s more! We’re also including 2 free Orlando Kids Eat Free cards, which gets your kids free meals at more than 125 restaurants in Orlando.

The total value here is over $1,200 dollars (compare this to a fully loaded 4-Day Magic Your Way Disney Pass and you’ll see what amazing value this prize is!).

Disney World Orlando Contest: How do I enter?

We want you to answer one simple question in 10 words or less: “Why should Viator give YOUR FAMILY a free Disney Orlando family pass?” Simply leave a reply for this post below with your answer - and remember, we are only accepting replies that are 10 words or less!

That’s right, answer the question “Why should Viator give YOUR FAMILY a free Disney Orlando family pass?” in 10 words or less, and you care eligible to win our contest (see terms & conditions below).

Entries must be submitted by February 16, 2010. Winners will be announced on February 19, 2010.

You can enter our contest as many times as you like, but remember, your reply must be 10 words or less or it will not be considered.

Disney World Resort Orlando: Theme park overview

The family pass gets 2 adults and 2 kids free entry to all four Disney Orlando parks. Magic Kingdom is the flagship park in this mega-complex. Centered around Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, the seven themed lands include traditional rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain along with new rides such as Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor.

Epcot is two worlds in one: World Showcase features shopping, dining and attractions from a variety of countries across the globe. On the other side of the park is Future World, with Spaceship Earth as its focal point. Here, you can discover the world of outer space, under the sea and everything in between.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all about the magic of movies, television, music and theater. Incredible shows including Fantasmic!, Indiana Jones and Playhouse Disney will keep everyone entertained all day long.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom you can travel on a safari and see lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants and more.

-Viator Travel Team

Terms & Conditions: Our staff will pick the entry that we think best answers the question above, in 10 words or less. We are providing one (1) free Family Pass to the Walt Disney World Resort valid for 2 adults and 2 children. The Family Pass includes free admission to all 4 Disney theme parks in Orlando, 2 water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) plus park-hopper privileges for 4 days. In addition we’re adding including 2 Orlando Kids Eat Free cards.

Airfare, hotel, taxes, and any other expenses are not included. We provide an unforgettable family experience in Orlando, you need to get there on your own!

Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be sold or redeemed for any cash value. You must redeem all prizes by December 31, 2010.

When you think of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a holiday spot, sun and sand probably come to mind. You picture yourself working on your tan on the beach all day, punctuated by dips in the Arabian Sea – which you would normally associate with summer anywhere else.

Yet summer in the Persian Gulf region is unbearably hot and humid. Winter is actually high season in the UAE and Dubai; November to April is the best time to visit this easygoing Middle East destination. With that in mind here are 10 reasons to visit the UAE in winter.

#1 - Winter is warm in the UAE

While the UK and Europe and parts of the USA are experiencing freezing winter temperatures, in the UAE there is a balmy average of around 20˚C (70˚F). You can still bask in the sun on the beaches of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and the resorts that line the dramatic east coast of Fujairah and Khor Fakkhan, without turning into burnt toast.

View of the Burj Arab from Bahri Bar

Even if you’re not staying at a beach resort, there are plenty of pristine, white-sand, public beaches, including Open Beach (AKA Russian Beach), Kite Beach and Umm Suqeim at Jumeirah in Dubai, and beaches dotted all along the UAE’s coastline. Ajman has loads of lovely creamy sand beaches and Khor Fakkhan’s main beach is backed by a grassy park with has more facilities than most.

#2 - The cities are walkable!

For most of the year it’s impossible to walk anywhere in the UAE – let’s just say it’s akin to being inside a hot oven. Fortunately in winter the country’s cities are wonderfully walkable. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Khor Fakkhan all have stunning Corniches or seaside promenades, where locals like to stroll, jog and rollerblade, and in the evening and on weekends they really buzz.

In Dubai you can walk right along the Creek: start at Al Seef Road Park in Bur Dubai, meander the labyrinthine lanes of the artsy Bastakiya quarter, then mosey through the textile souq all the way to historic Shindagha; backtrack to the abra station and take one of the small wooden boats across the Creek where you can wander along the fascinating dhow docks.

