Zerotwonine

In the beginning of 2011, 029 told you that there were some changes up our stylish sleeve. True to our word, its time to roll up said proverbial sleeve a bit and let it all hang out, but just a bit.  

029, your trusted partner in once-a-lifetime holidays, access-creator to attendance-worthy events and all-around freakishly fun company is bursting with excitement at the launch of:

029’s Luxury Hotel Collection powered by Kiwi Collection.

Yes my friends, that’s right. 029 Members now have access to (and the ability to directly book) over 2,200 of Kiwi Collection’s meticulously-vetted hotels in 132 countries right on 029’s website.

Hotels that speak to your style. Hotels that are invitation only. Hotels that give you a little something extra. That is 029’s Luxury Hotel Collection powered by Kiwi Collection.

Take advantage of free 029-specific perks at plenty of participating hotels because someone like you deserves something special. 029 also guarantees the best publicly available rates with no booking fees. Why? Because being mysterious is sexy, but mysterious hotel fees are not. 

Forbes Magazine so rightfully said: “Kiwi Collection is to luxury hotels what the Michelin Guide is to restaurants” and 029 will gladly take a second helping of the unique and stylish hotels that Kiwi is serving.

Click here to visit 029’s newly launched Luxury Hotel Collection where you can search by region (practical), by date (predictable) or by picture (oh, how inspirational.) Ever find yourself looking at deliriously dreamy hotel pictures in a travel magazine as you breathlessly exclaim, “I want to go there!” Well on 029 Luxury Hotel Collection, you can browse thousands of magazine-worthy hotel photos. Simply click on the one that tickles your fancy to find out where you’ll be holidaying next.

Use the advanced search feature to find hotels by setting (city, island, jungle), style (bungalow, castle, modern) or interest (eco-friendly, nightlife, wellness). Over 2,200 hotels to choose from and 132 countries to frolic to. You better get some extra pages in your passport.

Your friends at 029 live and breathe travel. We’ve seen our fair share of hotel bliss and hotels’ amiss. That’s why we’ve found the perfect partner in Kiwi Collection – with their impeccable standards, originality overload and coolness to the core.  

Click here to book a hotel that is everything you could want, with a cherry on top.

A few months ago, 029’s fearless leader Xavier travelled to the exquisite city of Vienna for you. Yes, for you.

He was indulging in Viennese café and Sacher torte (what else) with his friend Philipp, devoted 029 member and assiduous founder of SevenSails.

It was during this meeting of the minds that Xavier was getting the low down on an exclusive and unique travel experience of a different kind.

And he decided that SevenSails’ aquatic adventure was just the perfect thing for 029 members (you) and he also managed to negotiate a finance friendly price (you’re welcome).

Imagine spending a week aboard your own yacht sailing around the Greek isles – your own floating finca filled with friends where each day starts with the gentle lulling of the Aegean’s azure waters.

Each day brings new scenery, new destinations and new possibilities for how to spend your day.

Why should you change course for your upcoming holidays? Why should you trade in sand for the high seas this summer? Three words: Abramovich, Branson and Cavalli.

These individuals (among many others) have mast-ered the art of yachting holidays. They float into some of the world’s hottest harbours for a swim, a bite to eat or a shopping excursion. Year after year, the paparazzi capture them and their friends having boatloads of fun, now it’s your turn.

A yachting holiday overflows with appeal. Locations only accessible by boat, new ports of call nightly, memorable deck parties, seclusion and privacy courtesy of the deep blue sea and the phrase “holiday on a yacht” just sounds oh so sexy.   

Even if you’ve never stepped foot on a yacht (you deprived soul), fear not, this isn’t performance yachting or your run-of-the-mill chartered harbour cruise. It is a chance for you to enjoy glistening sunshine, salty sea breezes, crystal clear waters, awe-inspiring scenery and sublime sunsets.

This summer spend time with your friends and meet new people in an environment that is just the right mixture of entertainment, adventure and chilling.

The Dates:

There are three different weeks available for the weeklong voyage:

16 Jul to 23 Jul

23 Jul to 30 Jul

30 Jul to 08 Aug

Click here to select your travel date and yacht(s)!

The Specifics:

You must rent out an entire boat (you can rent more than one if you’re on the popular side). The boats can accommodate between 4-12 people depending on the size. Click here to see the different boat types.

For those with sailing experience, we offer you the wheel (and the captain’s hat) to your own yacht for the week. If you prefer to kick back with cocktail in hand and let someone else do the navigating, skippers are available for hire at an additional cost.

Don’t worry; you won’t be stuck with a cuddly-like-a-porcupine, too-many-years-at-sea fisherman type. SevenSails is an expert skipper match-maker: similar age, interests, language skills - someone who’s cool and you’d like to befriend (like Johnny Depp channelling his inner Jack Sparrow). 

The Voyage:

All boats, no more than 35 per week, depart on Saturday from Athens.

Accompanying the fleet is SevenSails’ service boat which is equipped with a crew there to assist if need be, an onboard DJ to give your holiday the perfect soundtrack and refrigerators (can never have enough beverages).

SevenSails also offers a shopping service that will voyage ashore to get whatever you may have forgotten or run out of, within reason of course.

Important: this is not the aquatic equivalent of “Experience Greece in Week” tour. Neither is it a “follow the leader” yachting convoy bringing you en masse from port to port. You do not need to see another boat unless you want to. But when you look at what they have in store, you’ll want to hang around.

The Route:

You will sail to and around secluded bays, uninhabited islands and charming harbour towns during your week at sea.  Click here to see the route in detail.

For a more low-key experience, SevenSails recommends alternative anchoring locales, quiet bays and ports away from planned activities where you can spend quality time with your friends. Their water-taxi service can also whisk you ashore should you feel the need for explore a neighbouring town.

You can also choose to take your boat wherever your voyaging heart desires - no need to socialise with the other boats, no need to visit their suggested ports of call. But you would miss out on some spectacular fun at sea and alluring night time activities.

During the week you will abandon ship and explore quaint villages and islands. Stumbled on an unoccupied beach? It’s the perfect place for a game of beach volleyball or a picnic.

Other water based excitement includes swimming, diving, snorkelling, jetskiing, learning how to sail. Ready for some friendly competition? There’s nothing like a mini-regatta to get the adrenalin racing.

When the sun goes down, you don’t retreat to your cabin for the evening, but you could if you wanted. For dining, savour fresh seafood delivered to your boat as you dine on deck. Feast on local cuisine at a harbour restaurant. Or indulge in a beach BBQ as you’re serenaded by an acapella band.

Where’s the party at, you ask? Wherever you want it to be: boat party, beach party, their DJ spinning at a rented out club on the island – you decide what mood you’re in and they will provide the ambience. 

And after seven days at sea has ended, you can choose to stay a few days longer to explore the thrilling city of Athens.

The tides, they are changing. Click here for a smooth sailing booking process for your upcoming summer holiday.

Last year, 029 launched their first ever lottery where its members could win envy-generating travel and lifestyle prizes. Not surprisingly, 029 had heaps of eager members lusting over our top two prizes: safaris in Rwanda and Tanzania.

And for the lucky winners of these experiences, the trips have lived up to (and will live up to -for those yet to go) each and every one of their expectations.

Take the travel report below, from the lovely Susanne who along with her travel companions, Marc, Romina and Christopher, took off to Tanzania for a weeklong safari at the Hatari Lodge and Shu’mata Camp.

Full of anticipation, but without any precise idea of what exactly to expect, we took off to the first safari of our lives at Hatari Lodge and Shu’mata Camp in November 2010. Already on our way from Arusha airport to Hatari Lodge, our first stop, we saw a multitude of exotic animals, such as giraffes, buffalos, zebras, baboons and other monkeys – and that was just the start!

Arriving at Hatari early in the morning, three giraffes were having breakfast with us right at the terrace of the lodge.

In the following days, we were about to experience the green, fertile and woody land around Hatari with its incredible diversity of animals – we saw thousands of sunbathing flamingos and exotic birds, many different kinds of apes as well as hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffalos and hyenas.

Every morning provided a new surprise with a variety of animals taking a nap or eating just in front of our beautifully equipped bungalow. Marlies, Jörg and the team were very concerned about our well-being, serving excellent food and wines in a very familial atmosphere.

After a couple of days at Hatari, we took off to the sandy and dusty land around Shu’mata Camp – what a contrast in vegetation, only a two hour drive away! Shu’mata Camp is a tented camp, which can be only described with one word: breathtaking!

The tents are beautifully furnished with much love to detail and the location on top of a hill close to the foot of Kilimanjaro provides great views on the mountain and the savannah and its animals.

On our daily game drives, we saw lots of elephants, gnus, ostrichs, antelopes, impalas, gazelles, giraffes, zebras, eagles and other exotic birds.

Also at Hatari, the food was excellent and always served at a long table, where guests could share their experiences from the day.

We were truly sad to leave this paradise after one week of adventure and game viewing, but have all agreed that this was not our last vacation of this kind.

Now that we’ve done it, we can say that a safari truly is a once in a lifetime experience!

