Grand Hyatt Doha - a lavish Arabian-style retreat

It is interesting to see that Hyatt Hotels & Resorts have opened the new Grand Hyatt Doha, an impressive hotel and residential complex, and the first Hyatt hotel to be built in Qatar.

Located in Doha’s new West Bay Lagoon district, Grand Hyatt Doha is situated in its own thirty-eight acres of grounds with 400 metres of beautiful private beach, and offers 249 guest rooms as well as 91 private residences. Despite its idyllic and peaceful location the hotel is actually only minutes away from the city’s financial and commercial centres, and places of cultural and historical interest, which include the newly launched Museum of Islamic Art. Another convenience is that the hotel is only 12.5 miles/20km from Doha International Airport.

The hotel combines a beautiful old-world exterior design with modern and artistic interior design. Key features include a huge atrium and a grand lobby featuring a floor-to-ceiling, 17 metre high glass window. The hotel has three outdoor swimming pools, one indoor swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness centre, and, very much in keeping with modern hotel trends, a large spa.

The hotel has some fabulous restaurants too: Issan serves authentic Thai cuisine prepared in an open kitchen, where the diners can see the spicy food being freshly prepared. The Grill has indoor and outdoor seating, and here you can enjoy grills of the finest meats and seafood.

Qatar itself has an interesting range of leisure activities on offer, including desert safaris, deep-sea fishing, various water sports, equestrian activities, and falconry. So if you would like to see something of this beautiful, warm Arab emirate, Grand Hyatt Doha could be just the place to head for.



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Ljubljana - a perfect rendez-vous

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is classified as a mid-sized European city, but it has preserved its small-town friendliness and relaxed atmosphere while providing all the facilities of a modern capital.

Irrespective of the weather and time of the year, it has plenty to offer to visitors. It boasts an extraordinarily large number of sights, picturesque areas and pleasant nooks and crannies. Distances within Slovenia are short, which makes Ljubljana a perfect base for exploring Slovenia's diverse beauty.

During winter, its dreamy central European character prevails, and during summer its relaxed Mediterranean feel. The unique-looking old city centre combines the heritage of the medieval period with Baroque and Art Nouveau masterpieces, ancient Roman monuments and the unique legacy of the famous architect Jože Plečnik. Ljubljana's surrounding areas boast a range of natural sights and a rich cultural heritage. Slovenia is famed for the beauties of its unspoiled nature. Ljubljana's green outskirts and surrounding areas offer excellent opportunities for all kinds of outdoor recreation. Anything is possible: from mere recreational activities to breathtaking high-adrenalin adventures, the most popular involving mountain biking, white water rafting, canyoning and mountain climbing.

The main feature of the evenings in Ljubljana is an abundance of cultural events. Ljubljana is a city of culture, which, among other things, boasts one of the oldest philharmonic halls in the world. Every year, it hosts over 10,000 cultural events, including concerts, theatre performances and exhibitions by some of the greatest names of the international art establishment, as well as a variety of events by alternative and avant-garde artists. Particularly worth mentioning are Ljubljana's 14 international festivals.

For those looking for more fun after the cultural events have been over, the entertainment in Ljubljana goes on until morning. The offer is, of course, adapted to suit various tastes. Quite late at night, you can enjoy yourself at restaurants with live music, various pubs and wine bars, or – especially during the summer season – have a relaxing sit down at any of the numerous open-air cafés located at the banks of the Ljubljanica river.

Learn more about Ljubljana on its official website at http://www.visitljubljana.si/. Spread the Word: Share/Submit or Bookmark this Post...

Born to be Wild? Try Andalucia on a Harley-Davidson

If you love motorcycles, and you really miss your bike when you go away on holiday, then you might think about heading for the five-star Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona on the Costa del Sol. Here can hire a top of the range Harley-Davidson which makes for a great way to explore beautiful Andalucia. You can rent a Harley for one full day or for even longer, and you can choose from V-ROD, Roadking, Heritage Soft Tail Classic, Fat Boy or Soft Tail Deuce models. You can hire up to eight bikes, so it makes for a great trip for a group of motorcycle enthusiasts!

If you need any advice about where to go the hotel concierge can advise you on the best routes for bikers. One of the most popular routes is the meandering, scenic road to Ronda, which is a ride of about one hour from the hotel, offering magnificent panoramic views all the way. One of the best bits is the ancient bridge at Ronda which stretches over a canyon that will take your breath away.

You won’t be short of food on your biking trip either, find yourself a really scenic spot to eat, park your bike up, and tuck into a fine picnic of fine cheeses and meats, different types of home-made bread packed by the hotel’s chefs. All this can be washed down with an alcohol-free chilled beer.

Needless to say, the motorcycle is provided along with a helmet. You have to be at least 25 years of age and you must have a motorcycle driving license.

Harley-Davidson hire costs 185 Euros per day, for two people, with a distance limit of 200km. This price includes VAT, third party insurance, two helmets, sidebags for storage and locks. The bikes should be booked a minimum of two days in advance, and the picnics can be prepared on request.

If motorbiking is not quite your thing then other thrilling activities include jet skiing, water skiing, and Ferrari or Lamborghini rental.


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