5 budget weekend destinations from Dubai

If you are looking for short vacation destinations, check out our list -

This is the year of long weekends in UAE, with many holidays falling on a Thursday or a Sunday, allowing you to scoot out of the chaos in the city for weekend getaways.
Thanks to its location, living in Dubai allows you to explore many destinations within a travel time of less than five hours.
We browsed the internet to find five destinations and the cheapest deals available:

1. Georgia

You might have heard many of your colleagues head to Georgia whenever there is a long weekend. And this place is worth a visit, thanks to its scenic mountains and valleys. Dig into the history of the place by visiting Tbilisi, the capital
city. While there, bite into the popular dish Khachapuri (bread with cheese filling), Chakhokhbili (stewed chicken with fresh herbs).
Plan your trip for as little as Dh1,299 on this website.
Travel time: 3 hours 32 minutes.

2. Istanbul

Explore the colourful Grand Bazaar, the biggest undercover markets in the world in Istanbul. Dig into some Turkish delights and enjoy apple tea with the locals. After a long hectic day, head to the Turkish bath hammam and unwind your senses.
You can check this voucher priced at Dh1,599 including flight and accommodation.
Travel time: 4 hours, 50 minutes.

3. Azerbaijan

Bordering Russia and Georgia, Azerbaijan is known for having 9 of the 11 climates around the world. Baku, the central city, is a Unesco World Heritage site. Visiting the mud volcanoes figures amongst the fascinating things to do in Azerbaijan as it figures first in the world with over 350 located in the region. Thousands of tourists visit every year to watch the eruption accompanied by explosions and loud noise.
You can grab an offer, including flight and hotel at this website.
Travel time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.

4. Armenia

If you like history and would want to delve into ancient monasteries, you can take a short
four- day trip to Armenia. Take a guided tour of the History Museum of Armenia to check collections illustrating the centuries-old history of the Armenian nation.
We found a deal to fly to Armenia at a budget of Dh1434 per head, including hotel and flight with this voucher.
Travel time: 3 hours.

5. Zanzibar

If you are looking for an exotic weekend island getaway, Zanzibar can be your choice of destination. You could head to the island for its cool, sunny weather during the coming summer months.
A walk in Stone Town will let you understand the Arabic, India, African and European influences in its architecture. Nungwi beach is also ideal for snorkeling, diving or kite surfing. Among the other things, you can do include a trip to the private animal reserve, Cheetah's Rock. Check this deal.
Travel Time: 5 hours.
anita@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai