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Khaleej Times
05-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE summer travel: Dh99 staycations win over pricey flight tickets, visa hassles
A summer vacation abroad is surely an enticing option, but might not always be easy on the pocket. Especially when hotels in the UAE are luring vacationers with attractive rates. With air fares soaring and international travel becoming more expensive, many UAE residents are now opting to spend their summer holidays within the country. And to their surprise, hotels and resorts across the UAE are offering special deals, with staycations starting from just Dh99 per night. While the summer months are usually spent in overseas travel for many families, this year has seen a shift. Residents are saying the high cost of air tickets, visa hassles, and overall increase in travel expenses is the reasons behind choosing to holiday in the UAE. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. "I calculated all the costs, and it's nearly double the usual price,' said Faisal M., a marketing executive, a resident of Al Qusais. 'For a family of four, even a short trip abroad is just too expensive when you include flights, hotels, food, and activities. So, we decided to try a staycation in the UAE. It's cheaper, easier, and still fun.' To meet the growing interest in local holidays, many hotels are offering great summer deals. These include early check-in and late check-out, lower room rates, discounts on food, and fun activities for families. Special offers and discounts Some hotels are running weekly offers where you can book a room for as low as Dh99. Rove Hotels is offering 10,000 rooms for just AED 99 per night across all its UAE properties, with bookings open from July 1 to 7 and stays valid until August 31, 2025. Premier Inn has rolled out weekly flash sales, offering rooms from Dh99 every Wednesday and Thursday across rotating properties in the UAE. These offers include 30 per cent off room rates, 25 per cent off food and drinks, and discounts on attractions and taxi services. In Ras Al Khaimah, DoubleTree by Hilton Marjan Island is offering up to 20 per cent off for early-bird bookings made before September 2, valid for weekend stays until September 7. Meanwhile, The H Hotel Dubai is focusing on families with 20 per cent off stays, free breakfast, and kids go free packages that include complimentary dining and stay for children under 12. Whether it's a quick break, a weekend with friends, or simply a change of pace, the limited-time deal offers a low-cost way to enjoy a hotel experience in the city.
Khaleej Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Schengen visa scam in UAE: Fake travel agents charging Dh4,000, experts warn
With the summer travel season in full swing, UAE residents are being warned about fraudulent travel agents charging thousands of dirhams per person for Schengen visa appointments and disappearing without delivering. Faisal M., a resident of Dubai Marina, had planned a summer getaway to the Netherlands, Spain, and Austria with his wife. He ended up paying Dh4,000 per visa to a travel agent who claimed to have guaranteed appointments in early May. 'I received a call from a travel agent asking if I was looking for a Schengen visa. When I showed interest, he explained the charges, which I agreed to,' said Faisal. 'But on the day of the appointment, he asked me to meet him near Wafi Mall.' Faisal said he waited nearly five hours, but the agent never showed up. 'When I called him, he kept delaying and eventually stopped answering my calls,' he added. Over the next few days, the agent kept insisting that the application was under process. Faisal eventually tracked down the agent and convinced him to meet near the Mall of the Emirates. 'I convinced him to meet me before the rescheduled appointment on May 7. I drove him straight to Barsha Police Station and told him to return my money or I would file a complaint,' he said. 'After two hours of argument, he returned Dh5,000. I have his Emirates ID photo and his residence address as a precaution.' Nirmal Rathod, a businessman and distributor of dairy products, escaped a similar scam. He was about to pay Dh3,500 to a travel agent but decided to verify through his trusted agent first. 'I was planning to attend a food and agriculture exhibition in the Netherlands next month. My regular travel agent said he would try, but after a week, he confirmed it wasn't possible,' said Rathod. A few days later, Rathod received a call from someone offering an appointment slot for an extra fee. 'He convinced me, but I still checked with my agent. That's when I was told about the scams happening in the market. I chose not to proceed and skipped the exhibition this year,' he added. Apply through verified sources Travel agents are urging residents to apply for the visa through verified sources. 'Schengen countries are some of the most in-demand destinations,' said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism. 'Due to high demand, appointment availability is extremely limited. And it's not just tourists, many business professionals are also willing to pay a premium for visa slots.' 'Always ensure the travel agency has a landline, is registered in Dubai, and has a functional website. Avoid transferring money online to individuals or unverifiable agents. If you must pay, visit the agency in person,' said Subair. Visa facilitation company VFS Global confirmed that the summer season has seen unprecedented demand for international travel, creating a gap between demand and appointment availability. 'We consistently urge travelers to plan ahead to avoid last-minute issues,' VFS Global told Khaleej Times in a statement. 'Appointments and visa processing timelines are determined solely by the respective embassy or consulate.' They highlighted that the appointment slots are available free of charge on their official website and warned applicants not to pay third-party agents offering guaranteed slots or appointments. 'We urge applicants to beware of fraudulent third-party entities who offer appointment slots or guaranteed visas in exchange for a fee,' the statement added. 'We regularly run public service messages across all customer touchpoints to alert applicants against misrepresentation.'
