There’s a long weekend approaching, and you know what that means: it’s time to get away. And while most folks are looking closer to home (like boutique B&Bs in Goa, Kerala and Puducherry), we’ve got our eyes trained firmly on a quick, fuss-free, easy yet glamorous hop over to Dubai, courtesy the Oberoi Group’s two gorgeous properties—The Oberoi, Dubai and The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah. And because it’s a little difficult to choose between the two, you should consider both. Hear us out:
Thursday, March 21 is a holiday for Holi. We’d usually advocate booking the first flight out to make the most of your stay, but check-in time for The Oberoi, Dubai (and the beachside Al Zorah property) isn’t till 3pm, so consider booking for the day before and flying out the evening the 20th—you’ll get a full-night’s rest and wake up fresh in DXB.
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah
Let’s break it down: Thursday is a holiday, so all you need to do is take Friday (March 22) off and you have four days to unwind. Plan day one and two in Dubai; the weekend in the UAE is Thursday and Friday, which means the city is buzzing and there’s plenty to do and see.
The Oberoi, Dubai, is only a 20-minute drive from the airport, and its prime Business Bay location means its minutes away from the retail wonderland that is Dubai Mall. Currently, the hotel is offering a two-night stay in a Deluxe City View Room—complete with modern furnishings, original artworks, and a gloriously detailed pillow menu—for Rs. 32,531 (AED 1,700), plus tax per night, for a minimum stay of two nights (this is also where that extra night mentioned above cleverly comes into play).
The Oberoi, Dubai
In terms of dining, the city definitely has its share of excellent restaurants, but don’t miss out on a meal at the in-house restaurants: Nine7One for all-day dining, Ananta for gourmet Indian fare, Waka for authentic Latin American cuisine, and MATTO for Italian. And don’t miss sunset from the open-air lounge, Iris. Its 27th-floor location means it’s a prime selfie spot, with breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa and the city skyline stretching out beyond.
48hr Braised Short-Rib with Porcini Mushroom and Plim, The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al-Zorah
Check out on Friday and drive an hour north to get to the sprawling The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, in Ajman, where you can snag a Premier Room for Rs. 27,077(AED 1,415) plus tax, per night, also for a minimum stay of two nights. Each Premier Room comes with a private balcony with uninterrupted ocean, sunset or garden views, that same wonderful pillow menu we can’t get enough of, and our personal favourite touch—a beach bag. Clearly, it’s all about swapping the frenzy of city life for the slow pleasures of resort living—and who wouldn’t want that? Dive head first into water sports and go kayaking, kite surfing, jet skiing and paragliding, or venture further out on a deep-sea fishing expedition or a sailboat cruise. Stop by the Spa as well, where an hour-long Luxury Hammam treatment will have you feeling good as new. Of course, you can also simply choose to do nothing, which is what we often like to do on a holiday, and just focus on bronzing yourself under the Middle-Eastern sun.
