STAYCATIONS GAIN TRACTION

Every year staycations grow in appeal thanks to a combination of choice, price and quality – and this year they look set to prosper from travel restrictions and laptop bans. The thought of an in-flight gadget ban could be enough to force 26 per cent of parents of young children to abandon flights abroad, according to research by price comparison and switching service uSwitch.com

Hoteliers always cut rates to drive revenues during the low season but in the current climate of declining RevPARs and increased competition, consumers have rarely had it so good.

Properties are responding with welcome innovations. La Ville Hotel & Suites City Walk is offering ‘Daycations’ between 10am-6pm where you can spend the day, use the pool and access a Deluxe room to relax and freshen up (AED400 for two adults and up to two children). The offer runs until the end of August.

Otherwise many are resorting to the tried-and-tested incentives on F&B. The Shangri-La Hotel Dubai is offering a generous 50 per cent off all drinks until September 15, covering everything from poolside smoothies to lobby-meet coffees.

SECRET STAYS WITH DNATA TRAVEL

dnata Travel has launched ‘Secret Stays’ which it claims offers the best last-minute deals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and savings of up to 65 per cent. Two deals will be posted every Sunday and Monday online and to ‘unlock’ them, customer need to call 04-3898999. On completing the booking, hotel vouchers will be sent by email.

The offers are non-refundable and exclusive to dnata Travel, and they cannot be redeemed on the same hotel’s website. dnatatravel.com