Your friends at 029 love a good party. And you know when 029 is involved, the party is not just good, it is legendary.

Such a legendary time was had by all when 029 jetted off to Miami in March for the launch of Escada’s newest fragrance Marine Groove. Although everyone at 029 loves a glam night out on the town, we left the partying in Miami to our very capable, utterly fun-loving and über-stylish colleagues Isabelle and Christian. It’s tough working at 029 sometimes.

The party started on Saturday night at one of South Beach’s hottest nightclubs, LIV. Trust us, you haven’t really “liv-ed” the life of a true partier until you’ve partied at LIV.

The club was packed, the music was pumping and the sex-appeal was on overdrive. Multi-platinum recording artist Mya was the guest of honour for the evening. Miami’s VIPs were in attendance, in addition to members of the media, models, our friends from Nolcha & United Creators and of course 029.

The action did not stop when the sun came up on Sunday. What better way to relax after a long night out than aboard a chartered yacht sailing around Miami? 029 and accompanying entourage boarded the Venetian Lady on Sunday morning (for those individuals who did not miss the boat thanks to Daylight Savings Time in the good ole’ US of A).

Mya also showed up for some relaxation, photo-ops, autograph signing and interviews. 029’s Isa even donned an Escada girl outfit when one of the models called in sick last minute. We are ever so proud of our model-worthy colleague, rocking the Escada tee. Not to be outdone, Christian showed that he prefers a whole lot of woman as he cuddled up to his supersize dream girl.

But don’t just take our word for it, check out the videos below:

Courtesy of Lmh Mag

This one is from StiloMag.com

Mya and Escada

For those of you who are just completely overwhelmed with how cool 029 parties are, we will be holding a Escada Marine Groove fragrance, the sequel, on the party-haven island of Ibiza with DJ Fedde Le Grand.

Check out the trailer below and be sure to stay tuned.

You may or may not have heard, but 029 is having a lottery. It’s pretty spectacular, we suggest you keep reading.

What is it?

029’s Lottery, cleverly & simply called Invite! Join! Win! is our way of rewarding our members for helping 029 to grow. You invite your friends to 029. They join. You have the chance to win 1 of 50 travel and event experiences.

Interested? We thought so. Keep on scrolling south!

How it works?

Every friend you invite, who joins 029, counts as an entry/lot/raffle ticket etc. At the end of the lottery, we are going to pick the winners from all of the entries/lots/raffle tickets we have.

It’s a lottery; there is always an element of chance.

If you have more friends than China has people, you have a better chance of winning, but someone whose circle of friends resembles the population of Vatican City can also win.

If your friend wins one of the first 2 prizes, you win too just for inviting them! Double the chances to win!

If you are a member of 029, click here to start inviting your friends!

What can you win?

Let’s get to the good stuff! What’s in it for you? Plenty!

Grand Prize is a 7 day safari to Rwanda for four people to visit their Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Come face to face with these gentle giants of the forest as you observe a family of gorillas in their natural habitat.

Of course, it’s not only gorillas, it’s a safari drive in Akagera National Park, a tour of Kigali, a visit to see the Golden Monkeys, relaxing day at Lake Kivu, free flights and a lifetime of memories. You will be a Rwandan tourism expert by the time you get back!

Extra incentive: If one of your friends you’ve invited to 029 wins this prize, you win too just for inviting them. That means you go together (with your travel partners too) to engage in some friendship bonding time in the heart of Africa!

2^nd Prize is a 7 day safari for four people to Tanzania with Mt. Kilimanjaro as your backdrop. Explore Tanzania’s diverse landscape from the lush green mountain forests of Mt Meru, to craters and lakes to the endless savannahs and wide open spaces of the Maasai steppe. Your week will be spent on game drives in Arusha National Park and South Amboseli. Spending time with the Maasai and seeing how they live will not only be unforgettable, but also educational.

While your days are action packed with animals and adventure, your nights are filled with luxury and relaxation at Hatari Lodge. Think bush chic. But that’s not all, you will also be spending time at the newly opened luxury Shu’mata Camp  set under an umbrella of acacia trees looking out across the plains that lead up to Kilimanjaro.

Extra incentive: If one of your friends you’ve invited to 029 wins this prize, you win too just for inviting them. That means you go together (with your travel partners too) to engage in some friendship bonding at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Additional Prizes

029 not only has incredible African experiences, we also have weekend getaways to fascinating and exotic locations for our next three prizes.

• What’s in a name? Everything if you win the 3rd prize which is a weekend for two people including breakfast at the Portman Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai.