Walking along the corniche in Sharjah

Sharjah also has a wharf where the dhows anchor that is interesting to amble, and the pedestrianised heritage and arts precincts that are much more pleasant to saunter in winter. In Al Ain, the shady paths of the date plantations are infinitely more pleasurable to meander at this time of the year.

#3 - Throw a snag on the grill

Winter means it’s time to get the barbecue out for most locals and expats. On weekends and weeknights the cities’ parks are crowded with families and friends picnicking and grilling smoky kebabs on tiny portable barbecues.

This they’ll follow with coffee and sheesha (water pipe) and a game of something – for the Indians and expats from Commonwealth countries it’s cricket season, and for everyone else it will be some other kind of ball sport or a more sedate game of backgammon on a fold-up table. Grab some picnic supplies from the deli counter of a supermarket and join them.

In Dubai, head for palm-shaded Creekside Park with manicured lawns stretching from Al Garhoud Bridge all the way to Al Maktoum Bridge, kiosks, a cable car and gorgeous city views; 51-hectare park Za’abeel Park, Dubai’s answer to New York’s Central Park, boasts lakes and ponds, sports facilities, a café, and jaw-dropping views of Sheikh Zayed Road’s skyline at sunset; and Jumeirah Beach Park, on Jumeirah Rd, where palm trees shade barbeques and picnic tables set on lush lawns overlooking a lovely long stretch of beach.

#4 - Winter shopping is best

Every UAE city has a chaotic souq (market) of some kind, and gaping at the dazzling displays of gold, haggling for fine Persian carpets, or browsing stalls crammed with sacks of frankincense and spices are a must no matter what time of year you visit. But it’s much more fun to haggle with the stall-holders for bargains when the perspiration is not dripping from your brow, your clothes are not drenched with sweat, and you don’t feel the need to retreat to an air-conditioned shopping mall every few minutes.

The most lively and interesting souqs are in Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain; Ras Al Khaimah and Um Al Quwein have tiny ramshackle souqs; Abu Dhabi has an interesting Iranian souq at the mina (port) although it’s mainly household goods. In winter, you’ll also get to discover markets that are only held during the cooler months. In Dubai there is a weekend arts and crafts market at Dubai Marina, a flea market at Safa Park, and an art fair in the Bastakiya quarter. In Fujairah, you’ll find a colourful market right along the waterfront.

#5 - It’s festival time!

Winter also sees plenty of festivals in the country. Given the country’s preoccupation with shopping, we’ll start with the one that helped put Dubai on the map, the Dubai Shopping Festival (Jan 28–Feb 28). It’s a month of credit-card-busting bargains best explored at Dubai’s mega-malls such as Mall of the Emirates and The Dubai Mall. It’s incredibly popular, but the popularity of Modhesh the event mascot with the head of a yellow M&M and the body of a concertina footpump, remains a mystery.

From late November until the end of February Dubai is home to the Global Village, with pavilions representing an array of cultures from around the world with plenty of entertainment and, of course, shopping. Attracting acts from all over the world is the Dubai Jazz Fest in Mid-February, with a more eclectic program than the name would suggest.

A little bit more ‘earthy’ is Dubai’s Heritage & Diving Village on the Creek at Shindagha, which comes alive on winter nights. There’s no denying this recreation of a traditional Bedouin coastal village is touristy, but in winter you’ll find more Emiratis here than foreigners, when there are traditional song and dance performances, including the mesmerising Liwa dance where Emirati men in crisp white dishdashas stand in rows facing each other and sway back and forth with their canes.

Traditional performance at the Dubai Heritage & Diving Village

#6 - Spectator Sports Galore

The cooler months sees Dubai’s sporting calendar move into top gear. Starting it off was the 3-day Dubai Rugby 7s held in December – a big set of dates on Dubai’s social calendar for expats, so much so that they had to construct a purpose-built venue for the event. Dubai’s penchant for ugly mascots continues unimpeded, mascot Saba’a the camel is perhaps the least attractive on earth.

For those who want to participate in an international sporting event rather than just watch, the Dubai Marathon is held late-January and features a full marathon, 10km road race and 3km fun run. Dubai is so flat you might just record your best time ever.

