Staycation and SBG Weekend Griller at Swissotel Al Ghurair

Located in the old district of a dazzling city is a gem of a hotel that offers comfort, convenience, and sweeping views of both old and new structures. With Union Metro Station around the corner and the Dubai Creek only a stone's throw, Swissotel Al Ghurair is considered one of Deira's best hotel accommodations for travelers. 

From a Dubai resident's point of view, I see Swissotel Al Ghurair as an ideal spot for special dinners and events for several years. And just recently, I realized how suitable it is for staycations as well! 

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A Perfect City Break at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel

Now that the world is slowly coping up with the COVID-19 situation - safety protocols have been implemented here and there - Ed and I have also learned to embrace the new norm. Recently, we started to spend more time outdoors for a natural dose of Vitamin D which I believe we are deficient with by now. And being home buddies and couch potatoes for several months, we finally opted to break away from the mundane household routine with hotel staycations.

Last week, we spent a night at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel. Freshly reopened and launched with an ALLSAFE label, we were confident that we'll experience a much-needed city break with peace of mind.

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Budget-Friendly Family Staycation at Premier Inn Dubai Dragon Mart

Long before COVID-19 shook the world, my parents flew over to Dubai for a quick visit. It became a sort of tradition to spend a night or two in a hotel every time they arrive. Ed and I are often caught up with work, hence staying in a hotel has been an excellent way to spend more quality time, catch up and bond with them in a relaxed atmosphere.

Tested and proven for comfortable yet budget-friendly stays, we spent a night in the newly-opened Premier Inn Hotel in Dubai.   

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Stylish City Staycation in Novotel Dubai Al Barsha

What makes up a short yet satisfying staycation?

If you ask me, it should be in a place not too far away from home; fewer travel hours and more time to kick back and relax. A spacious hotel room with a view will come in handy. And huge plus points if I can indulge in my fave comfort food (seafood dinner perhaps) and if it has a pool where I can swim my worries away!

How lucky I am to tick off all those when I badly needed a quick break a few weeks ago!

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Things I Love about Premier Inn Al Jaddaf

I have heard about Al Jaddaf a few times before, but most of the time, it was all about the dhow building yard. I thought it is a far-off deserted place located at the end of the Dubai Metro's Green Line. Little did I know, Al Jaddaf has quickly flourished into one of the most sought after communities in Dubai! 

It is in this thriving localle that Premier Inn Dubai opened a new hotel! Judging from the outside, Premier Inn Al Jaddaf is quite different from all the other Premier Inns I've seen. It looks very Dubai with its sand-hued facade and windcatchers! And when we stayed there last weekend, it realized that it is much more than a charming traditional exterior! 

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OYO Rooms: Budget Stay in the UAE

I'm a huge fan of budget travel, but here's the catch - I'm not the one who's willing to compromise comfort and convenience. Being always after the value of money, I was thrilled when I heard about the launching of OYO Rooms in the UAE.  

What is OYO? 

OYO Rooms is actually not a newbie in the budget travel category. It originated in India in 2013 as a startup which aimed to standardize the services in budget hotels and guesthouses. It has become South Asia's largest hospitality group, and now it's being introduced to the world; one country at a time.  

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Premier Inn: Budget Stay in Dubai with a Passport to Discounts

Apologies for the month-long silence on this blog. Once in a while, I do some blogger detox to focus on more important things in life; priceless things like spending time with my family. :)

Last month, my parents visited me in my second home - Dubai - for the third time. This time, I wanted them to experience the finer things this city can offer. But you know me, I always find ways to see/eat/do more while spending less, and I have a new discovery! It's the Premier Inn Passport!

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A Polynesian-themed Staycation in Lapita Hotel Dubai

Having a taste of Lapita Hotel's Polynesian hospitality during a Daycation Brunch last year, Ed and I were keen on going back for a proper staycation. We super love the island vibe that drifted us away from the desert to the tropics in an instant. So a few months later, we found ourselves back in Lapita for Ed's birthday. The hotel stay + park access package was a no-brainer for us who crave for a little R&R plus a whole lot of adventure on the side.

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A Stylish and Affordable Staycation at Centro Barsha

Dubai can sometimes be overwhelming for budget-savvy travelers. With world-famous attractions and lavish hotels scattered all over the city, one can easily label Dubai as an expensive place to visit. But living here for nearly a decade, I have learned that this melting pot is not just for those who have money to burn.

Beyond the fancy lifestyle, Dubai has a string of affordable hotels fit for the new generation of travelers - basically, for those who want to see more, spend less and stay comfortable. Ed and I, being budget-conscious travelers ourselves, can pretty much relate to this!    

Here in the UAE, one of the hotel brands that we adore is Centro. It is an affordable lifestyle hotel brand of Rotana - a trusted name in the hospitality industry. We have stayed in two Centro hotels in Abu Dhabi and one in Sharjah a long time ago, and last weekend, we were in Centro Barsha in Dubai.  

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Overnight Stay at Royal Continental Hotel Dubai

Traveling to Dubai sometime soon? If you're searching for a good place to stay, I have a recommendation. Ed and I recently had an overnight stay at the newly-opened Royal Continental Hotel in Deira.

My first impression was that it is perfect for stylish yet budget-savvy travelers. And that impression lasted throughout our stay.     

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One Night Stay at the Tallest Hotel in the World

It was October last year when Ed surprised me with an overnight stay at the tallest hotel in the world. He is not a big spender, but I usually get super spoiled during special occasions. And during that time, we were celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary.

Just a little trivia, the Top 4 tallest hotels in the world are all located in Dubai! Awesome, right? The most staggering of them all, JW Marriott Marquis, is a 1,100 ft twin-tower business hotel. It is impressively standing along Sheikh Zayed Road, cladded in blue glass panels and crowned with a striking design at the topmost floor!  

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City Break in Villa Rotana

Shiny and staggering skyscraper hotels, that's what Sheikh Zayed Road is known for. I would always look out the window to adore the modern-day architecture during weekend commutes. But each time, my attention is drawn to a hotel that differs from the rest. 

Tucked in Dubai's most bustling road, the 5-storey high Villa Rotana stands elegantly distinct from the rest of the pack. It has a classic European architecture that gets even more mesmerizing when lighted up at night. It is so eye-catching that I wondered what is beneath the grand facade for years! 

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Dubai 101: The Frequently Asked Questions

Blogging is fun!!! Okay, in all honesty, I never felt it was on first month as a blogger. Those were the lonely days when I felt like my only reader was my dear husband, the dreary days when the comment box was empty, the crazy days when it seemed like I was just talking to myself online! 

The Blog World became amazing when I started to interact with fellow bloggers. It was when I realized that I was never alone! There are people who are walking with me in the same path with the same goal. One of them is Brennan, the blogger behind www.baktincorporation.com. He has been blogging since 2006 about his travels, food trips, favorite books and perspectives. He is an inspiration to the newbies, like me, in the Blogosphere. In fact, he is nominated for Best Cebu Blogs Awards 2013 (vote for him here). 

Every now and then, Brennan collaborates with a blogger for his 7-Questions series. They would casually answer seven frequently asked questions about a certain place! So, when Brennan asked me to work with him on his "Dubai in 7 Questions" post, I was really thrilled since this would be of great help to future travelers. 

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