• Looking for a real Turkish delight? 029’s 4th prize a weekend at the W Hotel in Istanbul including breakfast for 2 people.
• Not to be outdone, spend your Arabian nights in style at the W Hotel Doha for a weekend including breakfast for 2 people as part of our 5th prize.

Do you want more? We will give you more! More prizes that is!

• 6th Prize: Be BOLD with your BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000 - this smartphone embodies elegant design, without sacrificing the features or functionality you expect from a premium smartphone.
• 7th Prize: CURVES in the all the right places:  balance work, life and everything in between with your BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900
• 8th & 9th Prize: Every PEARL has its oyster - open up a world of possibilities! With the BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8200 series smartphone tucked in your pocket, you’re always just a flip away from the people, fun and facts that matter.
• 10th to 35th Prize: DKNY Men 50 ml or DKNY Women 50ml- if you consider yourself comospolitan, be sure to leave behind the scent created for young urbanites.
• 36th to 50th Prize: Baldessarini Del Mar Seychelles Edition 50ml - smell like paradise with this limited edition fragrance too!

How long do you have?

Until the end of March 14^th, so approximately 33 days left. You have a little more than one month left to invite your friends to increase your chances to win spectacular travel and lifestyle prizes. If you are a member of 029, click here to invite your friends!

Not a member of 029?

Oh no! Don’t worry, be happy and click here to send an email to our Member Relations team to request your log in to 029 – The Experience Club today.

Take a look at this entry by 029 member and well-known German blogger Robert Basic who took his time to provide feedback about the Hotel Kazbek - a hotel he was able to test for free as part of 029’s Hotel Test Program.

Click here for the English version

Es regnete aus allen Kübeln am Flughafen von Dubrovnik (Kroatien). Da standen wir nun, Nicole Männl -meine Gefährtin- und ich. Und hielten Ausschau. Nach was? Nach dem Shuttle, das uns sicher zum Hotel bringen würde. Denn es handelt sich laut Beschreibung um ein Top-Hotel mit ganz vielen Sternen. Wie das Hotel heißt? Hotel Kazbek. Das wir auf Einladung von zerotwonine testen durften. Wir standen und schauten und hielten Ausschau. Doch niemand kam und hielt ein Schidlchen hoch. Wir fuhren demnach selber hin.

Dort angekommen machte uns niemand die Türe auf. Ok, auch ein Top-Hotel hat bestimmt schlechte Tage. Dies war wohl einer dieser Tage. Ob ich sehr kritisch klinge? Es mag sein, doch besser mehr erwarten und dann langsam seine Erwartungen hinunterschrauben, statt die Messlatte zu tief anzusetzen.

Und vorneweg: Nein, das Hotel ist nicht schlecht, im Gegenteil. Es ist defintiv ein Top-Hotel, das allerdings an vielen kleinen Punkten noch arbeiten muss, um das letzte Stückchen “Top” herauszuholen. Für das gebotene Preis-Leistungsverhältnis kann man das Hotel Kazbek nur loben!!

Die CheckIn Prozedur verlief leicht chaotisch, als ob man nicht wüsste, welches Zimmer man uns geben solle. Dazu muss man verstehen, dass wir in der Spätsaison-Zeit da waren, das Hotel so gut wie keine weiteren Gäste da waren. Insofern schaltet das Personal wohl sicher einen Gang herunter, das aber in einem Top-Hotel (wieder dieses Wort:) nicht passieren darf. So bekamen wir also ein sehr geräumiges Zimmer, das wir aber nach ca. einer halben Stunde gegen ein anderes Zimmer tauschen durften, das etwas heller war. Letzlich war es ein sehr guter Tausch, nur, wenn Gäste ankommen, sichtlich müde sind und sowieso andere Zimmer frei sind, kann man immer noch am nächsten Tag in aller Ruhe den Gästen einen Switch vorschlagen.

Die Zimmergestaltung selbst ist hochwertig und individuell. Man verfolgt einen sehr klassischen Stil mit leicht antik angehauchtem Mobiliar. Das aber allesamt in einer sehr gehobenen Qualität. Die Zimmer sind sehr geräumig, das Bad ebenso, auf dem Bett kann man Fußball spielen.

Die gesamte Hotelanlage wirkt sehr gepflegt, der Pool ist wunderbar angelegt, wenn man von der kahlen Hauswand des Nachbarhauses absieht. Die Umgebung wirkt nicht gerade top. Man befindet sich in einer Seitenbucht, ca. 2-3 KM entfernt vom berühmten Stadtkern von Dubrovnik. Die Häuser und das gesamte Areal in der Bucht wirkt wie ein etwas besserer Hafen. Wer demnach auf eine sehr gepflegte Umgebung wert legt, für den ist das Hotel Kazbek keine Wahl! Was aber nicht für das Hotel selbst gilt, wie gesagt.

