Travel news: Epic Air New Zealand Hobbit safety video

Plus, Celebrate Christmas with Jumeirah, Family time with InterContinental and Pavilions Monte-Carlo officially opens.

Pavilions Monte-Carlo in Monaco. Courtesy Monaco Tourist Authority

Oct 30, 2014

Epic Air New Zealand Hobbit safety video

Air New Zealand has unveiled its newest, and probably most epic, safety video. Ahead of the December release of the final film in The Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, the safety video features Elijah Wood, Dean O'Gorman, Sylvester McCoy and the movie's celebrated director Peter Jackson. The video was shot over six days across a number of New Zealand's "Middle Earth" locations, including Hobbiton and Central Otago, both of which appear in the trilogy. The video itself, which has already racked up more than 6.5 million views on YouTube, will be progressively rolled out throughout the whole Air New Zealand network and can be viewed at www.airnewzealand.com.

Celebrate Christmas with Jumeirah

The Jumeirah Group has announced special offers at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel to celebrate this year's Christmas season. Guests can book any room category for a minimum of three nights and receive a 20 per cent discount off the best available rates. On December 25, there will be a festive brunch at Nomad restaurant, with prices from Dh330 to Dh550; also at Nomad, there will be a gala dinner buffet on New Year's Eve, including entertainment, with prices from Dh600 to Dh900. Blue Flame has a gala dinner on New Year's Eve, too, with prices from Dh600, including selected beverages and a set dinner menu. For more details or to book, visit www.jumeirah.com.

Family time with InterContinental

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has announced its Family Getaway Package at the InterContinental Singapore, available from now until February 28. Families will receive tickets for two adults and one child to Singapore Zoo, where they can see more than 2,800 animals. Rates start from 400 Singapore dollars (Dh1,152) per night, for two adults and one child, including breakfast for up to two guests. For more information, visit www.ihg.com.

Pavilions Monte-Carlo officially opens

Société des Bains de Mer has launched Pavilions Monte-Carlo in Monaco. The five pavilions will be in place for the next four years and give a new shopping opportunity in central Monaco. The structures will house a variety of brands that were previously located on Avenue des Beaux-Arts. Visitors can view the latest collections from a number of fashion houses, including Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta. The futuristic pop-up structures accommodate 20 boutiques and were designed by Richard Martinet and Chérif Jahlan. For more information, visit www.visitmonaco.com.

alane@thenational.ae