Back to watching the worlds’ best: the action heats up with The Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament early February featuring some of the best players in the world, followed later in the month by Dubai Tennis Championships that attracts the world’s best women’s players followed by the men’s tournament a week later.

While horse racing is on all winter, late March sees the end of the sports season marked by the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse racing program, with a total purse prize of over US$26 million.

#7 - You can do stuff

November to April is the best time to visit Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can admire Dubai’s 3,000-plus, pretty, pink flamingo population that flocks here in winter months; binoculars can be borrowed at the viewing hides.

If you’re in a hurry to see the city, you could do worse than take the open-top, hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus tour of Dubai – riding in the breeze at other times of the year will leave your skin red as a beet.

Sometimes pointlessly derided as ‘fake’ by those who don’t know how to have fun, a desert safari offers the opportunity to get out and tick off a bunch of must-do Dubai boxes: wild desert driving (only in approved areas, of course), camel riding, sandboarding, smoking sheesha, feasting on Middle Eastern food, bellydancing, henna tattoos and, of course, drooling at the desert sunset.

Winter is the best time for a safari by far. We think it’s worth it for the sunset over the sand dunes alone.

A sunset camel ride on a Dubai Desert Safari

#8 - You can eat al fresco

UAE cities boast countless cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating that are impossible to enjoy most of the year, but in winter lunching in the sun or dining under the stars is sublime.

In Dubai, Basta Art Café, located in the leafy courtyard of a traditional windtower building in the Bastakiya, is one of the most atmospheric places for lunch. In the evenings, an Arabic meal and sheesha at creekside Kan Zaman at Al Shindagha is an enchanting spot to watch the nightly parade of illuminated party boats on the Creek.

For a romantic meal, Pier Chic, a seafood restaurant on a wharf offshore from Al Qasr Hotel has magical views of Madinat Jumeirah; Chinese restaurant Zheng He’s nearby at Mina A’Salam Hotel has breathtaking vistas of Burj Al Arab; alluring Eauzone, at the One&Only Royal Mirage hotel, is accessed across a low-list boardwalk and surrounded by tranquil ponds and a swimming pool; while Maya, a chic Mexican restaurant at Le Royal Méridien Hotel, has alfresco dining tables as well as a rooftop bar with sea views.

Many of the cheap shwarma (like doner kebab) stands and simple Lebanese and Indian restaurants often have outdoor seating where you can watch the world go by. In Dubai, try Al Mallah for tasty Lebanese food on buzzy Al Dhiyafah Street, Satwa; and Al Mateena Rd, Deira, with its palm-filled median and dozens of Iraqi and Persian kebab restaurants. Ashwaq Cafeteria, one block from the Gold Souq, has tiny tables and stools you can perch while you people-watch.

#9 - You can drink in the breeze

Winter evenings are wonderful in the UAE, like spring nights elsewhere, and there are some fantastic outdoor bars where you can down some drinks with friends while enjoying the salty sea breeze.

In Dubai, you can watch the boats bobbing on the water with a glass of bubbly at The Terrace at the Park Hyatt Hotel, a waterfront vodka and champagne bar. Or drink Guinness on the grass as you watch a live band at the Irish Village, Al-Garhoud. Sip a glass of white as you enjoy the Burj Al Arab light show from the wooden veranda of colonial-style Bahri Bar, Mina A’ Salam Hotel; or smoke aromatic sheesha reclining on cushions surrounded by palm trees illuminated with fairy lights at the Sheesha Courtyard, One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel. If your thing is cocktails to the beat of a DJ overlooking the Arabian Seam, head to the funky rooftop bar 360 degrees at Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

#10 -And if you really want, you can still ski!

If, after all this, you’re starting to get anxious over the white winter you’re missing while you’re here, you can always hit the slopes at Ski Dubai, Dubai’s first indoor ski resort. It’s the real deal, with a quad lift and a drag lift, a ‘black’ run, and a kid’s snowpark. All the equipment is included in the price, you just need to bring gloves. There’s even a café where you can have a hot chocolate on the snow – and you won’t need to de-ice the rental car to get home…

–Lara Dunston & Terry Carter

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s complete list of Dubai tours & things to do, from Dubai desert safaris to Dubai city sightseeing tours.