Über den Service können wir nur Gutes sagen: Man war stets sehr aufmerksam und freundlich. Selbst wenn wir spät Nachts auf der Cafe-Terasse saßen, kam ein Servicemitarbeiter, bot uns Tee/Kaffee an, schaltete das gedämpfte Licht an und drehte die Musik ganz leise auf.

Zur Verpflegung allgemein können wir nur soweit zum Frühstück etwas sagen, da wir außerhalb unsere Hauptmahlzeiten einnahmen. Das Frühstück war mehr als reichhaltig, vom frischen Obst bis hin zu sehr leckeren Wurstspezialitäten gab es alles.

Insgesamt würden wir jederzeit wieder das Hotel buchen. Es zählt im internationalen Vergleich mit Sicherheit nicht zur Top-Referenz, vor Ort ist es definitiv eines des besten Hotels. Aufgrund der Lage hat es allerdings einen strategischen Nachteil, da der Gesamteindruck getrübt wird. In kleinen Bereichen kann es sicher noch etwas aufholen, was die Servicequalität angeht, doch von dem Preis-Leistungsverhältnis her ist es ein absoluter Tipp!

Wir danken zerotwonine für die Einladung und dem Hotelteam für die drei angenehmen und sehr entspannten Tage!!

Nicole & Robert

English translation provided by 029

Hotel Kazbek - Dubrovnik, Croatia

It was raining cats and dogs at Dubrovnik’s airport (Croatia). Here we were Nicole Männl – my companion – and me. On the lookout. But for what? For the shuttle which would bring us safely to our hotel. According to the description, it was a hotel with lots of stars. What the hotel’s name? Hotel Kazbek and we were invited to test it by 029. We waited and waited but nobody showed up so we drove there ourselves.

When we got there no one opened the door. Well, top hotels can have a bad day too we thought. This seemingly was one of them. Whether I sound critical? Probably, but you’d rather expect more and then slowly decrease your expectations as opposed to expecting such things beforehand.

In advance: No, the hotel is not a bad one, on the contrary. It definitely is a top hotel, which just has to improve some little things to become top notch. But considering the cost / performance ratio one only can praise the Hotel Kazbek!

The check-in procedure was slightly chaotic, as if they didn´t know which room to give us. We have to add that we were there in the off-season and were almost the only guests at the time. It seemed like the staff takes it down a notch during this time which must not happen in this hotel category. We finally got a pretty spacious room, but we wanted to switch to a brighter room which was not a problem. In the end it was a good exchange, however, if guests arrive visibly exhausted, the hotel should recommend to switch rooms on the next day.

The rooms are individually furnished and are of a high quality. They try to maintain a very classical style with a slight antique touch of the furniture. But all together, it was in a high quality as mentioned before. The rooms as well as the bathrooms are very spacious; you could practically play football on the beds.

The whole hotel complex seems very well-maintained; the pool is simply great except for the plain outside wall of the neighboring house. The surroundings not so much, you are located in a cove roughly 2-3km away from the historical city centre of Dubrovnik. The houses in the neighborhood and the whole area make it seem more like a harbour. So, for anyone who places high value on the surroundings , the Hotel Kazbek is not a good option. This is generally applicable for the whole hotel.

Regarding the service we only have good things to say. The staff was always considerate and friendly. Even while we were sitting outside on the terrace late at night one of the staff always showed up and offered tea/coffee, switched on a dimmed light and turned on some music for us.

About the food, we can only speak about the breakfast which always was more than adequate. From fresh fruits to delicious cold cut platters. All other meals we ate outside of the hotel.

Altogether we would book this hotel again. When compared with international standards, it surely does not fit the five-star category, but it is one of the best in the area. The location gave it a slight strategic disadvantage because it tarnished the overall impression. Some smaller aspects surely can be improved but with respect to the price/performance ratio it is a real insider tip.

We thank 029 and the hotel team for three enjoyable and relaxing days!!!

Nicole & Robert

029’s Hotel Test Program allows its members the opportunity to test out unique five star properties for free. From Bali to Jamaica, Cape Town to Rome, 029 members will soon be testing hotels in all of your  favourite destinations.

We all like to walk on the wild side sometimes, even if we just pretend to. What if you had the chance to not only walk on the wild side, but mingle with some seriously impressive wildlife?

Welcome to 029’s Invite! Join! Win! Lottery and your exclusive chance to WIN a FREE trip to Rwanda and go tracking to find the elusive (and really big) Mountain Gorillas!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is no typical, tame encounter in a controlled zoo environment.

