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Author Topic: Room with a view  (Read 375630 times)

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Offline Ian

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #465 on: December 20, 2014, 08:00:25 am »
Interestingly, Signatures has emailed all its members to let them know there are still vacancies on the 22nd, but their website states they're closed on the Monday. It's all a little confused.  Two emails have been sent out.  The first states:

"MONDAY 23rd DEC- BOOKINGS STILL AVAILABLE!"

and that was followed, 29 minutes later, by the second:

"MONDAY 22nd DEC- BOOKINGS STILL AVAILABLE!"

This is the first I'd heard about them being open this coming Monday. Curious.
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Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline hollins

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #466 on: December 20, 2014, 08:04:46 am »
Quote
Which hotel is that Hollins, the St Regis?

Yes, the one on Saadiyat Island. Have you been there?
« Last Edit: December 20, 2014, 08:06:34 am by Ian »
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Offline hollins

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #467 on: December 20, 2014, 08:08:57 am »
Thanks Ian. I was just trying to figure out how to do that when I saw your reply had come in between. You're on the ball there!
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Offline Mr Tunnock

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #468 on: December 20, 2014, 08:13:09 am »
No, on my list, we have been to the Fairmont a couple of times, a great hotel but we do like a walk on the beach when we are away and Fairmont is a little confined for that.
I  have found Abu Dhabi a little better value than Dubai over the  last couple of years, both great places for a bit of Winter sun!
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Offline Ian

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #469 on: December 20, 2014, 08:20:45 am »
Quote
Thanks Ian. I was just trying to figure out how to do that when I saw your reply had come in between. You're on the ball there!

We aim to please... 

I* VV %0% VV I*
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Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline hollins

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #470 on: December 20, 2014, 08:27:44 am »
Quote
I  have found Abu Dhabi a little better value than Dubai over the  last couple of years, both great places for a bit of Winter sun!

Yes, totally agree.
It is a good time to go to Saadiyat now before the construction starts in earnest. At the moment the hotel is pretty much on its own. In the distance they are building the Louvre and the other way the nearest building is the Park Hyatt but they have started the foundations of a Rotana hotel next to that. The beach there is wonderful and really long. I set off walking at 4pm one day and didn't reach the end before having to turn back because of the dark approaching. The photo shows how far I got.
« Last Edit: December 20, 2014, 08:31:23 am by Ian »
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Offline Mr Tunnock

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #471 on: December 20, 2014, 09:23:56 am »
Many thanks for the advice and photo, reminds me of the beaches in Dubai when we first went there.
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Offline hollins

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #472 on: December 20, 2014, 09:40:43 am »
Yes, exactly. Here is a photo I took of the beach in 1996 where the One and Only Royal Mirage is now. That is the Hilton in the distance.
(Apologies to those who have seen this before.)
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Offline hollins

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #473 on: December 20, 2014, 09:45:07 am »
The Hilton is still there. Here it is a couple of weeks ago!
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Offline Mr Tunnock

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #474 on: December 20, 2014, 10:11:45 am »
We've walked up and down that beach a few times over the years, I remember looking at the back of the Royal Meridien towards desert before they built the marina and the rest of the buildings.
Had a lovely meal in the Grosvenor House last time we were there and the Thai at the top of the Dusit, the one thing above all that stands out is the outstanding service over there and the genuine smiles from those who provide it.
I wouldn't mind trying Muscat one day, such a big wide world though and so many places to go.
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Offline hollins

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #475 on: December 20, 2014, 10:57:43 am »
Yes, the service is second to none and I have yet to have a bad meal over there. Let us know if you go to Muscat, sounds good.
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Offline Neil

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #476 on: December 21, 2014, 12:46:41 am »
Slavery was abolished in the Uk in 1833, it still exists in Abu Dhabi and similar States in the Middle East, if you are happy with this go and enjoy the sunshine.
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Offline Ian

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #477 on: December 21, 2014, 07:59:34 am »
Slavery was abolished throughout the Middle East by 1968, and is now officially illegal in every country in the world. However, depending on the precise definitions employed, there are still many millions effectively living in slavery on a list topped by India and followed, in order of magnitude, by China (2.9 million), Pakistan (2.1 million), Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Bangladesh, according to the anti-slavery Walk Free Foundation's 2014 report.  In 2013 the US State Dept released a report into Human Trafficking which identified the worst offenders as being Russia, China, Uzbekistan with Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe. The list also included Algeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait but no list has identified Abu Dhabi, interestingly.

Even if we allow that the US Dept's outlook is distinctly political, Walk Free is independent and widely respected. Walk Free's report also allocates an indicator according to the strength of each Government's response to slavery and how they deal with it. The Netherlands comes out best, with the UK being 8th on the list.

Reports:

US State Dept
Walk Free 2014 slavery list
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Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline hollins

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #478 on: January 04, 2015, 11:10:12 am »
Quote from: Hugo on September 17, 2012, 10:03:45 am
Quote from: hollins on September 16, 2012, 06:32:30 pm
Ha! Well spotted Hugo!
Have you stayed there too?
My room was the one under the chimney pot on the right.

No I haven't stayed at the Hotel, we just had a day trip to the resort but I recognised the location from your photo and I remembered the Monkey Puzzle tree as well.

We didn't stay here this time but sad to say Hugo that I noticed the monkey puzzle tree is no more. It must have been a victim of last winter's storms.
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Offline DaveR

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Re: Room with a view
« Reply #479 on: January 04, 2015, 06:19:39 pm »
Just back from a weekend in Harrogate,  staying at the Old Swan Hotel. Nice place, we had tea at Bettys, dinner at Jamie Olivers Italian restaurant and squeezed in a visit to York. Came back overthe Yorkshire Dales, very scenic route.
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