Fourth Marriott for Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi got its fourth Marriott hotel this week, with the opening of the Marriott Hotel Al Forsan at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Khalifa City A. The new property has 400 rooms and suites, a full-service spa, a pool and six restaurants and lounges. Double rooms cost from Dh653 per night, including taxes.
Ferrari Land Spain to open on April 7
Tickets have gone on sale for the new Ferrari Land theme park opening at Portaventura World near Tarragona, Spain, on April 7. The park, 100 kilometres west of Barcelona, includes a recreation of Venice's St Mark's Campanile, Europe's tallest roller coaster and a Ferrari-themed hotel. The park is the second Ferrari theme park, after the first opened in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Day tickets cost €60 (Dh234) for adults and €52 (Dh203) per child. For more information, visit www.portaventuraworld.com/en/ferrari-land
A first Hilton Curio for the Middle East
The first hotel in the Middle East under the Hilton brand Curio has opened at the Mall of Qatar near Doha. The 201-room Al Rayyan Hotel Doha has three outdoor pools, a rooftop terrace, a spa and five restaurants. Rooms cost from 750 Qatari rials (Dh756) per night, including taxes.
Vientiane gets 5-star luxury hotel
Travellers to the quiet Laos capital Vientiane finally have a stylish luxury hotel option, with the opening of The President by Akaryn, which is part of a Bangkok-based brand of boutique hotels that is a member of the Small Leading Hotels of the World. The grand neoclassical property has just 32 suites; US$283 (Dh1,039) per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.akaryn.com.
Qatar to launch Skopje flights
GCC travellers will have another route to the Balkan state of Macedonia this summer after Qatar Airways announced a direct route to the capital Skopje from Doha starting on July 17. FlyDubai operates a direct service from Dubai while Etihad flies via Belgrade and Emirates via Vienna. Return flights from the UAE to Skopje via Doha cost from Dh2,170, including taxes. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com.
rbehan@thenational.ae