There are no fences, no “Do Not Feed the Animals” sign and most importantly, no admission fees.

029’s beloved bosses (and their better halves) have scouted out the Rwandan gorilla tracking experience and this photo shows just HOW CLOSE you get to these mighty primates.

Up-close-and-personal, face-to-face. Goose-bumps guaranteed.

They not only lived to tell the story and show us some incredible pictures, it is also an experience that they whole-heartedly recommend and would do again in a second.

029’s Invite! Join! Win!’s Grand Prize to Rwanda not only includes an unforgettable encounter with such animal kingdom royalty, but you will also experience tracking to the habitat of the elusive Golden Monkeys, a tour of Kigali and a game drive through the Akagera National Park.

And this wealth of natural experience is FREE as part of 029’s Invite! Join! Win! Lottery.

All you need to do is invite your friends to 029, ensure that they join and wait until the 15th of February to see whether you have won. Every friend you invite, that actually joins, counts as one entry into 029’s virtual raffle box.

As extra incentive - if one of your invited friends wins this prize, you also get to go to Rwanda too just for inviting them.

029 wants you to get in touch with your wild side. We want you to be lucky enough to travel to and experience Rwanda with its beautiful, rugged landscapes, exotic and diverse wildlife & warm and welcoming people.

You know what you have to do - log on to 029 and invite to win!

If you are not yet a member of 029 - The Experience Club, send us a message at memberrelations@zerotwonine.com to become a member.

It is a city with great potential, especially because of its unique location north of the Amalfi Coast and therefore, in close proximity to the islands of Capri and Ischia. Potential means, in this case, that Naples could be even more than it actually is. When referring to the morbid charm of the city, well-known and appreciated in Italy, one assumes it has more to do with neglect than romance.

The Romeo Hotel has chosen its location in close proximity to the docks and the respective harbour area, which opened my heart, being a harbour-lover from Hamburg. But if you are a fan of nice promenades and palms in front of your window, then this will not suit your tastes.

The way to the hotel takes getting used to, as you need to leave the city centre with its restaurants on the promenade and walk to the industrial corner of Naples. By discovering the city, you will see that the centre is just 10 minutes away by foot. The location of the hotel is unique; it is positioned between old or partially rundown buildings to the left and right. These buildings stand in direct contrast to the modern façade of the Romeo.

I can only say that once you’ve seen the rooftop terrace of the Romeo Hotel, it makes up for everything that Naples is lacking. And Sorrento is certainly worth a visit being only 20 to 30 minute away.

Jeannine Johansson

029 visited Abu Dhabi this past weekend for a location scouting trip. And let me tell you, there was MUCH to scout. Although Abu Dhabi is not in a building frenzy like Dubai, there is still plenty of new and exciting projects being built in the Emirate. It wasn’t all work though, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority planned the perfect mixture between business and fun. Just exactly like 029.

We started off from Frankfurt, where we were nicely surprised with an upgrade from Etihad’s Coral Economy Class to their Pearl Business Class. No complaints here. After relaxing in their new, chic & stylish lounge at the Frankfurt Airport, it was time to jet off to Abu Dhabi.

Voyage to Abu Dhabi

Etihad’s Business Class (on the Airbus 330) has flat beds. The entertainment system is the same for all classes (first, business & eco) and there was a plethora of movies, music, games and additional features to keep one occupied on the 6.5 hour flight (I personally like to watch where the plane is going). Another cool feature was the camera - there was a camera mounted on the front and bottom of the plane and the live video feed could be watch on your monitor. Good way to make sure that the pilots lands in the middle of the runway! Amenity kits, which doubled as an over-the-shoulder bag, were also very nice…I also couldn’t find fault with the inclusion of a bottle of VOSS - Norwegian Artesian water. And the in-seat massage actually massaged. Service was good, attentive, but not overly intrusive. Cuisine was also good, not amazing, but the homemade tri-combo bread (see pic below) was a welcomed departure from the flavourless rolls one is normally given.

After disembarking, doing the necessary passport control/baggage fetching/smiling as you stroll through customs, I was hit with a wall…of HEAT. Even at 23:50, it was still about 33°C. And after arriving from 20°C Germany, the temperature contrast was extreme and painful. Thankfully our taxis were air-conditioned, which was wonderful for me as I originally come from an air-conditioning obsessed land. We drove off into the Arabian night to our first hotel of the weekend - the InterContinental Abu Dhabi.

The InterContinental Abu Dhabi was a very nice hotel about 30 minutes from the airport. I had a room on the Executive Club Level (18th Floor) and had access to the lounge where breakfast was served. My room was very spacious and comfortable with a calm colour palette and a large bathroom with both a separate shower and bathtub. We were also toured around the hotel and visited the Presidential Suite and the main ballroom which was set up for an upcoming lavish wedding ceremony.

Visit to Sheikh Zayed Mosque & City Tour

Our first stop was the Sheikh Zayed Mosque - the sixth largest mosque in the world and a stunning beautiful architectural feat made out of marble from around the world.  Capable of holding 40,000 worshippers and boasting the world’s largest chandelier, the pictures I took really do not do the structure justice. It is something to be experienced and awed over in person. There were too many intricate details inside to possible post all of the picture here, but take my word for it, it is a must see! Female visitors to the mosque needed to stop by a counter to get a complimentary abaya to wear while they were in the mosque.

After the mosque, we drove around Abu Dhabi looking at the newest building construction and familiarising ourselves with the city. We visited Abu Dhabi Heritage Village where we could see traditional crafts being made. We visited a fruit and vegetable market where we bought heaps of dates. I decided on the chocolate covered dates stuffed with almonds and the Rotana dates from Saudi Arabia, apparently the most expensive in the world. We were allowed to sample as much as we wanted, but you can only eat so many dates, even if they are delicious! A trip to the Abu Dhabi Fish Market was next on the agenda and although it was a typical fish market, most of the fish on offer were from the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. Hammour is the most prominent, well-known fish and it is delicious.

Surprisingly, we still had room for lunch after visiting a store filled with typical Arabian sweets. I have no idea what I tried, but it was all excellent. We had lunch at Al Fanar at the Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi which is situated on the top floor of the hotel and it is a revolving restaurant. Over the course of lunch (which consisted as smoked salmon as the appetizer and a gorgeous hammour as the main dish) we were able to have a 360° overview of the Le Meridien’s surroundings, including the azure blue Persian Gulf.

The Emirates Palace Hotel

After lunch we checked into the Emirates Palace Hotel. The hotel, from end to end, is over 1 kilometre long…they aren’t lying. The hotel was massive, majestic and a magnificent montage of gold. I know what you’re thinking - kitschy , excessive - but trust me, it worked. You cannot just call yourself a palace and not have a palatial style of decorating. Everything that was in the hotel, from the furniture to the gold leafing to the marble and mosaics was exactly what I would have expected in a palace.

The rooms are incredibly spacious, even the Grand Rooms made one feel like a princess, with an oversized bed (and oversized flat screen) and a gorgeous marble bathroom with a bathtub big enough to really relax and get lost in. You couldn’t help but be happy and completely satisfied with the style and space of the rooms. Unless of course, you were fortunate enough to see the suites I would post pictures, but then you would feel depressed that you don’t live in a place that looks like that - unless of course, you are a prince or princess, better yet - a king or queen!

Even after a tour around the hotel with the extremely friendly and charming sales department of the Emirates Palace, we still only saw about 10% of what the hotel has to offer. You need at least 5 days to fully see and experience the hotel. And of course you need ample time to catch some sun at one of their 2 pools. Don’t worry about the distance from one side of the hotel to the other, there are hotel golf carts to drive you from place to place. We only had time to eat at one of the restaurants, Le Vendome, which was a beautiful buffet style restaurant. There were international choices and and local specialities - giving the diner a well-rounded dining experience. Try the Um Ali - a traditional Arab dessert!

Future Projects around the Emirate

We’re not done yet! First we had an informative presentation at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company where we learned about all of the upcoming projects in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, those that are currently in construction and those that are planned. The face of Abu Dhabi will change in the next few years, but not in the drastic way that Dubai has. Abu Dhabi is pursing projects that embrace culture (Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum & Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island) and add value to the Emirate, not just glossy skyscrapers. And some of the hotel projects are truly exciting - I look forward to going back it the upcoming years!

Shang-ri La Qaryat Al Beri

We also visited the Shang-ri La Qaryat Al Beri and the Traders Hotel (the Shang-ri La’s four star sister hotel). The Traders Hotel is a colourful, modern departure from the traditional oppulent Arabian style. It was bright, spacious and looked like it belonged in Scandinavia and not in the UAE.

The Shang-ri La Qaryat Al Beri is a stunning hotel located a stretch of private beach only 10 minutes away from the Abu Dhabi International Airport. It is everything that you would expect a Shang-ri La to be: gorgeous, elegant, exclusive, high-class - and this did not disappoint. We visited various rooms of differing sizes, but all beautifully appointed. The highlight for me was a visit to one of their private villas.

The Das Island Villa, was 700sq metres of pure fun and luxury. It was the “party themed” villa and let me tell you, it would be the perfect location for one excellent party, if you could afford it. Four bedrooms, a movie theatre, dining room, kitchen, a jacuzzi in the middle of the living room, private outdoor pool with chill out cabanas and much more. There was colour colour everywhere - playful pink, sexy reds, decadent emerald & sapphire hues and of course the customary gold & platinum. When it comes time to decorating my villa, I will undoubtedly get in touch with the South African designer who was responsible for this harmony of chic & classy. I have no objections to anyone who wants to send me there to stay for my birthday!

We got a quick tour of the Pearls & Caviar Restaurant which is located near the villas directly on the water. The main restaurant downstairs is sexy, moody and decorated in dark hues, reflecting the colour of caviar. The upstairs bar/lounge area is all decorated in white, pearlised hues overlooking the water. The restaurant was unfortunately only open for dinner and we were there during lunchtime, but that was ok, as we were able to eat at the Shangri-La’s Sofra bld, their international buffet restaurant styled in an Arabian market feel, complete with a candy island and chocolate fountains. Highly recommended!

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital & Desert Safari

Work was over for the day, let the fun begin! First we headed off to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. As stated on their website: “established in 1999, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) is the first public institution in the world providing comprehensive veterinary health care services exclusively for falcons.” The woman running the Falcon Hospital, Dr. Margit Müller, was a lovely, energetic person who was extremely passionate about her job and her birds. She was a complete joy to be around, from her bubbly personality to her extensive knowledge about falcons and falconry.

We were able to visit the room where they keep the falcons waiting to be picked up by their owners. And that is where I fell in love…with Hobbie (or Hobby). Hobbie (1st & 2nd pictures) was the resident bird, even though he looked like a baby, he was 5 years old and full grown. And he was adorable. Back to the hospital…we were able to have the falcons sit on our arms, those ladies (all the good falcons are ladies because they are stronger & faster ;-)) can fly up to 300kmh. Eat your heart out Ferrari! It really is an interesting place to visit to see how they rehabilitate birds and keep them when they are moulting. And if you are looking for a place to hold a meeting or conference, they also have an incredibly elegant meeting room or a traditional style majilis.

After leaving the Falcon Hospital it was off to the desert for some fun in the sand. We went dune bashing and we definitely bashed those dunes! A roller coaster in the sand.  Thankfully I picked the “adventurous” driver who manoeuvred the dunes like a Formula 1 driver. I was secretly scared we were going to flip the Land Cruisers and I still don’t understand the physics behind it, but it was an incredible, adrenalin-boosting experience.

Watching the sun set in the desert is also something not to be missed. The way the changing light of the sun set reflects off the sands results in a symphony of golds, beiges and bronzes. It is an exceptional experience and definitely had the ability to be extremely romantic if you are there with the right person.

Ferrari World & Yas Island

Tired out? I was too, but it wasn’t over yet, we had one last stop on Monday morning before we headed off back to Frankfurt. We went to Yas Island to see the construction that is underway on the infamous Ferrari World. Ferrari World is set to be the largest indoor theme park in the world and will include many rides and attractions including the fastest roller coaster in the world, pictured below, reaching speeds of over 200kmh. Yas Island is also the site of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi taking place at the Yas Marina Circuit).

We also had an interesting presentation (and some culinary highlights) from the people at the Yas Hotel. This new, modern and incredibly stylish hotel will be opened for the Formula 1 and the hotel actually straddles the track so you can watch the races from their über-chic lounge designed by the creative minds at George V Restauration. I can’t wait for the opening of this hotel and I hope to be able to visit it when I hopefully go back to Abu Dhabi!

Time to Say Goodbye!

My time in Abu Dhabi finally came to an end, 72 hours of pure action, but I would not have wanted it any other way. As if the trip itself wasn’t spectacular enough, the nice people at Etihad Airways decided to upgrade me on the way back to Frankfurt. Of course, you know there were no complaints from my end!

After a relaxing flight back to Frankfurt, I was welcomed back by chill autumn air and cloudy skies, but at least I will have my 1001 memories of my Arabian adventure. And my time in Abu Dhabi will definitely have a sequel…stay tuned!
If you were just so inspired by my blog entry and would just love to visit Abu Dhabi, contact 029 who now have their very own in-house Abu Dhabi expert (and if she doesn’t know, she has connections! ;-)) who can plan an exceptional trip to Abu Dhabi, the entire Emirate, the UAE, the Middle East or the entire world!

Hope you enjoyed!
029’s Marketing Manager

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